In a glass substrate for use in an information recording medium which is specified by Young's modulus E, the Young's modulus E is determined by the following equation (1) so that the Young's modulus exceeds 90, EQU E=.SIGMA.x.sub.i.rho..sub.i.SIGMA.x.sub.i s.sub.i (1). where S.sub.i =2N.sub.A (G.sub.i /M) (4.pi./3) (mR.sub.A.sup.3 +nR.sub.O.sup.3), .rho..sub.i is the density of component i, N.sub.A is the Avogadro's number, G.sub.i is dissociation energy of the component i, M.sub.i is molecular weight of the component i, R.sub.A and R.sub.O is ionic radius of cation A and anion O of the component i defined by A.sub.m O.sub.n.

This invention relates to a glass substrate for use in an information recording medium, such as a magnetic disk (namely, a hard disk), an optical disk, and an optical-magnetic disk.
Recently, both higher data transfer rate and higher capacity have been required for a hard disk drive having high performance, such as a server.
Under the circumstance, disk rotation speed has reached 10000 rpm, and further, track density has become 10000 TPI or 2.5 .mu.m between tracks.
In addition, it is also necessary to thin the thickness of the disk in order to stack as much number of disks as possible inside the disk drive having a limited size.
In consequence, high stiffness and/or large damping for reducing flutter has been needed, and further, smoothness for small flying height and surface hardness for higher shock resistance have been also required.
In this condition, an aluminum substrate has been widely used for 3.5-inch disk drive in recent years. However, it is difficult to use the aluminum substrate for the disk drive having high performance because the aluminum substrate has relatively low Young's modulus of about 72 GPa. Further, the surface smoothness and the shock resistance should be significantly improved.
On the other hand, a glass substrates have been mainly used for a 2.5-inch disk drive which are equipped with mobile personal computer (thereinafter, abbreviated to PC). In this event, the disk drive must have much better shock resistance capability as compared with that for a desktop-type PC. Further, higher surface hardness is also required for the glass substrates.
Disclosure is made about a N5 glass substrate, which has been widely used, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (JP-A) Hei 5-32431.
More specifically, the glass substrate is a chemical reinforcement glass which contains 62-57% of SiO.sub.2, 5-15% of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 4-10% of Li.sub.2 O, 4-12% of Na.sub.2 O, and 5.5-15% of ZrO.sub.2 by weight %. In this event, the weight ratio of Na.sub.2 O/ZrO.sub.2 falls within the range between 0.5 and 2.0 while the weight ratio of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /ZrO.sub.2 falls within the range between 0.4 and 2.5.
The glass substrate has excellent shock resistance more than 600 G. However, the Young's modulus is 83 GPa that is slightly larger than the aluminum substrate.
In the meanwhile, glass-ceramics substrates have been also introduced into the disk drive market. For example, this glass-ceramics substrate has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,522. Some of the glass ceramics substrates often have higher Young's modulus.
More specifically, the glass substrate contains 65-83% of SiO.sub.2, 8-32% of Li.sub.2 O, 0-7% of K.sub.2 O, 0.5-5.5% of MgO, 0-5% of ZnO, 0-5% of PbO, (herein, 0.5-5% of MgO+ZnO+PbO), 1-4% of P.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0-7% of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-2% of As.sub.2 O.sub.3 +Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 by weight %, and contains fine Li.sub.2 O.2SiO.sub.2 crystal grains as a main crystal.
However, the above-mentioned grass-ceramics substrate has a large crystal grain. As a result, it is difficult to smooth the surface of the substrate. Therefore, large cost is needed so as to smooth the surface.
As mentioned before, the conventional disk substrate does not sufficiently satisfy all of the small surface smoothness, the shock resistance, the high stiffness and/or the large damping for the hard disk having high performance, such as the server.

