An apparatus (7) for monitoring particles flowing in a stack (6), comprises: an electrical-interaction monitor (1) operable to provide a signal (300) resulting from electrical interaction of the particles with the monitor (1). a scattered-light monitor (10) operable to provide a signal (310) resulting from detection of light scattered from the particles, and a controller (320) arranged to alter the calibration of the electrical-interaction monitor 1 in response to changes in the relative magnitude of the electrical-interaction (signal 300) and the scattered-light signal (310).

Particulates emitted from industrial stacks are monitored for a number of reasons. Several countries impose regulatory restrictions on emissions, and monitoring is necessary to ensure compliance. Increasingly, companies have their own internal environmental programs and monitor emissions to provide data for those, and for their internal quality control procedures. Companies also monitor emissions in order to improve their own processes, for example by improving powder production, reducing product loss from process-particle collection devices and reducing running costs of fabric filters (by extending bag life).
Several different techniques have been used for monitoring emissions from industrial stacks, and more particularly for measuring particle flow in stacks. Two important techniques are those using electrodynamic instruments and those using forward-scatter monitors.
Electrodynamic instruments measure an ac current resulting from particles interacting with a probe rod that projects into the stack. These instruments give reliable long-term operation, have high resolution (of value in analysis of bagfilter emission dynamics), have no moving parts, and provide a representative measurement over the length of the rod (which is typically up to 1 m in length). Their major shortcomings are that calibration can drift over time, particularly if the average charge on the flowing particles changes, and that it is difficult to audit the technique with a surrogate (we know of no good surrogate for dust which accurately simulates dust interaction with the rod). The key application area for this technique has been in monitoring stacks associated with bagfilters, where the charge on the particles tends to remain relatively constant.
Forward-scatter monitors measure the intensity of a light scattered by particles in a forward direction from an incident laser beam or other light beam. These instruments provide a high-accuracy measurement, which can be audited with surrogate scattering bodies (for example, a glass slide with an opal surface). Their major shortcomings are that the measurement volume is relatively small and that it is difficult to keep optical surfaces clean (which can cause drift in the measurement) even using sophisticated air purges.
The present invention seeks to ameliorate at least some of the abovementioned problems.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring particles flowing in a stack


A microcapsule encapsulating a disperse system is produced by preparing a liquid organic dispersion containing a resin whose acid group has been neutralized, a colored particle, and an organic solvent; dispersing the liquid organic dispersion in an aqueous medium to produce a capsule particle in the aqueous medium, the capsule particle comprising a disperse system in which the colored particle is dispersed in the organic solvent, and a wall encapsulating the disperse system; and separating the capsule particle from the aqueous medium for dryness. The liquid organic dispersion may comprise, as an organic solvent, a hydrophobic organic solvent and a polar solvent dissolving the resin constituting the wall and being miscible to the aqueous medium. The wall of the capsule particle may be crosslinked or cured with a crosslinking agent. The microcapsule is utilized for an image display device in which the colored particle is electrophoretically movable in the oil phase by a potential difference. The present invention provides a microcapsule encapsulating a core material in which a colored particle is dispersed in an oil phase and having a uniform particle size without an emulsifying and dispersing agent.

Microencapsulation techniques have been widely applied as one of means for enclosing (or sealing) various materials (or core materials) such as a dye, a perfume (or aromatic), a crystalline liquid, an enzyme, a catalyst, and an adhesive. The advantages of such techniques are in that the handling of these core materials can be improved and that the functions of the core materials can be maintained or retained for a long period of time.
On the other hand, display techniques are utilized in a broad range from a displaying method for displaying an image or character information to a visualizing method using a mode in such as a liquid crystal mode, a plasma emission mode, or an EL (electroluminescence) mode. In recent years, as various electronic apparatuses (or devices) are miniaturized due to rapid advance of semiconductor technology, so increase the demand for the miniaturization, weight-saving, lower driving voltage, less electricity to work, and thinner flat panel of display devices. As new display method for responding to these requirements, there are proposed electrophoretically image-displaying devices (or apparatuses) writable on the display surface, which comprises a dispersed system (core material) in which electrophoretic particles (or electrophoretically-movable particles) are dispersed in a disperse medium, microcapsules encapsulating the dispersed system, and being interposing between electrode plates for migrating or moving the electrophoretic particles in the microcapsules between the electrode plates by applying an electric field.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 119264/1999 (JP-11-119264A) discloses a display device comprising a disperse system in which charged particles are dispersed into a disperse medium, a number of microcapsules encapsulating the disperse system, and a pair of opposed electrodes which are so disposed as to insert these microcapsules therebetween. In the display device, a display manner is conducted by changing the distribution condition of the charged particles depending on an action of a controlled voltage to change the optical reflexivity. The particle size of the charged particles is about 1/1000 to ⅕ relative to that of the microcapsules, and the dispersivity in the particle size distribution of the charged particles (volume-average particle size/number-average particle size) is 1 to 2. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 202372/1999 (JP-11-202372A) discloses a display device comprising at least two kinds of charged particles constituting the disperse system and is encapsulated in the microcapsule, and a disperse medium containing a surfactant, wherein the charged particles contain at least one member selected from titanium oxide and carbon black.
Japanese Patent No. 2551783 discloses an electrophoretic display device using microcapsules encapsulating a disperse system, as microcapsules disposed between the electrodes, in which the disperse system comprises a colored disperse medium, and at least one kind of an electrophoretic particle different in optical property from the colored disperse medium. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 503873/2001 (JP-2001-503873A) discloses an electrophoretically displaying device comprising an arrangement of discrete microscopic containers (or microcapsules); first and second electrodes disposed on and covering opposite sides of the arrangement, at least one of the electrodes being substantially visually transparent; a means for creating a potential difference between the two electrodes; and within each container, a suspension comprising a dielectric fluid and particles exhibiting surface charges in the dielectric fluid, the dielectric fluid and the particles contracting visually, and the potential difference causing the particles to migrate toward one of the electrodes.
In such a microcapsule, the wall of the microcapsule should be dense or closely for encapsulating a liquid as a core material. As a process for producing a microcapsule, physicochemical processes and chemical processes have been known, and these processes are suitably selected and utilized depending on applications of the microcapsule. As the physicochemical processes, a coacervation method using gelatin is well known, and is explained in detail in "Microcapsules (new edition, 1987)" attributed by Kondo Tamotsu et al. (published by Sankyoshuppan Co., Ltd.). Although this method is applied in a wide field, use of gelatin being a natural product causes variation of quality as a membrane material and deteriorates water resistance of the capsule, as a result the application is limited. Moreover, it is impossible to inhibit the formation of a core material-free coacervate particle/drop (as the core material, e.g., a coloring agent dispersed in oil), or the by-production of a capsule enclosing a plurality of core materials. Further, the coacervation method itself is a method for forming a capsule wall and fails to control the particle size of the resulting particles, and the particle size distribution of the particles depends on the dispersiveness of the core material. Therefore, according to the coacervation method, it is difficult to obtain a microcapsule encapsulating a disperse system in which a coloring agent is dispersed in an oil phase, with controlling the particle size and the particle size distribution in high yield.
As the chemical processes, in addition to an in-situ polymerization method (phase-separation method) which comprises allowing a reaction to proceed from a continuous aqueous phase for forming a wall made of an amino resin or others around a core material, there is known an interfacial polymerization in which an aqueous phase comprising a reaction component is reacted with an oil phase comprising another reaction component by polymerization or condensation on the phase boundary for forming a polymeric wall of the microcapsule. In a production process of an encapsulated ink encapsulating a disperse system in which a coloring agent is dispersed in an oil phase, an in-situ polymerization method using an amino resin is particularly utilized [for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 27452/1993 (JP-5-27452B), Japanese Patent Publication No. 51339/1993 (JP-5-51339B), Japanese Patent Publication No. 53538/1993 (JP-5-53538B), and Japanese Patent Publication No. 53539/1993 (JP-5-53539B)]. However, since a large number of capsule particles without the coloring agent are produced as by-products in the encapsulation process, a step for removing not only by-product particles but also an emulsifying and dispersing agent is essential. Further, as the same as in the coacervation method, the particle size distribution depends on the dispersiveness of the core material. Moreover, as the interfacial polymerization method, there is known a method for forming a wall of a capsule by polymerizing a polyhydric alcohol existing in a continuous aqueous phase and an isocyanate monomer existing in an oil phase of a core material on the boundary surface [for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 000362/1994 (JP-6-000362A), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 343852/1994 (JP-6-343852A), Japanese patent Publication No. 37975/1986 (JP-61-37975B), Japanese Patent No. 2797960, and Japanese Patent No. 3035726]. This method has advantages that the formation of particles without a core material is inhibited. However, in the above-mentioned method, unreacted monomers remain in the oil phase and the aqueous phase, and electrophoretic properties of the colored fine particles is deteriorated due to highly polar isocyanate monomers remaining in the oil phase in use as an encapsulated ink for an electrophoretic display devices (or apparatuses). Further, as the same as in the encapsulation method by coacervation or in-situ polymerization, the particle size distribution depends on the dispersiveness of the core material.
Therefore, new microencapsulation techniques have been required for an electrophoretic particle microcapsulating ink, by which production of microcapsule particles without a coloring agent can be inhibited and the particle size can be controllable.
Incidentally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 66600/1993 (JP-5-66600A) discloses, as a powdery toner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image, an encapsulated toner encapsulating a coloring agent within an anionic self-water dispersible resin. This document describes a copolymer, as an anionic self-dispersible resin, having 20 to 500 mg equivalent of an acid group (such as carboxyl group) per 10 g of a solid resin. Moreover, the document also discloses a process for production of the toner, which comprises subjecting a mixed composition containing the anionic self-water dispersible resin and a coloring agent to a dispersing treatment, forming a capsulated particle in an aqueous medium by phase inversion emulsification of the mixed composition, and separating the produced capsule particle from the aqueous medium for dryness; and a process for producing a toner which comprises, after the phase inversion emulsification, hydrolyzing the neutralized acid group to form a free acid group. An organic solvent and water which are utilized for the phase inversion are removed from the formed encapsulated toner by drying, and the resultant toner is used for fixation on an object by heat-melting. Therefore, in the encapsulated toner, the coloring agent cannot be moved in the capsule. Moreover, crosslinking of the resin deteriorates the fixing property of the toner.

