Vehicle diagnostic interface module comprising: a printed circuit board, an OBD connector, which is provided with a plate-like contact-carrier socket arranged parallel to and facing the printed circuit board, a plurality of rigid pins, each of them having a first segment projecting from the inner face of the socket along an axis orthogonal to the printed circuit board and inserted in a notch formed on the outer perimeter edge of the board.

It is known that some motor vehicles are provided with an on-board diagnostic port, generally arranged under the operation panel and the steering wheel, coupled to the connector of an outer vehicle diagnostic electronic instrument which can access, through the diagnostic to various vehicle information/data, such as e.g. error codes stored by the vehicle electronic control system. In this case, the electronic control system receives, stores and processes the vehicle information/data on the basis of the signals generated by the various electronic/electrical control equipment/sensors in the vehicle.
The on-board diagnostic port is made according to the communication standard of OBD vehicle data (i.e. OBD II in the USA, or E-OBD in Europe), standard which, as already known, sets the shape/size of the trapezoidal connector frame, the number and the arrangement of the pins in the connector, and the communication protocols to be used to communicate with the on-board electronic control system through the OBD port pins.
It is also known that the acquisition of: vehicle information/data during the movement of the vehicle, is carried out through recently created portable diagnostic interface modules which are "miniaturized" devices, i.e. having a reduced overall size if compared to the aforesaid traditional vehicle diagnostic electronic means. In this case, the diagnostic interface modules are designed to be coupled to the OBD port so as to remain in the vehicle during its movement, and are configured to acquire/store information/data contained in the on-board electronic control unit and, in case, to send them to a vehicle diagnostic electronic system outside of the vehicle through wireless communication.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a known OBD I diagnostic interface module comprising: an outer casing II, an electronic module III which is arranged inside the casing II to perform the diagnostic functions of acquisition and/or storage and/or communication of the aforesaid vehicle data, and an OBD IV connector adapted to be coupled to a vehicle OBD port (not shown). The OBD IV connector is provided with a plate-like socket V transverse to a longitudinal reference axis W and to sixteen pins VI, which are arranged on the socket V so as to form two parallel rows, each comprising eight parallel pins VI, equidistantly lying on a common plan. The pins VI have a rectilinear pin shape, parallel to the axis W and are coupled to the socket V so as to have a first end projecting from an outer face of the socket V to extend within a trapezoidal collar VII of the OBD connector, and a second end VIII projecting from the opposite inner face IX of the socket V and being electrically coupled to the electronic module III. The electronic module III comprises, in turn, two printed circuit boards X projecting from the inner face VIII of the socket V, which are arranged on two respective parallel lying planes corresponding to the lying planes of the two rows of pins VI. The side of the perimeter edge of each printed circuit board X rests on the inner face IX of the socket V and, on a larger surface, has some superficial plots, electrically soldered to the second projecting portion VIII of the pins VI which happens to be close to the larger surface.
The aforesaid OBD vehicle diagnostic interface module has the technical problem of being particularly cumbersome due to the "longitudinal" arrangement of the printed circuit boards inside the casing. In particular, the arrangement of the printed circuit boards along planes parallel to the longitudinal axis results in an increase of the overall volume of the module inside the car. Therefore, the module is subject to damage due to an accidental collision caused by the driver, and/or to vibration/stress generated by the displacement of the vehicle.
Furthermore, in the aforesaid modules, the mutual arrangement boards-pins makes particularly complex their electrical coupling during the module manufacturing process, with all the consequences that this implies in terms of costs and production capacity. In fact, the board-pins arrangement coplanar to planes parallel to the axis A necessarily requires manual, precise operations by soldering pins to the plots predisposed in boards, said operations being complex and therefore incompatible with the operation times required to sufficiently reduce the module cost.
The document CN 202 454 060 U describes an OBD vehicle diagnostic interface module provided with an outer casing, two printed circuit boards arranged inside the housing, their positions being parallel and facing each other and orthogonal to the module longitudinal reference axis, and a connector adapted to be coupled to a vehicle diagnostic port. The connector is provided with a plate-shaped socket, transverse to the longitudinal reference axis, and with a series of pins projecting from one of the two boards to be inserted in as many through holes formed in the socket. The document CN 202 454 060 U has the technical problem of requiring a specific printed circuit board for supporting and connecting the pins. Obviously, the pins occupy part of the useful space of the board, thereby requiring the use of an additional board for supporting and connecting the electronic components of the module, resulting in an increased volume and manufacturing costs.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 7,225,065 describes a vehicle wire connection system comprising a series of adapter modules for an OBD diagnostic connector.


A distribution panel contains a housing defining a hollow interior having a back panel with a plate configured to be mounted thereto, where the frame is either slidable relative to the back panel and has an open position and a closed position, or includes a portion of a wire-holding mechanism and is configured to be coupled to the back panel, which includes another portion of the wire-holding mechanism.

Distribution panels may receive and hold multiple electrical wires. In order to secure the multiple electrical wires in place, wire organizers have been developed. Typical wire organizers have wire-holding mechanisms that allow the wires to generally move in one direction only. As such, once the electrical wires are inserted, one cannot easily slide the wires back out, and oftentimes this cannot be done without actually cutting the wires. This causes inconvenience and adds to the costs when the wiring needs to be redone or replaced.
Further, in a cramped space, such as a boat or a recreational vehicle (RV), where space is at a premium, it may be difficult to install a distribution panel and/or to replace wires and related devices.
Accordingly, there is a need for a distribution panel that is easy to install and at the same time allows for both easy locking and releasing of the multiple electrical wires that a distribution panel receives.

Distribution panel with wire locking frame and method of using same


A pushing projection having a portion for abutment at a front end thereof and a pulling-in projection having a portion for engagement at a rear portion thereof are provided on an upper surface of a front end portion of a rear sunshade so as to protrude therefrom. And at a rear end portion of a front sunshade, there are provided a pushing portion to be brought into abutment with the portion for abutment of the pushing projection so as to push rearward the front end portion of the rear sunshade and a hook portion being oriented downwardly, when the front sunshade is moved rearward and a hook member having at a rear end portion. Further, there is provided a hook member to be brought into engagement with the portion for engagement of the pulling-in projection so as to pull out forwardly and upwardly the front end portion of the rear sunshade when the front sunshade is moved forwardly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle sunshade device in which an opening formed in a roof of a vehicle is opened and/or closed by two front and rear sunshades.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 10-167238, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A certain sunroof device fitted on a roof of a vehicle has a sunshade device provided under a sunroof lid for opening and/or closing an opening formed in the roof of the vehicle which comprises two front and rear sunshades for shielding a passenger compartment of the vehicle from sunlight.
In a sunshade device of this type, when the opening is closed, the front and rear sunshades are disposed substantially on the same horizontal plane with a rear end of the front sunshade and a front end of the rear sunshade abutting with each other, and when the front sunshade is slid rearward from the above state, the rear sunshade is pushed rearward, and after the rear sunshade is stored in a storing portion formed in a lower portion of the roof, the abutment relationship between the front and rear sunshades is released. Thereafter only the front sunshade is moved alone further rearward, and in a fully opened state, the front sunshade and rear sunshade are stored in the storing portion with the former being stacked above the latter in a one-on-the-other fashion (refer, for instance, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei. 5-60919).
Since a conventional sunshade device as described above is, however, constructed such that a rear end portion of a front sunshade abuts with a front end portion of a rear sunshade so as to move the rear sunshade rearward together therewith when the front sunshade is opened, there is caused a drawback that skin materials are liable to be damaged when rubbed with each other, and in addition, since a vertical abutment width of an abutment portion between the rear end portion of the front sunshade and the front end portion of the rear sunshade is not sufficient, there is also caused a drawback that the rear end portion of the front sunshade and the front end portion of the rear sunshade are disengaged from each other in vertical directions, this facilitating the occurrence of malfunctions.


An ignition device includes a spark plug, a measurement value detector, an electrical breakdown determiner, an AC voltage applying section, and a first changing section. The measurement value detector includes primary and secondary coils, and detects at least one measurement value among an ignition coil, a primary current, a primary voltage, a secondary current, and a secondary voltage. The electrical breakdown determiner determines whether a discharge has become an electrical breakdown state based on the measurement value. The AC voltage applying section applies an AC voltage of a first predetermined frequency that causes voltage resonance to the primary coil. The first changing section changes the frequency of the AC voltage to a second predetermined frequency that can maintain the electrical breakdown state and is lower in frequency than the first predetermined frequency when it is determined that the discharge has become the electrical breakdown state.

