Systems and methods for detecting cardiac arrhythmias such as an atrial fibrillation (AF) are described herein. The AF detection system includes a sensor circuit to sense a physiological signal, a heartbeat processor to recognize a plurality of beat patterns using cycle length of two more consecutive cardiac cycles. The beat patterns can be indicative of temporal relationship between the consecutive cardiac cycles. The heartbeat processor may generate a repetitiveness indictor based on a statistical measurement of various beat patterns. The AF detection system includes an arrhythmia detector to detect an episode of AF based on the repetitiveness indictor, and to discriminate the AF from other arrhythmias of atrio-ventricular conduction abnormalities.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) have been used for monitoring patient health condition or disease states and delivering therapies. For example, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) may be used to monitor for certain abnormal heart rhythms and to deliver electrical energy to the heart to correct the abnormal rhythms. Some IMDs may be used to monitor for chronic worsening of cardiac hemodynamic performance, such as due to congestive heart failure (CHF), and to provide cardiac stimulation therapies, including cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) to correct cardiac dyssynchrony within a ventricle or between ventricles.
Some IMDs are capable of detecting cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common clinical arrhythmia affecting millions of people. During AF, disorganized electrical pulses originated from regions in or near an atrium may lead to irregular conductions to ventricles, thereby causing inappropriately fast and irregular heart rate. AF may be paroxysmal that may last from minutes to days before it stops by itself, persistent that may last for over a week and typically requires medication or other treatment to revert to normal sinus rhythm, or permanent where a normal heart rhythm cannot be restored with treatment. Timely detection of AF may be clinically important for assessing progression of AF.

Systems and methods for arrhythmia detection


A coaxial connector includes an inner tube, an outer tube, a center connector unit and a resilient member. The inner and outer tube each have a first/second body, and each of the first and second bodies has a semi-circular first/second tubular portion. A first flange extends outward from the front end of the first tubular portion. The outer tube has a first stepped portion formed in the inside of the front end of the second tubular portion thereof. The center connector unit is securely located in the first and second bodies. The resilient member has a curved body with two legs bent from two ends thereof. The curved body of the resilient member is engaged between the first flange and the first stepped portion. The legs extend beyond the first and second tubular portions. The coaxial connector is easily assembled and has lower manufacturing cost.

1. Fields of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coaxial connector, and more particularly, to a coaxial connector for transmission of electric signals. The coaxial connector is easily assembled and has lower manufacturing cost.
2. Descriptions of Related Art
The conventional way to connect a connector with a circuit board is directly connecting the connector to the contact point of the circuit board by way of welding.
However, the connection between the connector and the contact point of the circuit board often is not well connected so that the transmission is affected. Taiwan Utility Model No. 215421 discloses a coaxial connector 10 which is disclosed in FIG. 1 and comprises a semi-circular contact portion 101 on the front end thereof. A semi-circular opening 102 is formed at the lower portion of the contact portion 101. A notch 103 is defined between the semi-circular contact portion 101 and the semi-circular opening 102. A center connector 104 extends centrally and axially from the coaxial connector 10. A curved slot 105 is defined in the inside of the contact portion 101 and a C-shaped leg 106 is engaged with the curved slot 105. As shown in FIG. 2, when the coaxial connector 10 is connected to the circuit board 20, the notch 103 is aligned with the side of the circuit board 20, the coaxial connector 10 is then rotated to insert the C-shaped leg 106 into the holes 201 of the circuit board 20. The center connector 104 is then connected with the holes 201 of the circuit board 20.
It is noted that the material, cupper, for making the coaxial connector becomes rare and expensive along with the huge demand globally, so that the cost for the coaxial connector is a burden for the manufacturers and users.
In order to reduce the cost of the use of the cupper, casting iron is chosen to replace the cupper, and the structure of the coaxial connector has to be changed by the use of the casting iron.
The present invention intends to provide a coaxial connector which has different structure from that of the conventional coaxial connector and improves the shortcomings mentioned above.


An example of an information processing apparatus distinguishes whether there is an operation instruction or not in accordance with an operation made on an input device. First, an acquiring section acquires an input value based on the operation made on the input device. An operation instruction distinguishing section distinguishes whether there is an operation instruction or not provided by the operation made on the input device, such that the distinguishing result is different between when the input value is within a distinguishing range, which is a prescribed range, and when the input value is outside the distinguishing range. When the input value is changed in a direction of being away from a border of the distinguishing range, a range setting section changes a size of the distinguishing range such that the border approaches the post-change input value.