Microcapsules and processes for producing the same


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film provided on the semiconductor substrate, a silicon film provided on the first insulating film, a metal silicide film provided on the silicon film, a second insulating film provided on the metal silicide film, and an electrode provided on the second insulating film.

Conventionally, as a nonvolatile memory device, a NAND flash memory has been developed. The NAND flash memory is a device for storing data by injecting charge into a floating gate electrode made of silicon to change the threshold of a field effect transistor including this floating gate electrode. In such a memory device, increasing the memory density requires shrink of the structure. However, shrink of the structure causes the problem of degraded retention characteristics for charge injected into the floating gate electrode.

Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same


If a disk tray, i.e., a rotary tray, is undulated, it is impossible to stabilize a rotating torque of the disk tray, thus causing unevenness in rotation of the tray. A rotary tray is supported from below at a peripheral edge portion of its lower surface by means of rollers which are arranged at equal intervals on a circumference centered at a support shaft, and with a biasing force of a spring, the rotary tray is pressed toward an upper surface of a slide tray, so that the rotary tray is installed warpedly in a downwardly convex shape as a whole. Consequently, undulation of the rotary tray which occurred at the time of resin molding is eliminated and the rotary tray comes into uniform abutment against the rollers, whereby it becomes possible to stabilize the rotating torque of the rotary tray and eliminate unevenness in rotation of the rotary tray.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk changer and more particularly a disk changer which moves a disk holding tray, i.e., a disk tray, up to a predetermined rotational position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a conventional disk changer there is known a disk changer disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 9-147468. On a chassis of this disk changer is placed a disk-shaped tray, i.e., a disk tray, which is mounted on a rotating shaft of a spindle motor. Plural disks are received circumferentially on an upper surface of the disk tray.
In this construction, when the spindle motor operates, the disk tray rotates with a driving force which is transmitted thereto from the spindle motor, causing any of the disks received in the upper surface thereof to rotate up to a position opposed to a pickup, thereby permitting the disk to be held by a chuck arm.
The above conventional disk changer involves the following problem.
In a disk changer, a disk tray is usually formed by molding resin in a large-sized disk shape so as to permit plural disks to be received thereon. Consequently, a rotational surface of the disk tray is apt to be undulated in the molding.
With such undulation, when the disk tray is to be supported at a peripheral edge of its lower surface or thereabouts by means of plural rollers arranged on an upper surface of the chassis, there occur variations in the state of abutment between the lower surface of the disk tray and each roller, thus making it impossible to impart a uniform rotating torque to the disk tray. Unevenness in rotation may result.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned problem and it is an object of the invention to provide a disk changer which can stabilize a rotating torque of a disk tray and thereby eliminate unevenness in rotation.
According to the present invention, for achieving the above object, there is provided a disk changer comprising:
a slide tray made of resin in a square plate shape, the slide tray having a circular recess and rollers and being installed in a manner capable of being drawn out from a cabinet body, the circular recess being formed in an upper surface of the slide tray so as to face upward around a cylindrical support shaft, the rollers being arranged at equal intervals in three positions on a circumference on the upper surface of the slide tray which circumference is centered at the support shaft, while allowing rotating shafts of the rollers to be oriented radially of the circular recess;
a disk tray made of resin, the disk tray having a tray axial bore formed axially thereof and into which the support shaft is inserted rotatably, an annular recess formed in an upper surface of the disk tray in a surrounding relation to the tray axial bore, disk receptacle portions formed circumferentially at equal intervals in five positions on the upper surface of the disk tray, and a ring gear disposed on a circumference on a lower surface of the disk tray which circumference is centered at the tray axial bore, the ring gear being engageable with a driving gear, the disk tray being placed in the circular recess of the slide tray while being supported at a peripheral edge of its lower surface and thereabouts by means of the rollers; and
a chuck arm made of resin, the chuck arm having an arm axial bore formed on one end side thereof and into which the support shaft is inserted, an annular recess formed in a lower surface of the chuck arm in a surrounding relation to the arm axial bore, the annular recess being able to confront the annular recess formed in the disk tray, and a through hole formed on an opposite side of the chuck arm and able to confront a central part of each of the disk receptacle portions, the chuck arm being mounted to the support shaft while allowing a spring to be accommodated within a space which is formed by making the annular recesses confront each other, the spring being disposed so that it can expand and contract axially of the support shaft.
In the present invention constructed as above, the slide tray made of resin in a square plate shape and provided in an upper surface thereof with a circular recess which faces upward around the cylindrical support shaft, is disposed so that it can be drawn out from a cabinet body.
In the slide tray made of resin, rollers having rotating shafts oriented radially of the circular recess are arranged at equal intervals in three positions on a circumference which is centered at the support shaft. The resinous disk tray with the support shaft inserted into the tray axial bore is placed on the circular recess while being supported at the peripheral edge of its lower surface and thereabouts by the rollers. Disks are received respectively within the disk receptacle portions which are formed at equal intervals in five circumferential positions on the upper surface of the disk tray. A driving gear is brought into mesh with the ring gear which is disposed on a circumference on the lower surface of the disk tray which circumference is centered at the tray axial bore, and the disk tray is rotated with a driving force which is transmitted to the disk tray from a drive motor through the driving gear.
The chuck arm made of resin is mounted to the support shaft while inserting the support shaft into the arm axial bore. At this time, a spring adapted to expand and contract axially of the support shaft is received within a space which is defined by the annular, or ring-shaped, recess formed in the upper surface of the disk tray in a surrounding relation to the support shaft and the annular, or ring-shaped, recess formed in the lower surface of the chuck arm in a surrounding relation to the arm axial bore. The through hole formed on the opposite end side of the chuck arm comes into opposition to a central part of the disk accommodated within each disk receptacle portion to chuck the disk.
Thus, since the disk tray made of resin is supported from below at the peripheral edge of its lower surface and thereabouts by means of the rollers and its axis and the vicinity thereof are pressed down with the biasing force of the foregoing spring, the disk tray as a whole assumes a downwardly warped state and absorbs undulation, so that there is attained a uniform abutment of its lower surface with the rollers and hence the rotating torque is stabilized.
Thus, according to the present invention it is possible to realize, in terms of a concrete construction, a disk changer which can stabilize the rotating torque of the disk tray and thereby eliminate unevenness in rotation.
Although the present invention is realized as a disk changer having a concrete construction, such a construction is a mere example and the technique contemplated by the invention can be grasped over a wide scope.
More specifically, the present invention may have a construction comprising a disk tray which receives plural disks on a surface thereof, a drive mechanism for rotating the disk tray, a chassis provided with plural rollers which support the disk tray rotatably on a back side of the same tray, and a support shaft structure which urges the disk tray toward the chassis while supporting the disk tray rotatably about an axis of the disk tray relative to the chassis.
In this construction, plural rollers disposed on the chassis support the back side of the disk tray rotatably, the disk tray being rotated by a drive mechanism. On the surface side of the disk tray there can be accommodated plural disks.
The support shaft structure urges the disk tray toward the chassis while supporting the disk tray rotatably about the axis of the same tray with respect to the chassis. Therefore, when the disk tray is displaced in the vicinity of its axis toward the chassis, it assumes a warped state as a whole. As a result, undulation of the disk tray is eliminated and the state of abutment thereof with the portion which supports the same tray becomes uniform, thus stabilizing the rotating torque of the disk tray during rotation of the tray.
From the standpoint of permitting the occurrence of undulation, it is optional whether the disk tray is formed by molding resin or by metal working. No limitation is placed on the material thereof.
Likewise, it is optional whether this disk changer is to be used while orienting the disk tray in the horizontal direction or in the vertical direction. In which direction the disk tray is to be oriented in use is not specially limited.
Thus, according to the above construction it is possible to provide a disk changer which can stabilize the rotating torque of the disk tray to eliminate unevenness in rotation.
As an example of a concrete construction of the support shaft structure as referred to herein there may be adopted a construction provided with a spring, the spring being able to expand and contract in the axial direction of the disk tray, one end of the spring being spaced a predetermined distance from the chassis and positioned there, an opposite end of the spring being pressed against a vicinity of the disk tray axis from the side opposite to the chassis.
In this construction, one end of the spring disposed so as to expand and contract axially the disk tray is positioned while being spaced a predetermined distance from the chassis. On the other hand, the opposite end of the spring is pressed against a vicinity of the disk tray axis from the side opposite to the chassis.
Thus, the spring urges the disk tray in the vicinity of the tray axis toward the chassis, causing the disk tray to be warped as a whole, thereby eliminating undulation of the disk tray and stabilizing the rotating torque of the same tray.
The use of such a spring in the support shaft structure is advantageous in that the biasing force of the spring can be changed easily by adjusting the spring constant or by adjusting the state of expansion and contraction when installed. But this construction is a mere example and there also may be used a resinous member having elasticity.
The support shaft structure can thus be realized by a concrete construction.
As an example of construction for eliminating undulation of the disk tray effectively when the vicinity of the disk tray axis is urged toward the chassis, there may be adopted a construction wherein the disk tray is formed by molding while the vicinity of the disk tray axis is displaced away from the chassis, causing the whole of disk tray to be warped in an arcuate sectional shape.
According to this construction, the disk tray is formed by molding resin while it is displaced away from the chassis in the vicinity of its axis and is thereby warped in an arcuate sectional shape as a whole, so when the vicinity of the disk tray axis is urged toward the chassis by the support shaft structure, the warping direction of the disk tray is inverted into a downwardly convex warp and in this state the disk tray is installed.
Consequently, the entire shape of the tray can be greatly changed while eliminating undulation of the tray not only during the period from a generally planar state until a downwardly convex state but also during the period from an upwardly convex state until a generally planar state, thus making it possible to eliminate undulation of the disk tray in a more positive manner.
Further, as an example of construction for warping the disk tray efficiently when the vicinity of the disk tray axis is urged toward the chassis, there may be adopted a construction wherein the chassis portion opposed to the vicinity of the disk tray axis is depressed as a recess in a direction away from the disk tray.
According to this construction, when the vicinity of the disk tray axis is urged toward the chassis by the support shaft structure, the disk tray is pressed toward the recess formed by depressing the chassis portion opposed to the vicinity of the tray axis in a direction away from the disk tray. As a result, the vicinity of the disk tray axis becomes easier to be displaced toward the chassis and hence it becomes easier to eliminate undulation of the disk tray.
Thus, undulation of the disk tray can be eliminated easily.