Glass substrate for magnetic recording medium and method of manufacturing the same


An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a motor-integrated intake apparatus, and the motor-integrated intake apparatus includes: a flow path which is formed in an annular shape in a circular housing; an inlet unit which is installed at one side of the housing and guides a flow of a fluid into the flow path; a discharge unit which is installed at the other side of the housing and guides a discharge of the fluid which is introduced into the inlet unit and passes through the flow path; a piston unit which is made of a magnetic material and compresses the fluid, which is introduced through the inlet unit, while rotating along the flow path; and a coil unit which is installed on the housing and provides rotational power to the piston unit by forming a magnetic field.

In general, an intake apparatus draws and compresses a fluid. In addition, the intake apparatus draws and compresses a fluid by using power provided by a motor. The compressed fluid may be supplied to another separate apparatus or discharged back to the outside after foreign substances are removed from the drawn fluid.
That is, the intake apparatus draws, compresses, and discharges a fluid by using the provided power.
However, the intake apparatus in the related art such as a compressor is coupled to an external power generator such as the motor, and as a result, there is a problem in that a weight of the intake apparatus is heavy and thus it is difficult to carry the intake apparatus. Further, the compressor in the related art has a problem in that a fluid leaks from a connecting portion where a compressor main body and the external power generator are coupled to each other. Therefore, there is a problem in that when connecting a component for watertightness or airtightness to the connecting portion, other separate processing need to be performed in order to prevent the leakage.


A foot straightening trainer apparatus for helping to correctly align or straighten pigeon-toed and penguin-toed feet of users. The foot straightening trainer apparatus includes a base assembly including an elongate housing having top and side walls, and also including rollers being spaced apart and being disposed in the elongate housing, and further including an endless belt having a selected width and being carried about the rollers and being movable upon the top wall, and also having a motor being connected to at least one of the rollers; and also includes a handrail assembly being attached to the elongate housing and extending upwardly therefrom for a user to hold while walking upon the endless belt; and further includes a first switch member being attached to the handrail assembly for energizing the motor to drive the endless belt; and further includes a sensor/alarm assembly for detecting improper foot alignment and for signaling to the user of the detection of the improper foot alignment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to foot straightening trainers and more particularly pertains to a new foot straightening trainer apparatus for helping to correctly align or straighten pigeon-toed and penguin-toed feet of users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of foot straightening trainers is known in the prior art. More specifically, foot straightening trainers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,135,924; 5,800,314; 4,708,337; 3,924,615; 5,314,391; and Des. 421,779.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new foot straightening trainer apparatus. The prior art describes conventional treadmills used for exercising purposes.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new foot straightening trainer apparatus which has many of the advantages of the foot straightening trainers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new foot straightening trainer apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art foot straightening trainers, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a base assembly including an elongate housing having top and side walls, and also including rollers being spaced apart and being disposed in the elongate housing, and further including an endless belt having a selected width and being carried about the rollers and being movable upon the top wall, and also having a motor being connected to at least one of the rollers; and also includes a handrail assembly being attached to the elongate housing and extending upwardly therefrom for a user to hold while walking upon the endless belt; and further includes a first switch member being attached to the handrail assembly for energizing the motor to drive the endless belt; and further includes a sensor/alarm assembly for detecting improper foot alignment and for signaling to the user of the detection of the improper foot alignment. None of the prior art describes inventions comprising a conventional treadmill with light-emitting members, light-receiving sensors, and sound-producing members being used to train and correct the feet alignment of a user.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the foot straightening trainer apparatus in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new foot straightening trainer apparatus which has many of the advantages of the foot straightening trainers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new foot straightening trainer apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art foot straightening trainers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new foot straightening trainer apparatus for helping to correctly align or straighten pigeon-toed and penguin-toed feet of users.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new foot straightening trainer apparatus that is easy and convenient to use.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new foot straightening trainer apparatus that helps the user to exercise the muscles of one""s feet to correctly align and point one""s feet in the direction of forward movement.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.