Conventionally, there is an input device which allows an analog input to be thereon, for example, an analog stick or the like. Conventionally, there is also a technology for making an on/off operation instruction using an input device which allows an analog input to be made thereon.
With such a method, a user may occasionally move the stick largely in order to switch between an on state and an off state. In such a case, the responsiveness to the on/off switching may be occasionally poor.
Accordingly, an object of this specification discloses a storage medium having an information processing program stored thereon by which, when an operation instruction is to be made by use of an input device, a state where there is an operation instruction can be switched to a state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, with high responsiveness, an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, and an instruction distinguishing method.
(1)
An example of a storage medium described in this specification is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having an information processing program stored thereon, the information processing program being executable by a computer of an information processing apparatus for distinguishing whether there is an operation instruction or not in accordance with an operation made on an input device. The information processing program allows the computer to act as an acquisition unit, an operation instruction distinguishing unit, and a range setting unit.
The acquisition unit acquires an input value based on the operation made on the input device. The operation instruction distinguishing unit distinguishes whether there is an operation instruction or not provided by the operation made on the input device, such that the distinguishing result is different between when the input value is within a distinguishing range, which is a prescribed range, and when the input value is outside the distinguishing range. When the input value is changed in a direction of being away from a border of the distinguishing range, the range setting unit changes a size of the distinguishing range such that the border approaches the post-change input value.
According to the structure of (1), when the input value becomes away from the border of the distinguishing range, the distinguishing range is changed to approach the input value. According to this, the distance between the input value and the distinguishing range becomes shorter, and therefore, the change amount (moving amount) of the input value usable for switching the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, can be reduced. Namely, the user can easily switch the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, by returning the input value slightly toward the border of the distinguishing range. In this manner, according to the structure of (1), when an operation instruction is made by use of the input device, the state where there is an operation instruction can be switched to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, with high responsiveness.
(2)
The range setting unit may set the distinguishing range to include a prescribed set range.
According to the structure of (2), in whichever manner the distinguishing range is changed in accordance with the input value, the prescribed set range is included in the distinguishing range. Therefore, the user can switch, without fail, the state where there in an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, by an operation of moving the input position to a position within the set range.
(3)
The set range may include an input value of a case where no operation is made on the input device.
According to the structure of (3), the input value of a case where no operation is made on the input device is set to be included in the set range. Therefore, the user can switch the state where there in an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, by not operating the input device (e.g., by putting his/her hand off from the stick).
(4)
The input device may include a movable member which is operable by a user and is put to a prescribed state in the case where no operation is made thereon. In this case, the acquisition unit acquires an input value which is determined by a position and/or posture of the movable member with respect to the prescribed state.
According to the structure of (4), an input unit which allows the user to make an operation input thereon by moving the movable member is used. Such an input device physically moves the movable member during the operation. Therefore, if the distinguishing range is fixed, the movable member may be moved largely from the state where it is distinguished that there is an operation instruction to the state where it is distinguished that there is no operation instruction. By contrast, according to the structure of (4), the distinguishing range is changed in accordance with the input value. Therefore, the distance by which the movable member of the above-described input device is moved for switching the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, can be shortened. Namely, the user can easily switch the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa.
(5)
The acquisition unit may acquire a two-dimensional input value. In this case, the range setting unit sets a distinguishing range representing a two-dimensional area on a coordinate plane provided for representing the two-dimensional input value.
According to the structure of (5), even when the input value is two-dimensional, it can be distinguished whether or not the input value is included in the distinguishing range at once, with no need of executing the distinguishing processing for each of the components. Therefore, the distinguishing processing can be executed easily. In the case where the structure of (5) is combined with the structure of (13) described below, the instruction direction can be accurately calculated by use of a two-dimensional distinguishing range.
(6)
The range setting unit may set the distinguishing range as a circular area on the coordinate plane, the circular area being centered around a position of an input value of a case where no operation is made on the input device.
According to the structure of (6), the distinguishing range can be easily managed by use of the length of the radius. In addition, the processing of distinguishing whether or not the input value is included in the distinguishing range can be executed by comparing the distance from the position of the input value of a case where there is no operation made on the input device to the input value against the length of the radius of the distinguishing range, and thus the calculation for the distinguishing processing is simplified.
(7)
When a direction from the central position of the circular area to the position of the input value is changed larger than a prescribed angle, the range setting unit may change the distinguishing range to be reduced.
According to the structure of (7), when the direction from the central position of the circular area to the position of the input value (input direction) is largely changed, the distinguishing range is reduced. In the case where the input direction is largely changed, if the distinguishing range is not changed, the post-change input value is within the distinguishing range. As a result, it may be undesirably distinguished that there is no operation instruction. By contrast, according to the structure of (7), the distinguishing range is reduced in the above case. Therefore, such wrong distinguishing can be prevented, and it can be accurately distinguished whether there is an operation instruction or not.
(8)
When the input value is changed in a direction of being away from the border of the distinguishing range, the range setting unit may set the distinguishing range to be a circular area, a central position of which is moved in a direction in accordance with the direction of change of the input value.
According to the structure of (8), the distinguishing range is set such that the central position thereof is moved in a direction in accordance with the direction of change of the input value. According to this, the distinguishing range is enlarged mainly in such a direction. Therefore, in the other directions, the ratio of enlargement is small (see FIG. 13). In this case, when the input direction is largely changed, the possibility that the post-change input position is included in the distinguishing range is low. Therefore, according to the structure of (8), the possibility that, when the input direction is largely changed, the post-change input position is included in the distinguishing range and as a result, it is wrongly distinguished that there is no operation instruction can be alleviated.
(9)
The range setting unit may include a reference point setting unit and a range determination unit. The reference point setting unit sets a reference point such that when a position of the input value is changed in a direction of being away from the reference point, the reference point is changed to approach a position of the post-change input value. The range determination unit determines the distinguishing range such that the reference point is on the border thereof. Thus, the distinguishing range is set.
According to the structure of (9), the reference point is set in accordance with the input value, so as to be within a prescribed range from the input value. Accordingly, when the input direction is largely changed, the distinguishing range is reduced (see FIG. 16). Therefore, such a situation that it is distinguished that there is no operation instruction against the intention of the user can be prevented, and thus the operation instruction can be accurately distinguished.
(10)
When the input value is changed in a direction of approaching a position of the reference point, the range setting unit may maintain the position of the reference point.
According to the structure of (10), when the input value is changed in a direction of approaching the position of the reference point, the position of the reference point is not changed. Therefore, in this case, the distinguishing range is not changed, either. Thus, the user can switch, without fail, the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, by operating the input value to approach the border.
(11)
When the input value is changed in a direction of being away from the border of the distinguishing range, the range setting unit may set the distinguishing range such that the border thereof is away from a position of the post-change input value by a prescribed distance.
According to the structure of (11), the distinguishing range can be easily controlled such that the border of the distinguishing range is located within a certain distance from the position of the input value. Namely, the user can switch, without fail, the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, by moving the input value to approach the distinguishing range by at least the certain distance.
(12)
When the input value is changed in a direction of approaching the border of the distinguishing range, the range setting unit maintains the distinguishing range.
According to the structure of (12), when the input value is changed in a direction of approaching the border of the distinguishing range, the distinguishing range is not changed. Therefore, the user can switch, without fail, the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, by operating the input value to approach the border of the distinguishing range.
(13)
The information processing program may allow the computer to act as a direction calculation unit. When it is distinguished by the operation instruction distinguishing unit that there is the operation instruction, the direction calculation unit calculates a direction of a position of the input value with respect to a prescribed reference position on the coordinate plane provided for representing a two-dimensional input value.
According to the structure of (13), the user can instruct a direction by use of the input device, and the responsiveness of the operation of instructing a direction by use of the input device can be improved.
(14)
When the input value outside the distinguishing range is changed in a direction of being away from the border of the distinguishing range, the range setting unit may set the distinguishing range to be enlarged.
According to the structure of (14), by the enlargement of the distinguishing range, the border of the distinguishing range is allowed to approach the input value. Owing to this, the user can easily provide a state where there is no operation instruction by returning the input value slightly toward the distinguishing range, and the responsiveness of switching the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction can be improved.
(15)
The range setting unit may set the distinguishing range such that an upper limit thereof is a range which is away from the border of a region of positions that the input value can assume by at least a prescribed distance.
According to the structure of (15), the distinguishing range does not become too large. Therefore, such a situation that it is distinguished that there is no operation instruction against the intention of the user can be prevented, and thus the operation instruction can be accurately distinguished.
(16)
When the input value within the distinguishing range is changed in a direction of being away from the border of the distinguishing range, the range setting unit may set the distinguishing range to be reduced.
According to the structure of (16), by the reduction of the distinguishing range, the border of the distinguishing range is allowed to approach the input value. Owing to this, the user can easily provide the state where there is an operation instruction by moving the input value to a position slightly outside the distinguishing range. Thus, the responsiveness of switching the state where there is no operation instruction to the state where there is an operation instruction can be improved. In the case where the structure of (14) is combined with the structure of (16), the border of the distinguishing range is allowed to approach the input value both when the input value is within the distinguishing range and when the input value is outside the distinguishing range. Owing to this, the responsiveness of switching the state where there is an operation instruction to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, can be improved.
(17)
The range setting unit may set the distinguishing range such that a lower limit thereof is a range which includes an input value of a case where no operation is made on the input device.
According to the structure of (17), the distinguishing range does not become too small. Therefore, such a situation that it is distinguished that there is an operation instruction against the intention of the user can be prevented, and thus the operation instruction can be accurately distinguished.
(18)
When the input value is within the distinguishing range, the operation instruction distinguishing unit may distinguish that there is no operation instruction; and when the input value is outside the distinguishing range, the operation instruction distinguishing unit may distinguish that there is an operation instruction.
According to the structure of (18), with an input device by which when there is no operation made thereon, the input value is a certain reference value, and when an operation is made thereon, the input value is away from the reference value, the state where there is an operation instruction can be switched to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, with high responsiveness.
In this specification, an information processing apparatus and an information processing system including units equivalent to the units realized by execution of the information processing program of (1) through (18) are disclosed. Also in this specification, an instruction distinguishing method (method for distinguishing whether there is an operation instruction or not) which is executable by (1) through (18) is disclosed.
According to the storage medium having the above-described information processing program stored thereon, the above-described information processing apparatus, the above-described information processing system, and the above-described instruction distinguishing method, the border of the distinguishing range, provided for distinguishing whether there is an operation instruction or not, is changed in accordance with the change of the input value so as to approach the input value. By such an arrangement, an operation instruction is made by use of the input device, the state where there is an operation instruction can be switched to the state where there is no operation instruction, or vice versa, with high responsiveness.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Storage medium having information processing program stored thereon, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and instruction distinguishing method


A suspension system with inclination stabilization, in particular for use on heavy work vehicles, such as a dumper, where the front pair of wheels is mounted on a transverse rigid axle, has an axle (5) firmly connected with a Y-shaped frame (1) extending in the longitudinal direction along the central line (M) of the vehicle. The frame is suspended from the chassis of the vehicle, partly from a spherical bearing (4) disposed in the central line of the vehicle, partly via two spring units (2, 3) arranged symmetrically around the central line and a rod connection (7). The frame is additionally equipped with one or more laterally directed stabilization arms (6) which are confined by the chassis. This provides a suspension system which contains a very small number of components, which is stable, sturdy and resistant to wear, and which contains both springing, level adjustment and inclination stabilization.

The Patent Specification DK 176690 B1 discloses a suspension system, in particular for heavy work vehicles, which comprises a rigid front axle suspended from parallel, pivotable rods and from a triangular rod connection. The suspension system is capable of absorbing most of the occurring impacts from the wheels, so that these impacts are only transferred to the vehicle to a minor degree.
One of the drawbacks of this structure is that the system contains many movable parts and bearings which are subjected to wear, and that the free mobility of the system is limited by the mounting principle and the patterns of movement of the rod connections.
The document EP 0 932 512 B1 discloses a pendular spring mounted axle suspension where the relative movement of the axle and the chassis is limited by a pair of mechanical stops, which protrude vertically from the upper side of the axle on both sides and another pair of mechanical stops, pointing downwards from the chassis. The maximum angle between the axle and the chassis is limited to 11 degrees.

Suspension system with inclination stabilization


A method and device for automatically processing static test data of a rail transit vehicle are provided. A target operation step is determined in accordance with a commissioning template. Information about a commissioning task step is sent to a terminal device, for prompting that the target operation step needs to be executed. After the information about a commissioning result corresponding to the target operation step is received, it is judged whether test data in the information is correct. If it is judged that the test data is correct, the information is sent to the terminal device, the judgement result is filled into the commissioning template, and a step of determining the target operation step is executed. If it is judged that the test data is incorrect, the information is sent to the terminal device, and the judgement result is filled into the commissioning template.