Disclosed is a stage including: an electrostatic chuck having a substrate placement surface on which a substrate is placed; and an electrostatic chuck placement plate on which the electrostatic chuck is placed. The electrostatic chuck and the electrostatic chuck placement plate are fastened by a plurality of first fasteners from a side of the electrostatic chuck placement plate, and the stage is fastened to a support provided on an opposite side of the electrostatic chuck of the electrostatic chuck placement plate by a plurality of second fasteners on a radially outer side of the placement surface.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 06-053174 discloses a stage provided with a susceptor, a heater fixing base, and a susceptor support base inside a processing apparatus. The susceptor, the heater fixing base, and the susceptor support base are stacked in this order from above. An electrostatic chuck is provided in the center of the upper surface of the susceptor, and the electrostatic chuck holds a semiconductor wafer. The susceptor is removably attached to the susceptor support base by bolts at the peripheral edge thereof. Further, the heater fixing base accommodates a temperature regulation heater. The heater fixing base is removably attached to the susceptor support base by bolts at the peripheral edge thereof.


A dual mode electrochemical system comprises a first electrode capable of storing hydrogen, a second electrode, a substantially electrically insulating and substantially ionically conducting membrane interposed therebetween and an electrolyte. In a first mode, upon introduction of water and electricity the dual mode electrochemical system electrolyzes the water in the presence of the electrolyte and produces hydrogen and oxygen across the membrane. The hydrogen is stored in the first electrode. In a second mode, upon introduction of an oxidant to the second electrode the dual mode electrochemical system produces water and electricity by reacting the stored hydrogen and the oxidant across the membrane.

The present invention relates generally to the field of electrochemical systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to dual mode electrochemical systems that can produce hydrogen in a form of hydride and electrical energy.
Fuel cell technology has the potential to significantly reduce harmful emissions. Fuel cells are capable of efficient energy conversion and can be used in a variety of applications including transportation applications, portable power sources, home and commercial power generation, large power generation and any other applications that would benefit from the use of such a system. With respect to transportation applications, fuel cells represent a promising alternative to vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines, which engines burn fossil fuels such as gasoline or diesel. Internal combustion engines produce harmful particulates and add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Fuel cell vehicles, on the other hand, may be fueled with pure hydrogen and emit only water and energy in the form of electric power and heat. In fact, fuel cell vehicles may be twice as efficient as conventional vehicles.
Typically, fuel cells create energy through a chemical process that converts hydrogen fuel and oxygen into water, producing electricity and heat in the process. Fuel cells operate very much like a battery with constantly renewed reactants. While batteries are recharged using electricity, fuels cells are recharged using hydrogen and oxygen. A fuel cell stack uses the hydrogen supplied by the fuel source to produce electricity to power any device including one or more electric motors, which motors move a vehicle. A fuel cell stack may consist of hundreds of individual fuel cells. In many cases, a battery is used to store electricity produced by the fuel cell stack and by other systems in the vehicle, such as regenerative braking systems. The energy stored in the battery may also be used to power the electric motors as well as additional electrical systems in the vehicle.
Unlike a battery that is limited to the stored energy it holds, a fuel cell is capable of generating energy as long as fuel is supplied. While battery electric vehicles use electricity from an external source stored in the battery, fuel cell vehicles create their own electricity. Fuel cells are also capable of providing a greater energy density or current density than conventional batteries for electric vehicles, allowing larger amounts of energy to be produced continuously. This may allow fuel cell vehicles to be equipped with more sophisticated and powerful electronic systems than those found in current gasoline powered vehicles. For example, an increase in the number of control sensors in a vehicle may improve handling and braking systems, making vehicles safer.
Hydrogen used in cells as a fuel may be produced from a fossil fuel such as natural gas, methanol etc. through a reforming process. The hydrogen produced by the reforming process is not pure, lowering the efficiency of the fuel cell. Adding a reformer to convert hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen drops the overall efficiency of the fuel cell to about 30 to 40 percent.
Therefore there exists a need in the art to find effective and efficient ways to constantly produce and store hydrogen in a fuel cell in order to provide continuous operation. Still further, what is needed is a rechargeable fuel cell system that derives energy from an internal source and stores it within the system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hydrogen storage-based rechargeable fuel cell system and method