An ignition device of an engine stores magnetic energy in an ignition coil by supplying a primary current to a primary coil connected to a power source.
A secondary current generated in a secondary coil when the primary current is cut off is caused to flow in a gap formed between a center electrode and a ground electrode of a spark plug, thereby generating a plasma discharge in the gap of the spark plug.
At this time, it is possible to generate a plasma discharge (pulse discharge) effective for deodorization, sterilization, film formation, decomposition of harmful gas, ignition, etc. by applying a very high voltage pulse between the electrodes of the spark plug.
However, implementation of such a pulse discharge requires continuous supply of high voltage pulse at short cycles, and thus there is a problem that the supplied power is increased.
For this reason, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5,307,284 that a first pulse of high energy is applied until arc discharge (electrical breakdown) occurs between electrodes of a spark plug, and after the arc discharge has occurred between the electrodes of the spark plug, the arc discharge between the electrodes is maintained by applying a second pulse of low energy.
At this time, a peak voltage value of the second pulse is set to be lower than a peak voltage of the first pulse, and a pulse cycle of the second pulse is set to be shorter than a pulse cycle of the first pulse.
A pulse frequency of the second pulse should be high enough to maintain the arc discharge generated between the electrodes, and care should be taken so that power not be excessively consumed by making the pulse frequency too high.
By the second pulse thus adjusted being applied after the arc discharge has occurred between the electrodes of the spark plug, it is possible to reduce the power supply as well as to reduce the cost such as the running cost of the discharge device.
In Japanese Patent No. 5,307,284, for example, a case is supposed where the frequency of the first pulse is set to a frequency at which a voltage resonance in a circuit including the spark plug and the secondary coil becomes strongest (hereinafter referred to as a resonance frequency) or a frequency approximately equal thereto.
In this case, if the arc discharge occurs between the electrodes of the spark plug, impedance between the electrodes of the spark plug changes and the resonance frequency changes accordingly.
Therefore, if the first pulse is applied even after the arc discharge occurs, the secondary current flowing into the spark plug is insufficient because the voltage resonance does not occur or becomes weak, and there is a possibility that the arc discharge occurring in the spark plug to be in an unstable state.
In such a case, there is a possibility that the ignitability of the fuel deteriorates and the combustion state deteriorates.


A hair cleaning device comprised of a motor holder to hold an induced draft fan device and a DC power supply, a bottom shell covered on the motor holder at the bottom, a top cover covered on the motor holder at the top, the bottom shell having teeth for combing the hair and ventilation tubes for passing air, the top cover having a button for turning on the induced draft fan device, causing it to produce an induced draft for sucking up dust and dandruff from the hair into the bottom shell.

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning and smoothing the which, and has a suction fan for sucking up dust from the hair as it is operated to comb the hair.
Combs and hairbrushes are commonly used for cleaning and smoothing the hair. However, using a comb or hairbrush to clean the hair cannot effectively remove dust from the hair. In order to keep the hair clean, the hair must be regularly washed. However, it is not always possible to wash the hair when the hair is covered with dust.


A display apparatus for detecting three-dimensional (3D) spatial information. The display apparatus includes a display panel having a plurality of active subpixels in a display area configured with multiple gaps respectively between at least some active subpixels, the display panel including a counter substrate at front and a backplane substrate at back; an optical layer at a back side of the backplane substrate; multiple light sensors attached discretely on a back side of the optical layer and substantially aligned with the multiple gaps in the display area; and a light source on the backplane substrate and configured to provide an infrared light signal in a direction toward a field of view beyond the counter substrate. The multiple light sensors are configured to detect respective infrared light signals reflected from multiple different regions of an object in the field of view for collectively deducing 3D spatial information of the object.

The popularity of mobile devices such as mobile phones has made modern society enter the era of universal screen reading. Many sensors are integrated with display screen devices. With the development of three-dimensional (3D) display, machine vision, and remote sensing technologies, more and more technical applications require the acquisition of depth information for the scene, object recognition, and 3D spatial positioning in association with a flat panel display.

Apparatus integrated with display panel for TOF 3D spatial positioning


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for aggregating channel agnostic data. In use, channel agnostic data is received, at a messaging bus, from a plurality of telecommunication system sources, wherein the plurality of telecommunication system sources is channel agnostic. Next, using a micro service, the channel agnostic data is aggregated from the plurality of telecommunication system sources and the aggregated channel agnostic data is presented, on demand, based on at least one of authority, needs, and preferences. Further, at least one action is associated with the aggregated channel agnostic data.

Modern communication systems focus regularly on capturing information associated with customers. For example, interactions at a reoccurring location (e.g. café bar, etc.) may indicate to the communication system to serve relevant ads and coupons associated with such reoccurring location. A similar type analogy could equally apply to digital type locations. Tailoring the plethora of services to a customer therefore requires gathering customer-specific information, where such customer-specific information may include time, place, location, duration, and/or any other details associated with a customer drive event. However, gathering all of this information often occurs on an individual basis from each gathering source, causing an inefficient use of processors, service providers, and system resources.
There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

System, method, and computer program for aggregating channel agnostic data


An electric lighting device which simulates the look of a wax candle. The device includes a body formed of relatively high melting temperature candle wax. A longitudinal channel runs between a top portion and a bottom portion of the body. In the bottom portion radial channels provided between the longitudinal channel and the circumferentional surface of the body. These channels provide ventilation to the candle body when the lighting device is in operation. A fix unit is also provided which has openings adapted to a line with the channels in the body so that air circulation is maintained when the candle body is placed in the base unit.

The present invention relates to a lighting device and more particularly an electrical lighting device which in appearance is similar to a wax candle.
Lighting devices which simulate the appearance of wax candles are in relatively wide use. Typically, the body of a candle is simulated by a structural formed of a material which will not melt in the presence of heat such as that which is generated by an electric light bulb. A flame type bulb may typically be disposed above the simulated candle body. In order to better simulate a real candle, it would also be desirable to have an electrical light device in which the candle body was formed of candle wax. It would also be desirable for the electric light bulb of the lighting device to be disposed within at least a portion of this wax candle body to enable the light from the bulb to be distributed through the candle body. These features, while desirable, are difficult to implement, however, because the heat generated by an electric light bulb would tend to melt a wax candle body.
In accordance with the present invention, therefore, an electrical lighting device which includes a candle body formed of wax with a relatively high melting temperature. The body has a longitudinal channel through its center connecting to one or more radial 1 channels in a bottom portion of the body. These radial channels may be aligned with respective openings in a corresponding candle base unit to enable ventilation of the candle body. An electric light bulb may be positioned in a widened opening near the top of the candle body. A bulb-socket supported by a rigid tube which may be connected to the candle base unit. Optionally, one or more spacers which provide minimal obstruction to the airflow through the longitudinal channel may support the rigid tube within the longitudinal channel. When the light bulb is on, air circulation is provided via the radial and longitudinal channels in the candle body to cool the candle body to a temperature below its melting point.
It is an object of the invention therefore to provide an electrical light fixture which used a candle body to simulate the look of wax candles.
It is a further object of the invention to provide ventilation for the wax body of the lighting device which is sufficient to prevent the body from melting when the light bulb is on.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a base unit for the device which supports the body and provides for ventilation of the body.
These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:


In print instruction apparatus for giving printing apparatus an instruction as to print conditions required for printing print data, a “Print Instruction” folder 61 having folders of respective items of the print conditions below the “Print Instruction” folder, a “Print Status” folder for confirming the print status, and the print data are displayed on a screen of a display portion of the print instruction apparatus. The “Print Status” folder has a “Finished Print Job” folder, an “Ongoing Print Job” folder and a “Reserved Print Job” folder. When print data is moved or copied to any one of these folders, processing is executed in accordance with the contents of the folder to which the print data is moved or copied, while the respective statuses of ongoing print jobs, reserved print jobs and finished print jobs are displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to print instruction apparatus and a print instruction method, and particularly relates to print instruction apparatus and a print instruction method for giving instructions to printing apparatus such as a printer while setting print conditions for printing print data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, when printing is performed by printing apparatus such as a printer, print data is normally transmitted from host apparatus such as a personal computer (PC) connected to the printing apparatus through a printer driver belonging to the host apparatus. In this case, for example, when a user gives an instruction to print print data made up by a desired application on the host apparatus side, a printer driver corresponding to a printer desired to output therefrom by the user is called, and the print data is converted into a predetermined control code such as a PDL (Page Description Language) that can be interpreted by the printer, so that the print data is outputted to the printer. In addition, through the printer driver, the user can specify print conditions for the print data, such as the paper size, the number of sheets to be outputted, the number of copies, double-sided/single-sided printing, and the existence of sorting. Thus, the print data can be outputted in a desired format.
According to a UI (User Interface) screen for setting print conditions in the printer driver as mentioned above, the print conditions are normally set on a screen selected from a plurality of screens through tabs or the like. However, it is very difficult to know where a setting part for setting a desired function on the UI screen is located on the UI screen of the printer driver. In addition, the configuration of the UI screen of a printer driver by one printer maker differs from that by another printer maker. It will be therefore more difficult to know where the setting part is located if the user operates a printer driver not used usually by the user. Further, when a related-art printer driver used in a PC or the like is applied directly to a portable telephone set or a portable terminal unit such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) unit, the display screen of the portable telephone set or the portable terminal unit is so small in comparison with that of the PC, that the UI screen of the printer driver cannot be displayed entirely and properly in the display screen area. Thus, the user-friendliness may deteriorate remarkably. It can be therefore conceived that the screen is divided into more component screens than in the printer driver for PC so that the display can be attained even in a portable telephone set or a portable terminal unit. However, the component screens are so many that the user-friendliness deteriorates remarkably also in this case.
In consideration of such a situation, the present inventor proposed printing apparatus, a print instruction method and print instruction apparatus in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-053218, which can be applied not only to the case that a print instruction is issued from a PC but also to the case that a print instruction is issued from a portable telephone set or a portable terminal unit having a small display screen, and which is provided with a folder type printer UI superior in user-friendliness. According to this invention, when a print instruction of print data is issued, a desired combination of print setting folders for setting a plurality of print condition items hierarchically in advance is specified hierarchically by operating a file of the print data. Thus, the print conditions of the print data are established.
As a result, the user can give print instructions with various conditions to the printer without installing any dedicated printer driver or any application software. In addition, unlike the UI screen in an ordinary printer driver, the user does not have to change over from one screen to another screen through a plurality of tabs to look for a part for setting print conditions desired by the user. Thus, even a user making an operation for the first time can issue a print instruction easily. Further, by selecting a print setting folder in the undermost tier, and dragging and dropping an icon of print data into the selected folder, the print data and the information of the print conditions set thus can be transmitted from the print instruction apparatus to the printing apparatus. Thus, the user-friendliness for print instructions is improved.
However, according to the print instruction apparatus and the print instruction method in the related art, the user cannot confirm the execution status of a print instruction issued by the user, or the user cannot make an operation about an ongoing job, a ready job, a finished job, etc. For example, when the user moves or copies print data to a print setting folder so as to issue a print instruction, the user cannot grasp the print status until the user sees the contents on paper outputted by execution of printing. Thus, the user has no way to know how many jobs have been transmitted to the printer or what number a transmitted job will be processed.
In addition, it is indeed supposed to print data that an upper terminal unit cannot deal with (data whose contents cannot be confirmed), but an image of the printing result of such data cannot be given to the user. Further, since the history of finished print jobs cannot be confirmed, correct information as to whether printing a document instructed to print by the user is finished or not cannot be told to the user. In addition, when data transmitted once is to be printed again, it is necessary to send the data again.

Print instruction apparatus and print instruction method


A method and apparatus for compensating for thermal effects on the focal spot of a lens used to focus a laser beam on a target material at an irradiation site in a laser produced plasma (LPP) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light system is disclosed. The EUV energy output of the light system is measured at sample intervals as a proxy for the laser power. The thermal load on the focusing lens is estimated from the measured EUV power, the expected change in the focal length of the lens for the thermal load is calculated, and the lens position is adjusted to compensate for the calculated focal length change. The actual position of the lens may be determined and compared to its desired position, and adjusted to insure that it remains in the desired position.

The semiconductor industry continues to develop lithographic technologies which are able to print ever-smaller integrated circuit dimensions. Extreme ultraviolet ("EUV") light (also sometimes referred to as soft x-rays) is generally defined to be electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths of between 10 and 120 nm. EUV lithography is currently generally considered to include EUV light at wavelengths in the range of 10-14 nm, and is used to produce extremely small features, for example, sub-32 nm features, in substrates such as silicon wafers. These systems must be highly reliable and provide cost effective throughput and reasonable process latitude.
Methods to produce EUV light include, but are not necessarily limited to, converting a material into a plasma state that has one or more elements, e.g., xenon, lithium, tin, indium, antimony, tellurium, aluminum, etc., with one or more emission line(s) in the EUV range. In one such method, often termed laser produced plasma ("LPP"), the required plasma can be produced by irradiating a target material, such as a droplet, stream or cluster of material having the desired line-emitting element, with a laser beam at an irradiation site.
The line-emitting element may be in pure form or alloy form, for example, an alloy that is a liquid at desired temperatures, or may be mixed or dispersed with another material such as a liquid. Delivering this target material and the laser beam to a desired irradiation site simultaneously for plasma initiation presents certain timing and control problems, as it is necessary to hit the target properly in order to obtain a good plasma, and thus good EUV light.
One such problem involves the fact that there is generally a focusing lens that focuses the laser beam on the irradiation site. (There may also be other lenses between the laser source and the irradiation site, but only the final lens will directly focus the beam on the irradiation site.) It is desirable that the focal spot, or "waist," of the focusing lens coincide with the irradiation site at which the target material is located so that the maximum effect of the laser energy may be obtained in forming the plasma. The terms focal "spot" and "waist" are used herein, rather than focal "point," as physical lenses actually focus to a narrowest spot of measurable width, i.e., the focal spot or waist, rather than to an actual point as might be seen with a theoretical, mathematically perfect lens.
The focusing lens has a nominal focal length (the center of the focal spot) of a particular distance at a given temperature. Thus, in the absence of any other effect, the focal spot of the lens will produce the maximum intensity of the laser at a particular point of the laser path corresponding to the nominal focal length. It is well known, however, that the lens absorbs energy from the laser beam as the beam passes through the lens, and the lens will thus be expected to be subject to thermal effects which may change its focal length.
If the thermal load on the lens is constant, for example, if the laser is on continuously, then the lens will arrive at a steady state of this thermal effect in some period of time, typically on the order of a few minutes. The focal length of the lens under this steady state thermal load may be readily determined, and the lens may be placed such that the focal spot of the lens is located at the irradiation site when the lens is under thermal load, rather than when the lens is not under such load.
However, if the laser is turned on and off in periods of less than the time necessary for the lens to reach a steady state thermal load, but long enough to create some thermal load on the lens, then the focal spot may move slightly depending upon the particular amount of thermal load on the lens at any given moment.
There are at least two ways in which the laser may be turned on and off. First, in EUV systems, as in many integrated circuit production systems, there is generally a container called a "boat" which holds the wafers that are to be irradiated by the EUV beam; when the boat is changed to place a new set of wafers in the EUV beam path, the laser is typically turned off and no EUV light is produced during the period in which one boat is removed and the next inserted. This may generally take up to a minute or so, after which the laser is then turned back on, thus creating transient thermal effects both when the laser is turned off and when it is turned back on.
In addition, newer systems use laser pulses, and allow the user to set the conditions of the pulsing, and thus the production of EUV light. In one example, a burst of pulses for irradiating an exposure field on a wafer may include 20,000 pulses of 30 ns each, at a pulse repetition rate of 40 KHz, so that the total burst lasts for 0.5 second. In between bursts, the scanner holding the wafer re-aligns the wafer to allow for the irradiation of a different exposure field; this realignment may take, for example, 0.1 second.
The duty cycle is considered to be the percent of time that the light source, i.e., the laser, is operating at the specified pulse repletion rate. It is generally expected that a change in the duty cycle of more than about 20 percent will result in thermal transients in the lens, and that these transients may take several minutes to stabilize.
The amount of change in the focal length of the lens will vary with each particular lens and may not seem great; for example, a lens with a nominal focal length of 300 mm may vary by approximately 1 mm in either direction, i.e. from 299 to 301 mm, and possibly less than that. However, in comparison with a typical target size of 30 microns, this movement of the focal spot may be enough to reduce the coupling between the laser beam waist and the target and thus create problems in production of the plasma.
Prior attempts to compensate for thermal effects in EUV systems have concerned the focal spot of the EUV beam and the resulting exposure of the scanner, rather than the focal spot of the laser focusing lens. These are significantly different problems. The scanner is not part of the EUV light production, and thus any change in the focal spot of the EUV beam does not change the power produced by the EUV source, but only the location of maximum intensity of the EUV beam. Thus, in attempting to compensate for such a change in the focal length of the EUV beam it is sufficient to merely calculate the power received at the scanner over time, since whether the scanner is located at the focal spot or not does not change the power produced by the EUV source; if the scanner is not at the optimal focal spot, compensation for the decreased power of the EUV beam may generally be provided by lengthening the exposure time.
In the case of the laser focusing lens, however, the target material itself forms one end of the laser cavity and thus must initially be present at the proper location to cause lasing to occur. The lasing in turn causes the change in lens temperature for which compensation is desired. For this reason, changing the focal spot in this situation changes the end of the laser cavity, and thus also changes the power that goes into the lens. Since both the power and focal spot are changing simultaneously, determining the thermal effect on the lens and the focal spot becomes a much more complicated problem.
Because of this interaction, it has proven difficult to characterize the shift of the focal length, and thus the focal spot, of the lens under thermal load and to compensate for such shift. It is believed that existing EUV systems do not address this issue, and that the users thereof simply live with the decrease in efficiency that accompanies thermal loading and the resulting shift of the focal spot.