At present, in commissioning of a rail transit vehicle (such as a motor train unit, or a subway vehicle), test data of the commissioning are recorded and stored in a paper file. In a case of a heavy task, a large amount of paper forms need to be filled, bringing hard work to a commissioner and resulting in low efficiency of commissioning because the test data are all filled manually.
Therefore, it is desired to improve the efficiency of commissioning.

Method and device for automatically processing static test data of rail transit vehicle


A housing including a honing device, a blade sharpener, a blade restraining mechanism, and a biased blade guide being received in a scabbard or a knife block. Wherein a knife is honed and sharpened upon insertion into the housing, or upon withdrawal from the housing, or both, and wherein the blade is retained within the housing after insertion therein.

Blades such as knives or scissors are frequently stored in a scabbard or block when not in use. Some scabbards and knife blocks can include a sharpening mechanism which is operable when the blade is inserted or removed from the scabbard or block to sharpen the blade for subsequent use. However, such sharpening mechanisms are typically abrasive and do not provide a fine finish to the cutting edge of the blade.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a blade scabbard incorporating a blade sharpening mechanism that is operable for sharpening the cutting edge of a blade which also provides a fine finish to the cutting edge. It would also be desirable to provide a blade sharpening cassette incorporating a blade sharpening mechanism that is operable for sharpening the cutting edge of a blade which also provides a fine finish to the cutting edge and which can be provided in a knife block.

Blade storage device including a blade sharpener and a honing device


An impact switch includes a housing having a wall including at least two electrically conductive contact elements spaced apart from one another. The switch includes an inertial body having a conductive surface disposed in a tapered aperture and electrically connecting the contact elements to one another in a switch closed condition. An impact switch for rapidly firing an explosive device is provided.

The present invention relates to impact sensing switches including impact sensing switches mounted on projectiles and a method for triggering devices by interrupting an electrical path.
Impact sensing switches and triggering devices are commonly utilized in a wide variety of applications such as triggering airbag deployment in automobiles. Standard impact switches are often too large in size such that they may not fit in applications which have limited space requirements. Many impact sensing switches are relatively slow in triggering a device because the configuration requires connection of an electrical path. Further, common impact sensing switches cannot withstand harsh gravity induced shock loading and are inoperable in high gravity or high shock load environments.
The present invention solves these difficult problems in a novel manner by improving the overall performance of impact sensing switches. Smaller, faster triggering, robust impact sensing switches are disclosed herein.


The attachment device has a plurality of attachment projections (1) and respective retaining elements (MR). The attachment projections (1) are essentially cylindrical and project from the bottom wall of the cavity (2) formed in the one-piece casing (3), produced by plastics blow molding techniques, of the sunvisor. The cavity (2) receives the vanity mirror boxlike shell (4) so that the attachment projections (1) penetrate in the interior of the boxlike shell (4) through respective through holes (7). The boxlike shell (4) is firmly fixed in the cavity (2) by retaining means (MR) constituted by a plastic deformation (10) of the free end of the attachment projection (1), or by a self-tapping screw (11) or by an internally toothed washer (12), or by a self-tapping nut (14) which, in any case, presses the boxlike shell (4) against the bottom wall of the cavity (2).

The present invention relates to an attachment device for automobile sunvisor vanity mirrors which, in particular, is applicable to sunvisors having a one-piece plastics material casing.
It is well known that automobile sunvisors are provided as original equipment with a mirror which is usually known as a vanity mirror. The vanity mirror may be simply superimposed on the sunvisor or it may be integrated in the sunvisor structure. The vanity mirrors integrated in the sun visor structure comprise in general essentially a boxlike shell and a cover plate. The boxlike shell of the vanity mirror is basically prismatic in shape and is open on the front surface thereof, the boxlike shell being dimensioned to contain the mirrored surface as such as well as other devices related with the functionality of the vanity mirror. The vanity mirror cover plate is attached to the boxlike shell and may be operated at will by the user so that the latter may conceal the mirrored surface or open it to view.
In the vanity mirrors based on a one-piece plastics material casing produced by blow moulding such materials, the boxlike shell of the vanity mirror is housed in a cavity formed for that purpose in the corresponding side of the sunvisor.
The vanity mirror boxlike shell is usually attached to the cavity of the sunvisor casing by adhesives. In certain cases, adhesive products applied on the corresponding facing surfaces are used. In other cases, attachment is achieved by one or more portions of flexible tape, both surfaces of which are provided with adhesive products, such that the respective surfaces of the flexible tape portions are attached to the vanity mirror boxlike shell and the opposite sides of the portions are attached to the cavity of the sunvisor casing.
In any case, the attachment of the vanity mirror boxlike shell to the sunvisor casing cavity by adhesive products, as described above, generally has certain drawbacks. On the one hand, the vibrations caused when the vehicle is running frequently cause a precarious attachment or even untimely detachment of the vanity mirror and, on the other hand, the high temperatures which the sunvisors usually reach, from sun radiation among other causes, affect the adhesive products and diminish their adhesive properties, all of which leads, similarly to what was described above, to a weak attachment of the vanity mirror boxlike shell in the sunvisor casing cavity and detachment thereof.
It may be gathered from the foregoing that the described means used for attaching the vanity mirror to the sun visor are of reduced operative reliability which, under certain conditions, may cause dangerous situations and/or accidents and, furthermore, a high financial cost making the end product expensive.

Attachment device for sunvisor vanity mirrors


A silicon-modified organic surface is roughened by treatment with an oxygen containing plasma. If necessary the organic surface may be silicon-modified by treatment with a silicon containing material prior to plasma treatment. The roughened organic surface provides improved adhesion to other organic surfaces and to deposited metals. Improvements in methods for laminating organic surfaces and for depositing metals on organic surfaces which achieve improved adhesion are disclosed. Structures comprising laminated organic layers of metal deposited on organic surfaces which provide improved adhesion between the organic layers or between the metal and the organic surface are also disclosed.

In industrial applications it is often desirable to uniformly roughen organic surfaces on a microscopic level.
Such roughening is especially desirable in the computer industry in the manufacture of first and second level packages for the mounting of information processing devices known as chips.
In such manufacture it is often desirable to attach copper to an organic surface so that the copper does not easily become detached. It is known that metals have improved adhesion to roughened organic surfaces. Various industrial processes which involve uniform roughening of organic surfaces have been developed to improve the attachment of the copper. Most such processes work well but are accompanied by certain problems and disadvantages which are sought to be overcome.
In one process of the prior art a layer of sacrificial copper is laminated onto the organic surface and then stripped away in order to modify the topography of the organic surface so that it will be less smooth and more accepting to the electroless deposition of copper from a plating bath. This process works well and is widely used. However, it has the disadvantage that it consumes a great deal of expensive copper.
In another prior art process which also enjoys wide use, a thin layer of chrome is deposited on an organic surface prior to deposition of copper. It is not completely understood how this process works to improve copper adhesion to the organic surface, but it is believed that the chrome may react chemically or become electrostatically attached to the organic surface. Chrome is an expensive metal, and its use in improving the adhesion of copper to organic materials adds a step to the packaging process. The higher electrical resistivity of chrome may make its use undesirable for many applications. Chrome is normally applied by sputtering or evaporation techniques, which are usually convenient only with structures smaller than printed circuit boards.
Sandblasting is another method used in the prior art to roughen organic surfaces for subsequent deposition of a metal or for subsequent lamination to a second organic material. It is known that roughening the surface of at least one of the layers in an organic laminate structure will improve the adhesion between the roughened surface and the adjacent layer. Sandblasting can be effective for uniformly roughening organic surfaces; however, it is sometimes destructive to the fine features of the surface to be treated and not penetrate deeply into crevices or holes.
It is often necessary in the manufacture of first and second level packages for the computer industry to plate the walls of holes or interconnections, commonly referred to as "through holes" or "vias" which have been drilled or etched in an organic structure, such as a printed circuit board. Drilling smears the organic material from which the board is made and causes it to cover electrical interplanes such as signal, power or ground planes which are desirably left exposed for subsequent connection by the plating of a metal layer on the walls of the through hole. Desmearing of the vias or through holes is necessary. In the past desmearing has been achieved by sandblasting, chemical treatment and plasma treatment, either alone or in various combinations. However it is difficult to achieve effective desmearing with sandblasting, which is especially ineffective in high aspect ratio through holes. Liquid desmearing of the drilled hole walls with materials such as hydrochloric acid and methyl carbitol or by, chromic acid, sulfuric acid and n-methyl pyrolidinone is effective. The use of such chemicals leaves the walls desmeared and sufficiently roughened for subsequent electroless plating of metals. However, these liquids have the disadvantages that they sometimes etch away too much of the organic material, undercutting the interplanes and that they are sometimes undesirable from worker safety and environmental standpoints and presents potential reliability problems with respect to corrosion and migration of the applied metal.
The desmearing of drilled through holes by plasma treatment has been tried and found to be effective. However, plasma desmearing leaves a very smooth surface on the organic material in the walls of the hole, making subsequent electroless deposition of metals very difficult. Roughening of the surface prior to such deposition is necessary.
A paper by R. H. Wheater et al describing a process for roughening the surface of an epoxy resin was published in October of 1983 as a part of the minutes of a May, 1983, plasma symposium of the Electrochemical Society. In that process the epoxy resin was filled with silicon dioxide particles and subjected to an O.sub.2 /CF.sub.4 plasma. The silicon dioxide particles in the resin surface were not affected by the oxygen containing plasma while the epoxy resin therebetween was removed, resulting in a roughening of the surface. Improved adhesion to untreated epoxy and to copper was noted. However, the silicon dioxide particles in the epoxy gave the bulk of the filled epoxy properties of strength, processability and rheology which are undesirable, especially in the manufacture of first level electronic packages such as substrates and semiconductors.

