A method for fabricating a fluid injection micro device. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate with an insulating layer thereon. A heater is formed on the insulating layer. A patterned conductive layer is formed on the heater and the insulating layer. A protective layer is formed on the conductive layer to insulate the conductive layer. An opening is formed by sequentially etching the protective layer, the insulating layer and the substrate. A patterned thick film, having a defined chamber, is formed on the protective layer. The back of the substrate is removed and thinned until the opening forms a through hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fabrication method for a fluid injection micro device, and more particularly, to deep silicon etching and polishing method for a fluid injection micro device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink-jet printhead is a key component of a color ink-jet printer. The Ink-jet printhead comprises an upper plate, an intermediate dry film, and a lower plate. The upper layer comprising an ink nozzle may be composed of noble metal (e.g., Cu, Au, Ni, or Ni—Au alloy), glass, or plastic. The lower plate is a thermally stable substrate, such as a silicon wafer, having microelectronic circuits thereon. The intermediate dry film is lithographed and etched to define an ink passageway.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional fluid injection micro device. Referring to FIG. 1, a fluid injection micro device is formed on a substrate 10 (e.g., silicon wafer). A dielectric layer 20, such as silicon oxide, is formed on the substrate 10. The dielectric layer 20 may be deposited using a CVD process. A patterned resistive layer 30 is formed on the dielectric layer 20 as a heater. The resistive layer 30 comprises HfB2, TaAl, TaN, or TiN. The resistive layer 30 may be deposited using a PVD process, such as evaporation, sputtering, or reactive sputtering. Next, a patterned conductive layer 40, such as Al, Cu, or Al—Cu alloy, is formed overlying the dielectric layer 20 and covers the heater 30 to form a signal transmitting circuit. The conductive layer 162 may be deposited using a PVD process, such as evaporation, sputtering, or reactive sputtering. Thereafter, a protective layer 50 is formed using a CVD process to isolate the ink and the heater.
Thereafter, a thick film 60 is formed on the protective layer 50. The thick film 60 is composed of polymer material, such as polyimide, is formed around a fluid chamber 70 containing ink. After formation of a manifold and attachment of a plate 80, the substrate is bonded onto a flexible printed circuit board. The nozzle plate 80 comprises an electroplating plate or a flexible printed circuit board. According to this conventional method, the heating element 30 is beneath the orifice 90. The inkjet droplet is ejected from the fluid chamber 70 by pullback force. It is difficult to inhibit unstable ink conditions which result in satellite droplets. For example, ink close to the orifice can overflow, or the tail of an ink droplet may not be cut off properly. The tiny ink droplets that trail the main droplets, known as satellite droplets, may hit the paper at locations slightly different than the main droplets and blur the printed image. Moreover, in order to accurately align the heating element 30 and the orifice 90, either the electroplating plate or a flexible printed circuit board is required, thus, manufacturing costs are increased.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,530 discloses a method of a fluid injection micro device using a wet etching process. Referring to FIG. 2, a fluid injection micro device comprises discharge resistors, such as the first heater 130a and second heater 130b, placed on opposing sides of the orifice 132 possess different resistances and are electrically connected to a common electrode (not shown) for activating the ink in the associated chamber 170.
After a common electrical pulse is applied, the first heater 130a and second heater 130b are activated simultaneously. Due to the resistance difference, the first heater 130a, having a narrower cross-section, is activated more quickly and generates a first bubble 180a. The expanding first bubble 180a begins to restrict the ink flow to the manifold 160, and finally functions as a virtual valve to isolate the chamber 170 and to prevent the adjacent chambers from cross talk. Then, a second bubble 180b is formed by the second heater 130b. As the second bubble 180b expands and approaches the first bubble 180a, the ink is pressurized by the first bubble 180a and the second bubble 180b and is ejected through the orifice 132. However, it is critical to control the construction of the support layer, in order to meet high production yield and durability requirements.

Fluid injection micro device and fabrication method thereof


The automated gripping tool enables a user to move a food product from a first position to a second position while maintaining the integrity and appearance of the food product. The gripper tool makes use of flexible bands on a pair of gripping arms. The flexible bands are positioned to sandwich a food product between them with sufficient force to allow the food product to be repositioned and without damaging the integrity and appearance of the food product.

Increasingly, industries of all types are using robotic techniques for reasons of efficiency, precision, sanitation, and productivity. In the food industry, and particularly in the field of processed foods, robotics are of use in moving foods from one part of a production stream to another and ultimately into suitable packaging.
However, known robotic tools have proved inadequate to the handling of fragile baked and other processed foods and, in particular, for manipulating enrobed bakery products into packaging. Known devices have not provided sufficiently delicate handling which results in wasted product and increased costs to the manufacturer.


The present invention is directed to rubbery polymers, such as polybutadiene rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber, that contain tin coupling agents and provide desirable dispersion of carbon black in rubber compounds, such as for use in tire treads. The tin coupling agents are defined by the general formulas (I) (X3Sn)2O or (II) (X3Sn)O—(CH2)n—O(X3Sn), wherein X is a halogen and n is 1 to 20. A method of rubbery polymer synthesis, in one embodiment, involves mixing anionically polymerizable conjugated diene monomers with optional vinyl aromatic and an anionic-polymerization initiator, i.e., an organolithium compound, to form a mixture of living polymers. A tin coupling agent is added to the mixture of living polymers effecting polymerization conditions to form the tin coupled rubbery polymer. Such tin coupled rubbery polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubbers where the rubbery polymers may provide desirable wear properties without substantially sacrificing other performance characteristics.

It is desirable to produce rubber compounds, which include a rubbery polymer(s), exhibiting reduced hysteresis when properly compounded with other ingredients such as reinforcing agents, followed by vulcanization, such rubber compounds being used in tires. The hysteresis of a rubber compound refers to the difference between the energy applied to deform an article made from the rubber compound and the energy released as the rubber compound returns to its initial, undeformed state. In pneumatic tires, lowered hysteresis properties are associated with reduced rolling resistance and heat build-up during operation of the tire. These properties, in turn, result in such desirable characteristics as lowered fuel consumption for vehicles using such tires.
To that end, to alter or manipulate the properties of rubbery polymers, and thus the characteristics of a tire utilizing such rubbery polymer, various modifiers can be incorporated into the rubbery polymer, when that rubbery polymer is compounded, for interacting with reinforcing filler, such as carbon black or silica. For example, it is known to incorporate tin coupling agents, such as tin tetrachloride, i.e., SnCl4, into rubbery polymers in an effort to improve the performance characteristics of tires. However, it would be desirable to increase the bound rubber by maximizing the number of carbon-tin bonds and, thus, further improve upon the performance characteristics of tires. However, due to the unpredictable interactions of the various compounds and chemicals used for synthesizing and compounding rubbery polymers, it can be challenging to formulate useful rubber compounds that provide tires with overall desirable performance characteristics.
It would thus be desirable to provide rubbery polymers containing tin coupling agents and rubber compounds including the same for use in tires, wherein such rubbery polymers can provide desirable dispersion of reinforcing filler and desirable wear properties.

Rubbery polymers containing tin coupling agents and rubber compounds including the same


A lens includes an upper flat surface having a first outer diameter, a bottom surface having a second outer diameter and a third inner diameter, an external curved surface which connects the upper flat surface and the bottom surface, and an inner curved surface which protrudes toward the upper flat surface from the bottom surface at the third inner diameter.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a lens, a backlight assembly and a display apparatus having the lens. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a lens, a backlight assembly and a display apparatus having the lens, with respect to fewer light sources.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD") apparatus needs an external light source for displaying an image with desirable brightness since the LCD apparatus cannot generate light by itself. The LCD apparatus includes a backlight assembly as the external light source, and a LCD display panel which displays the image using light from the external light source.
The backlight assembly includes a light source which may be mounted on a printed circuit board ("PCB") substrate, and may be classified into an edge type assembly and a direct type assembly according to the position of the light source. In the edge type assembly, the light source is disposed at the edge of the LCD display panel, such that the light generated by the light source passes through a light guide plate, which is disposed under the LCD display panel, and is provided into the LCD display panel. In the direct type assembly, a plurality of light sources is disposed under the LCD display panel and the light generated by the light sources is provided directly into the LCD display panel. The direct type assembly might have higher brightness and better contrast ratio than the edge type assembly.
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp ("CCFL") may be used for the light source of the direct type assembly. As a light source, a light emitting diode ("LED") lamp may be used owing to advantages of a long life-time, lower power consumption, a light weight and a smaller thickness.
The LED lamp includes a point light source and a plurality of LED packages generating light. The LED package distributes light generated and emitted by the point light source. The point light from the point light source is changed into a planar light or surface light by a lens.
However, the point light source of the LED lamp has a small light distribution area for each point light source and a limited brightness. Thus, the backlight assembly may include hundreds of point light sources and/or LED lamps. As the number of the point light sources and/or LED lamps is increased, the number of the PCB and/or a size of the PCB is increased. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the LCD display apparatus is greatly increased.

Lens, backlight assembly and display apparatus having the same


An approach for generating optimal itineraries is presented. As a response to a first message sent to a remote computer system by a global positioning device transported by a vehicle on a trip, the device receives a second message indicating optimal itineraries of the trip. The device receives a selection of an optimal itinerary indicating a path, a hop, an updated service provider to provide a service to a mobile device transported by the vehicle, and an updated network for providing the service. The device detects the vehicle at a position indicated by the hop, and in response, generates a third message indicating the updated service provider and the updated network. The global positioning device sends the third message to the mobile device and as a result, the mobile device makes a connectivity change to the updated service provider and/or to the updated network.