A retrofit unit for a fluorescent lighting fixture having a chamber with a ballast and a plurality of downwardly extending lamp holders for enclosing an existing fluorescent strip light fixture, wherein neither the ballast nor the lamp holders of the existing fluorescent lighting fixture need be removed to receive this retrofit unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to surface mount fluorescent strip light fixtures, and, more particularly, to a retrofit kit and method of retrofitting for surface mount fluorescent strip light fixtures.
2. Description of Related Art
Surface mount fluorescent strip light fixtures are installed to provide general lighting of large indoor spaces. It should be understood that the description of the fixtures as 'surface mount' type fixtures is intended to distinguish the fixtures from 'recessed' type fixtures. Thus, the invention taught herein will apply to all 'surface mount' type fluorescent strip light fixtures, including stem and pendant mounted suspended variations as well as those fixtures mounted directly to a ceiling.
Typically, such strip fixtures include a channel in the form of an inverted trough, with the channel being attached to the ceiling. Lamp holders (sockets) are attached to the channel. A ballast is attached within the channel and wiring attaches the ballast to the lamp holders. Power is supplied to the ballast by wiring brought into the channel through the top or end of the channel. A ballast cover is used to close the open face of the channel so that the ballast and wiring are enclosed. Linear fluorescent lamps are then placed in the lamp holders for operation of the fixture. The lamps are left bare and exposed for providing light to the space. Because of their low cost and utilitarian use, the surface mount fluorescent strip light fixture is the best selling light fixture of all time. Thus, as used herein, surface mount fluorescent strip light fixtures shall be understood to include all fixtures having this basic configuration.
Typical uses include retail stores, such a grocery, drug, and department stores, where the fixtures are commonly mounted in continuous rows. The fixtures are also used in warehouses.
Since the introduction of the fluorescent lamp at the 1939 World Fair, fluorescent lighting technology has greatly advanced. Particularly in response to the energy crisis of the 1970's and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992, lamp and ballast manufacturers have developed fluorescent lamp-ballast systems with improved efficiencies. For example, electronic ballasts are now capable of more efficient operation than older technology magnetic ballasts. Additionally, the newer, energy saving fluorescent lamps have special lamp holder and/or ballast requirements.
There are a large number of fixtures in the market that use obsolete technology. Consumers desire to reduce their utility costs, and the newer technology can save 25%, or better, in such costs. However, for existing installations, implementation of the newer technology means either replacing the individual fixture components (ballast, lamp holders, wiring, and lamps) or replacing the fixtures all together. Both processes are time consuming and labor intensive, requiring 30 minutes or so for each fixture retrofit or replacement. Further, the retrofit process requires closing down sections of a store during the construction, increasing the impact of the time and effort required to retrofit or replace the old fixtures. Thus, there is a need for a retrofit kit and method for surface mount fluorescent strip light fixtures that can be installed with a minimum of time and labor.
Additionally, current retrofit or replacement options for old fixtures requires disposal of the old ballast, lamp holders, wiring, and lamps, or the entire fixture all together, creating disposal costs and other issues. For instance, many old ballasts contain hazardous materials and require disposal treatment as such. Thus, there is a further need for a retrofit kit and method for surface mount fluorescent strip light fixtures that minimizes the disposal issues of the retrofit process.

Surface mount fluorescent strip light fixture retrofit kit and method


To facilitate real-time pricing, an embodiment of the invention retrieves multiple quotes from multiple databases associated with multiple service providers. Information regarding a customer's location, and the locations of multiple service providers are used to determine the cost of services associated with each of the multiple service providers in real-time. The retrieved quotes are compared, and quotes below a pre-determined price threshold are provided to a user in real-time (e.g., via the Internet). The user can select a desired quote from the quotes provided, and purchase or request more information regarding the desired quote online.

In the field of telecommunications, there currently exists no means by which customers can obtain real-time price quotes for distance-sensitive communication links, such as dedicated voice and/or data services over T1 lines, including, for example, fractional T1, full T1, DS1, T3, DS3, and so forth. For T1 loops, for example, each product vendor maintains its own internal, and in many cases proprietary, database information and interface software capable of providing the price of a T1 loop based on the telephone number and physical address of a customer. The price of T1 loops is "distance-sensitive," or in other words, the price is dependent upon the geographical distance from the service location (e.g., a customer's location) to the nearest Point of Presence (POP). Loop pricing can also vary based on a local telephone company and/or service area.
Typically, only in-house agent managers and technicians have access to this T1 pricing software, which is only capable of providing pricing for T1 loops for areas serviced by their own company. Additionally, any proprietary information contained in the company's databases is typically only available to such in-house personnel. Each T1 vendor generally attempts to prevent competitors from accessing their pricing software or proprietary databases.
Sales agents of T1 vendors usually must contact in-house agent managers for pricing information. Some vendors allow agents to gain access to the pricing system through a password-protected agent back office web site. Agents who want to gather prices of various T1 vendors must contact each vendor individually (either via in-house agent managers or agent back office web sites) and wait for these companies to respond with their pricing information.
With such a vast, segmented distribution of T1 loop price quote mechanisms, a sales agent attempting to compare pricing information (e.g., in an attempt to find the most cost-effective provider) often has no choice but to contact each vendor individually through a sales agent or agent back-office web site, and wait for the respective agent manager or web site to provide a price quote (from their own proprietary software and/or databases).
Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a system for calculating and delivering real-time price quotes for distance-sensitive communication links, such as T1 service, to customers and/or their sales agents. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide real-time price quotes to customers or their sales agents from multiple service providers.

System and method to determine and deliver quotes for distance-sensitive communication links from multiple service providers


The present invention relates to an input method using the pointing device in which the pointing device""s ON operation causes an application to recognize that the state of the pointing device has transitioned to an ON state and the pointing device""s OFF operation causes the application to recognize that the state of the pointing device has transitioned to an OFF state. The input method includes responding to the ON operation of the pointing device maintained in a certain period and bringing about a latch state in which the pointing device remains in the ON state for the application even if the OFF operation of the pointing device has taken place; and executing a program for informing a user that the latch state has been brought about.

The present invention relates to an input method using a pointing device that can have an ON state enabling an operation of the pointing device (e.g. a state in which a button of a mouse is pressed) and an OFF state disabling an operation of the pointing device (e.g. a state in which a button of a mouse is released), and relates to a portable information terminal or unit having this input function.
Among pointing devices that can have an ON state enabling an operation of the pointing devices and an OFF state disabling an operation of the pointing devices, a pointing device is conventionally known that can have a latch state locking an operation by maintaining the ON state for a certain period.
For example, Windows Me of Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft and Windows Me are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation) employs so-called, ClickLock function. When a user who has pressed and held a mouse button for a certain period, the ClickLock function emulates the state of the button as a software function as if the button were still pressed even after the button is released (the latch state) until it is pressed again. Generally, when an object is dragged on a display, a compound operation of moving the mouse pointer while pressing the mouse button is needed. However, the ClickLock function allows easy dragging by separate operations of pressing the mouse button and moving the mouse pointer, whereby facilitating dragging performed by users who do not have full use of their fingers.
The current ClickLock function of Windows Me, however, does not provide any feedback indicating that an operation has transitioned to the locked state, although it is possible to set the period from when the mouse button is pressed to when an operation transitions to the locked state. As a result, the user may fail to properly operate his/her mouse such that he/she releases the mouse button before locking an operation although he/she had pressed and held the mouse button with the intention of locking the operation. Thus, to avoid this problem, the user has had to press and hold the mouse button for a period much longer than the preset period to prevent the wrong operation. Further, the user has also had to determine the pressing period all by his/her self.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an input method using a pointing device that solves the above mentioned problems and to provide a portable information terminal having this input mechanism, the pointing device allowing accurate recognition of the latch state of the pointing device whereby being capable of eliminating the wrong operation upon transition to the latch state.
An input method using a pointing device of the present invention involves an input method using the pointing device, in which the pointing device""s ON operation causes an application to recognize that the state of the pointing device has transitioned to an ON state and the pointing device""s OFF operation causes the application to recognize that the state of the pointing device has transitioned to an OFF state. The input method includes the steps of: in response to the continuous ON operation of the pointing device over a certain period, bringing about a latch state in which the pointing device remains in the ON state for the application even if the OFF operation of the pointing device is taken place; and executing programs for informing the user that the latch state has been brought about.
The present invention employs the above configuration to inform the user that the state of the pointing device has transitioned to the latch state upon the transition to the latch state, and to emulate the latch state of the operation of the pointing device for other applications. This enables the user to accurately know the period for which the user should maintain the ON state, specifically the timing when the user may release the mouse button for example, thereby preventing wrong operation. Further, it is no more required to maintain the ON state for more than necessary period, specifically to press and hold the mouse button for more than necessary period, for example.
As a preferable embodiment of the present invention, duration of an operation of the pointing device is measured by starting a timer upon transition of the operation of the pointing device to the ON state and by stopping the timer upon transition of the operation of the pointing device to the OFF state, then, if the measured duration is equal to or more than a certain period that is preset to cause transition to the latch state, it is determined that the latch state which locks the operation of the pointing device has brought about. This embodiment is preferable as it allows the user to accurately determine the latch state.
As another preferable embodiment of the present invention, a user is informed that the latch state has been brought about by sound such as a beep or a chime, or visually by display of the state of the pointing device in a window on the display. Either embodiment is preferable since users, in particular hearing impaired or visually impaired users, are more accurately informed that the pointing device is in the latch state.
A portable information terminal of the present invention is provided with a function of informing a user of the latch state of the pointing device and emulating the latch state of the pointing device for other applications in accordance with the above mentioned input method using the pointing device. This portable information terminal allows the user to accurately recognize the latch state of the pointing device.