Surface modification of organic materials to improve adhesion


A sampling probe for optical analyzation of a sample includes an MIR element having a cylindrical body with a flat end and a curved end. The flat end and the adjacent active portion of the body is positioned against the sample, and the curved end is operative to receive and emit radiant energy internally multiply reflected in both directions along the MIR element to optically analyze the sample. For high pressure and/or high temperature applications, the MIR element is preferably a crystal partially mounted in and sealed to a holder, which in turn is mounted in and sealed to one wall of a fluid or reaction chamber. The crystal or adjacent holder surface is coated or mirrored to enhance optical efficiency, and the crystal is secured within and sealed to the holder by soldering, an adhesive bond or a prestressed friction fit. The sampling probe includes an optical system having a radiant energy beam splitter and inlet and egress optics for the MIR element, the inlet and egress optics being selected from reflaxicon optics, an objective lens, cooperative mirror pairs or spherical or ashperical optics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sampling probe for a sample contained in a high pressure and high temperature fluid or reaction chamber, the sampling probe utilizing a multiple internal reflection (MIR) element having a cylindrical body with a reflective end and a curved end. The reflective end and an adjacent active portion of the probe body are positioned against or in the sample. The sampling probe is easily removed from and accurately reinstalled in the fluid or reaction chamber.
2. Description of Prior Art
This invention principally relates to a non-destructive reaction monitoring probe preferably using infrared spectroscopy. The invention utilizes an optics system operative to internally reflect source infrared radiation a number of times off an MIR element surface in contact with the fluid or sample under analysis and then to direct the remaining radiation (as modified by the infrared absorbtion characteristics of the fluid or sample) to a detector for analysis of the fluid or sample. Specifically, the invention is preferably directed to an optical system including a probe extending into the reaction chamber for IR spectroscopic analysis and monitoring of reactions being conducted under or fluids being subjected to elevated pressures and/or temperatures.
In the the infrared range, practically all organic (and many inorganic) molecules have characteristic spectra that positively identify them. In one such identification method, infrared energy is reflected along the length of the crystal by the physical phenomenon of total internal reflection. A fluid sample or reaction placed in contact with the crystal selectively absorbs different frequencies of IR energy from the crystal. The energy that is not absorbed exits the crystal and is directed to a detector which measures the distribution of energy absorbed by the fluid or reaction so as to obtain and display its infrared spectra. Sting U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,833 (assigned to the assignee of the present invention), Messerschmidt U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,882 (assigned to the assignee of the present invention) and Gilbey U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,545 illustrate different systems for employing an MIR crystal to analyze a fluid or solid in contact therewith.
Sting U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,833 discloses reflaxicon optics for directing infrared radiation from a source into the cone shaped entry end of a cylindrically shaped MIR crystal. The non-absorbed radiant energy leaves the cone shaped exit end of the MIR crystal and is transmitted through additional reflaxicon optics toward a detector. The cylindrically shaped MIR element is sealed into a tubular member in order to provide a sample chamber or cell for the fluid and fluidized samples being analyzed.
Messerschmidt U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,882 discloses an elongated flat MIR crystal having a first surface, a slightly longer second surface and beveled entry and exit end surfaces interconnecting the same. The radiant energy enters at right angles through the second surface, reflects off the beveled entry surface, reflects between the second and first surfaces in multiple reflections along the length of the crystal and reflects off the beveled exit end surface through the second surface to a detector.
The circular MIR crystal of U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,833 and the flat, beveled ended MIR crystal of U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,882 have been successfully commercially sold in sampling assemblies to analyze fluids and solids. These MIR crystal elements require special assembly, disassembly and maintenance procedures within the analysis chamber. These MIR crystals, as currently mounted, are not preferred for high pressure and/or temperature fluid monitoring because of the possibility of the MIR crystal breaking. In addition, the crystals, as currently mounted, are positioned in the chamber presenting obstructions to mixing or fluid flow.
Gilbey U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,545 discloses a crystal MIR probe used prior to the Gilbey patent application as well as the crystal MIR probes disclosed by Gilbey. The prior art MIR crystal probe is illustrated in FIG. 1 of Gilbey and includes a rectangular body having a 90.degree. "roof" at one end and a flat surface at its other end. The 90.degree. "roof" end provides (a) an angled, flat entry surface to admit infrared energy for multiple internal reflections along the MIR crystal and (b) an oppositely angled, flat exit surface for emitting the infrared energy that has been reflected back. Therefore, the prior art MIR crystal disclosed in Gilbey provides entry and exit of the infrared energy from the opposed flat sides of the "roof" at the same end of the rectangular crystal.
The MIR crystal designs proposed by Gilbey include a rectangular body having beveled or angled ends. The infrared energy enters one side of the body and is reflected off one beveled end of the body in alignment therewith for multiple internal reflections along that body. The radiant energy is reflected off the other crystal end and is then multiply reflected in the opposite direction for return to and exit from the same beveled face. All embodiments of the Gilbey patent disclose a class of crystals in which one face serves simultaneously to both totally reflect entering energy into the crystal and transmit exiting energy out of the crystal.
All of the rectangular MIR crystal bodies disclosed in the Gilbey patent are difficult to seal, particularly in high pressure and/or high temperature applications. The hole through the holder must be broached or a multiple piece holder used. In addition, the rectangular crystal bodies are not easily mounted in or removed from the reaction cell and reassembly requires both precise positioning and orientation of the crystal for accurate spectroscopic measurements.

Sampling probe for optical analyzation of a sample


A flexible metal-film laminate can comprise a layered film structure having a metal layer securely bonded to a film layer. The laminate contains a unique metal-oxide attachment structure between the film and metal layer comprising randomly distributed regions of metal-oxide. The peel strength of such a laminate is significantly improved over prior laminates and is resistant to peel strength reduction due to environmental stress. The preferred metal-film laminates made with polyester or polyimide can be used in the manufacture of high-quality, low cost, flexible printed circuit boards.