A conventional global positioning system (GPS) provides a best route for a traveler based on the route having the shortest distance or the shortest travel time. The conventional GPS-determined best route may also be further constrained by applying one or more geographic-based conditions that avoid highways, exclude selected street(s), and/or include selected geographic point(s). Determining best routes with conditions that are limited to geographic aspects provides a traveler with inadequate itinerary choices that fail to address significant needs of the traveler. Thus, there exists a need to overcome at least one of the preceding deficiencies and limitations of the related art.

Generating optimal itineraries based on network connectivity

International Business Machines Corporation


Factor VII variants and methods of use thereof are disclosed.

Several publications and patent documents are cited throughout the specification in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Each of these citations is incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full.
The current treatment of hemophilia is burdened by the development of antibodies to the factor infused in the patients to treat bleeding episodes. As a bypass to this complication, one successful mode of treatment includes infusion of recombinant activated FVII (rFVIIa) that can bring about cessation of bleeding even in the presence of such inhibitory antibodies. Unfortunately, rFVIIa has a very short circulating time in humans (˜3 h) and therefore multiple injections need to be made in order to stop the bleeding. This escalates the cost of treatment tremendously and therefore development of alternative treatment strategies (either via improved proteins or gene-based therapies) is urgently needed.

FVII polypeptide variants exhibiting altered interaction with endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) and methods of use thereof for modulating hemostasis


An exposure method for transferring a pattern of a mask onto a member to be exposed. The method includes the steps of making preparations for exposure while a protection cover is attached to the mask, executing alignment between the member to be exposed and the mask while the protection cover is detached from the mask, and executing exposure with X-rays while the protection cover is detached from the mask.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray mask which is used in the manufacture of microdevices such as semiconductor integrated circuits to transfer a micropattern onto a wafer, and an X-ray exposure method and apparatus using the same.
2. Related Background Art
Semiconductor integrated circuits continue to be minutely downsized in their feature size year by year. Along with this trend, an exposure apparatus for transferring a circuit pattern onto a wafer is required to transfer increasingly minute circuit patterns. For this reason, the wavelength of exposure light used in exposure apparatuses is gradually becoming shorter, and recently, an exposure apparatus using soft X-rays as a transfer means for the most elaborate circuit patterns has been examined.
Upon transferring the circuit pattern of a semiconductor integrated circuit by exposure, contamination due to foreign matter attached to the exposure mask is a very serious problem. If foreign matter becomes attached to a mask, it is transferred onto the wafer and becomes a defect in the circuit pattern. For this reason, attachment of foreign matter must be prevented as much as possible. In particular, in exposure using soft X-rays, since the transmittance of X-rays through various substances is very low, X-rays cannot be transmitted through even very small foreign matter, thus causing defects.
As the circuit pattern is more downsized, it becomes more difficult to remove foreign matter on the mask or to repair the mask. In X-ray masks, such difficulties are pronounced due to their structures.
The X-ray masks are roughly classified into a transmission type mask and a reflection type mask. In a transmission type mask, since a mask pattern (circuit pattern) is formed on a self-supported film, the mask must be repaired to prevent changes in stress of the self-supported film. On the other hand, in a reflection type mask using a multi-layered film reflection mirror, since the reflection layer has a multilayered structure, the mask must be repaired to preclude any influence on the multilayered structure. These techniques, however, are very difficult to achieve. Hence, attachment of foreign matter must be avoided more carefully in the X-ray masks than the masks used in exposure apparatuses using visible light and ultraviolet rays.
In exposure apparatuses using visible light and ultraviolet rays, a pellicle consisting of an organic thin film such as nitrocellulose, parylene, or the like is often set on the mask so as to prevent attachment of foreign matter. Since the pellicle is set therein, foreign matter can be prevented from becoming attached to the mask and, hence, contamination can be avoided.
In particular, in a projection exposure type exposure apparatus, when the pellicle is set to fall outside the field depth of an imaging optical system, even when foreign matter becomes attached onto the pellicle, it is never transferred onto the wafer, and any foreign matter attached onto the pellicle can be easily removed. For this reason, the yield of transferred patterns can be improved greatly. Also, once mask inspection is done upon setting the pellicle, foreign matter inspection on the pellicle need only be performed from then on.
Therefore, in some examples (Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-88534, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 5-150445), an X-ray transmission thin film such as a diamond film, an organic thin film, or the like, a so-called pellicle, is set on an X-ray mask as well.
However, since X-ray exposure is normally done in a high vacuum, a reduced pressure atmosphere, or an atmosphere substituted by a gas such as helium with high purity, when a pellicle is set on an X-ray mask, a pressure difference is produced between the dust-proof space inside the pellicle and the surrounding atmosphere, and the pellicle or the mask itself may be destroyed or deformed by the pressure difference.
When the pellicle is set therein, it poses another problem unique to X-rays. That is, the pellicle absorbs X-rays considerably, and the X-ray exposure intensity attenuates.
The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional art, and has as its object to provide an X-ray mask which can attain high-precision exposure while reducing the possibility of mask damage, an exposure method and apparatus using the mask, a device manufacturing method, and the like.
In order to achieve the above object, according to one preferred aspect of the present invention, an X-ray mask is characterized by comprising: a mask pattern; protection means for forming a dust-proof space for protecting the mask pattern; and a hole for ventilating between the dust-proof space and an outer atmosphere.
For example, the X-ray mask comprises a transmission type mask, which comprises an X-ray transparent membrane, on a surface of which the mask pattern is formed, and the protection means is arranged on at least one of a front surface side and a rear surface side of the membrane.
For example, the X-ray mask comprises a reflection type mask, in which a multilayered film reflection layer and the mask pattern are formed on a substrate, and the protection means is arranged on the mask pattern.
For example, the protection member comprises a detachable protection member, or the protection member comprises an X-ray transparent pellicle film.
It is preferable that the protection member be subjected to an antistatic treatment. Also, preferably, the hole has a lid which is free to open/close, or the hole has a filter.
According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, an X-ray mask is characterized by comprising: an X-ray transparent membrane; a mask pattern formed on a surface of the membrane; and protection members formed on both a front surface side and a rear surface side of the membrane and forming a dust-proof space.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, an exposure method is characterized by comprising the steps of: preparing an X-ray mask comprising a mask pattern and detachable protection means for forming a dust-proof space for protecting the mask pattern; carrying the X-ray mask with the protection means attached; and exposing the mask pattern to X-rays while the protection means is detached.
The scope of the present invention includes a device manufacturing method for manufacturing a microdevice in processes including the above-mentioned exposure method.
Other objects and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

X-ray mask, and exposure method and apparatus using the same


A tunable impedance circuit is provided wherein at least one of a plurality of impedance elements is combined with at least another of the plurality of impedance elements to produce a composite impedance. A control voltage is used to determine how many of the impedance elements are to be combined to produce the composite impedance. A current that is substantially invariant over a range of operating conditions is caused to flow through a control impedance to produce the control voltage.

Conventional high speed serial communication interface drivers typically consume a relatively large amount of power due to the analog biasing requirements (current flows all the time). The relationship between the current consumed by the driver and the actual signal amplitude generated at the output of the driver can vary widely depending on the driver topology. Examples of conventional serial interface drivers are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 illustrates a CML example including resistors R1, R2 and R3, transistors M1 and M2, and output driver 18. The transistors M1 and M2 are controlled by complementary digital inputs INP and INN. The circuit of FIG. 1 effectively has double 50 ohm termination, and the differential pair M1, M2 steers current to the output. Because of current division between the internal (R1 and R2) and external (R3) termination, only one-fourth of the output bias current I0 is used to generate the output voltage V0. A 10 mA output stage bias current is required to produce a 250 mV output swing. In FIG. 1, the currents I0, I1 and I2 illustrate the operation of the circuit with transistor M2 turned on, transistor M1 turned off and I0=10 mA.
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art LVDS example including transistors M20-M23, resistors R3 and R4, and output driver 18. The circuit of FIG. 2 provides improved efficiency over the circuit of FIG. 1, because the "switch box" formed by transistors M20-M23 steers current to the output more effectively. Due to the double termination provided by R3 and R4, the effective impedance seen by the output driver 18 is 50 ohms differential. In the circuit of FIG. 2, a 500 mV output swing can be produced from a 10 mA bias current. The currents I0, I1 and I2 illustrate operation of the circuit of FIG. 2 with transistors M23 and M21 turned on, transistors M20 and M22 turned off, and I0=10 mA.
Comparing the power consumption of the prior art serial interface driver circuits of FIGS. 1 and 2, to produce a constant output voltage of 500 mV, and assuming a 2.5 V power supply, the circuit of FIG. 1 will have current and power requirements of 20 mA and 50 mW, and the circuit of FIG. 2 will have current and power requirements of 10 mA and 25 mW.
It is desirable in view of the foregoing to provide for serial communication interface drivers with current and power requirements that improve upon the performance of prior art serial communication interface drivers.