Input method using pointing device and portable information terminal with function thereof

International Business Machines Corporation


A rotary breech mechanism (10) is provided for loading large caliber guns. The mechanism comprises a rotary transfer member (12) which is cylindrical and mounted in the gun barrel (16) near the breech end (18). A hole (14) through the rotary transfer member (12) is aligned either with an ammunition magazine tube (48) for loading or with the gun barrel (16) for firing of a projectile (20). Once the projectile (20) has been fired, the rotary transfer member (12) is rotated to accept the next projectile, no matter what position the gun is in. The azimuthal orientation of the barrel (16) does not affect the operation of the loading mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to large-caliber gun breeches and, more particularly, to a rotatable gun breech capable of being aligned alternately with the ammunition magazine and gun barrel for various gun elevations and axes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Two examples of cartridge feeding and loading devices for light weapons utilizing a mechanism having a rotating member are described briefly below.
Hill U.S. Pat. No. 2,624,241 relates to that portion of a gun action mechanism which transfers cartridges from the magazine to the gun barrel. A transfer mechanism is provided which comprises a rotatable disk constructed to receive the cartridges singly in a slot or trough formed on one of its faces, and to rotate them through a 90 degree angle in alignment with the barrel bore so that they are successively inserted into the firing chamber with each actuation of a bolt.
Rieke U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,741 is directed to a cartridge feeding and loading device in which cartridges withdrawn from a cartridge belt are adapted to be moved by means of a stepwise driven follower in a stationary longitudinally extending conveyor passage. The cartridges are transferrable by means of an intermittently movable pusher from the conveyor passage into a corresponding bore of a rotatable disk. The disk is rotatable into an angular position which corresponds to the elevational position of the weapon and thereby of the weapon magazine. The pusher transfers the cartridge from the transfer disk into the magazine.
Neither of the patents briefly described above discloses a breech-loading device for a gun that transfers projectiles from the magazine to elevated positions of the weapon barrel by means of a rotatable cylinder with a through hole in the center thereof that allows the cylinder to be completely closed at the rear when aligned with the gun barrel without providing additional sliding hardware such as sleeves or end caps.


In apparatus for driving a spindle of a machine tool, the spindle being rotatably supported in a spindle housing and received in a took mounting opening adapted to be inserted with a pull stud at a front end thereof, including a took clamping drawbar provided with a collet for clamping the pull stud at a front end of the drawbar, and a device for axially moving the drawbar, there is provided a device interposed between the inner surface of the spindle and the outer periphery of the drawbar for transmitting a torque from the drawbar to the spindle. The drawbar is connected to a source of drive of the spindle.

This invention relates to apparatus for driving a spindle of a machine tool, and more particularly apparatus for driving the spindle of the attachment exchange type wherein the construction of the apparatus is simplified.
In a machine tool, a working tool has been mounted on the spindle by holding the tool with a tool holder having a pull stud at its one end and by inserting the tool holder into a tool mounting opening formed at a free end of the spindle.
When the tool holder is inserted into the tool mounting opening of the spindle, the tool holder is clamped by a collet disposed in the spindle. Such clamping operation is effected by rearwardly pulling a drawbar mounted on one end of the collet for clamping the tool by dish shaped springs disposed in the spindle. Conversely, for dismounting the tool holder from the spindle the drawbar is moved against the resilient force of the dish shaped springs for disengaging the pull stud from the collet.
The spindle is rotated by a source of spindle drive installed in the machine tool, and the driving force is transmitted to the spindle through a bull gear fitted on the outer periphery of the spindle.
As above described, in the prior art spindle driving apparatus since a gear is fitted on the spindle as means for transmitting a torque to the spindle, it is necessary to arrange a gear meshing with the driving gear in parallel with the axis of the spindle with the result that the mechanism becomes large and complicated. Moreover, since the dish shaped springs are contained in the spindle, the outer diameter of the dish shaped springs must be small so that the number of laminated dish shaped springs would increase which increases the length of the spindle. Alternatively, the dish shaped springs may be positioned at the rear end of the spindle or at a position remote from the rear end. With the former construction there is a defect that the length of a portion to the rear of a gear train meshing with a gear fitted on the spindle increases. In any case, the length of a tool clamping drawbar inserted through the spindle increases.
Furthermore, where a driving apparatus contained in an attachment removably mounted on the ram of a machine tool is used as the driving apparatus of a machine tool, since the available space about the spindle of attachment is limited, the design of the gear device for driving the spindle of attachment becomes difficult and complicated. Since the axial length of the attachment is shortened, the disc shaped springs can be mounted on the upper end of the ram but the construction of the driving shaft in ram becomes complicated.

Apparatus for driving spindles of machine tools


A procedure is provided for adjusting for image line skew caused by tolerance accumulation between a Raster Output Scanning (ROS) assembly and a photoreceptor which is being scanned. The ROS housing is adjustably mounted in relation to the photoreceptor, so that incremental adjustments can be made to cause the output scan lines emerging from the ROS housing to be moved in the process or reverse process direction vis-a-vis the photoreceptor. A test print is generated which provides measurable scan delineators to identify the amount of scan line skew created by a photoreceptor misalignment. The measured scan line skew alignment is correlated with adjustments made by a hex head screw to provide a very precise alignment. The effective adjustment range is .+-.4 mm in the process direction which corresponds to .+-.6.3 milliradians of scan line skew.

The present invention is generally directed towards an improved mounting for a ROS housing containing the optical components used to direct a modulated scanning beam onto the surface of a photoreceptor, and, more particularly, to a means and method for compensating for scan line (image) skew errors due to photoreceptor-to-ROS misalignment.
Printing systems utilizing a ROS to form images on a photoreceptor surface are well known in the art. Conventionally, the ROS includes a diode or gas laser for generating a coherent beam of radiation; a modulator for modulating the laser output in accordance with an input video image signal; and a multifaceted polygon scanner for scanning the modulated laser beam output line by line, across the surface of the photoreceptor to form the latent image. Also included in the ROS are various optical components to collimate, expand, focus, and align the modulated scanning beams. These optical components are fixedly mounted within a housing frame, which is positioned within a printer machine frame, so that the modulated and shaped scanning beams emerging from a window in the housing are directed in a scan line which is perpendicular to the photoreceptor surface. The lines will be formed in parallel across the surface of the photoreceptor belt. The belt should be aligned so that these parallel lines are formed perpendicular to the direction of belt travel. It is difficult to achieve this perpendicularity, resulting in a condition referred to as "scan line skew", wherein the image effectively takes the form of a parallelogram. This condition will affect the images which are subsequently developed and transferred to output prints, the output prints exhibiting degradation of quality due to the skew effects.

Image skew adjustment for a raster output scanning (ROS) system


A corrosion-resistant cap for use with a fastener and an elastomeric washer. The cap has a hollow head forming a cavity into which the head of the washer is placed, a perimeter outer skirt, and an inner skirt which can be swaged or bent from a longitudinal position to a transverse position perpendicular to the axis of the fastener to make contact and cover the lower surface of the flange of the fastener. This completely encloses the flange and head of the fastener and forms a cavity defined by the outside surface of the inner skirt and the inside surface of the outer skirt. An elastomeric washer will then be threaded onto the threaded shank of the fastener so that it is positioned and held in place by the cavity. Thus, when the fastener and cap are tightened down onto an object, the elastomeric material of the washer flows, completely filling the cavity and the area between the bottom of the outer skirt and the object to which the fastener is attached.

This invention relates generally to corrosion-resistant caps used in connection with fastener and in particular, to corrosion-resistant caps used with moisture-proof, elastomeric washers.
A corrosion-resistant cap for a fastener is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,300 (Bettini et al.). The cap has a single skirt which is bent and crimped beneath the head of the fastener. A sealing washer is placed between the lower surface of the cap and the object in which the fastener is placed to provide a moisture and weather resistant seal after the fastener is tightened.
A similar cap is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,972 (Deutsher) which specifies a cap having a skirt which is crimped beneath the flange on the head of the fastener. It also uses a washer with a resilient material to provide a tight seal. The caps of both Bettini and Deutsher are used with fasteners which have downwardly sloping flanges. The fasteners are used to connect two panels together, with the upper panel having a hole therein to form a cavity into which the washer is placed and in which elastomeric material of the washer will flow.
However, none of the presently available caps disclose a cap with an inner and outer skirt. The inner skirt is swaged or bent beneath the flange of the fastener so that the inner surface of the inner skirt makes contact with and covers the lower surface of the flange. Thus, the entire head and flange of the fastener are enclosed by the cap material without the necessity for bending the outer skirt, which reduces the diameter of the skirt, resulting in a more positive and tighter seal than heretofore available.