A. Film Treatment and Metal Forming Process
Flexible metal-film laminate materials have become the focus of great interest in recent years. A variety of techniques including film pre-treatment processes and metal layer forming processes have been studied to improve the properties of laminates. Such processes include film etching, organic coatings, the sputtering of metal, the adhesive lamination of pre-formed metal foil to film, electroless plating, electroplating, and others. Such metal-film laminate products each have different characteristics including metal thickness, metal tensile strength, laminate flexibility, delamination tendency, etc.
One useful metal forming method involves producing a "tie coat" of chromium typically on a polyimide surface. Such tie coats are equal to or greater than 50 nanometers, greater than 100 atomic layers, of chromium atoms, in thickness and aid in bonding a electroplated copper layer to polyimide. We are aware that a successful film laminate comprises a film having a greater than 50 nanometer thickness (more than 100 atom monolayers) chromium tie coat and a plated copper layer having a thickness of greater than 0.1 .mu.m. Such laminates are inconvenient to process into wiring boards because they generally require two etch steps, one basic etch for copper and a second acid etch for chromium. Polyimide laminates with a "tie coat" have acceptable peel strength but can be expensive to produce and use in applications requiring low cost materials.
Kennedy, U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,538 discloses an adhesive used to bond copper foil to resin impregnated fiber glass cloth using a polyimide resin adhesive. The use of an adhesion promoter to bond metal to an insulating base material is known. For example, Soukup, U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,900 and Goepfert et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,021 disclose that when the insulating base material comprises methylmethacrylate resin, an unsaturated polyester may be added to the resin as an adhesion promoter to bond a copper foil. However, these patents disclose that an increase in the proportion of polyester is generally accompanied by a decrease in an adhesion of the copper foil to the resinous base. Barrell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,509 and Cordts et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,768 disclose procedures for preparing polyester resin copper clad laminates. These processes require several steps or expensive continuously operating equipment.
Van Essen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,578; Shanoski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,517 and Cobbledick et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,173 are directed to in-mold coating processes which are substantially different from the present process in that a preform substrate is either made or placed in a mold and cured. The mold is opened and a small amount of resin is placed on the molded substrate sufficient to form a coating up to about 20 mils. in thickness. The mold is then closed over the polymerizing resin to apply pressure.
Japanese Patent No. 57083-427 discloses a process where an insulation material is mounted on an inner surface of an injection mold and a metal foil is overlaid on the insulated surface and fixed. A thermoplastic resin is melt-injected into the mold to provide a resin product laminated firmly with the metal foil.
Bristowe et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,016 also teaches injection molded metal-thermoset laminates.
Kawakami et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,938 teaches coating a resin substrate with a copper solution and heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to increase copper laminate adhesion.
Pinch et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,488 teaches the use of a carbon dioxide plasma to treat and clean dielectric layers.
Haque et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,089 uses a three step plasma treatment of copper foils. Shanefield et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,848 and 4,582,564 teach a sputter etching of a rubber modified epoxy surface or coating.
Holmes et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,518 teaches treating a refractory metal oxide layer to improve adhesion of oxide forming metals.
Toth et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,413 teaches forming a releasable metallic layer on a polymeric carrier, adhering the releasable metal onto a substrate and peeling the carrier.
Sato, U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,849 teaches conventional pre-treatments of plastic prior to electro-chemical deposition of metal surfaces.
Ho et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,401 teaches heating a film substrate to a temperature between 0.6 and 0.8 of the curing temperature (T.sub.C) of the substrate material, commonly an elevated temperature exceeding 200.degree. C. (often 240.degree.-280.degree. C.) and evaporating or sputtering metal ions such that a metal ion can interact with the heated substrate layer and penetrate into the interior of the heated substrate. The processes in Ho et al are done in an inert atmosphere and produce no metal oxide.
Fronz et al, Plasma Pretreatment of Polyimide Films, a paper presented at the Apr. 24-28, 1989 meeting of the Soc. of Vacuum Coaters, teach many of the drawbacks of copper-polyimide laminates. Fronz et al teaches that surface cleaning of the polyimide film will increase peel strength. Fronz et al does not discuss the importance of metal-oxide adhesion structures nor uses metallic methods in the film treatment.
One pre-treatment technique used with films called "corona discharge" has been found to aid in surface cleaning but not helpful in introducing binding structures to promote the peel strength of laminates. Corona discharge uses ceramic elements or other types of non metallic electrode and an ambient atmosphere temperature/pressure discharge to generate UV radiation and ozone (O.sub.3). This treatment apparently produces no new metal/film metal-oxide/film structure on the surface of the film and does not appear to promote film-laminate bonding.
While film treatment steps and metal forming processes are known, a fully satisfactory laminate has not been prepared. In particular, no fully satisfactory polyimide laminate is known for use in printed circuit board manufacture.

Metal-film laminate resistant to delamination


A computed tomography unit includes at least one X-ray tube, that scans an object in a fashion rotating in a circle or spiral about a z-axis, in combination with an oppositely situated detector having a multiplicity of detector rows. Each detector row includes an aperture Δz in the z-direction, having a multiplicity of detector elements. Between the X-ray tube and detector, a detector diaphragm is arranged that reduces the aperture Δz of the detector rows in the z-direction. The X-ray tube includes a focus, of variable location relative to the X-ray tube and which alternatingly assumes during scanning at least two different positions that have different z-coordinates relative to the X-ray tube R.

German laid-open patent application DE 102 11 948 A1 has disclosed a computed tomography unit that is equipped with an X-ray tube with a fixed focus and has, situated opposite, a multirow detector that is equipped in a first variant (FIG. 3) with a so-called z-comb that acts as an aperture stop in the z-direction for the detector rows. In a second variant (FIG. 4), the laid-open patent application discloses a detector diaphragm that, in addition to the aperture stop in the z-direction, also has an aperture stop in the circumferential direction or longitudinal direction of the detector. Thus, the active cross sections of the individual detector elements are constricted from all sides such that their aperture is reduced in two dimensions.
Fundamentally, such a reduction in the active cross-sectional surface takes place in order to improve the resolution of the detector. However, a reduction in the cross-sectional surface is simultaneously attended by a reduction in the sensitivity of the detector and leads—at least in the case of human diagnosis—to an undesired increase in the radiation burden such that limits are set for the reduction in the aperture by the reduction in the sensitivity of the detector.

Computed tomography unit having an aperture stop


A latch circuit of the present invention has first and second current paths. When a reset signal of high level is supplied to the latch circuit, a current path, through which constant current is flowing, is switched from the first current path to the second current path so that an output terminal is forced to be reset.

As recent improvement of LSI (large scale integration), a master-slice type LSI has been used in order to easily respond to the variety of consumer's needs.
In fabrication of a master-slice LSI, a plurality of unit cells each having semiconductor devices required for forming predetermined logic circuits are mounted on a semiconductor substrate to form a general-purpose substrate. Then, the semiconductor devices on the general-purpose substrate are connected to each other to form a desired internal cell portion. Then, input-output terminal portions and external terminal connectors are formed around the internal cell portion.
A conventional latch circuit includes a plurality of transistors, a plurality of general resistors, two level-shift resistors, a data input terminal to which an input data is supplied, an output terminal, a strobe signal terminal, and a reset signal terminal.
In the conventional latch circuit, a level of the output terminal is controlled in accordance with a strobe signal supplied to the strobe signal terminal, that is, the operation mode is changed between a data through mode and a latch mode. When a reset signal of high level is supplied to the reset terminal, the two level-shift resistors forces the output terminal to be low level state.
According to the conventional latch circuit, however, there is a disadvantage that the level-shift resistors occupy a large area on a substrate in case where the latch circuit is fabricated form a master slice LSI. Therefore, the semiconductor chip having the conventional latch circuit is large in size.

ECL latch circuit with second current path for reset means


A semiconductor memory device, including: a memory cell connected to a first bitline and associated with a second bitline; a sense amplifier, including a first input/output node and a second input/output node; and an isolator connected to the bitlines and to the input/output nodes, the isolator being configured to carry out bitline isolation during a refresh operation of the memory cell, where the bitline isolation includes electrically disconnecting the first bitline from the first input/output node and electrically disconnecting the second bitline from the second input/output node, followed by: electrically re-connecting the first bitline to the first input/output node while the second bitline remains electrically disconnected from the second input/output node.

Today's mobile phones, laptops, tablet computers, game consoles, set-top boxes, GPS units and other electronics require random access memory. One form of random access memory is dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which is often used because of its high memory density (number of bits stored per unit area or volume).
Examples of background art that describe DRAM devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,399 granted to Cho et al. on Sep. 15, 1992, entitled "Sense Amplifier Circuitry Selectively Separable From Bit Lines For Dynamic Random Access Memory", and U.S. Pat. No. 7,505,343 granted to Kang on Mar. 17, 2009, entitled "Sense Amplifier Circuit In Semiconductor Memory Device And Driving Method Thereof".
Cho et al. disclose an integrated circuit memory device that includes a sense amplifier circuit having a first transistor coupling section connected between a pair of bitlines and a pair of sense amplifier nodes. The sense amplifier circuit further includes a first sense amplifier connected between the sense amplifier nodes so as to selectively discharge one of the sense amplifier nodes and a second sense amplifier connected between the sense amplifier nodes so as to selectively charge the other one of the sense amplifier nodes.
Kang discloses a sense amplifier circuit in a semiconductor memory device in which an under-drive is applied to a switching element of a pull-down side of a sense amplifier in order to compensate for poor driving capability in the case of performing a low voltage operation. The sense amplifier circuit includes: a sense amplifier which has a pull-down element composed of an NMOS transistor and a pull-up element composed of a PMOS transistor and is formed between bitlines to perform data exchange; and a drive controller which supplies a drive voltage for the use of pull-up and pull-down operations to the sense amplifier in order to perform the data exchange, and, during a specific time period included in a time for providing the drive voltage, performs an under-drive whereby the drive voltage for the use of the pull-down operation is used so that the sense amplifier is provided with a voltage that is lower than a voltage used in the pull-down operation in a normal state.
One feature of DRAM devices such as those of Cho et al. and Kang is that they must be refreshed in order to retain the data stored therein. Refreshing of the data occurs frequently and consumes power. This can be an issue for battery-operated units such as mobile phones and laptop/tablet computers. Therefore, it would be beneficial to devise power efficient methods and apparatus for refreshing the data stored in a DRAM device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor memory device with sense amplifier and bitline isolation

Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.