Tuning control for a PVT-compensating tunable impedance circuit


An image reading device having a mark formed on front and back of a sheet by an image forming device, and including a first scanner which reads the mark and a second scanner provided at a downstream side of the first scanner and which reads the mark, includes: a position adjusting unit configured to adjust front and back positions of the mark on the basis of a print position of the mark read by at least one of the first scanner and the second scanner; and a monitoring unit configured to monitor front and back misregistration of the mark on the basis of the front and back positions of the mark adjusted by the position adjusting unit.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading device, an image forming system, and a program.
Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, among image forming systems including a printer that can perform duplex printing and an image reading device that includes scanners, there is one that measures and adjusts front and back positions of images formed on a sheet, using one scanner (for example, see JP 2006-072075 A).
The conventional technology described in JP 2006-072075 A reads the front and back positions of the images formed on the sheet with one scanner, and thus conveys the sheet twice. Therefore, a time required for conveyance to read the images on the sheet is increased as the operation to read the front and back positions of the images is performed for each sheet. As a result, productivity as the image forming system is decreased.
Therefore, to avoid conveyance of the sheet twice for each sheet, there is one that reads the front and back positions of the images formed on the sheet, using two scanners. To be specific, one of the two scanners reads the image formed on a surface of the sheet, and the other of the two scanners reads the image formed on a back surface of the sheet. Accordingly, the images respectively formed on the front and back of the sheet can be read by conveying the sheet only once per sheet.
However, there is a mechanical difference in the scanners. That is, there is a machine difference. Therefore, even if the images formed on the front and back of the sheet are read using two scanners having the same performance, misregistration may be caused between the read positions of the two scanners. Therefore, the front and back positions of the images formed on the sheet may not be accurately read.
Further, in a case of mechanically adjusting the machine difference between the scanners, high component accuracy and high position accuracy are required. Therefore, the cost to adjust the machine difference between the scanners is increased.
By the way, front and back misregistration sometimes occurs in the images formed on both surfaces of the sheet even though setting on the printer side is not changed, as the duplex printing advances by the printer. Such front and back misregistration of the images occurs due to environmental conditions such as humidity in a print location and deterioration of mechanical durability. Therefore, the front and back misregistration of the images caused by the environmental conditions may be suddenly caused.

Image reading device, image forming system, and program


A mini-coaxial cable includes a main body being provided with a forward tapered inner wall surface and a plurality of internal screw threads; and an adapter for coaxially receiving a mini-coaxial cable therein and including a first forward tapered tubular section, a plurality of external screw threads meshing with the internal screw threads of the main body, and at least one pair of wedge-shaped members located adjacent to the outer sheath of the mini-coaxial cable. When the adapter is fully screwed into the main body, the wedge-shaped members are subjected to radially applied forces and inward deformed to tightly press against and grip the outer sheath of the mini-coaxial cable, and the first tapered tubular section drives the braided sheath of the mini-coaxial cable against the tapered inner wall surface of the main body, giving the mini-coaxial cable sufficient pull strength.

A mini-coaxial cable connector is used to mechanically and electrically connect a mini-coaxial cable to a corresponding interface on an electronic device for cable TV signal transmission, data transmission, etc. FIG. 1 shows an existing mini-coaxial cable connecting technique. The term "mini-coaxial cable" used throughout this document means a coaxial cable having a center conductor diameter larger than 0.1 mm and smaller than 0.8 mm, such as RG179 coaxial cable. As shown, a conventional mini-coaxial cable 10 includes a center conductor 11, an insulating spacer 12 surrounding the center conductor 11, at least one layer of braided sheath 13 surrounding the insulating spacer 12, and an outer sheath 14 surrounding the braided sheath 13; and a conventional mini-coaxial cable connector 15 includes an inner conducting body 16 and an insertion pin 17 for inserting into an axial guide way in the connector 15 to mechanically and electrically connect to the inner conducting body 16. The insertion pin 17 is provided in a rear end with a cylindrical recess 18. According to the prior art, the insertion pin 17 is first soldered to the center conductor 11 located at a stripped front end of the mini-coaxial cable 10. To solder the insertion pin 17 to the bare center conductor 11 requires electric power and clean and bright working environment. Once the mini-coaxial cable 10 with the insertion pin 17 soldered thereto has been assembled to the mini-coaxial cable connector 15, a collar 19 is fitted around the outer sheath 14 at the front end of the mini-coaxial cable 10 and then crimped using a crimping tool, so that the mini-coaxial cable 10 is tightly connected to the connector 15.
The above-described manner of assembling the mini-coaxial cable to a mini-coaxial cable connector is troublesome, and it is therefore desirable to develop a solder-free and crimp-free connecting structure for stably and firmly connecting a mini-coaxial cable to a mini-coaxial cable connector.


A light-weight, shock-absorbing chest protector worn, for example, by participants in sports, the protector allowing air circulation to a wearer's body while providing enhanced flexibility. The protector conforms to a wearer's body and flexes inwardly and outwardly and expands and contracts vertically with the wearer's movements. The protector, which is coated with a durable coating to add color as well as additional strength to the protector, is attached to a wearer's body through the use of a harness. Apertures through the protector are shaped to "grab" a ball which strikes the protector and drop the ball near to the wearer, while also reducing the weight of the protector, providing air circulation through the protector, and giving the protector the enhanced flexibility. The protector has optional hinged pads for covering additional areas of a wearer's body without inhibiting freedom of movement.

Baseball catchers or umpires typically wear chest protectors to prevent injury resulting from being struck by a baseball in the chest or shoulder region. Early chest protectors were generally made of cloth sewn in horizontal ribs to allow up and down flexibility, with vertical seams to provide front to back flexibility. These chest protectors typically included a vertical seam at the center of the protector which reduced the shock absorbing properties of the protector in the center of the chest where the shock absorbency was most needed. Glahe U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,197 resolved this problem by displacing the vertical seams to the sides away from the center of the protector. Further improvements moved the seams around so as to provide better flexibility and protection to the wearer as shown in Glahe U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,762.
A further attempt at providing additional protection involved the addition of rigid plates within the body of the chest protector as illustrated in Tomczak U. S. Pat. No. 4,525,875. However, one problem with protectors that are fairly rigid is that a ball which strikes the protector in a rigid area will bounce in an unpredictable direction, thereby reducing the likelihood that a catcher will be able to catch the ball.
These chest protectors also had a major drawback since they did not allow air circulation between the body of the wearer and the protector thereby causing an insulating effect. It was typical for a catcher to lose weight during a baseball game from perspiring excessively. Later devices added air holes to the chest protectors for breathing, for example, Buhler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,847, Gourdreau et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,211, and Landi et al, U. S. Pat. No. 4,422,183, all included breathing holes.
Later chest protector devices have been constructed from foam materials for providing lighter weight shields. For example, the Buhler device uses an open cell foam which is coated on an inner layer with a water impervious coating to prevent the protector from absorbing the user's perspiration.
A common problem with chest protectors has been their lack of flexibility. For example, when a catcher kneels or bows his back to create a concave area for corralling the ball, a chest protector will typically bow outwardly rather than molding to the catcher's body thereby defeating or hindering the catcher's efforts at creating an area to confine the ball. Also, to provide freedom of movement, for example in the area of a catcher's throwing arm, protectors leave an area of the catcher's body uncovered. While allowing greater movement, uncovering a portion of a wearer's body subjects that portion to greater risk of injury.


The problem of providing a dual redundant load path which is not vulnerable to a single point failure at the output of a motor shaft is solved by a dual redundant load path motor system, particularly for use in aircraft actuation systems. A motor (22) has a rotor (34) extending entirely therethrough to define first and second output drives (38 and 40) at opposite ends (34a and 34b) of the rotor. First and second output shafts (46 and 48) are coupled to the opposite ends of the rotor. The output shafts are located at a common end of the motor, and one of the output shafts (48) is coupled through a connecting shaft (68) to the end of the rotor at the opposite end of the motor. The connecting shaft runs generally parallel to the rotor.

Actuation systems are used in aircraft to drive various control surfaces such as the leading edge flap of a power drive unit. Most often, dual redundant load paths are required for safety purposes to allow continued operation of the power drive unit in the event of a single point failure outside the driving motor. In other words, the motor is part of a power drive unit which drives the leading edge flap through a dual load path to a set of actuators. If a failure occurs in one of the load paths, the other load path still is operative to allow driving the leading edge flap.
Heretofore, many configurations of dual redundant load path systems have been proposed to satisfy this need and/or requirement. Typically, a single motor output, such as a single motor shaft, operates the system by driving dual redundant shafting and gearing paths. However, such configurations are vulnerable to a single point failure at the output of the motor shaft itself This would free the control surface and create possible safety problems in flight conditions.
This invention is directed to solving such problems, and particularly to the problem of single point failure at the output of the motor shaft in dual redundant load path systems.

Dual load path motor means for aircraft actuation systems and the like


A methodology and apparatus is described that registers images outputted by at least two video camera sensors that are not necessarily bore-sighted nor co-located together. Preferably this can be performed in real-time at least at video rate. The two video camera sensors can be either of similar or two different modalities (e.g., one can be intensified visible, while the other can be thermal infrared) each possibly with a different field-of-view. The methodology and apparatus take advantage of a combination of Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) information and image registration between the two camera sensors from computational image processing. In one preferred embodiment, the system uses a rifle mounted weapon sight camera sensor and a helmet mounted sensor camera. The aim point of the weapon sight camera sensor (e.g., typically at the image center) zeroed to the true rifle aim point is digitally overlayed as a reticle on the video image from the helmet sensor, displayed on a head mounted display (HMD). In another embodiment pixel-level image fusion is displayed across the overlapping field-of-view of the rifle mounted camera sensor weapon sight with the helmet mounted camera image.