System and method for compensating for thermal effects in an EUV light source


System and method for promoting enterprise adoption of a web-based collaboration environment are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for detecting eligibility of a user having an account in the web-based collaboration environment, for the user to invite additional users to join the web-based collaboration environment, providing the user with a mechanism to invite the additional users to join the web-based collaboration environment to create accounts with enhanced features, and/or sending, to those of the additional users who qualify, an invitation to create new accounts in the web-based collaboration environment, those of the additional users who qualify are affiliated with the enterprise of the user having the account. The new accounts that are created include the enhanced features.

With the increase of electronic and digital content being used in enterprise settings or other organizations as the preferred mechanism for project, task, and work flow management, as has the need for streamlined collaboration and sharing of digital content and documents. In such an environment, multiple users are sharing, accessing and otherwise performing actions or tasks on content and files in a shared work space, where any number of users may have access to a given file or may want to or need to perform an action on the file at any given time.
Functionalities for downloading, editing, revising, viewing of files and documents have become regularly accessed features of such an online collaboration environment and as such are integral components of a user's perception of system capabilities. As such, enhanced account features streamline a users' experience and can promote use and used to facilitate adoption in an application or environment where large amounts of documents and files need to be frequently accessed and modified.


Provided are a blockchain-based one ID service system and method, in an authentication method according to the embodiment of present invention, an authentication support server maps and registers a first ID issued by a first SP server to a first user and a first site of the first SP server, which is an issuing server, and, upon receiving the first ID from a second SP server, the authentication support server returns information on the first site mapped to the first ID to the second SP server. To this end, there is no need for a separate server configuration to perform an authentication procedure, and it is possible to lessen the burden of performing authentication for SPs.

Typically, in order to use a plurality of services provided by a plurality of sites, respectively, a user should repeat a membership subscription procedure for each site, and should enter personal information, be issued an ID for each site, and set a password (PW).
However, this procedure requires much time and effort of the user, and the user should remember and manage the ID/PW, which causes inconvenience. This problem may become worse when a different ID/PW is used for each site.
From the point of view of a service provider (SP), holding/managing personal information of members may cause burdens due to its difficulty and frequent security accident, and may cost much.
As a solution to these problems, technology for logging in to a plurality of sites with one ID has been developed. However, this technology requires a separate server for authentication, and is not effective since it is difficult to effectively manage the authentication server.

Blockchain-based one ID service system and method


An opposed interval between a pair of fore position regulating pieces forming a guide mechanism of the disk tray is made wider than the mutual interval between guide ways. The projecting width of the fore position regulating pieces is longer, its opposed interval being closer to the mutual interval between the guide ways. A front end portion of guide way is formed as an run-off guide way, the run-off guide way and the guide way being continuous on a nominal guide way. The open angle of the nominal guide way is decided in a range from 110° to 135°.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk apparatus, and more particularly to a disk apparatus in which the in-and-out movement of a disk tray for carrying a disk into a home position within a housing or out of the housing is guided by a guide mechanism having the guide ways provided on the disk tray and the position regulating pieces provided on the housing.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a conventional example of a disk apparatus of this kind. In this disk apparatus, a disk tray 1 has disk loading faces 11 and 12 on which a small diameter disk and a large diameter disk are alternatively loaded, whereby the disk (not shown) loaded on any one of them is carried into the home position within a housing 2 or out of the housing 2. Also, the guide mechanisms 3 for guiding the in-and-out movement of the disk tray 1 into or out of the housing 2 are provided. The guide mechanisms 3 include the guide ways 31, 31 that are left and right parallel flat planes provided in the disk tray 1 and extending straightly in the direction where the disk tray 1 is moved in or out (back and forth direction), one pair of fore position regulating pieces 32, 32 like projections disposed oppositely to the left and right on the fore part of the housing 2, and one pair of rear position regulating pieces 33, 33 like projections disposed oppositely to the left and right on the rear part of the housing 2. Also, a guide groove portion 34 provided on the back side of the disk tray 1 and extending in the back and forth direction, and a guide projection 35 provided on the housing 2 and slidably fitted into the guide groove portion 34 are provided, as shown in FIG. 6, which is an enlarged view of a portion taken along the VI-VI line of FIG. 5.
And one pair of fore position regulating pieces 32, 32, left and right, are located on both sides of the disk tray 1 across the left and right guide ways 31, 31 when the disk tray 1 completes carrying the disk into the housing 2, the opposed interval W1 between them being slightly wider than the mutual interval L between the left and right guide ways 31, 31, as shown in greater scale in FIG. 7. Also, the one pair of rear position regulating pieces 33, 33, left and right, are formed in the same way as the fore position regulating pieces 32, 32, the opposed interval between one pair of rear position regulating pieces 33, 33, left and right, being identical to the opposed interval W1 between one pair of fore position regulating pieces 32, 32, left and right, and slightly wider than the mutual interval L between the left and right guide ways 31, 31, as shown in FIG. 5. The opposed interval W1 between the left and right fore position regulating pieces 32, 32, or the opposed interval between the left and right rear position regulating pieces 33, 33, and the mutual interval between the left and right guide ways 31, 31 for the disk tray 1 are defined in the above relation, thereby making loose the guide action by the guide mechanism 3, because it is necessary to suppress the load required to drive the disk tray 1 to carry in or out the disk and arrange the disk at the home position inside the housing 2 without great misregistration at the time of completing carrying in or out the disk.
Moreover, the anti-slip lugs 13, 13 are provided to the left and right in the fore end part of the disk tray 1, as shown in FIG. 5 or 7. The anti-slip lugs 13 have a function of preventing the disk tray 1 from slipping out of the housing 2 by engaging the left and right stoppers (not shown) included at the rear end portions of the housing 2. In the disk apparatus as illustrated, the anti-slip lugs 13, 13 are disposed opposite to the left and right sidewall inner faces 21, 21 for the housing 2.
On the other hand, the in-and-out movement of the disk tray 1 into or out of the housing 2 is performed by a rack 41 provided on the back side of the disk tray 1 and a pinion 42 having a motor (not shown) installed on the housing 2 as a drive source, in which the pinion 42 is meshed with the rack 41.
In this conventional disk apparatus, after the disk loading is performed by enabling the disk tray 1 that is loaded with the disk at a retreated position to carry the disk into the home position inside the housing 2, the disk is passed at the home position from the disk tray 1 to a turntable, not shown, and rotated together with the turntable so that an optical pickup, not shown, scans the disk face to perform the recording or reproduction. Also, after the disk is passed from the turntable to the disk tray 1, the disk tray 1 carries the disk out of the housing to perform the disk unloading.
In the disk tray 1 for performing the disk loading in the above way, it is required that the disk loaded on the disk tray 1 may be aligned with the turntable within a permissible range at the time of completing carrying the disk into the inside of the housing 2. If the precision of alignment is low, the disk maybe passed from the disk tray to the turntable incorrectly, thereby degrading the performance of subsequent recording or reproduction, or making the recording or reproduction difficult to cause various troubles.
On the other hand, as a prior example, it is well known that the guide mechanism for guiding the in-and-out movement of the disk tray is formed by slidably fitting the end portion of the disk tray into the guide groove formed in a base chassis as the housing (e.g., refer to JP-A-11-328801). Also, to make the in-and-out movement of the disk tray smoother, it is well known that the disk tray is obliquely moved at will (e.g., refer to JP-A-5-266563).
However, in the conventional disk apparatus as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, if the guiding operation of the guide mechanism 3 is loose as described above, a situation may occur that the disk tray 1 guided by the guide mechanism 3 is moved obliquely to carry the disk into the housing 2. Particularly, when a rotational drive force of the pinion 41 is transmitted to one portion of the rack 41 provided at a biased position on the back side of the disk tray 1, the disk tray 1 loosely guided by the guide mechanism 3 inclined to the left or right may be moved (obliquely) toward the inside of the housing 2, so that the disk tray 1 is kept inclined at the time of completing carrying in the disk, as shown in FIG. 5. In this way, if the disk tray 1 is kept inclined at the time of completing carrying in the disk, a problem arises that the alignment precision of the disk is degraded due to some cause and the disk is incorrectly passed from the disk tray to the turntable, even though the looseness of the guide mechanism 3 is decided to the extent of suppressing the load required to drive the disk tray 1 to carry in or out the disk and arranging the disk at the home position inside the housing 2 without great misregistration at the time of completing carrying in the disk.
In this respect, the above-cited prior example involves a technique that the guide mechanism loosely guides the disk tray simply, or a technique that the disk tray is obliquely moved at will, and can not solve the above-mentioned problems.