A gas detecting method includes heating a gas detector, formed of a gas sensing layer and an adsorption layer, for an oxygen adsorption period t0 at an oxygen adsorption temperature T0; heating the gas detector for a target gas adsorption period t1 at a target gas adsorption temperature T1 at which a target gas is adsorbed to the adsorption layer, heating the gas detector for a target gas desorption period t2 at a target gas desorption temperature T2 at which the target gas adsorbed to the adsorption layer is desorbed to move to the gas sensing layer; and calculating a gas concentration of the target gas from a sensor resistance of the gas sensing layer. A gas detecting device includes the gas detector and a drive processing unit configured to carry out the method.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a gas detecting device that detects gases having a concentration as low as ppb levels and a method thereof.
2. Related Art
A semiconductor gas sensor is a device that is selectively sensitive to a specific gas, such as, for example, methane gas (CH4), propane gas (C3H8), butane gas (C4H10), or carbon monoxide (CO). The principle and structure of the semiconductor gas sensor are relatively simple, and can be mass-produced easily at low cost.
Such a semiconductor gas sensor is broadly used for detecting a gas leak and incomplete combustion. A gas leak is detected in the order of 1000 to 10000 ppm below a lower explosive limit. Incomplete combustion is detected in the order of 10 ppm to 100 ppm so that a person is not poisoned with CO.
As another use of semiconductor gas sensors, the semiconductor gas sensor is used for analyzing volatile organic compounds (hereinafter referred to simply as VOC). For example, the semiconductor gas sensor is used for analyzing VOC in an indoor environment for the purpose of preventing a sick house syndrome and analyzing VOC contained in the breath that a person exhales for the purpose of managing health conditions.
Examples of VOC include ethanol, methanol, acetone, toluene, xylene, ethyl acetate, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, chloroform, or paradichlorobenzene contained in paint, printing ink, adhesive, detergent, gasoline, and thinner. In order to realize such analysis, it is necessary to detect VOC in the order of 0.001 to 1 ppm. However, since the conventional semiconductor gas sensor used for detecting a gas leak and incomplete combustion has insufficient sensitivity, it is difficult to detect low-concentration VOC.
Another conventional technique related to a semiconductor gas sensor that detects low-concentration gases is disclosed in patent documents Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-27752 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-2358, for example. These patent documents disclose the structure of a semiconductor gas sensor, and also disclose a technique in which a sensor is heated to high temperature and is then cooled to low temperature in order to clean interfering gases adsorbed to a gas sensing film. By doing so, the ability to sense a target gas is enhanced.


A lamp housing uses a tubular metal support functional as a heat radiator within which is an electrical circuit board having a component mounting surface, and in opposition thereto, a thermal transfer surface positioned for conducting heat, from the circuit board to the metal support. A clear lens is secured to the metal support, and a pair of ribs integral to the clear lens extend into contact with the component mounting surface of the circuit board thereby urging the thermal transfer surface toward the metal support for good thermal contact and heat transfer. A thermal transfer tape or paste may be used between the circuit board and the metal support surface upon which it rests. The circuit board may be laid onto the metal support without sliding it into grooves and the clear lens may be snapped into place over the circuit board engaging grooves in the metal support.

The present disclosure relates to the field of lighting devices and particularly to the type of lighting devices represented by fluorescent tube. Prior filed application to Sun et al, publication US 2008/0158870 represents a new direction in such lighting whereby LED components are used as in the following disclosure. Chen, US 2008/0037245 and Timmermaus et al, US 2002/0060526 and Robertson, U.S. Pat. No. 7,478,924 are also examples of this new type of device. Key to the successful operation of these devices is the dissipation of heat which is achieved by thermal sinking to a metallic radiator, so that the ability to conduct heat from the lighting components to the metal radiator is critical.


Described is an optical-use adhesive film that includes a base film of a biaxially oriented polyester film and an adhesive polymer layer laminated on at least one surface of the base film. The optical-use adhesive film has a light transmission equal to or greater than 90% and an increase in haze value after the optical-use adhesive film receives a heat treatment at 150xc2x0 C. for 120 min. equal to or less than 0.5%.