The ability to successfully operate in darkness is a cornerstone of our military superiority. This capability is supported by a number of sensor technologies that outfit the modern dismounted soldier. Ranging from intensified near infrared (NIR), through shortwave infrared (SWIR), midwave infrared (MWIR) and onto the longwave thermal infrared (LWIR), these technologies allow for unprecedented sensory enhancement and extended operational conditions. One negative aspect of the proliferation of night-vision sensors is that even though many of these devices provide complementary capabilities, they do not build upon each other, and rather function separately. This result in redundant equipment, inability to simultaneously exploit more than one sensor modality and overly cumbersome operation, leading to decreased efficiency and higher vulnerability.
Simultaneous, complementary use of disparate sensor modalities would provide the dismounted soldier with increased situational awareness, and would allow for optimal use of available resources. The lower complexity of a unified sensor/display package would free the user to concentrate on the mission, not the tools, while at the same time having better quality sensory input upon which to operate. In addition to providing a combined output from multiple sensors, a unified system would obviate the awkward transition between devices that is currently necessary. With the proposed system, the user would be able to transition from one sensor output to another, or to a combination of multiple sensors with no need to switch or rearrange equipment. This would address a critical transition time during which the user is both blind and distracted, and therefore more vulnerable. A unified system would allow the user to have continuous, seamless visual input from multiple complementary sensors, greatly enhancing his capabilities.
There is an operational gap in being able to seamlessly transition/coordinate between a rifle mounted thermal weapon sight (TWS) and helmet mounted electro-optical (EO) cameras (e.g., intensified imaging). A soldier looking through a TWS temporarily interrupts his ability to perceive his surroundings beyond the narrow field-of-view of the TWS which can be fatal in a battlefield environment. In other instances, a soldier does not precisely know where his rifle is aimed in his visible field-of-view without peering into the TWS. In Low-light/No-Light conditions infantry have little to virtually no natural visual perception relying heavily upon intensified EO and thermal cameras provided to them. While on-the-move in a dynamic battlefield environment the soldier should be able to persistently perceive their surroundings through intensified EO while at the same time being able to direct their rifle aim point and accurately "shoot from the hip" with minimal distraction from their situational awareness. Furthermore this can be done passively without the use of active laser pointers or designators.
Current operations have determined that intensified night vision goggles alone do not provide the soldier with the capability to operate and survive in many environmental conditions and mission scenarios. As the enemy gets smarter in defeating night vision goggles and continues to gain this capability themselves US troops are finding their technological advantage deteriorating. Because of this, various DOD programs are emerging that emphasize the complementary use of EO and thermal infrared modalities and respective fusion.
A portion of the invention uses Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) consisting of a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. The accelerometers are used to determine the vertical direction, by measuring the acceleration of gravity. The magnetometers use the Earth's magnetic field to determine magnetic North, and thus left-to-right orientation. Finally, the gyroscopes are used to stabilize the instantaneous measurements from the other devices, and neutralize jitter from sensor noise. One problem with such a system is that the magnetometers are interfered upon by existing environmental magnetic fields, as well as the presence of large ferromagnetic objects. This is especially a problem when we consider that weapons themselves are made of steel, not to mention armored vehicles and other equipment normally found in the battlefield. The immediate implication is that any system based on magnetic readings will suffer interference from environmental noise that may render the entire system inaccurate. The novelty of the current invention is that it overcomes the inaccuracy limitations of IMUs by using both IMU information, and image feature registration through image processing to produce a much more reliable system.

Method and apparatus for dynamic image registration


In a method for managing test results of an electronic device, the electronic device includes one or more expansion slots. The method selects a hard disk drive to insert into each expansion slot, executes a read-write test on each expansion slot, and saves test result(s) of the tests on each expansion slot into a file. Before managing the test results, the method sets a file name for each expansion slot for which test results is to be managed, and selects a test item from the read-write test. The method determines test results which expansion slots with are required to be managed and determines a test order of the expansion slots. After the test results are imported, the method amends a file name corresponding to each expansion slot according to the test order, and manages the test results of each expansion slot.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to management of data from testing devices and methods, and particularly to an electronic device and method for managing test results related to the electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
During design of a server or a storage system, hard disk drives made by different manufacturers are required to be tested one by one in a storage system. The test demands heavy use of manpower, recourses to material and lengthy application time, and the sufficiency of the tests cannot be guaranteed.

Electronic device and method for managing test results


A forend for a firearm that includes a sight tunnel through the forend. The forend may be adapted to actuate a tube magazine of a shotgun to insert a shell from the tube magazine into a receiver of the shotgun. The forend may include an integral heat shield to protect a shooter from heat off of the barrel of the firearm. The forend may include a rail, such as an accessory rail, such as a Picatinny rail, that permits the attachment of an accessory to the top of the forend. The sight tunnel through the forend is below the accessory rail and permits the attachment of a light accessory to light up a front sight and/or a target. The front sight may be viewed through the sight tunnel by an operator of a firearm using the forend.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The embodiments described herein relate to a forend for a firearm that includes a sight tunnel that permits the shooter to view a front sight through the forend. The forend may be adapted to be positioned on a shotgun and moved to insert a shell from a tube magazine into a receiver of the shotgun. The forend may include an integral heat shield positioned over the barrel of the firearm. The forend may include a rail positioned above the sight tunnel to permit the attachment of an accessory, such as a light that may be used to light up the front sight and/or to light up a target.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a prior art semi-auto shotgun 5 that includes a butt stock 35 connected to one end of a receiver 40. A barrel 20 and a magazine tube 10 are connected to the other end of the receiver 40. A front bead sight 50 is positioned on top of the barrel 20 at the muzzle end of the barrel 20. An operator of the shotgun 5 may be able to view a potential target along a sight path (shown as arrow 70) along the top of the receiver 40 and barrel 20 to line up the potential target using the sight 50 at the end of the barrel 20. The movement of a forend/pump 30 along the magazine tube 10 may be used to actuate the magazine tube 10 to insert a shell into the receiver 40 as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.
The semi-auto shotgun 5 may include a heat shield 60 positioned over the entire length of a significant portion of the length of the barrel 20. Heat shields 60 may be used to protect the user from the heat given off from the barrel 20 due to repeated rapid discharge of the shotgun and/or to change the appearance of the shotgun 5 to have a more tactical nature. Heat shields 60 may be an after-market addition to a firearm and as a result may difficult for a user to install onto the firearm. In addition to being difficult to install, the recoil of the firearm may cause the heat shield 60 to become loose and/or change the handling of the firearm. The long length of the heat shield 60 may cause a change in the recoil of the firearm.
The addition of a low profile heat shield 60 may not affect the sight path 70 of a traditional semi-auto shotgun 5. However, the addition of other accessories, such as a light, to the top of the shotgun may potentially block the sight path 70 from the receiver 40 to the front sight 50. As a result any such accessories may be attached beneath the shotgun 5, which may not be optimal. For example, a light positioned below the shotgun 5 will not light up the front sight 50, which may be preferred.


The invention relates to combusting contaminants on foundry sand in a container (13) rotating about an axis (A) at a particular angle with a particularly placed oxygen-fuel burner (32). As the container (13) rotates about the axis (A), the oxygen-fuel burner (32) fires a flame and excess oxygen at a particular angle to enhance pyrolysis of the contaminants. The amount of excess oxygen is such that the resulting off gas contains at least 2% oxygen by volume, thus preventing or substantially minimizing products of incomplete combustion from leaving the container (13). After having pyrolyzed the contaminants, the firing of a flame and excess oxygen from the oxygen-fuel burner (32) may be replaced with oxidant dispersion an the bottom of the foundry sand. The resulting off gas from the container (13) may be treated in a post combustion furnace (7), a flue gas cooling means (8), a filtering device (9) and/or a pollutant removing means (11).

The foundry industry uses sand, such as silica, chromite or olivine sand, extensively in forming molds which are suitable for casting molten metals. In forming the molds, the sand is combined with various binding agents. Usually, the binding agents employed are natural binders, such as linseed oil and bentonite, and chemical binders, such as organic resins. The type of the binding agents employed is dependent on the desired molding properties. However, bentonite and organic resin binders are widely utilized. Most of the organic resin binders are based on phenolic and furannic resins that form reticular structures under the influence of a catalyst together with or without the application of a moderate temperature.
The foundry industry recycles large quantities of spent sand having binder residues. Most often, the spent sand is recycled after being subject to a mechanical/attrition treatment followed by a screening step. The mechanical/attrition treatment allows to remove or screen out the binder residues that have been broken down to extremely fine particles. Such a treatment, however, also causes the sand grains to break and erode, thus resulting in removing or screening out large quantities of the sand with the binder residues. Typically around 20% of the sand is lost in such an operation. That is, millions tons of the sand are disposed worldwide annually as a waste. Even though a large quantity of the disposed spent sand contains bentonite (referred to as "green sand") and may be harmless to the environment, it is often combined or mixed with spent sand containing organic binders due the employment of bentonite and organic binders for making the different parts of a mold and/or due to the complexity of the foundry industry's operation. The disposed spent sand having the organic binders is normally hazardous to the environment.
To avoid the inefficiency and environmental hazard associated with the above recycling method, several thermal sand reclamation processes involving a fluid bed have been proposed. In these processes, electricity or natural gas is used for auxiliary heating while air is normally used as a fluidizing medium and as a means for burning organic residues present on the sand. These processes are useful for continuously treating large quantities of sand containing substantially identical binders and having substantially identical granulometry. However, they are neither effective nor efficient in treating different sands, i.e., sands having different granulometry and different binders, sequentially or in mixture since different operating parameters are needed for different sands. Moreover, crushing the spent (used) sand clods to very fine mesh for the fluidized bed treatment is a process handicap.
Consequently, WO 91/08068 has proposed a different thermal process for roasting foundry sand. Initially, the contaminated spent sand is charged into a rotatable furnace. The furnace rotates about an axis at an angle ranging from about 5.degree. to about 15.degree. , measured from vertical. Oxygen is injected at the bottom of the sand batch and diffuses throughout the sand batch. In the meantime, a flame front provided from a burner on the top of the furnace is directed to a upper surface of the sand batch. After the flame from the burner is ceased, oxygen is continuously injected to cause a progressive descent of the flame front until complete combustion of the contaminants has taken place. This thermal process, however, may suffer from certain disadvantages. First, the flame front may not descent progressively toward the bottom of the sand batch, when the sand contains limited burnable contaminants. The flame front from the top may be able to combust contaminants on the upper layer of the sand batch, but may not be able to reach the bottom layer of the sand batch. Second, the desired temperature uniformity may not be obtained since the flame from the burner, i.e., the tip of a flame, contacts only a small area of the upper layer of the sand batch. A certain portion of the sand batch, especially those at the bottom, may not be subject to the flame front and may still have contaminants when the operation is ceased. Third, the sand grain may be fractioning due to thermal shock since the sand grain is subject to rapid heating as the fire front progresses downward. The body of the sand batch, for example, may be subject to thermal shock because it does not appear to be preheated. Finally, an off gas containing substantial amounts of the partially pyrolized organic contaminants and CO may be released to the atmosphere since the injection rate for oxygen diffusing through the layer of the spent sand batch is normally kept at a pretty low level to avoid, among other things, channelling and local fluidization of the sand batch.
It is an object of the invention to reduce or eliminate the presence of CO and partially pyrolized hazardous organic matter in the off gas exiting a foundry sand roasting rotary furnace.
It is another object of the invention to promote temperature uniformity within a rotary furnace, i.e., the head space and sand batch within a rotary furnace, during pyrolysis.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide ways to control the temperature within a rotary furnace during pyrolysis and combustion to minimize any alteration of the sand grain structure.
It is a further object of the invention to reduce dust entrainment in the off gas exiting a rotary furnace.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a thermal process useful for treating different sands effectively and efficiently.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a thermal process useful for treating and decontaminating spent sand that has to be disposed of, such as sand fines and dust, so that such a disposal is harmless to the environment.
It is an additional object of the invention to allow the use of an iron melting rotary kiln for pyrolyzing spent sand and combusting the resulting gas during dwell times.