Gel-free colloidal abrasive polishing compositions and associated methods for polishing (e.g., chemical mechanical polishing) are described. These abrasive polishing compositions are comprised of a surface-modified colloidal abrasive that has been modified with a boron-containing compound(s), such as boron surface-modified colloidal ceria or silica. These compositions are useful in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) applications as well as in substrate polishing applications. These abrasive compositions are most often negatively-charged colloids, which remain as stable negatively-charged colloids even in acidic media.

The present invention pertains to surface-modified colloidal abrasive (e.g., ceria) polishing compositions (and associated methods using these compositions) wherein the modified colloidal abrasives are negatively-charged colloids (with the exception of modified colloidal titania, which is a positively-charged colloid), which remain negatively-charged in acidic media, and which are gel-free. These compositions are especially useful for chemical mechanical planarization (chemical mechanical polishing, CMP).
Certain modifications of colloidal abrasive compositions are known. Colloidal silica, for example, has been modified with various metallic compounds as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,252,917, 3,745,126, and 3,620,978; EP Patent Publication 1 000 995 A1; and also in the book entitled xe2x80x9cThe Chemistry of Silicaxe2x80x9d, R. K. Iler, Wiley Interscience (1979), pages 410-411. Colloidal silica has been stabilized with boric acid as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,630,410.
The invention in one embodiment is a composition for chemical-mechanical planarization comprising:
a) a boron surface-modified colloidal abrasive containing a boron compound on the surface of the abrasive, wherein the boron compound is present on the surface of the abrasive at a level of at least 20 percent of available surface sites; and
b) an acid.
The invention in another embodiment is a composition for chemical-mechanical planarization comprising:
a) a boron surface-modified colloidal abrasive containing a boron compound on the surface of the abrasive, wherein the abrasive is selected from the group consisting of colloidal ceria and colloidal titania; and
b) an acid.
The invention in still another embodiment is a method of chemical-mechanical planarization comprising the steps of:
A) placing a substrate in contact with a polishing pad;
B) delivering a composition comprising:
a) a boron surface-modified colloidal abrasive containing a boron compound on the surface of the abrasive, wherein the boron compound is present on the surface of the abrasive at a level of at least 20 percent of available surface sites; and
b) an acid; and
C) at least partially planarizing the substrate with the composition.
The invention in still another embodiment is a method of chemical-mechanical planarization comprising the steps of:
A) placing a substrate in contact with a polishing pad;
B) delivering a composition comprising:
a) a boron surface-modified colloidal abrasive containing a boron compound on the surface of the abrasive, wherein the abrasive is selected from the group consisting of colloidal ceria and colloidal titania; and
b) an acid; and
C) at least partially planarizing the substrate with the composition.
The CMP methods of this invention are especially useful in planarizing various substrates utilized in semiconductor manufacture.
While certain metal modifications of various colloidal abrasives are known as disclosed in the aforementioned references, none of these references though discloses that boron surface-modified colloidal abrasives, such as boron surface-modified colloidal silica, being negatively charged and maintaining their charges even in acidic media as well as the gel-free and floc-free advantages of these boron surface-modified colloidal abrasives. In addition to the floc-free properties, boron surface-modified colloidal silica is stable under acidic as well as basic conditions over a broad pH range from pH=1.5 to pH=9.
This invention entails gel-free surface-modified colloidal abrasive polishing compositions and associated processes utilizing these modified abrasive polishing compositions. The gel-free abrasive compositions of this invention are useful not only for polishing base materials (e.g., bare silicon wafers) but also these compositions are especially useful for chemical mechanical planarization (CMP, chemical mechanical polishing) of layers in fabricating semiconductor chips/devices. CMP is now widely known to those skilled in the art and has been described in numerous patents and open literature publications. Some introductory references on CMP are as follows: xe2x80x9cPolishing Surfaces for Integrated Circuitsxe2x80x9d, by B. L. Mueller and J. S. Steckenrider, Chemtech, February, 1998, pages 38-46; and H. Landis et al., Thin Solids Films, 220 (1992), page,1. A preferred use of the modified abrasive polishing compositions of this invention is for CMP.
The modified abrasive polishing compositions of this invention comprise a boron surface-modified colloidal abrasive particle. Gel-free colloidal abrasives useful as components in the polishing compositions of this invention include, but are not limited to, colloidal silica, colloidal ceria, and colloidal titania.
A boron surface-modified colloidal abrasive particle is obtained by treatment of a colloidal abrasive particle with a boron-containing compound as detailed infra. Suitable boron-containing compounds to effect boron surface-modification include, but are not limited to, boric acid, boron trichloride, boron trifluoride, and trialkoxy borane. Boric acid is preferred.
A given boron surface-modified colloidal abrasive particle in a composition of this invention has at least 20% of sites on the surface of the colloidal abrasive particle covered by the boron-containing compound and/or other boron-containing compound(s) derived from the boron-containing compound. Preferably, a given boron surface-modified colloidal abrasive particle in a composition of this invention has from about 40% to about 95% of surface sites of the colloidal abrasive particle at least covered by the boron-containing compound and/or other boron-containing compound(s) derived from the boron-containing compound. More preferably, this range of surface coverage on the surface-modified colloidal abrasive particle is from about 80% to about 95%. The percentage of surface sites covered on a colloidal abrasive particle in a composition of this invention can range up to 100%.
Some embodiments of this invention are compositions for chemical-mechanical planarization that comprise a) a colloidal abrasive whose surface has been modified to contain a boron-containing compound and/or other boron-containing compound(s) derived from the boron-containing compound and b) an acid. Suitable boron surface-modified colloidal abrasives include, but are not limited to, boron surface-modified colloidal silica, boron surface-modified colloidal ceria, and boron surface-modified colloidal titania. Boron-modified colloidal silica is preferred in the CMP method embodiments of this invention. Other details (e.g., suitable boron-containing compound(s) and percentage of sites on the colloidal abrasive particle by the boron-containing compound(s)) are as given supra.
Suitable acid components for these compositions include, but are not limited to, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid, periodic acid, and organic acid(s). Inorganic acids are preferred. For use in metal chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) applications, oxidizing acids (e.g., periodic acid) are preferred. The compositions of this invention can contain one or more acids, which in the latter case, independently can be either oxidizing acids or non-oxidizing acids.
The compositions of this invention can further comprise an oxidizing agent. Suitable oxidizing agents include, but are not limited to, periodic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium iodate. Periodic acid is a preferred oxidizing agent especially when the acid component is chosen to be a non-oxidizing acid (e.g., sulfuric acid).
The amount of surface-modification of the colloidal abrasive with a boron-containing compound(s) according to this invention in order to insure a gel-free composition depends upon the average size of the colloidal abrasive particles. Colloidal abrasive particles that are smaller and which consequently have less surface area generally require higher levels of surface modification than do larger particles, which have more surface area. As an illustrative example for boric acid surface-modified colloidal silica, the various sizes of colloidal particles required the approximate levels of boric acid modification as shown below in order to achieve good stability towards gel formation in acidic media, such as metal CMP polishing compositions.
Analytical method for measuring the surface coverage of surface modified silica The amount of surface coverage of boric acid on the silica surface was measured using a Colloidal Dynamics instrument, manufactured by Colloidal Dynamics Corporation, 11-Knight Street, Building E8, Warwick, R.I., 02886. The Colloidal Dynamics instrument measures the zeta potential (surface charge) of the surface modified silica particles. During the preparation of boric acid modified silica, boric acid is added to the de-ionized silica particles, the addition of boric acid changes the zeta potential of the silica particle surface. After reaching the full surface coverage, there is no change in the zeta potential of the surface modified silica. From this titration curve of zeta potential as a function of gram of boric acid to a given amount of silica, we measured % surface coverage of boric acid on the silica surface.