Surgical sutures having a core extending along a length thereof between a first end and a second end, and a plurality of sets of first and second projections, wherein the first projections extend in a direction of a first end of the suture and the second projections extend in a direction of a second end of the suture. The first projections may be sized and shaped, and positioned relative to the second projections so as to be capable of substantially shielding the second projections when the surgical suture is drawn through tissue by the second end thereof. The first projections may additionally or alternatively be capable of overlapping and substantially covering a distal end of the respective second projections when the suture is drawn through tissue by the second end.

Barbed sutures have broad surgical applications, such as tissue approximation/plication, wound closure, and fixation of prosthetic devices to tissue. In vivo wound security, tissue compatibility, and scar cosmesis after wound repair are of particular interest to surgeons using barbed sutures.
For unidirectional barbed sutures having barbs facing in only a single direction, an anchor or knot is often used at the end to stop suture movement in the direction opposite to that in which the barbs face. Bi-directional barbed sutures typically have barbs facing in a first direction 101 on a first side of the suture, and barbs facing in the opposite direction 102 on a second side of the suture as shown in FIG. 1. Although these sutures resist movement in both directions, their insertion either requires some type of sheath or insertion device through which the suture is drawn (and which is later removed), or a double armed suture allowing the first end of the suture to be drawn through tissue with a first suture needle and the second end of the suture to be drawn through tissue with a second suture needle.
Double armed sutures, however, limit the wound closure or tissue approximation patterns that can be used. For example, the surgeon typically needs to begin suturing from the middle of the closure line out in two different directions. This technique may not always be acceptable to keep the appropriate tissue apposition.
When a sheath or tubular insertion tool is used, use of the suture is typically limited to procedures requiring short and in particular, straight placement. It is difficult for a surgeon to make several running stitches with a sheathed barbed suture due to the high frictional forces that accumulate along a torturous path. Further, when a surgeon tries to remove the sheath, the barbs as well as the surrounding tissue will likely be damaged.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a bi-directional barbed suture that can more readily and easily be inserted.


A system an method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having a transmission coupled to vehicle wheels, an internal combustion engine, a planetary gearset coupled to the engine and to a differential output shaft to drive the vehicle wheels, a traction motor coupled through gearing to the differential output shaft and the planetary gearset, a generator coupled to the planetary gearset and electrically coupled to the fraction motor, a traction battery coupled to the generator and the traction motor, and at least one controller in communication with the engine, the traction motor, and the generator include limiting engine speed in response to a wheel slip event to an engine speed limit based on motor speed and generator speed to prevent the generator speed from exceeding a corresponding threshold when the wheel slip event terminates.

Traction control for automotive vehicles is well known. Traction control may use various strategies to reduce wheel slip during a wheel slip event. One approach utilizes a vehicle anti-lock braking system to detect and control wheel slip events. Engine torque may also be reduced under some conditions to reduce wheel slip. Wheel slip events in various HEV powertrains may present unique operating conditions not encountered in conventional vehicle powertrains. For example, some HEV powertrains use a single ratio gearing arrangement to connect the drive wheels to first and second electric machines that may operate primarily as a fraction motor and generator, respectively. An internal combustion engine may also be coupled to the drive wheels and the electric machines. In this arrangement, the speed of the traction motor is proportional to the speed of the wheels, and the speed of the generator is proportional to wheel speed and engine speed For a given vehicle speed, the generator speed will be highest when the engine is off. Because of the relationships between wheel speed, generator speed, and engine speed, operation in all-electric drive mode with the traction motor powering the drive wheels may be limited to a vehicle speed (or wheel speed) corresponding to a maximum desired generator speed.
Wheel slip events may occur due to various operating conditions or maneuvers. For example, rough or slippery road conditions, or aggressive handling of the vehicle may result in one or more wheels slipping or leaving the ground for an extended duration, such as for 1-2 seconds or more. This causes the slipping wheel or wheels to spin faster than wheels that continue to maintain traction. When the slipping wheel regains traction, the sudden reduction in wheel speed may result in a corresponding increase in speed of one or more connected powertrain components.

System and method for hybrid vehicle control during wheel slip events to limit generator speed


It is an object of the invention to provide a technique for bringing a center of gravity of a battery-powered power tool closer to a working axis of a tool bit in the battery-powered power tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a battery-powered power tool which drives a motor by a battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese non-examined laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-175592 discloses a battery-powered electric hammer drill having a battery for driving a motor. According to this known art, the motor powered by the battery and a mechanical arrangement are housed within a tool body in the form of a housing. The mechanical arrangement including a motion converting mechanism for linearly moving the hammer bit in its axial direction and a power transmitting mechanism for rotating the hammer bit around its axis serves to drive a hammer bit by rotative power transmitted from the motor. The motor is disposed such that its axis of rotation extends in a direction transverse to the axial direction or a direction of movement of a tool bit in the form of the hammer bit. Further, a handgrip designed to be held by a user is disposed rearward of a tool body on the tool body opposite from the hammer bit and extends in a direction transverse to the axial direction of the hammer bit. A battery is mounted to an extending end or a lower end of the handgrip rearward of the motor.
A power tool such as a hammer drill is used in various manners, including the manner of performing an operation in a horizontal position by pointing the hammer bit upon a vertical wall, the manner of performing an operation in an upward orientation by pointing the hammer bit upon a ceiling, and the manner of performing an operation in a downward orientation by pointing the hammer bit upon a floor. Therefore, in order to alleviate the user's fatigue, it is important to enhance the usability (ease of use) in use of the power tool. Particularly, in the case of the hammer drill in which the user holds the handgrip and performs an operation, while applying a forward pressing force and pressing the hammer bit against a workpiece, the greater the vibration in the striking direction of the hammer bit during operation (the longitudinal moment around a center of gravity), the greater the burden upon the user. The magnitude of this moment depends on the position of the center of gravity of the power tool. Specifically, the moment becomes greater as the position of the center of gravity is brought farther away from the axis of the hammer bit.

Abstract: The battery-powered power tool performs an operation by movement of a tool bit 119 in an axial direction of the tool bit. The power tool includes a battery 110, a motor 111 that is driven by power supply from the battery 110, a mechanical arrangement 113, 115, 117 that drives the tool bit 119 by rotative power transmitted from the motor 111, and a tool body 103 that houses the motor 111 and the mechanical arrangement 113, 115, 117 and has a front end region in which the tool bit 119 is disposed. A sum of weights of the motor 111 and the battery 110 is smaller than a weight of the mechanical arrangement 113, 115, 117.


The present invention relates to a light-sensitive resin composition that has resistance to heat and chemicals, is particularly adapted for use in the formation of a protective film for chemical plating and which is also improved in resistance to the heat of soldering. This light-sensitive resin composition contains (a) a polyurethane (meth)acrylate, (aa) a bisphenol type epoxy (meth)acrylate, (b) a linear high-molecular weight compound, and (c) a polymerization initiator which generates free radicals upon exposure to light. This resin composition is applicable to the manufacture of printed circuit boards by the additive process.