Systems and processes for pyrolyzing contaminants on foundry sand and combusting the resulting gas


A message tracking and verifying system for verifying the correctness of messages being passed may comprise a tracking module for tracking a request message and a verifying module for verifying a response message. The tracking module may be configured to store a calculated source address and a calculated response address range. The verifying module may be configured to obtain an actual source address from the response message and an actual response address range for the response message. The correctness of the response message is determined based on the comparison of the calculated source address with the actual source address and the comparison of the calculated response address range with the actual response address range.

A simulation environment (also known as a test bench) may be utilized to verify the correctness and soundness of a design and/or model. It may be necessary to verify the integrity of messages being passed in a simulation environment utilizing a Message Passing Interface (MPI). Such verifications may require additional steps to be implemented in a test stimulus in addition to functionality testing. Further complicating matters, more than one test stimulus may be required to test the design and/or model in the simulation environment, requiring message verifications to be implemented for each test stimulus.

Method for tracking and/or verifying message passing in a simulation environment


A direct fired absorption chiller is combined with a microturbine engine that operates to power another medium includes a by-pass valve interconnecting the discharge end of the recuperator and the discharge end of the turbine so as to maintain a constant heat delivered to the chiller. A temperature monitoring sensor actuates the by-pass valve to assure that the proper heat is maintained in the chiller. In the preferred embodiment the microturbine powers an electrical generating system.

This invention relates to chillers utilized in air conditioning systems and more particularly to direct fired absorption chillers that are used in combination with microturbine engines.
As one skilled in this technology knows, the direct fired absorption chillers (DFA) are not widely used in this country and, in fact, are not utilized with microturbine engines. While water fired absorption chillers have been known to use the waste heat generated by microturbines, these systems require the use of heat exchangers to interface with the water fired absorption chiller. One of the main reasons that the microturbine engine cannot effectively be utilized with the DFA is because the temperature of the exhaust gases vary depending on the load and ambient characteristics of the microturbine. As is well known, the DFA utilizes the environmentally compatible combination of water and an absorbent and a burner to generate the heat necessary to carry out the absorption process. Direct fired absorption refrigeration is initiated when higher pressure liquid refrigerant solution form a condenser is discharged through an expansion device and into a lower pressure evaporator and collects therein. Expansion and xe2x80x9cflashingxe2x80x9d of the refrigerant solution occurs and the liquid refrigerant is collected in the sump of the evaporator. There is also the transfer of heat into the collected and cooled refrigerant solution from comparatively warm system water that is pumped through a cooling tower causing the collected refrigerant solution to evaporate, resulting in vapor that is transferred to an absorber where it is absorbed into a refrigerant solution, such as lithium bromide. This process creates a low pressure in the absorber that draws a continuous flow of refrigerant from the evaporator to the absorber, but also causes the vapor to condense as it releases the heat of vaporization in the evaporator. This heat and the heat of dilution produced as the refrigerant condensate mixes with the absorbent and is transferred into a cooling tower water and is carried out of the absorber. The assimilation of water refrigerant dilutes the lithium-bromide refrigerant solution and reduces its affinity for refrigerant vapor. In order to sustain the refrigeration cycle the solution is then reconcentrated by continuously pumping the dilute refrigerant solution from the absorber to a generator where heat is applied to distill the water refrigerant from the absorber. As the water refrigerant is removed by distillation, the re-concentrated lithium-bromide solution is returned through the absorber and to the generator to resume the absorption process, while the liberated refrigerant vapor from the generator is transferred to the cooler condenser and returned to its liquid state as the cooling tower absorbs the heat of condensation carried by vapor. The liquid""s return from the generator to the expansion device completes the cycle. Of course, this type of system replaces the more costly and typical fluorinated hydrocarbon compounds required by vapor compression refrigeration. The DFA system is considered to be stable, non-toxic and readily absorbed and easily separated in large volume during the absorption process.
This invention is principally concerned with producing the heat that is necessary to carry out the absorption process and particularly the waste heat that is generated by a microturbine engine. Although not limited thereto to the microturbines that are utilized for generating electricity is particularly efficacious for use with the direct fired absorption chiller.
As one skilled in this art will appreciate, it is abundantly important that the amount of heat and consistency of the heat source is required to operate the direct fired absorption chiller efficiently. This invention contemplates utilizing the heat discharging from the microturbine engine that is designed to power an electric generator and controlling the heat so that it is at the proper temperature to operate the chiller and that the temperature is controlled to be maintained at a consistent level, i.e. it is held at a constant temperature.
The object of this invention is the combination of a direct fired chiller and the microturbine engine.
A feature of this invention is the interconnection of the recuperator to the direct fired absorption chiller and a controlled by-pass valve that regulates the quantity of waste heat flowing to the chiller and the temperature thereof.

Microturbine direct fired absorption chiller


A control circuit is applied into a projector and an operation method is provided for the projector. The projector includes a photo sensor provided for generating a sensing voltage according to light intensity sensed by the photo sensor. The control circuit includes a first voltage-comparing unit, a reference voltage generating unit and a second voltage-comparing unit. The first voltage-comparing unit is provided for comparing the sensing voltage and a first reference voltage, to generate a first comprising result. The reference-voltage generating unit is provided for generating a second reference voltage and determining whether adjusting the second reference voltage according to the first comparing result. The second reference voltage is relatively larger than the first reference voltage. The second voltage-comparing unit is provided for comparing the sensing voltage and the second reference voltage, to generate a second comparing result.

Dustproof mechanism for a projector generally uses a filter mesh to prevent dust from entering the projector, or uses a fan to operate at the start-up stage of the projector for blowing off the dust. However, the above dustproof mechanism is passive, and the user cannot know how much the dust in the projector is and when should replace the filter mesh. Therefore, the user is only able to replace the filter mesh according to a regulation cycle. However, sometimes there is much dust in the projector but does not reach the cycle time for replacing the filter mesh, thus it results in much dust in the projector and the projector is prone to be damaged. Alternatively, sometimes there is little dust but reaches the cycle time for replacing the filter mesh, thus it will greatly waste the filter meshes.
FIG. 1 is a partial schematic circuit view of a conventional projector. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional projector mainly includes a color wheel 102, a photo sensor 104, a voltage-comparing circuit 106 and a main circuit 108. The photo sensor 104 is provided for sensing the light intensity and detecting a position of an index mark affixed to the color wheel 102 to generate a sensing voltage SV. The voltage-comparing circuit 106 is electrically coupled between a power voltage VCC and a ground voltage GND, and the voltage-comparing circuit 106 has a resistor 106-2, a resistor 106-4 and a comparator 106-6. The voltage-comparing circuit 106 is provided for comparing the sensing voltage SV and a reference voltage RV to generate a comparing result CR. The main circuit 108 not only takes in charge of the operation of the projector, but also determines whether turning off the projector according to the comparing result CR.
When the amount of the dust covered on the photo sensor 104 does not reach a predetermined value, the photo sensor 104 still can sense certain light intensity, and the sensing voltage SV generated by the photo sensor 104 is relatively smaller than the reference voltage RV. Therefore, the main circuit 108 allows the projector operating normally according to the comparing result CR generated by the voltage-comparing circuit 106. On the contrary, when the amount of the dust covered on the photo sensor 104 reaches the predetermined value, the photo sensor 104 cannot sense the certain light intensity, the sensing voltage SV generated by the photo sensor 104 is relatively larger than the reference voltage RV. Therefore, the main circuit 108 determines to turn off the projector according to the comparing result CR generated by the voltage-comparing circuit 106.
From the above description, in the dustproof mechanism as shown in FIG. 1, when the photo sensor 104 cannot sense the certain light intensity, the main circuit 108 determines to turn off the projector immediately, regardless of whether the projector is in use. Therefore, it is very inconvenient in use. In addition, some patents related to the projector, such as US Patent Application No. 20060256406, U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,678 and TW Patent No. I303712, are provided in recent years. However, the above conventional projectors still do not provide an effective and convenient dustproof mechanism.