An animal feed that comprises a feedstuff and a coating, where the coating increases the amount of the feedstuff that passes through the rumen without being degraded by the rumen microflora, thereby delivering a larger portion of that feedstuff's associated preformed protein, and the essential amino acids comprising that protein, to the lower gastrointestinal tract. A process for making an animal feed, where the animal feed has enhanced rumen bypass nature of feed ingredients and their associated nutrients, particularly preformed protein and the amino acids that comprise the protein. Methods of increasing the rumen bypass of phosphatidylcholine, methods of increasing the vitamin E value of a feedstuff, methods for increasing rumen escape of the protein and amino acids in a ruminant animal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an animal feed and a process for making an animal feed, where that animal feed has enhanced rumen bypass nature of feed ingredients and the nutrients supplied by those ingredients, particularly preformed protein and the amino acids that comprise the protein. The animal feed comprises a feedstuff and a coating, which is designed to be applied to the feedstuff for the purpose of increasing the amount of that feedstuff that passes through the rumen without being degraded by the rumen microflora, thereby delivering a larger portion of that feedstuff's associated preformed protein, and the essential amino acids comprising that protein, to the lower gastrointestinal tract.
The present invention also includes methods of increasing the rumen bypass of phosphatidylcholine, methods of increasing the vitamin E value of a feedstuff, methods for increasing the rumen bypass of protein and amino acids in a ruminant animal and an animal feed comprising a cake coated with a coating derived from wet gums.
A ruminant is an animal which possesses a complex stomach consisting of morphologically distinct compartments. In ruminant animals like cattle or sheep, there is a problem that occurs when a biologically active substance is, for instance, orally administered: a substantial part of the substance (e.g., proteins, amino acids, etc.) are decomposed to ammonia or carbon dioxide gas or other gases by microorganisms in the rumen, making it difficult or impossible for the animal to effectively utilize all of the administered proteins and amino acids contained in feed, etc. A ruminant only receives the benefit of a portion of the nutrients fed to it and loses a portion which may be excreted in urine or feces. Thus, due to anaerobic microbial fermentation in the rumen, the original nutritive value of feedstuffs can be reduced prior to digestion and absorption of the nutrients contained in those feedstuffs in the lower gastrointestinal tract of ruminants. This is particularly true of the preformed protein fraction in feedstuffs and the amino acids that comprise that protein.
Ruminants have biological requirements for essential amino acids. It is common practice in ruminant production to supply amino acids in the daily diet in the form of preformed protein in naturally occurring vegetable feedstuffs. A certain amount of the protein in a feedstuff, including the nonessential amino acids and the essential amino acids which comprise the protein in the feedstuff, can be destroyed by microbial fermentation in the rumen. Those essential amino acids that are destroyed are rendered unavailable for animal production. Animal production is limited by the supply of individual essential amino acids that escape, or bypass, the rumen intact and reach the lower gastrointestinal tract where they can be absorbed and become available for animal production.
The reticulorumen is the first of several digestive organs through which ingested feedstuffs pass after being consumed by a ruminant. The rumen is populated by numerous species of bacteria and protozoa which are collectively referred to as rumen microflora. The microflora attack and degrade organic matter (feedstuff) that enters the rumen. By means of this destructive activity, the amount of essential amino acids reaching the lower gastrointestinal tract can be less than the amount of those same essential amino acids that comprised the preformed protein in the feedstuff that was originally consumed.
When inadequate amounts of essential amino acids escape the rumen, the ruminant's production of milk and meat, as well as reproduction, are all negatively affected.
2. Description of Related Art
There are numerous methodologies that are designed to increase the amount of a nutrient that passes through the rumen without being degraded by the rumen microflora, thereby delivering a larger portion of that nutrient to the lower gastrointestinal tract.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,493 to Baalsrud et al. describes utilizing aliphatic fatty acids having at least 14 carbon atoms each. The fatty acids are applied as a coating to an individual nutrient. The fatty acids are said to be resistant to rumen degradation. The active agents then are delivered to the abomasum and/or intestine where the fatty acids are reduced in that post-ruminal environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,185 to Mahadevan describes treating protein substances with zein/formaldehyde to render the ingredients protected from rumen degradation. However, with regard to its impact on the nutritional quality of animal food products such as milk, the public has a negative perception of the use of formaldehyde in animal diets.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,128 to Draguesku et al, describes a beadlet nutrient coating which includes fats and calcium based products. U.S. Patent Application 20020127259 to Orthoefer indicates that coated ruminant nutrients are disadvantageous due to cracking or abrading either in handling or in being masticated by the animal.
The University of Nebraska (Shain, et al, Effect of a Soybean Hull:Soy Lecithin:Soapstock Mixture on Ruminal Digestion and Performance of Growing Beef Calves and Lactating Dairy Cattle, Journal of Animal Science, 71:1266-1275, 1993) discloses the use of lecithin as an energy source in rations for dairy cattle. The lecithin was mixed with soy soap stock and with soybean hulls. This was done to make the lecithin practical to handle in a mixing system. Shain, et al does not disclose increasing rumen-bypass of protein (soap stock and soy hulls are low in protein). They demonstrated the "rumen-protected fat" characteristic of lecithin when used as an ingredient in the ration. Shain, et al does not disclose to coat an ingredient for the purpose of rendering the amino acids in that ingredient less subject to destruction in the rumen, before that ingredient was mixed into a ration.
The "rumen-protected fat" characteristic of lecithin has been noted in research at the University of Wisconsin (Gummer, Effect of Feed on the Composition of Milk Fat, Journal of Dairy Science, 74:3244-3257, 1991) and at Clemson University (Jenkins and Fotouchi, Effects of Lecithin and Corn Oil on Site of Digestion, Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Protein Synthesis in Sheep, Journal of Animal Science 68:460-466, 1990). The lecithin was used as an ingredient in the ration. It was not used to coat an ingredient, rendering that ingredient less subject to destruction in the rumen, before that ingredient was mixed into a ration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,166 to Ueda et al discloses a feed additive for ruminants comprising a core containing a biologically active substance and coating composition placed on the surface of the core. The coating composition comprises lecithin, at least one inorganic substance which is stable in neutrality and soluble under acidic conditions, and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of straight-chain or branched-chain saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic acids having 14 to 22 carbon atoms, salts thereof, hardened vegetable oils, hardened animal oils, and waxes.

Method for manufacturing animal feed, method for increasing the rumen bypass capability of an animal feedstuff and animal feed


A thin film polymer structure having a functional substance on the face (A surface) and reverse face (B surface) of the film, obtained by the steps of:                (a) causing polyfunctional molecules to adsorb to an area of an arbitrary shape in an interface between a substrate body and a liquid phase;        (b) polymerizing and/or crosslinking the adsorbing polyfunctional molecules to form a polymer thin film;        (c) bonding a functional substance to the A surface of the formed thin film and then        (d) forming a soluble support film thereon; exfoliating the thin film and the soluble support film from the substrate body;        (e) bonding to the B surface of the thin film a functional substance identical to or different from the abovementioned functional substance and then dissolving the soluble support film with a solvent.