The present invention relates to an optical-use adhesive film and a biaxially oriented polyester film. More particularly, the invention relates to a biaxially oriented adhesive polyester film well suited for optical applications such as a base film of a prism lens sheet (Brightness Enhance Film) in a LCD, base films for a hard coat processed film and a base film for an AR(anti-reflection) film, and a protective film in a CRT.
A biaxially oriented polyester film has widely been used as various kinds of optical-use films because of the superior transparency, dimensional stability and chemical resistance.
Especially, in a case where the biaxially oriented polyester film is adopted as a base film for a prism lens sheet used in LCD, base films for hard coat processed film and an anti-reflection film, and a protective film used for CRT, the polyester film having a relatively large thickness of 50 xcexcm or more has been preferred in order to meet requirements for superior mechanical strength and dimensional stability. Generally such an optical-use film has been encountered by requirements not only for superior adhesiveness suitable for prism lens processing, hard coat processing and anti-reflection processing, which are post-processing, but for extreme scarcity of fine foreign matters included in a film that is a cause for optical defects. Another requirement remains for a superior transparency.
Generally, a biaxially oriented polyester film, however, has been known its poor adhesiveness to other materials such as an acryl-based resin constituting a prism lens and a hard coat layer as a main component. Hence, a proposal has been presented in JP 94-340049, for example, in which an adhesive layer made from polyurethane resin or the like is laminated on a polyester. However, a polyester film on which an adhesive layer made from polyurethane resin is laminated can be improved in adhesion to an outer layer such as a hard coat, whereas the polyurethane layer has no sufficient adhesion to a polyester film as a base, which eventually leads to a problem of insufficient adhesion to the outer layer.
Further, in order to improve a slip property of the film, there has generally been adopted a technique in which surface irregularities such as peaks and valleys are imparted on a film surface by introducing particles into the film, but the particles in the film is a cause for poor transparency thereof. Accordingly, in order to attain a highly transparent film, it is desired that a content of the particles, which are incorporated to impart a slip property to the base film, is at a low level, or no particles are contained.
Further, a refractive index of a coating layer used for imparting adhesive also produces a problem since a light transmittance changes by interference between lights respectively reflected from front and rear surfaces of a film: a coating layer with superior adhesiveness decreases a light transmittance of a film applied with coating layer.
In addition, a conventional polyester film has an irregularity in thermal shrinking ratio over a surface thereof: a thermal shrinking ratio along a longitudinal (machine) direction is different according to a measuring position along a transverse direction. Therefore, when the polyester film is used for an optical-use film, lengths of both side ends of the polyester film differently change from each other due to transverse unevenness of longitudinal thermal shrinking ratio in a heat treatment step of post-processing such as prism lens processing, hard coat processing and anti-reflection processing, thereby a problem has been arisen. The reason why the problem has arisen is such that, for example, both side ends of such the polyester film are rubbed by a frame of a machine base or the like in the heat treatment step due to a difference in the length change between both sides when the film passes through the machine, with the result that the side ends receive some damages: a pass-through property of the film is worsened in a post-processing step, further leading to reduction of its productivity in a post-processing step. Especially, development in large-sized display panel such as of a note-type personal computer and a CRT has rapidly progressed in recent years, whereby the problem will be more and more serious when in wider product application.
Further, when a conventional optical-use adhesive film with a biaxially oriented base film of polyethylene terephthalate is subjected to a heat treatment step at a temperature in the range of from 100 to 150xc2x0 C. in post-processing such as prism lens processing and hard coat processing, a problem has arisen since a haze value of film increases and a white appearance defect is generated. The problem leads direct to low visibility and reduced quality, improvement of which has been desired.
Still further, a problem has arisen since warpage arises by shrinkage of a polyester film in a heat treatment of the post-processing step and not only is a pass-through property deteriorated but reduction in productivity occurs. Another problem has also arisen since such a deterioration of the pass-through property is a hindrance in assembly of a liquid crystal display apparatus. Such a warpage of a film caused by a heat treatment accompanying the post-processing step has been demanded to be the smallest possible.
As described above, the optical-use film has been requested so as to have adaptability in the post-processing step such as prism lens processing, hard coat processing and anti-reflection processing.
In light of the above-described problems, it is an object of the invention to provide an optical-use adhesive film that has adhesive and superior transparency in an optical-use film application in which an adhesive layer is necessary on at least one surface of a film and which has a small thickness variation ratio.
It is another object of the invention to improve an adaptability of the optical-use adhesive film in a post-processing step such as prism lens processing, hard coat processing or anti-reflection processing. More particularly, it is the object of the invention to provide the optical-use adhesive film whose transportability can be improved in a thermal treatment of a post-processing step, increase in whose haze value is small and whose warpage is small.
The present inventors have conducted serious studies in order to achieve the objects and discovered that the objects of the present invention can be achieved by the following means:
1. An optical-use adhesive film, comprising a base film of the optical-use adhesive film is a biaxially oriented polyester film having a thickness equal to or more than 50 xcexcm, and an adhesive polymer layer laminated on at least one surface of the base film, wherein refractive indexes of the base film in longitudinal and transverse directions are both in the range of from 1.55 to 1.70 and that refractive indexes of the adhesive layer and the base film satisfies the following formula (1):
(Nxxe2x88x92Nc)2+(Nyxe2x88x92Nc)2xe2x89xa60.0300 xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1),
wherein Nx and Ny respectively indicate refractive indexes in longitudinal and transverse directions of a base film and Nc is a refractive index of an adhesive layer.
2. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the base film is in the range of from 100 to 300 xcexcm.
3. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein the biaxially oriented polyester film is a polyester film made from polyethylene terephthalate as a main component.
4. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein the polymer adhesive layer includes a copolymerized polyester-based resin and a polyurethane-based resin.
5. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 4, wherein the copolymerized polyester-based resin has a branched monomer as a constituent.
6. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein the polymer adhesive layer includes particles.
7. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive layer include particles having an average size in the range of from 20 nm to 300 nm, only the lower limit being included, and particles of an average size in the range of from 300 nm to 1000 nm, both limits being included.
8. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein a haze value of the optical-use adhesive film is equal to or less than 1.0%.
9. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein that a thickness variation ratio is equal to or less than 3%.
10. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein a difference between the maximum value of a longitudinal thermal shrinking ratio and the minimum value thereof along a transverse direction of the optical-use adhesive film is equal to or less than 0.2%.
11. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein an adhesiveness of the optical-use adhesive film when a photo-curable acryl-based coating layer is laminated on an adhesive layer is equal to or higher than 85% in adhesiveness obtained from the following formula (2) whose valuables on its left side are determined by a testing method in conformance with description in a section 8.5.1 of JIS-K5400;
Adhesiveness (%)=(1xe2x80x94peel area/test area)xc3x97100 xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2).
12. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein a total light transmittance of the optical-use adhesive film is equal to or higher than 90% and an increase in haze value after the optical-use adhesive film receives a heat treatment at 150xc2x0 C. for 120 min is equal to or less than 0.5%.
13. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein a content of cyclic trimers in the base film is equal to or less than 5000 ppm.
14. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein a total light transmittance of the optical-use adhesive film is equal to or higher than 90% and a warpage of the optical-use adhesive film in a specimen size 300 mmxc3x97210 mm after the optical-use adhesive film receives a heat treatment at 150xc2x0 C. for 3 hr is equal to or less than 3 mm.
15. A biaxially oriented polyester film ,comprising protrusions are formed, by an emboss-processing roll, on at least one surface of the biaxially oriented polyester film in the neighborhoods of both ends in a transverse direction thereof, wherein a ratio of a sum of vertical projection areas on a film surface of the biaxially oriented polyester film of portions thereof deformed by emboss processing, to a total area of the biaxially oriented polyester film with which the emboss-processing roll is put into contact is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.25.
16. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 1, wherein protrusions are formed, by an emboss-processing roll, on at least one surface of the optical-use adhesive film in the neighborhoods of both ends in a transverse direction thereof, wherein a ratio of a sum of vertical projection areas on a film surface of the optical-use adhesive film of portions thereof deformed by emboss processing, to a total area of the optical-use adhesive film with which the emboss-processing roll is put into contact is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.25.
17. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 16, wherein a vertical projection area on a film surface of the optical-use adhesive film of any one portion thereof deformed by emboss processing is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.2 mm2.
18. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 16, wherein a height of a portion of the optical-use adhesive film deformed by emboss-processing is in the range of from 1 to 20% of an average thickness of a non-processed region thereof.
19. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 16, wherein an average thickness of a non-processed region of the optical-use adhesive film is in the range of from 30 to 300 xcexcm and an average height of portions of the optical-use adhesive film deformed by emboss-processing is in the range of from 3 to 30 xcexcm.
20. An optical-use adhesive film according to claim 16, wherein a width of a region that is emboss-processed in the optical-use adhesive film is in the range of from 5 to 20 mm.
21. A roll that is obtained by take-up a biaxially oriented polyester film according to claim 15.
22. A roll that is obtained by take-up an optical-use adhesive film according to claim 16.

Optical-use adhesive film and roll thereof


An engine stopping and starting control device predicts which cylinder will be on a compression stroke upon being stopped during a process for stopping the engine. Fuel is injected into the predicted cylinder during the process for stopping the engine to seal an air-fuel mixture therein. The same cylinder is then fired upon the next start cycle to generate a first explosion to start the engine.

Generally, a cylinder is determined based on an output signal from a crank angle sensor and a cam angle sensor and a crank angle is detected to perform an ignition control or fuel injection control when the engine is being operated. Therefore, the first firing and injecting cylinder is unclear until the engine is cranked by a starter to complete the determination of the cylinder. Accordingly, upon the start of the engine, the fuel injection is performed to a cylinder that can combust the fuel as fast as possible and ignition is performed to generate a first explosion to start the engine, after the cylinder determination is completed.
However, in this starting method, a cranking period to some degree is required by the completion of the cylinder determination and fuel is injected to the first cylinder performing the intake stroke after the completion of the cylinder determination. Therefore, taking a four-cylinder engine as an example, two to three strokes are required from the start of the cranking to the first explosion, thereby entailing a disadvantage that the starting time increases by that much. When the starting time increases in a vehicle having mounted thereto an idle stop system wherein the engine is automatically stopped (idle stop) when a predetermined automatic stop condition is established during the idling and the engine is automatically restarted by an operation on an accelerator pedal by a driver, in particular, the driver is likely to feel slowness upon the restart or the driving sound of the starter becomes a jarring noise, so that the demand for shortening the starting time is strong.
Japanese patent document JP-1-170735A discloses a method of performing an injection asynchronous with the starter wherein fuel is injected to all cylinders in synchronicity with the starter signal. The fuel is sucked into the cylinder performing the intake stroke at this time and ignition is performed via the compression stroke to generate the first explosion in order to shorten the starting time.
Alternately, Japanese patent document JP-11-107823A discloses a method wherein an engine stopping position is estimated and stored in a memory when the engine is stopped and a cylinder that is to be firstly fuel-injected and fired is estimated based on the stored engine stopping position during the next engine starting operation.
However, both starting methods described above require a process in which fuel is injected and sucked into the cylinder performing the intake stroke after the start of the cranking. Then, ignition is performed during the compression stroke of the cylinder. Therefore, a period of almost two strokes is required from the start of the cranking to the first explosion, with the result that the required starting time cannot be satisfied in the case of restarting after the idle stop. Additionally, in the injection system asynchronous disclosed in Japanese patent document JP-1-170735A, fuel is injected to all cylinders at the beginning of the starting operation so that the fuel not used for the combustion is emitted intact, thereby entailing a problem of deteriorating the exhaust emission during the starting operation.

Engine starting and stopping control device


Quick drop valves are usable in hydraulic circuits in which fluid is expelled from a hydraulic cylinder due to gravity force acting on a load connected to the hydraulic cylinder. The present quick drop valve has a sleeve carried by a valve member for establishing an orifice through which the fluid expelled from the hydraulic cylinder passes. When the flow rate of the expelled fluid exceeds a predetermined flow rate, a differential pressure generated by the orifice causes the valve member to start moving toward a quick drop position. In so doing, the sleeve quickly establishes a more restrictive orifice to immediately generate a higher differential pressure to cause the valve member to quickly move to the quick drop position. The more restrictive orifice also causes a greater amount of the expelled fluid to be returned by the valve member to the expanding ends of the hydraulic cylinders, yet still allows sufficient flow therethrough so that the quick drop action can be stopped if so desired. The sleeve also functions similar to a check valve and moves to a position permitting substantially unrestricted fluid flow through the quick drop valve when the fluid is being directed to the hydraulic cylinder to raise the load. An actuating chamber is defined in the valve member and is subjected to pressurized fluid generated in the circuit to hold the valve member in a blocking position when the blade is forced into the ground.