Control circuit and operation method for projector


Computer systems and methods to protect user credential against phishing with security measures applied based on determination of phishing risks of locations being visited, phishing susceptibility of users, roles of users, verification of senders of messages, and/or the timing of stages in accessing and interacting with the locations. For example, when a site is unclassified at the onset of being accessed by a user device, security measures can be selectively applied to allow the site to be initially viewed on the user device, but disallow some user interactions to reduce phishing risk. For example, a response to a domain name system (DNS) request can be customized based on a user risk level. For example, a message can be displayed without a profile picture of a contact of a user when the sender of the message appears to be the contact but cannot be verified to be the contact.

Phishing is a type of fraudulent attempt used to obtain sensitive information, such as user credentials for online access, personal information, financial information, etc. For example, an electronic message containing a link to a fake website may be sent to a victim, causing the victim to follow the link to visit the fake website that appears to be a legitimate website due to its apparent similarity with the legitimate website. When the user mistakenly signs in using the user credential at the fake website using the credential for the legitimate website and/or provides the sensitive information under the false impression that the user is interacting with the legitimate website, the fake website harvests the user credential for the legitimate website (e.g., username and password) and/or other sensitive information (e.g., credit card numbers, personal information).
Phishing can be carried out through email spoofing where a phishing email contains a forged sender address, causing the recipient to mistakenly trust the email and click on the links provided in the email to visit a phishing site. For example, the header of an email message can include a "from" field identifying a name and/or the email address from which the email message is sent. A typically email message is delivered without verification that the information provided in the "from" field is correct. Similarly, the header of an email message can include a "reply-to" field identifying a name and/or the email address to which a reply to the email message is to be sent. An email message is typically delivered without verification that the information provided in the "reply-to" field is correct. Thus, a phishing email may be configured to appear from a sender that the recipient would trust.
Sender policy framework (SPF) is an email authentication system designed to detect some forged sender addresses. For example, computers that are authorized to send email from a domain can be specified in domain name system (DNS) records. Thus, receivers may verify the SPF information before receiving the emails from unauthorized sources.
Some techniques have been developed to prevent phishing attacks.
For example, a list of known phishing sites can be stored and checked against websites to be visited by a user. A warning message can be displayed when a browser is attempting to visit a known phishing site.
For example, a DNS server can be configured to filter out known phishing domains.
For example, a spam filter can be implemented in an email system to reduce phishing emails.


A switching mechanism for a food waste disposer is provided having a plastic one-piece housing that engages an external surface of the food waste disposer by snapping thereto. The switching mechanism also contains a switch capable of enabling operation of the food waste disposer in response to an interlock device positioned within the drain opening. Also provided is a method for converting a continuous feed waste disposer into a batch feed waste disposer. The switching mechanism includes a plug having a male end and a female end that can receive the electrical plug from the continuous feed waste disposer

The present disclosure relates to a switching mechanism for use with batch feed waste disposers.
As opposed to continuous feed waste disposers, batch feed waste disposers operate by filling the disposer with waste food, then substantially blocking the drain opening prior to operating the disposer, thereby disposing of food waste in batches. A batch feed disposer uses an interlock device positioned in the drain opening to activate the disposer. The interlock device also prevents foreign objects, such as silverware, from entering the disposer during operation, but will typically allow water to flow into the disposer. Batch feed waste disposers are also used in kitchens that do not have an electrically wired switch above the sink area, in which case the interlock device acts as the switch for the batch feed waste disposer.
One common means for activating the disposer is through mechanical contact of the interlock device with a switch in the throat of the disposer. However, such mechanical means of activating the disposer have been unreliable and subject to premature failure.
Newer methods for activating a batch feed waste disposer have included non-contact approaches, such as activation of a magnetic switch for example. In this approach, the interlock device contains a magnet which, when properly aligned within the drain opening, closes a magnetic switch that activates the disposer. The interlock device must be positioned such that its magnet is in the correct vertical and radial position within the drain opening to align with the magnetic switch.
An interlock device must also be capable of remaining in position throughout the operation of the disposer while allowing the free flow of water into the disposer. However, when the disposer is not in use, it is desirable that the homeowner be able to retain water in the sink using a stopper without activating the disposer, such as for dishwashing. Previous disposers with magnetic interlocks have used two different devices to perform these two different functions—an interlock device for activation of the disposer with water flow, and a stopper device for water retention without disposer activation. What is needed is a single device that can perform both functions, thereby reducing the number of accessory parts for the disposer and sink and simplifying their use.
In batch feed waste disposers using magnetic switch assemblies, such as those marketed by Viking Range Corporation of Greenwood, Miss., a magnet connected to a switch, typically a snap action switch or microswitch, is used to activate the disposer. Additionally, a reed switch or Hall-Effect sensor can also be used. The assembly is typically mounted onto an exterior surface of the disposer body using a special connection assembly. What is needed is a simple magnetic switch assembly that can be easily installed on an existing food waste disposer by a homeowner without the use of tools. It is also desirable to have a magnetic switch assembly that can be easily installed onto an existing continuous feed waste disposer in order to convert the continuous feed waste disposer into a batch feed waste disposer.

Switching mechanism for a batch feed waste disposer


A thermoplastic resin composition comprising 10 to 60 parts of a graft copolymer (A) and 90 to 40 parts of a rigid copolymer (B), both defined below:. (A) The graft copolymer obtained by emulsion graft polymerizing 60 to 20 parts of a specific monomer mixture in the presence of 40 to 80 parts (as solids) of an ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene copolymer-containing cross-linked latex containing 0.1 to 20 parts of a modified low molecular weight .alpha.-olefin copolymer in 100 parts of an ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene copolymer. PA1 (B) The rigid copolymer containing 60 to 76% of an aromatic vinyl type monomer, 40 to 24% of a vinyl cyanide type monomer, and 0 to 30% of a monomer copolymerizable with these monomers.. In the production of the graft copolymer (A), a redox type initiator and a monomer mixture are added to the polymerization system continuously over a period of one hour.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thermoplastic resin composition and a graft copolymer, and more particularly to a thermoplastic resin composition incorporating therein a specific graft copolymer and a rigid copolymer, which is excellent in sliding property, surface gloss, surface appearance, and resistance to impacts, and exhibits high weatherability and a graft copolymer using the thermoplastic resin composition as a component and allowing a highly desirable graft copolymer of excellent quality to be produced stably in a high yield.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The graft copolymer obtained by copolymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile with an ethylene-propylene-nonconjugate diene copolymer and the rubber-reinforced resin obtained by mixing this graft copolymer with a copolymer composed of styrene and acrylonitrile called a rigid component have been heretofore known as "AES resin" and, because of their excellence in weatherability, resistance to impacts, and surface gloss, it is expected to find utility in a wide range of applications.
In recent years, in the fields of office machines, household electric appliances, and automobiles, a material of high slidability and self-lubricating property for use in keyboards, bearing materials, gear materials, etc has been required.
Generally, for the impartation of slidability and self-lubricating property to such thermoplastic resins as AES resins, there is adopted the method which comprises adding to the thermoplastic resin a lubricant such as silicone oil and a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene and melting and kneading them. For example, a slidable styrene type resin composition produced by mixing a rubber-modified styrene resin with a polyolefin type resin, a styrene-olefin graft copolymer, and dimethyl silicone (Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 63(1988)-182,361) and a slidable material quality composition produced by melting and kneading a thermoplastic resin with a porous fluorine resin powder (Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 63(1988)-179,965) have been proposed. A specific polyethylene component as an additive for improving the wear resistance of a synthetic resin has been proposed (japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 63(1988)-175,069).
The applicant of the present invention developed a method for stably producing a composition by emulsion polymerizing an aromatic vinyl type monomer and a vinyl cyanide type monomer with an ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene copolymer rubber latex having a specific gel content and applied this invention for patent under Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 63(1988)-291,913. He also developed a resin composition possessing weatherability and excelling in impact resistance, heatproofness, and surface gloss and filed this invention for patent under Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 63(1988)-291,942 and Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 63(1988)-291,943.
The applicant further developed a method for stably grafting through a specific emulsion polymerization a maleimide type monomer, an aromatic vinyl type monomer, and a vinyl cyanide type monomer onto a modified low molecular weight .alpha.-olefin copolymer-containing ethylene-propylene-nonconjugate diene copolymer-containing cross-linked latex possessing high latex stability. He applied for patent under Japanese Patent Application Disclosure HEI 2(1990)-123,146 an invention concerning a resin composition obtained by the method described above and possessing outstanding heatproofness, rigidity, weatherability, and falling dart impact strength.
The method of the aforementioned conventional technique which incorporates a lubricant such as silicone oil and a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene in a thermoplastic resin by melting and kneading, however, has the disadvantage that the additives defy thorough dispersion and consequently induce impairment of the mechanical strength of the resin, and render it practically difficult to impart outstanding slidability, self-lubricating property, or surface appearance to the produced resin.
The compositions .of Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 63(1988)-291,913, SHO 63(1988)-291,942, and SHO 63(1988)-291,943 excell in weatherability, impact resistance, heatproofness, and surface gloss and yet offer lower slidability than normally required.
The resin composition obtained by the invention of Japanese Patent Application Disclosure HEI 2(1990)-123,146 is excellent in heatproofness, rigidity, weatherability, and falling dart impact strength and yet not fully satisfactory in slidability.