Solder masks are applied in soldering processes for various purposes including delineation of areas to be soldered, protection of copper conductors against corrosion and retention of electrical insulation between conductors. Conventionally, solder masks have been prepared by screen printing of thermosetting resins typified by epoxy resins. However, as the line width required of circuit patterns is decreasing, satisfactory levels of precision are no longer attainable by the screen-printing method and it has become necessary to adopt a photomechanical process in order to obtain fine patterns. In addition, with any improvement in wiring density, even higher reliability is required of the insulation between conductors and the requirements for satisfying this need have become increasingly regorous. It is difficult to form a thick coating by a single application of the screen-printing method and uniform coating on a substrate is also difficult to achieve. These problems could be solved by applying multiple coatings but the precision of printing decreases as the number of coating cycles increases and this also causes the problem of increasing the complexity of the relevant process steps. For these reasons, a need has arisen for the development of a light-sensitive film suitable for use in the formation of solder masks.
Photoresists, also called light-sensitive elements, are used in the formation of conductor patterns in printed circuits. However, they are not suitable for use in the formation of solder masks or protective films for chemical plating since their ability to resist heat, chemicals, etc. is not high enough to warrant use in these applications.
In order to solve these problems, light-sensitive elements adapted for use in the formation of solder masks have been proposed and they include, for example, the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,752 which relates to a light-sensitive element that is rendered flame-retardant, and the methods described in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 59-23723 and 60-1885 which both relate to a composition having improved resistance to thermal shocks.
The light-sensitive elements described in these patents successfully attain the intended objects, i.e., heat resistance or resistance to thermal shocks, but they will experience the following problems if used as resists for chemical plating.
The conventional subtractive method of forming circuit patterns is being replaced by the additive method which is capable of forming wired copper patterns in selective areas without relying upon electrolysis. This additive method offers many advantages including the absence of any need for etching copper foils and treatment of the effluent, cost reduction, and increased reliability of through-holes, in particular small (.ltoreq.0.4 mm) ones. Because of these advantages, the active method is gaining popularity these days. However, the chemical plating bath employed in this method is strongly alkaline (pH ranging from 12 to 13 at 20.degree. C.) and involves treatment at elevated temperature of 60.degree.-80.degree. C. The light-sensitive elements proposed in the patents noted above are unsuitable for use under such hostile conditions.
Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 60-240715 describes a composition which was the ability to resist electroplating. However, with this composition, patterns are formed using an alkali developer, so it essentially has no resistance to strongly alkaline chemical plating baths.
In order to exploit the many advantages of the additive method described above, various versions of this method are under review and they include: the "full additive" method which consists of making through-holes in a substrate or catalyst-loaded substrate, performing an activation treatment on the entire surface of the substrate, printing a plate protective film on the substrate, and imparting the necessary conductor patterns solely by use of an electroless copper plating method; the "semi-additive" method which consists of printing a plate protective film by applying an electroless copper plate over the entire surface of a substrate, forming the necessary conductor patterns by electroplating, and removing the electroless copper plate from all areas of the protective film except those where the conductor patterns have been formed; and the "partly additive" method which employs a copper clad laminate and in which areas where through-holes are to be made are formed by an electroless copper plating method.
A composition that has high resistance to heat and chemicals and which hence is suitable for use as a protective film in these versions of the active method has already been proposed as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-47182. However, this composition lacks light sensitivity and finds only limited use since it is not amendable to photomechanical processes and is incapable of meeting the need for producing fine circuit patterns.
The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve all of the problems described above. An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a light-sensitive resin composition and a light-sensitive element that have high resistance to both heat and chemicals and which are particularly suitable for use in the formation of protective coatings for chemical plating. Another object of the present invention is to provide a light-sensitive resin composition and a light-sensitive resin composition and a light-sensitive element that have the added feature of improved resistance to the heat of soldering and/or improved adhesion to substrates.

Light-sensitive resin composition and light-sensitive element


The invention relates to a spectrometer comprising a hollow main optical body having at least one light channel, a light source, a diffraction grating having a grating central point, a light inlet opening, and a detector unit, which are arranged in such a way that the focal curve of the spectrometer satisfies the back focus equation. In order to create a spectrometer having sufficient spectral resolution from a low-price, light, and easy-to-process material, which spectrometer is able to operate in a large temperature interval even without thermostatic control, according to the invention the light inlet opening is arranged on a compensation body, the compensation body is arranged in the light channel and fastened to the main optical body between the light source and the diffraction grating, and the compensation body is dimensioned in such a way that the compensation body changes the distance between the light inlet opening and the grating central point when the main optical body thermally expands.

Spectrometers for the spectral decomposition and measurement of light from emission processes, produced by evaporation and excitation of materials in hot plasmas (arc discharge in air atmosphere spark discharge in argon, ICP, lasers etc.) are known in many diverse embodiments.
Generally spectrometers comprise a light inlet opening which is punctiform or linear and can be designed as single or multiple opening. The light to be decomposed either passes through a light guide or a light guide bundle from the location of plasma generation to the light inlet opening which is then potentially far removed (10 m and more are possible for wavelengths from about 230 mm) or goes directly from an outwardly closed, possibly argon- or nitrogen-gas-flushed or evacuated light channel direction from the location of the plasma generation to the light inlet opening. In the latter case, the optical system must be located very close to (at most a few decimeters away from) the location of the plasma generation and be aligned relative thereto.
The orientation and extension of the non-punctiform light inlet opening plays a role in the dimensioning and positioning of imaging elements and diaphragms in the light channel between light source and light inlet opening since it must be ensured that the analytically relevant plasma regions can be completely accommodated by the optical system.
From the light inlet opening, the light to be decomposed passes to one or more simultaneously or successively operating imaging and dispersive elements. The dispersive elements can be prisms or mechanically or holographically produced diffraction gratings. Spherical or aspherical mirrors are used as imaging elements.
The structure of the optical system is simplified when using reflection-coated, spherical and concave diffraction gratings since in such systems dispersion and imaging is accomplished by one and the same optical element.
Depending on the shape and density of the diffracting structure applied to the spherical surface of the diffraction grating (shape and spacing of the grating lines), the radius of curvature of the spherical surface of the diffraction grating and the distance of the light inlet opening from the centre of symmetry of the grating lines on the grating surface (grating central point), the so-called inlet back focal length, the spectral lines of certain well-known wavelengths characteristic of a material to be analysed are found in the structure of the optical system at certain diffraction angles which can be calculated with the aid of the so-called grating equation and at certain diffraction-angle-dependent distances from the grating central point (outlet back focal lengths).
The grating equation:nGλ=sin α+sin β  (1)describes which wavelength λ appears in which diffraction order n at given line density or grating constant C (given in lines per mm) at which diffraction angle β, when the angle of incidence α of the light to be decomposed is known. The angles are here plotted on the so-called grating normal. This is the connecting line between grating central point and curvature central point of the grating surface.
The curve that describes the angle- and distance-dependent position of spectral lines of given wavelengths relative to the grating central point is called the focal curve. The best known special case of a focal curve is the Rowland circle in the so-called Paschen-Runge mounting of a concave grating. In this case, grating central point, light inlet opening and detector unit are located tangentially arranged on a circle whose diameter corresponds to the radius of curvature of the concave grating and whose plane is designated as dispersion plane
In contrast to the Paschen-Runge mounting, the focal curve of a flat field grating runs flatter or sometimes in an S-shape.
The generally valid formula for the profile of focal curve of Rowland circle and flat field gratings in the dispersion plane is the back focus equation:
                                                                        cos                2                                          α                                      L              A                                -                                    cos                                                                                α                        R                    +                                                    cos                2                                          β                                      L              B                                -                                    cos                                                                                β                        R                    -                      n                                                                          λ                                                                          K                          =        0                            (        2        )            where:    α is the angle of incidence;    β is the diffraction angle;    LA is the inlet back focal length;    LB is the outlet back focal length;    R is the grating radius (radius of curvature of the spherical grating surface);    n is the diffraction order (integer, positive or negative);    λ is the wavelength (at diffraction angle β);    K is the spherical grating constant, depending on line shape.
From the back focus equation (2) it follows for K=0 (Rowland circle grating) that all the outlet back focal lengths must lie on one circle if the inlet back focal length and the grating central point lie on the same circle. In addition, it can be generally derived that a shortening or lengthening of the inlet back focal length by an amount ΔL, to a good approximation changes all the outlet back focal lengths by the same amount but with opposite sign.
Since the materials of which spectrometers are usually constructed usually do not have negligible coefficients of thermal expansion, temperature fluctuations have an influence on the measurement. The length extension of a given material with a temperature difference ΔT is determined by the corresponding coefficient of linear thermal expansion α:l2=l1(1+αΔT)  (3)where:    ΔT is the temperature difference;    l1 is the initial length;    l2 is the end length;    α is the coefficient of linear thermal expansion.
In a spectrometer the thermal expansion has various consequences. If a diffraction grating is applied to a substrate, which has a non-negligible coefficient of thermal expansion α, the grating constant varies with the temperature and the diffraction angle is therefore temperature-dependent (cf. grating equation (1)). This effect is manifest in a wavelength-dependent positional drift of the optical system.
When detecting the (complete) spectrum with spatially resolving sensors (e.g. CCD or CMOS detectors), the positional drift can easily be compensated by means of a superpositionable drift reference spectrum within the framework of a reference measurement. A software-dependent spectrum tracking can also be implemented by means of the continuous observation of spectral structures or sections which continually reoccur and are comparable for a plurality of samples. Such methods have been available for many years in the prior art and in a plurality of spectrometers.
Tracking the detector unit tangentially to the focal curve is feasible and is described for individual detectors in DE 10 2004 061 178 A1.
EP 1 041 372 A1 proposes a solution in which the detector unit of a spectrometer is mounted on a support material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and is fixed to the main optical body so that when thermal expansion occurs, the centre of the detector unit follows the wavelength-dependent spectral shift resulting from the change in the grating constant to a good approximation. However, a change in the focal position is not compensated or eliminated in this structure since the measuring task to be fulfilled does not require any exactly held focal position.
As is described in DE 10 2004 061 178 A1 and generally known, the focusing of an optical system is part of its basic alignment which can only be accomplished by means of the movement of the light inlet opening if the detector units are correctly position on the (instantaneous) focal curve of the system. However, if the back focal lengths vary as a function of the temperature, because the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials used cannot be neglected (cf. back focus equation (2)), the optical system varies its focal curve (defocusing) as a function of temperature and thereby loses spectral resolution since with increasing temperature all the spacings in the system enlarge but the outlet back focal length must become smaller if the back focus equation is to be satisfied and therefore the focal position or spectral resolution should be preserved with increasing inlet back focal length.
To compensate for the effect just described, it is suggested in DE 10 2004 061 178 A1 to re-focus the light inlet opening by means of actuators and thus optimise the sharpness of the image. The optimum can then be found and re-adjusted by means of an algorithm within the framework of a reference measurement. Alternatively spectrometers can be dimensioned so that within a predefined temperature interval, only small changes in the spectral resolution of the system occur as a result of defocusing due to thermal expansion. A condition for the permissible defocusing at a given maximum temperature, is remaining within the depth of focus interval of the optical system:
                              t          w                =                              n                                                                          λ                                A            2                                              (        4        )            where:    tw is the wave-optical depth of focus;    n is the diffraction order;    λ is the wavelength;    A is the aperture (depending on the grating illumination and the grating radius).
By selecting materials having a very low or no coefficient of thermal expansion α and/or keeping the operating temperature T of the optical system constant (thermostatic control) and/or active tracking either of the light inlet opening or of the detector unit or both assemblies by means of linear motors, piezo-actuators and the like, the consequences of the thermal expansion can be limited or completely eliminated if the entire system could or must be exposed to a broad temperature interval.
In practice, analytical devices fitted with spectrometers, in particular portable and mobile systems which possibly should also be battery-operated, are subject to some restrictions. Portable systems should be as light as possible and nevertheless have a sufficient and as far as possible constant spectral resolution capacity. Waiting times for switching a system on again after longer operating pauses should be as short as possible.
Reference measurements during measurement operation are perceived as disturbing and should therefore be restricted to a minimum. However, complex mechanical actuator-based tracking systems are potentially liable to breakdown. In addition, they are relatively expensive and increase the overall size of spectrometers fitted with them.
A further disadvantage of known thermostatic controls of optical systems of spectrometers is that they shorten the operating life in battery operation of a spectrometer, in some cases even quite considerably.
Special alloys or ceramics having very low, almost negligible coefficients of thermal expansion are very expensive and additionally usually very difficult to process. Non-metallic materials are usually only available as thin plate material so that frequently not all the required processings can be carried out problem-free such as, for example, the manufacture of clearances and threaded bores. The manufacture of compact spatial structures is considerably simpler with metal materials but the said special alloys are not only expensive but also very heavy and therefore unsuitable for portable systems.