As methods for creating organic molecular thin films, a spin-coating method, an electrolytic polymerization method, a vapor deposition method, a vapor deposition polymerization method and the like are conventionally used. As a method for forming an alignment layer, the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method is well known. This method is performed as follows. Amphiphilic molecules are dissolved in a volatile organic solvent to be developed on a gas-liquid interface. After the solvent is vaporized, the resultant substance is compressed. The resultant monomolecular layer is transferred to a solid substrate. With this method, the number of the thin film layers and the order of lamination can be controlled. However, this method is only applicable to molecules which can be developed on a water surface as a monomolecular layer and thus is only effective for amphiphilic molecules, which are water-insoluble. The LB method is not efficient because the equipment to be used is expensive and cannot be easily handled.
A technology has been established for forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) including organic molecules regularly and stably aligned on a surface of a metal material such as gold or platinum, or a surface of an inorganic material such as silicon, silica or glass. Features of this technology are that the monolayer is strongly bonded to the substrate and so is stable, and the monolayer can be formed at low cost and in a simple manner without using any special equipment by merely immersing the substrate in a solution. In addition, this technology is applicable to a substrate having a complicated shape. This technology is attracting attention as, for example, a nanotechnology for constructing a pattern of organic molecules on an ultrafine pattern formed by a lithography technology(4).
An attempt is progressing to construct a three-dimensional structure in a bottom-up manner by laminating molecules on a two-dimensional plane by, for example, a layer-by-layer (LbL) method using electrostatic interaction of polyelectrolytes. This lamination method is based on the following principle. A substrate surface is immersed in a polyelectrolyte solution having the opposite charge to that of the substrate surface, so that one layer of the polyelectrolyte adsorbs to the substrate surface by electrostatic interaction. At this point, the substrate surface is newly charged oppositely by the excessive charges of the adsorbing polyelectrolyte. Next, one layer of the polyelectrolyte having the opposite charge to that of the polyelectrolyte layer already adsorbing is caused to adsorb to the surface. By repeating this process, a multi-layer structure controlled to have an arbitrary thickness can be formed. For example, it has been reported that an enzyme is immobilized, by electrostatic interaction, on a structure obtained by the LbL method, for the purpose of developing new molecular devices including enzyme reactors, biosensors and light emitting devices(1), (2). This method allows a three-dimensional structure to be prepared in a simple manner without using any special equipment and so is suitable to immobilize molecules of proteins or the like which may become denatured. In recent years, a method wherein a structure is obtained by forming a structure obtained through an LbL method atop a nonionic sacrificial film and then the sacrificial film is dissolved has been proposed(5). A technology for forming, atop a SAM, a structure obtained through an LbL method and then transferring the structure to a support film has also been reported(6).
The present inventors previously submitted a thin film polymer structure of arbitrary shape and preparation method therefor(3). For example, after forming a self-assembled monolayer on a round gold substrate body and subsequently adsorbing and crosslinking albumin thereto, the round albumin polymer thin film is easily caused to exfoliate from the gold substrate body through surfactant processing.
It is known that a hollow structure having a hollow of the shape of the mold can be obtained by forming a polyelectrolyte complex on the surface of a mold formed of an inorganic or metal microparticle or cell and then dissolving the mold(7). As the microparticle forming the mold, silica, latex bead, melamine resin or the like is used. The mold is dissolved by HF (hydrogen fluoride), an organic solvent, an acid or the like. There is no problem where a spherical microparticle is used as a mold, but a mold having a complicated shape is highly precise and thus is expensive like a printing plate or a plastic mold. Therefore, this method is usable only when the mold is stable and reusable. Since the above-described structures are formed in a bottom-up manner from the substrate, the surface of such a structure in contact with the substrate is not modified even after the structure is freed from the substrate.
There are no reports related to a method for modifying the surface in contact with the substrate for a structure obtained by existing nanotechnology. Also, a method whereby the face and reverse face of a thin film polymer structure in a dispersion state are easily and reliably modified with separate functional molecules is not known.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Thin film polymer structure having different modification on opposite sides thereof


A mounting fixture for an archery bow includes a rotatable holder for mounting on a surface, said holder having two resilient fingers extending substantially normal to the surface, with one finger being longer than the other. A limb of the bow is gripped between the two fingers, which converge toward each other except at the tips, where they diverge to facilitate insertion of the limb. The first finger can include a retainer lug on the inner surface, located just below the bend. The holder may include a circular base with the fingers extending from one surface, the base being removably and rotatably fitting into a socket which mounts on the surface, which have lips for receiving the base. The base may contain a magnet to adhere to a magnetizable surface, or it can have apertures spaced from its center, with slots extending arcuately about the center for receiving projections from the surface.

Archers have long sought for a means of satisfactorily storing their bows when not in use or while traveling to and from places of use. Placing a bow in a closet or storage room subjects it to the danger of being knocked over or stepped upon, and even standing it on end in a corner can damage the limbs thereof. Placing a bow in the seat or trunk of a car, or the bed of a pickup truck, subjects it to the jolts, jars, vibrations, etc., due to the motion of the vehicle, and can be very damaging to the bow, its finish, sights, strings, or other accessories. What is desired is a means of easily and properly mounting, securing and retaining a bow to avoid damage thereto during storage and transport, is convenient to remove therefrom, and which can be safely located in any convenient spot in a fixed structure or a movable vehicle.
The following references all United States patents are deemed pertinent to the present invention.
Brooks U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,241 (1969) discloses a bow-holder, meant for use on a "stand" (waiting on site for game) or during competition, which permits immediate and noiseless removal of the bow from the holder. It is not intended for the same use as the present invention, nor could it be easily adapted thereto.
Russell U.S. Pat, No. 4,331,311 (1982) discloses a holder for compound bows incorporating pulleys, cams, and/or complex string arrangements. It is not intended for the same use as the present invention, nor could it be easily adapted thereto.
Speck U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,268 (1983) discloses a holder, specifically for mounting umbrellas on or in a vehicle, which depends upon the weight of the umbrella to keep it in the holder. Although it could be adapted for holding a bow, it has no means to keep it from bouncing out of the holders during rough rides, and it has a different structure than the present invention.
Hartman U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,296 (1984) discloses a bow-holder which is intended for use on a stand or in competition, which permits immediate and noiseless removal of the bow. It is intended for a different use and has a different structure than the present invention.
Bradley U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,643 (1985) discloses a holder, primarily for a gun or a fishing rod, which might be modified for use with a bow, and which would permit it to be removed easily and without noise. However, it has an entirely different structure than the present invention.
Matherly et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,873 (1985) discloses a holder which permits easy and noiseless removal of a bow therefrom, but is entirely unsuited for the intended use of the present invention, nor could it be easily adapted therefor.
Fischer et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,904 (1988) discloses a holder intended for use when an archer is walking or hiking, and allows freedom of movement of hands and arms. It is more complex both to manufacture and to use than the present invention.
Allen U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,273 (1990) discloses a holder for bows or guns which is specifically intended for use with vehicles. It is substantially more complex to manufacture and to use than the present invention.
Freeman U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,229 (1990) discloses a bow-holder intended for use in the cab or bed of a pickup truck. It relies upon the tension of the bowstring to keep the bow in place, and has a different structure than the present invention.
Glaspie U.S. Pat. Des. No. 314,303 (1991) discloses a holder, evidently for fastening to the wall of a building or perhaps inside a recreational vehicle, with provisions for clamping the limbs of a bow. It appears to be substantially more complex to make and adjust than the present invention.


An apparatus includes a number of current steering switches and a power controller. A current source is coupled to the current steering switches and to the power controller. The current source is controlled to provide a first voltage to the current steering switches. The apparatus also includes a number of pre-drivers. The power controller is configured to provide a second voltage to the plurality of pre-drivers. The second voltage is dependent on the first voltage.

Current Mode Logic (CML) uses differential digital signaling to transmit data on chip and off chip. For example, CML may be used for transmitting data across at least one of printed circuit boards, networks on chip, and/or between dies and/or functional modules in a system on chip.
In differential signaling two complementary signals may be transmitted on paired wires. The data being transmitted is encoded into the difference between the complementary signals.
Reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the description and accompanying figures.

System for driving current steering switches and pre-drivers


A voltage suppression device for suppressing voltage surges in an electrical circuit, comprised of a voltage sensitive element having a predetermined voltage rating, the voltage sensitive element increasing in temperature as voltage applied across the voltage sensitive element exceeds the voltage rating. Terminals are provided for electrically connecting the voltage sensitive element between a power line of an electrical circuit and a ground or neutral line of the electrical circuit. A normally closed, thermal switch is electrically connected in series with the voltage sensitive element between one line of the electrical circuit and the voltage sensitive element, the thermal switch being thermally coupled to the voltage sensitive element wherein the thermal switch moves from a normally closed position to an open position to form a gap between the thermal switch and the voltage sensitive element when the temperature of the voltage sensitive element reaches a level indicating an over-voltage condition. When the thermal switch moves to the open position, residual follow on current is shunted by a fuse element connected in parallel with the thermal switch. Current flows through the fuse element until the fuse element melts. Electrical arcing is contained inside the fuse until extinguished.