Method for production of thermoplastic resin composition and graft copolymer


Triggerable dioxetanes with a fluorescent molecule containing group bonded or tethered in the dioxetane so as to produce fluorescence from the group are described. The compounds are useful in immunoassays and in probes using enzymes or other chemicals for triggering the dioxetanes to produce light from the fluorescent molecule in the group as a signal.

(1) Statement of the Invention
The present invention relates to thermally stable dioxetanes which can be triggered by chemical reagents or enzymes to generate chemiluminescence in organic solvents or in aqueous solution. A method for significantly enhancing the chemiluminescence efficiency has been discovered which involves intramolecular energy transfer to a fluorescent group which is bonded or "tethered" to the dioxetane molecule. These compounds can be used in various chemiluminescent assays including enzyme-linked immunoassays and enzyme-linked DNA probes as well as direct, chemically triggerable labels for biomolecules.
(2) Prior Art
1. Mechanisms of Luminescence
Exothermic chemical reactions release energy during the course of the reaction. In virtually all cases, this energy is in the form of vibrational excitation or heat. However, a few chemical processes generate light or chemiluminescence instead of heat. The mechanism for light production involves thermal or catalyzed decomposition of a high energy material (frequently an organic peroxide such as a 1,2-dioxetane) to produce the reaction product in a triplet or singlet electronic excited states. Fluorescence of the singlet species results in what has been termed direct chemiluminescence. The chemiluminescence quantum yield is the product of the quantum yields for singlet chemiexcitation and fluorescence. These quantities are often expressed as efficiencies where efficient (%)=.PHI..times.100. Energy transfer from the triplet or singlet product to a fluorescent acceptor can be utilized to give indirect chemiluminescence. The quantum yield for indirect chemiluminescence is the product of the quantum yields for singlet or triplet chemiexcitation, energy transfer, and fluorescence of the energy acceptor. ##STR1##
2. Dioxetane Intermediates in Bioluminescence
In 1968 McCapra proposed that 1,2-dioxetanes might be the key high-energy intermediates in various bioluminescent reactions including the firefly system. (F. McCapra, Chem. Commun., 155 (1968)). Although this species is apparently quite unstable and has not been isolated or observed spectroscopically, unambiguous evidence for its intermediacy in the reaction has been provided by oxygen-18 labeling experiments. (O. Shimomura and F. H. Johnson, Photochem. Photobiol., 30, 89 (1979). ##STR2##
3. First Synthesis of Authentic 1,2-Dioxetanes
In 1969 Kopecky and Mumford reported the first synthesis of a dioxetane (3,3,4-trimethyl-1,2-dioxetane) by the base-catalyzed cyclization of a beta-bromohydroperoxide. (K. R. Kopecky and C. Mumford, Can. J. Chem., 47, 709 (1969). As predicted by McCapra, this dioxetane did, in fact, produce chemiluminescence upon heating to 50.degree. C. with decomposition to acetone and acetaldehyde. However, this peroxide is relatively unstable and cannot be stored at room temperature (25.degree. C.) without rapid decomposition. In addition, the chemiluminescence efficiency is very low (less than 0.1%). ##STR3##
Bartlett and Schaap and Mazur and Foote independently developed an alternative and more convenient synthetic route to 1,2-dioxetanes. Photooxygenation of properly-substituted alkenes in the presence of molecular oxygen and a photosensitizing dye produces dioxetanes in high yields. (P. D. Bartlett and A. P. Schaap, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 92, 3223 (1970) and S. Mazur and C. S. Foote, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 92, 3225 (1970)). The mechanism of this reaction involves the photochemical generation of a metastable species known as singlet oxygen which undergoes 2+2 cycloaddition with the alkene to yield the dioxetane. Research has shown that a variety of dioxetanes can be prepared using this reation (A. P. Schaap, P. A. Burns, and K. A. Zaklika, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 99, 1270 (1977); K. A. Zaklika, P. A. Burns, and A. P. Schaap, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 100, 318 (1978); K. A. Zaklika, A. L. Thayer, and A. P. Schaap, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 100, 4916 (1978); K. A. Zaklika, T. Kissel, A. L. Thayer, P. A. Burns, and A. P. Schaap, Photochem. Photobiol., 30, 35 (1979); and A. P. Schaap, A. L. Thayer, and K. Kees, Organic Photochemical Synthesis, II, 49 (1976)). During the course of this research, a polymer-bound sensitizer for photooxygenations was developed (A. P. Schaap, A. L. Thayer, E. C. Blossey, and D. C. Neckers, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 97, 3741 (1975); and A. P. Schaap, A. L. Thayer, K. A. Zaklika, and P. C. Valenti, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 101, 4016 (1979)). This new type of sensitizer has been patented and sold under the tradename SENSITOX.TM. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,998 (2/16/82); Canadian Pat. No. 1,044,639 (12/19/79)). Over fifty references have appeared in the literature reporting the use of this product. ##STR4##
4. Preparation of Stable Dioxetanes Derived from Sterically Hindered Alkenes
Wynberg discovered that photooxygenation of sterically hindered alkenes such as adamantylideneadamantane affords a very stable dioxetane (J. H. Wieringa, J. Strating, H. Wynberg, and W. Adam, Tetrahedron Lett., 169 (1972)). A collaborative study by Turro and Schaap showed that this dioxetane exhibits an activation energy for decomposition of 37 kcal/mol and a half-life at room temperature (25.degree. C.) of over 20 years (N. J. Turro, G. Schuster, H. C. Steinmetzer, G. R. Faler, and A. P. Schaap, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 97, 7110 (1975)). In fact, this is the most stable dioxetane yet reported in the literature. Adam and Wynberg have recently suggested that functionalized adamantylideneadamantane 1,2-dioxetanes may be useful for biomedical applications (W. Adam, C. Babatsikos, and G. Cilento, Z. Naturforsch., 39b, 679 (1984); H. Wynberg, E. W. Meijer, and J. C. Hummelen, In Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, M. A. DeLuca and W. D. McElroy (Eds.) Academic Press, New York, p. 687, 1981; and J. C. Hummelen, T. M. Luider, and H. Wynberg, Methods in Enzymology, 133B, 531 (1986)). However, use of this extraordinarily stable peroxide for chemiluminescent labels requires detection temperatures of 150.degree. to 250.degree. C. Clearly, these conditions are unsuitable for the evaluation of biological analytes in aqueous media. McCapra, Adam, and Foote have shown that incorporation of a spirofused cyclic or polycyclic alkyl group with a dioxetane can help to stabilize dioxetanes that are relatively unstable in the absence of this sterically bulky group (F. McCapra, I. Beheshti, A. Burford, R. A. Hann, and K. A. Zaklika, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 944 (1977); W. Adam, L. A. A. Encarnacion, and K. Zinner, Chem. Ber., 116, 839 (1983); G. G. Geller, C. S. Foote, and D. B. Pechman, Tetrahedron Lett., 673 (1983); P. Lechtken, Chem. Ber., 109, 2862 (1976); and P. D. Bartett and M. S. Ho, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 96, 627 (1974)) ##STR5##
5. Effects of Substituents on Dioxetane Chemiluminescence.
The stability and the chemiluminescence efficiency of dioxetanes can be altered by the attachment of specific substituents to the peroxide ring (K. A. Zaklika, T. Kissel, A. L. Thayer, P. A. Burns, and A. P. Schaap, Photochem. Photobiol., 30, 35 (1979); A. P. Schaap and S. Gagnon, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 104, 3504 (1982); A. P. Schaap, S. Gagnon, and K. A. Zaklika, Tetrahedron Lett., 2943 (1982); and R. S. Handley, A. J. Stern, and A. P. Schaap, Tetrahedron Lett., 3183 (1985)). The results with the bicyclic system shown below illustrate the profound effect of various functional groups on the properties of dioxetanes. The hydroxy-substituted dioxetane (X.dbd.OH) derived from the 2,3-diaryl-1,4-dioxene exhibits a half-life for decomposition at room temperature (25.degree. C.) of 57 hours and produces very low levels of luminescence upon heating at elevated temperatures. In contrast, however, reaction of this dioxetane with a base at -30.degree. C. affords a flash of blue light visible in a darkened room. Kinetic studies have shown that the deprotonated dioxetane (X.dbd.O.sup.-) decomposes 5.7.times.10.sup.6 times faster than the protonated form (X.dbd.OH) at 25.degree. C. ##STR6##
The differences in the properties of these two dioxetanes arise because of two competing mechanisms for decomposition ((K. A. Zaklika, T. Kisse, A. L. Thayer, P. A. Burns, and A. P. Schaap, Photochem. Photobiol., 30, 35 (1979); A. P. Schaap and S. Gagnon, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 104, 3504 (1982); A. P. Schaap, S. Gagnon, and K. A. Zaklika, Tetrahedron Lett., 2943 (1982); and R. S. Handley, A. J. Stern, and A. P. Schaap, Tetrahedron Lett., 3183 1985)). Most dioxetanes cleave by a process that involves homolysis of the O--O bond and formation of a biradical. An alternative mechanism is available to dioxetanes bearing substituents such as O.sup.- with low oxidation potentials. The cleavage is initiated by intramolecular electron transfer from the substituent to the antibonding orbital of the peroxide bond.
6. Chemical Triggering of Stabilized 1,2-Dioxetanes
We have recently discovered that thermally stable dioxetanes can be triggered by chemical and enzymatic processes to generate chemiluminescence on demand (A. P. Schaap, patent application Ser. No. 887,139, filed July 15, 1986; A. P. Schaap, R. S. Handley, and B. P. Giri, Tetrahedron Lett., 935 (1987); A. P. Schaap, T. S. Chen, R. S. Handley, R. DeSilva, and B. P. Giri, Tetrahedron Lett., 1155 (1987); and A. P. Schaap, M. D. Sandison, and R. S. Handley, Tetrahedron Lett., 1159 (1987)). To do this, we have developed new synthetic procedures to produce dioxetanes with several key features: (1) the stabilizing influence of spiro-fused adamantyl groups has been utilized to provide dioxetanes that have "shelf lives" of years at ambient temperature and (2) new methods for triggering the chemiluminescent decomposition of the stabilized dioxetanes have been provided.
The required alkenes have been prepared by reaction of 2-adamantanone with aromatic esters or ketones using titanium trichloride/LAH in THF (A. P. Schaap, patent application Ser. No. 887,139). This is the first report of the intermolecular condensation of ketones and esters to form vinyl ethers using the McMurry procedure. Although McMurry had earlier investigated the intramolecular reaction of ketone and ester functional groups, cyclic ketones and not vinyl ethers were prepared by this method (J. E. McMurry and D. D. Miller, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 105, 1660 (1983)). ##STR7##
Photooxygenation of these vinyl ethers affords dioxetanes that are easily handled compounds with the desired thermal stability. For example, the dioxetane shown below exhibits an activation energy of 28.4 kcal/mol and a half-life at 25.degree. C. of 3.8 years. Samples of this dioxetane in o-xylene have remained on the laboratory bench for several months with no detectable decomposition. ##STR8##
However, the chemiluminescent decomposition of this dioxetane can be conveniently triggered at room temperature by removal of the silyl-protecting with fluoride ion to generate the unstable, aryloxide form which cleaves to yield intense blue light. The half-life of the aryloxide-substituted dioxetane is 5 seconds at 25.degree. C. The spectrum of the chemiluminescence in DMSO exhibited a maximum at 470 nm which is identical to the fluorescence of the anion of the ester cleavage product (methyl 3-hydroxybenzoate) and the fluorescence of the spent dioxetane solution under these conditions. No chemiluminescence derived from adamantanone fluorescence appears to be produced. Chemiluminescence quantum yields for the fluoride-triggered decomposition measured relative to the luminol standard was determined to be 0.25 (or a chemiluminescence efficiency of 25%). Correction for the fluorescence quantum yield of the ester under these conditions (.PHI..sub.F =0.44) gave an efficiency for the formation of the singlet excited ester of 57%, the highest singlet chemiexcitation efficiency yet reported for a dioxetane prepared in the laboratory. ##STR9##
7. Enzymatic Triggering of 1,2-Dioxetances
Biological assays such as immunoassays and DNA probes involving enzymes utilize a wide variety of substrates which either form a color (chromogenic) or become fluorescent (fluorogenic) upon reaction with the enzyme. As part of our investigation of triggering methods, we developed the first dioxetanes which can function as chemiluminescent enzyme substrates (A. P. Schaap, patent application Ser. No. 887,139; A. P. Schaap, R. S. Handley, and B. P. Giri, Tetrahedron Lett., 935(1987); A. P. Schaap, T. S. Chen, R. S. Handley, R. DeSilva, and B. P. Giri, Tetrahedron Lett., 1155 (1987); and A. P. Schaap, M. D. Sandison, and R. S. Handley, Tetrahedron Lett., 1159 (1987)). Use of these peroxides in biological systems requires dioxetanes which are thermally stable at the temperature of the enzymatic reaction and do not undergo rapid spontaneous decomposition in the aqueous buffers. The spiro-fused adamantyl dioxetanes described in the previous section meet these requirements. We have, therefore, prepared dioxetanes bearing functional groups which can be enzymatically modified to generate the aryloxide form. Decomposition of this unstable intermediate provides the luminescence. Dioxetanes have been synthesized which can be triggered by various enzymes including aryl esterase, acetylcholinesterase, and alkaline phosphatase. The phosphatase example is particularly significant because this enzyme is used extensively in enzyme-linked immunoassays. ##STR10##
For example, enzymatic triggering by alkaline phosphatase was observed with the phosphate-substituted dioxetane derived from 3-hydroxy-9H-xanthen-9-one and 2-adamantanone. The dioxetane is thermally stable with an activation energy of 30.7 kcal/mol and a half-life at 25.degree. C. of 12 years. The dioxetane is not only stable in organic solvents but also shows very slow spontaneous decomposition in aqueous buffers.
Triggering experiments were conducted using alkaline phosphatase from bovine intestinal mucosa [suspension of 5.3 mg of protein (1100 units/mg protein) per mL in 3.2M (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SO.sub.4 ] and the phosphate-protected dioxetane at pH 10.3 in 0.75M 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol buffer. A 50 .mu.L aliquot (0.013 .mu.mol) of a phosphate-dioxetane stock solution was added to 3 mL of the buffer at 37.degree. C. to give a final dioxetane concentration of 4.2.times.10.sup.-6 M. Injection of 1 .mu.L (final concentration of protein=1.8 .mu.g/mL) of alkaline phosphatase to the solution resulted in burst of chemiluminescence that decayed over a period of 3 minutes. Over this period of time, the background luminescence from slow non-enzymatic hydrolysis of the dioxetane in the buffer was only 0.2% of that produced by the enzymatic process. The total light emission was found to be linearly dependent on the dioxetane concentration. The rate of decay of the emission is a function of enzyme concentration while the total light emission is independent of the enzyme concentration. The chemiluminescence spectrum for the phosphatase-catalyzed decomposition was obtained at room temperature in the buffer solution. A comparison of this chemiluminescence spectrum with the fluorescence spectrum of the spent reaction mixture and the fluorescence spectrum of the hydroxyxanthanone cleavage product in the buffer indicates that the emission is initiated by the enzymatic cleavage of the phosphate group in dioxetane to yield the unstable aryloxide dioxetane which generates the singlet excited anion of hydroxyxanthanone.