Quick drop valves are commonly used in hydraulic control circuits for bulldozer blades or the like in which the blade is allowed to free-fall to ground level under the force of gravity. Some of the fluid expelled from the hydraulic cylinders which control blade elevation is diverted by the quick drop valves to the expanding ends of the hydraulic cylinders to supplement the pump flow thereto. Without any type of quick drop valve, the expanding ends of the hydraulic cylinders cavitate quite badly. Since the cavitated ends of the cylinders have to be filled with fluid from the pump after the blade comes to rest on the ground a considerable time lag occurs before sufficient downward force can be applied to the blade for penetrating the ground. The use of quick drop valves minimizes the cavitation and thus reduces the time lag.
The duration of the time lag depends upon the efficiency of the quick drop valve which is determined by the amount of expelled fluid that the quick drop valve diverts back to the expanding side of the cylinders. That amount is dependent upon how quickly the quick drop valve moves to the quick drop position in a free-fall situation and the percentage of the expelled fluid that the quick drop valve diverts back to the expanding ends once it is in the quick drop position.
The known quick drop valves are moved to and retained in the quick drop position by differential pressure generated by the expelled fluid passing through a fixed triggering orifice once the flow rate of the expelled fluid exceeds a predetermined rate. The size of the fixed orifice usually dictates both how quickly sufficient differential pressure is generated to move the valve to the quick drop position and how much of the expelled fluid can be diverted to the expanding ends of the hydraulic cylinders. One of the problems encountered with the use of the fixed orifice is that the fluid being directed to the hydraulic cylinders to raise the blade also passes through that orifice. If the size of the orifice is reduced to a size for maximum efficiency in the quick drop mode, it restricts the flow from the pump to the hydraulic cylinders in the raise mode thereby limiting the speed at which the blade can be raised. Thus, the size of the triggering orifice is normally dictated by the rate of fluid flow from the pump to the cylinder in the raise mode such that maximum efficiency of the quick drop valve cannot be realized.
Heretofor the efficiency of the quick drop valves have been such that if a single quick drop valve was used to handle the flow from two or more hydraulic cylinders, the duration of the time lag to fill the cylinders at the ground level increased. If a quick drop valve was used for each cylinder, the overall cost of the control circuit increased. A larger single quick drop valve of the current design could possibly handle the combined flow of two or more cylinders but would increase the cost of the valve, the time lag, and implement drift.
It would be desirable to have a quick drop valve constructed so that its efficiency is such that a single quick drop valve could handle the fluid flow from two or more hydraulic cylinders without increasing the duration of the time lag or restrict fluid flow to the cylinders in the raise mode and which can be built for considerably less than the cost of the separate currently available quick drop valves required to handle the same flow. In one mode of operation, the blade is allowed to free fall from the raised position and then suddenly stopped before the blade reaches the ground to shake loose any material that might be adhering to the blade. Thus, it is desirable for the quick drop valve to be capable of being shifted from the quick drop position to the non-quick drop position at any point in the free-fall to provide this function.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.


Automatically mapping and importing accounting application data into to a tax preparation application. Account data including an account name is received from an accounting application. A tax category corresponding to the account name is determined automatically, and a tax line assignment or line of a form of the tax preparation application is automatically assigned to the account name such that the corresponding account data can be mapped to and imported into the appropriate section of a tax return. For this purpose, a table or spreadsheet of search terms may be used to correlate an account name selected by a user to a tax category, which is used to determine the appropriate tax line assignment or line of a tax form for that particular account.

Tax preparation applications have become very popular and allow a user, such as a taxpayer or a tax professional, to prepare and electronically file a tax return using a computer. While tax preparation applications have greatly simplified preparation of tax returns, importing data into the electronic tax return can sometimes be confusing, particularly when data is imported from another program, such as an accounting or finance program, and into the tax preparation application.
For example, it is known to manually map data of an accounting application to a particular line of a tax form of a tax preparation application utilizing a tax line assignment (TLA). For this purpose, a user selects a particular account of the accounting application and manually associates or assigns a TLA to that account. The manually assigned TLA identifies or refers to a tax form and line thereof in which data of the account should be entered when account data is imported into the tax preparation application.
While users may effectively manually assign TLAs to accounts of an accounting application, doing so can be complicated, confusing, tedious, time consuming and prone to user error. For example, the accuracy of manually assigned TLAs may depend upon the user's knowledge and the ability of the user to link the proper TLA to the account. Sometimes, this analysis is too "taxy" and beyond the user's understanding. These issues may arise multiple times if the user manually assigns tax information to multiple accounts.

Importing accounting application data into a tax preparation application


In one aspect, the invention provides a healable, recyclable and malleable e-skin. In certain embodiments, the e-skin comprises sensors that can detect at least one applied stimulus. In other embodiments, the e-skin comprises a dynamic covalent thermo set doped with a nano-particle composition, thereby rendering the doped thermoset conductive. The e-skin of the invention has potential applicability to the fields of robotics, prosthetics, health monitoring, biomedical devices and consumer products.

Skin plays an important role in a person's daily interaction with the environment, both as a protector for internal organs and tissues and as a means for sensing temperature, pressure vibration and haptics. There has been great interest in designing and fabricating electronic skins (e-skins) with functionalities and mechanical properties comparable to natural skin, for potential use in robotics, prosthetics, healthcare and human-computer interfacing. A range of sensing capabilities have been integrated into e-skins including tactile/pressure, temperature, strain, humidity and chemical sensing. Additionally, self-healing e-skins have also been developed.
However, currently available re-healable e-skins do not have sufficient mechanical strength or chemical and thermal stability for many practical applications. Additionally, to date, there have been no reports of e-skins that are fully recyclable, reprocessable and reshapable.
Thus, there is a need in the art for novel e-skin formulations and designs that can be reprocessed and recycled, are self-healing and that integrate an array of sensing capabilities. The present invention meets and addresses these needs.

Dynamic covalent thermoset nanocomposites and uses thereof

The Regents of the University of Colorado


A vibrator includes a piezoelectric element deformed when power is applied thereto, an installation member having the piezoelectric element installed thereon, and a plurality of elastic members connected to the installation member and changing a displacement direction through deformation of the installation member. The plurality of elastic members are disposed to oppose each other.

The present disclosure relates to a vibrator.
A vibrator, a component converting electrical energy into mechanical vibrations using the principle of the generation of electromagnetic force, is mounted in a mobile phone or the like to silently notify a user of call reception by transferring vibrations thereto.
Meanwhile, in accordance with the rapid growth in the mobile phone market and the trend toward the addition of functionality to mobile phones, mobile phone components have been required to be miniaturized and to have high quality. In this situation, the demand for the development of the vibrators having a new structure capable of overcoming the disadvantages of existing vibrators and having significantly improved quality has increased.
In addition, as the release of smartphones, among mobile phones, has rapidly increased, a touchscreen scheme has been adopted for use therewith, such that vibrators have been increasingly used in order to generate vibrations at the time of a touch interaction with a touchscreen.
Levels of performance required in the vibrations generated at the time of touching the touchscreen are as follows. First, since the number of vibrations generated at the time of touching the touchscreen is greater than that of vibrations generated at the time of call reception, an operation lifespan should be increased. Secondly, in order to increase user satisfaction when a user encounters vibrations at the time of touching the touchscreen, a response speed of the vibrations should be increased in accordance with a touch speed of the touchscreen.
In addition, a piezo haptic actuator has been used as products capable of implementing such levels of performance. Such a piezo haptic actuator uses a principle of an inverse piezoelectric effect by which displacement is generated when a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element, for example, a principle of allowing a weight of a mover to be moved by the generated displacement to generate vibrational force.
A vibrator having the above-mentioned structure has the following features. A bandwidth of a frequency capable of obtaining a predetermined level or more of vibrational force is wide, such that stable vibration characteristics may be implemented, and vibrations having low and high frequencies rather than a single frequency in a predetermined frequency range may be variously used. In addition, since the vibrator may implement rapid operation response characteristics, it may be appropriate for implementing haptic vibrations of a mobile device such as a mobile phone, or the like.
Meanwhile, the piezoelectric element generally has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a length thereof is greater than a width thereof. In this case, since the length of the piezoelectric element should be relatively long in order to secure displacement and vibrations, an overall length of the vibrator may be increased and the piezoelectric element may be vulnerable to impacts due to being dropped.
Further, since the overall shape of the vibrator is a rectangular parallelepiped, the entire volume thereof is increased, such that it is not appropriate for miniaturization of components.