A roofing membrane temperature indicator is provided for preventing the installation of a roofing membrane or roofing membranes at a temperature below a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) for a particular installation procedure. The membrane temperature indicator is visibly associated with the roofing membrane(s) and includes a thermochromic indicator having a first color at temperatures below a designated temperature and a second color visibly different from the first color at and above the designated temperature. The designated temperature at which the color of the membrane indicator changes is at or above a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) for a particular installation procedure.

The subject invention relates to roofing membranes and in particular to a roofing membrane temperature indicator that enables a roofing contractor to readily determine whether the temperature of a roofing membrane or a plurality of roofing membranes in a package is suitable for the installation of the roofing membrane(s) in a roofing system and thereby prevent an inadvertent installation of the roofing membrane(s) in a roofing system at a temperature below a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the membrane(s) for a particular roofing membrane installation procedure.
Asphaltic roofing membranes with smooth or granular top surfaces, other roofing membranes (such as but not limited single ply PVC, TPO, and EPDM membranes sold by Johns Manville International, Inc. and other roofing product manufactures), and asphaltic, single ply, or other roofing membranes that have smooth or granular thermochromic top surfaces that undergo a visible color change at a specific temperature to promote energy conservation within a building should only be installed under conditions that conform to the application specifications set forth by the manufacturer. These application specifications permit the application of these roofing membranes only when the roofing membranes are at temperatures that are at or above minimum recommended installation temperatures. By requiring these roofing membranes to be at or above minimum recommended installation temperatures, the roofing membranes are not damaged during application due to a lack of sufficient pliability and good strong bonds are formed between the individual roofing membranes of a roofing layer and the roofing membranes of that layer and an underlying roofing layer. In general, application specifications require the roofing membranes set forth in this paragraph to be installed in a roofing system only when the roofing membranes are at temperatures of 40° F. (4° C.) or higher. Where these roofing membranes are self-adhering roofing membranes, the adhesion of these roofing membranes to other roofing membranes and roofing layers is highly dependent on the temperatures of the roofing membranes at the time of installation. Thus, these self-adhering roofing membranes should only be installed when the temperatures of these roofing membranes are sufficiently high to assure a good strong bond between these roofing membranes and between these roofing membranes and other roofing layers e.g. at temperatures of 50° F. (10° C.) or higher.
When a roofing system is being installed, the ambient temperature and the temperature of the roofing membranes to be installed in the roofing system may not and frequently do not coincide. Thus, ambient temperature alone cannot be relied upon to determine whether conditions are acceptable for the installation of the roofing membranes. For example, while the ambient temperature at the job site might be 40° F. or higher, the temperature of the roofing membranes to be installed, e.g. after being stored at the job site over night, might not be at or above the temperature required to meet application specifications, but at a temperature below that required to meet application specifications, e.g. at a temperature below 40° F. By way of another example, self-adhering roofing membranes should be at or above a specified temperature to meet application specifications, e.g. at or above 50° F. (10° C.), but can be installed when ambient temperatures are less than that temperature, e.g. at temperatures of 45° F. (7° C.) and rising during installation. Thus, a contractor cannot rely solely on knowing the ambient temperature when determining if application specifications for a roofing membrane are being met during the installation of the roofing membrane. The contractor must know both the ambient temperature and whether or not the roofing membranes to be installed are at or above a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membranes.


Managing application programs is disclosed including perceiving a current context and determining that a first event has occurred, acquiring historical data relating to the first event, determining user behavior based on the historical data, and pushing application recommendation information or controlling application status based on the determination results.

As research and development into smart operating systems proceeds, behavior determination is becoming a function of smart operating systems and a reason for calling smart operating systems "smart."
For example, Android systems are capable of pushing weather, flight, and other information to users.
In another example, iOS systems are capable of pushing road condition information to users when the users get off work.
However, existing smart operating systems typically only push relevant service information based on user customization, even though such service information may not be what users actually need, and is deficient in terms of precision and scope of the information provided.

Method and system for managing application programs

BANMA ZHIXING NETWORK (HONGKONG) CO., LIMITED


A displacement measuring apparatus 100 which measures a displacement amount of a moving object 102 includes a light source that irradiates the moving object 102 using luminous flux emitted from a light emitting area 101, a photo diode array 104, 105 that includes a plurality of light receiving areas in a movement direction of the moving object 102 and that forms an image of the luminous flux reflected on a plurality of indentations 103 of the moving object 102 to receive light, and a measurement unit that measures the displacement amount of the moving object 102 based on a movement amount of a light emitting area image 106 that is formed on the photo diode array 104, 105 by forming the image of the luminous flux.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a displacement measuring apparatus and a velocity measuring apparatus which perform noncontact measurements of a displacement amount and a velocity, respectively.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a method of performing noncontact detection of a displacement amount of a moving object, the following two methods are known. One is a method of irradiating coherent light onto the moving object to generate a speckle pattern caused by a complex interference of luminous flux that is obtained by the reflection and the divergence of the light to detect a displacement or a velocity of the moving object based on a movement of the speckle pattern in accordance with a movement of the moving object. The other is a method of irradiating coherent light beams at incident angles different from each other with respect to the moving object to obtain a velocity of the moving object based on a difference between optical frequency Doppler shifts that are received at the time of the reflection and the divergence. However, in the methods described above, there is a problem of low reliability of an LD (laser diode) or a VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) used as a coherent light source, high cost caused by the complexity of the configuration of an apparatus, or the like. Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-113762 discloses a method of using an incoherent light source to detect a displacement amount and a velocity of an imaged object.
However, in the velocity measuring apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-113762, an optical pattern image on a light receiving portion is not clear because reflected light from a surface of the moving object does not pass through an imaging system. Therefore, amplitude of a signal detected by a photo diode array of the light receiving portion is low, and an SN (signal to noise) ratio as signal integrity is deteriorated. As a result, detection accuracy of the displacement amount of the optical pattern image is reduced and measurement accuracy of the velocity is also reduced. On the other hand, if an imaging system such as a lens is added to the measurement apparatus in order to make the optical pattern image clear, the cost increases or reducing the size of the apparatus is prevented because of the increase of the number of the parts.

Displacement measuring apparatus and velocity measuring apparatus which measure displacement amount of moving object