Enhanced chemiluminescence from 1,2-dioxetanes through energy transfer to tethered fluorescers

Board of Governors of Wayne State University


A lift drive unit support apparatus consists of multiple height-adjustable mounts, which conduct the forces of the drive unit to a foundation, fasten the drive unit in an earthquake-proof manner, and isolate it in terms of solid-borne sound from the foundation. The drive unit can be levelled in height by means of a tool, such as a shaft spanner, by way of an adjusting sleeve screwed into the engine frame. A foot plate inserted below the adjusting sleeve transmits vertical forces from the adjusting sleeve to a damping element. Horizontal forces are transmitted from the adjusting sleeve by way of a tube to a base plate and from there to an anchor bolt, which also prevents upward lift-off of the drive unit.

The invention relates to a support for a drive unit for a lift, wherein several mounts transmit the forces caused by the drive unit to a foundation and acoustically isolate the drive unit from the foundation.
A resilient mount for a frame of a lift engine is known from laid-open specification DE 24 41 882, which mount comprises a rubber body provided with horizontally-extending through-passages. The rubber body rests by a lower support surface on a carrier rail and the frame to be supported on the rubber body""s upper support surface. The rubber body is connected with the frame by means of a bolt through a clamping connection. The through-passages, which ensure a large spring travel of the rubber body with sufficient horizontal stability, are provided in the lateral parts of the rubber body.
A disadvantage of the known equipment resides in the fact that the lift engine has to be raised up for height alignment and shims have to be placed below. Moreover, the lift engine is not mounted in an earthquake-proof manner by the mount.
The present invention avoids the disadvantages of the known equipment and provides a mount for a drive unit of a lift, which facilitates on-site adjusting operations.
In accordance with the invention a plurality of mounts are positioned between the drive unit and the lift""s foundation. Each of the mounts provides acoustic isolation, and may be height adjustable to level the drive unit. The mounts may include a damping element and may be constructed to transmit both vertical and horizontal forces to the foundation. Height adjustment may be provided by an adjusting sleeve which is threaded into a frame member of the drive unit. The sleeve sits on a foot plate which in turn rests on a damping element.
The advantages achieved by the invention include a standardisation of the mounts, whereby the piece number of the mount to be produced can be increased and thus production costs reduced. The mounts are economically assembled at the factory and a costly assembly at the building site is redundant. Factory assembly of the mounts, allowing them to be installed on the drive unit at the factory, additionally has the advantage that the sensitive shaft mounts of the drive unit are protected against harmful force effects occurring during transport of the drive unit to the building site. At the building site the drive unit can be height levelled in a simple manner. Forces caused by earthquakes can be transmitted to the mount foundation by the mount according to the invention.


Disclosed are a backlight source and a manufacturing method thereof, a display substrate, a display device and a display method thereof. The backlight source includes a base substrate; a partition layer, disposed on the base substrate and including a plurality of partition portions which are disposed at intervals along a direction parallel to the base substrate; a plurality of first light emitting components, respectively disposed between the plurality of partition portions along the direction parallel to the base substrate; and a plurality of second light emitting components, disposed at intervals with the plurality of first light emitting components, and respectively disposed on the plurality of partition portions.

3D (Three Dimension) display is a research hotspot in the display technical field. The basic principle of 3D display is: two eyes of a viewer see images of different view angles, and the images separately entering the left eye and the right eye have parallax, then the brain of the viewer will combine the images having parallax into a 3D image.

Backlight source and manufacturing method thereof, display substrate, display device and display method thereof