Many of today's highly sensitive electronic components, such as computer and computer-related equipment, that are used in commercial and residential applications contain transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) devices. These devices protect sensitive and/or expensive electronic circuits and components from damage from over-voltage fault conditions. Such transient voltage surge suppression systems are typically designed for moderate fault conditions expected in normal use. In this respect, such systems are designed to suppress relatively minor fault conditions, but are not designed to protect against major over-voltage conditions. Examples of major over-voltage conditions include those that may occur from losing the system neutral or ground termination, or from repetitive current pulses as from lightning strikes. Such major over-voltage conditions can have catastrophic effects on sensitive electronic circuits and components. To prevent such fault conditions from reaching and damaging electronic circuits, components and equipment, it has been known to utilize larger voltage surge suppression devices. These devices are typically deployed at a building's incoming electrical service power lines, or within a building's power distribution grid to control power surges in the electrical lines to the building, or in the electrical lines to specific floors of the building. Such voltage surge suppression devices typically include a plurality of metal-oxide varistors (MOVs) connected in parallel between a service power line and a ground or neutral line, or between a neutral line and a ground line.
MOVs are non-linear, electronic devices made of ceramic-like materials comprising zinc-oxide grains and a complex amorphous inner granular material. Over a wide range of current the voltage remains within a narrow band commonly called the varistor voltage. A log-log plot of the instantaneous voltage in volts versus the instantaneous current in amps yields a nearly horizontal line. It is this unique current-voltage characteristic that makes MOVs ideal devices for protection of sensitive electronic circuits against electrical surges, over-voltages, faults or shorts.
When exposed to voltages exceeding their voltage value, MOVs become highly conductive devices that absorb and dissipate the energy related to the over-voltage and simultaneously limit dump current to a neutral line or ground plane. If an over-voltage condition is not discontinued, the MOVs will continue to overheat and can ultimately fail catastrophically, i.e., rupture or explode. Such catastrophic failure may destroy the sensitive electronic equipment and components in the vicinity of the MOVs. The destruction of electrical equipment or components in the electrical distribution system can disrupt power to buildings or floors for prolonged periods of time until such components are replaced or repaired. Moreover, the failure of the MOVs in a surge suppression system may allow the fault condition to reach the sensitive electronic equipment the system was designed to protect.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,971 entitled CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICE, issued Mar. 21, 2000, there is disclosed a voltage suppression device for protecting an array of metal oxide varistors in a surge suppression system. The device was operable to drop offline an entire array of MOVs in the event that a voltage surge reached a level wherein one or more of the MOVs in the array might catastrophically fail. In the disclosed device and system, a trigger MOV was designed to have a lower voltage rating than any of the MOVs in the array. Thus, the entire array would drop offline in the event that a surge condition exceeded the voltage rating of the trigger MOV. In some instances, however, it may be desirable to maintain the array of MOVs active and to drop offline only those MOVs sensing a voltage surge exceeding the voltage rating of that particular MOV.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,019 entitled CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICE, issued Aug. 6, 2002, and fully incorporated herein by reference, there is disclosed a circuit protection device that includes a non-conductive barrier that moves into a gap between a thermal switch and a voltage sensitive element when the thermal switch moves to an open position. The non-conductive barrier prevents line voltage surges from arcing between the thermal switch and the voltage sensitive element. The non-conductive barrier is biased by extension springs which bear on solder joints connecting the thermal switch to the voltage sensitive element. This condition has the potential to stress the solder joints leading to premature wear out or failure.
The present invention provides a circuit protection device, and a transient voltage surge suppression system incorporating such device, to protect an electrical system from catastrophic failure due to excessive over-voltage conditions or repetitive fault conditions.


An accident notification system for a vehicle includes a damage predicting system which detects that a vehicle occupant has been injured in an accident involving the vehicle, a vehicle position detecting system which detects the position of the vehicle, and a mobile communication terminal which receives a signal predicting injury to the vehicle occupant from the damage predicting system to generate a calling from the vehicle to a call center. The call center performs a notification to an accident response facility on the basis of the calling and obtains prediction information that the vehicle occupant has been injured from the damage predicting system and vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detecting system. Accordingly, even when there is no one who notifies an accident response facility of an accident, emergency cleaning-up after an accident and treatment for an injured vehicle occupant can be made.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates an accident notification system for a vehicle where, when a vehicle causes an accident, such an accident can automatically be notified to a related organ.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in an express highway or the like, such a system is employed that, when an automobile causes an accident, an occupant of the automobile can notify the accident to a road administrator or the like by a phone provided along the road for each predetermined interval.
Also, in recent years, mobile or portable telephones have been widespread, and when an accident has happened, a vehicle occupant can notify the accident to a police station, an emergency station or another related organ to prompt cleaning the accident.
However, when such a situation occurs that a vehicle has caused an accident alone on a mountain road and a vehicle occupant(s) has been physically damaged to the extent that he/she (they) can not move, there is a risk that a situation that he/she (they) can not use even a portable phone occurs and the accident is left as it is.
Also, when a vehicle has fallen in the sea, there often occurs a case that it is difficult for an occupant to escape from the vehicle by his/her own force. In the case, a risk that the accident is left as it is becomes above.
The present invention provides an accident notification system for a vehicle, capable of notification of position information on an accident when the accident that an occupant is damaged has happened.
A first aspect of the present invention is an accident notification system for a vehicle comprising: damage predicting means which predicts that a vehicle occupant has been damaged by an accident of a vehicle; vehicle position detecting means which detects the position of the vehicle; and a mobile communication terminal which receives a signal indicating that the damage predicting means has predicted the damage of the vehicle occupant to generate a calling to a call center. The call center performs a notification to a related organ on the basis of the calling and the related organ obtains prediction information that the vehicle occupant has been damaged from the damage predicting means and vehicle position information which has been detected by the vehicle position detecting means.
According to the first aspect of the invention, it can be predicted by the damage predicting means that a vehicle occupant has been damaged by an accident of a vehicle. The position of the vehicle can be detected by the vehicle position detecting means. The mobile communication terminal receives a signal indicating that the damage predicting means has predicted the damage of the vehicle occupant so that it can generate a calling to a call center from the vehicle side. The call center performs a notification to a related organ on the basis of the calling, and the related organ can obtain prediction information that the vehicle occupant has been damaged from the damage predicting means and vehicle position information which has been detected by the vehicle position detecting means.
Accordingly, a staff member of the related organ can reach the accident vehicle where the vehicle occupant has been damaged urgently. Emergent cleaning-up after accident and treatment for the damaged vehicle occupant can be performed accurately even in a situation that the vehicle occupant has been damaged to the extent that he/she can not move.
A second aspect of the invention is an accident notification system for a vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein the call center is provided with a user database where personal information has been registered in advance and a map database where map information has been stored. Registered personal information and position of the vehicle are retrieved from the user database and the map database on the basis of the calling from the mobile communication terminal. Prediction information that the retrieved person has been damaged, the personal information about the retrieved person and the vehicle position information about the retrieved position of the vehicle notified to the related organ.
According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the first aspect, the call center is provided with a user database where personal information has been registered in advance and a map database where map information has been stored. Therefore, the registered personal information and position of the vehicle can be retrieved from the user database and the map database on the basis of the calling from the mobile communication terminal. The prediction information indicating that the retrieved vehicle occupant has been damaged and the vehicle position information about the retrieved position of the vehicle can be notified to the related organ.
Accordingly, the related organ can identify the person who has caused the accident and the place of the accident immediately, and emergent clearing-up after accident and treatment for the vehicle occupant can be performed precisely. Also, accident information can be notified to a related person(s) such as a family or the like immediately.
A third aspect of the invention is an accident notification system for a vehicle according to the first or second aspect, wherein the damage predicting means is provided with an acceleration sensor which detects an acceleration due to a collision of the vehicle. The damage predicting means predicts that the vehicle occupant has been damaged when the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor exceeds a reference acceleration.
According to the third aspect, in addition to the effect achieved in the first or second aspect, the damage predicting means is provided with the acceleration sensor which detects an acceleration due to a collision of the vehicle. The damage predicting means can predict that the vehicle occupant has been damaged when the acceleration exceeds the reference acceleration. Therefore, the fact that the vehicle occupant has been damaged can accurately be predicted so that a staff member(s) of the related organ can be performed an accurate cleaning-up after accident urgently.
A fourth aspect of the invention is an accident notification system for a vehicle according to the first or second aspect, wherein the vehicle is provided with an extendable antenna which allows a calling of the mobile communication terminal. A distal end portion of the antenna is attached to a float which is releasably supported to the vehicle. The float comes up to the surface of the water when the vehicle has sunk in the water so that the distal end of the antenna is exposed on the water surface.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect achieved by the first or second aspect, the extendable antenna which allows a calling of the mobile communication terminal is provided to the vehicle, the distal end of the antenna attached to the float. Therefore, when the vehicle has sunk in the water, the distal end of the antenna comes up to the surface of the water so that the distal end of the antenna can be exposed on the surface of the water.
Accordingly, even in a case that a vehicle has fallen in the sea to sink therein and a vehicle occupant(s) has been confined in the compartment of the vehicle, a calling can be generated by the mobile communication terminal so that an emergent cleaning-up for accident can be performed accurately.

Accident notification system for vehicle

c/o Unirec Co., Ltd., 6-3, 2-chome, Kaminarimon, Taito-ku