The invention relates to an implantable infusion pump comprising a housing, a base plate, a propellant chamber, a bellows having an internal volume for receiving a medicament to be administered to a patient, a constriction segment leading to a catheter placed in the body of the patient and communicating with the bellows internal volume, a resonant circuit formed by a coil, and a capacitor detecting the distance between a bottom surface of the bellows and the base plate. The coil is mounted on or in a bottom surface of the base plate and pointing towards the bellows bottom surface such that an inductance of the coil and a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is a function of the distance between the bellows bottom surface the base plate.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an implantable infusion pump. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved implantable infusion pump having a casing, a base plate, a propellant chamber, a bellow mechanism and a constriction section, wherein the bellow mechanism includes a base member and an internal volume, the bellow mechanism internal volume receiving a medicant for delivery into a patient""s body, and the constriction section communicating with the bellow mechanism internal volume and a catheter disposed within the patient""s body.
2. Description of Prior Art
Infusion pumps are known in the prior art, such as those seen in German Patent Application D 226 04 113 C2, wherein the pump is implanted into a patient who is in need of a continuous supply of with medicament over a long period of time. An example of such a patient is one who is experiencing chronic pain or spastics.
It is known from DE 196 24 215 C1 to provide an infusion pump with an electromagnetic resonant circuit, wherein one element for level measurement is mechanically connected to the base of the bellows. However, the construction of this type of infusion pump is very complicated. Moreover, as the liquid level (medicament) decreases, the measurement accuracy of such liquid also decreases thereby not providing an accurate mechanism for monitoring the medicament level present within the pump.
The problem of the invention is to create an improved implantable infusion pump permitting for easier and more accurate level determination of the medicament within the pump.
The infusion pump according to the invention is advantageous in that the measurement accuracy increases as the liquid level decreases such that the accuracy is largest where it matters most, i.e., when the liquid is exhausted to very low levels. Moreover, the construction of the infusion pump is particularly easy and compact.
The problem underlying the invention is solved by an improved implantable infusion pump including a housing, a base plate, a propellant chamber, a bellow mechanism and a constriction section, the bellow mechanism having a base member and an internal volume, the bellow mechanism internal volume receiving a medicant for delivery into a patient""s body, the constriction section communicating with the bellow mechanism internal volume and a catheter disposed within the patient""s body. The improved pump of the present invention includes a resonant circuit having an inductance and a capacitance, the resonant circuit having a resonant frequency that is determined by a distance measured between the bellow mechanism base member and the pump base plate.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the inductance is provided by a resonant circuit coil, which is preferably constructed as a flat coil. The flatness of the flat coil allows for a compact design for the implantable infusion pump. The flat coil is disposed within a depression formed on a surface of the pump base plate directed towards the bellow mechanism base member. Thus, effects of coil stray fields are minimized. The pump base plate is electromagnetically shielded. Thus, the coil field is intensified in the direction of the base member of the bellow mechanism.
The capacitance for the resonant circuit is provided by a capacitor. Thus, the capacitance is easily adaptable to the circuit frequency needs. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the propellant chamber encloses the capacitor. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the capacitor is located in a dead space of the propellant chamber such that the volume of the propellant chamber is more effectively used. However, the capacitor can be positioned on the side of the base plate which is opposite to the propellant chamber (i.e., the top surface). This position of the capacitor is particularly safe as the medicament in the bellow mechanism internal volume is separated from the capacitor by the strong barrier provided by the base plate. Advantageously, the capacitor is positioned adjacent to the base plate.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the capacitor is provided as a parallel plate capacitor having a first plate being provided by the base plate and a second plate being provided, in parallel, to the base plate. Thus, compactness of the pump is attained and is particularly large.
In yet another embodiment, the flat coil provides the capacitance for the resonant circuit. Thus, the need for a separate capacitor can be obviated with the result of the pump being particularly compact. The compactness can be optimized by providing a strong dielectric between the capacitor plates.
According to yet another embodiment, an electrically conductive coating is disposed along a bottom surface of the bellow mechanism base member. This enhances the accuracy of the liquid level measurement. Preferably, the conductive coating is constructed of copper. In an alternate embodiment however, the electrically conductive coating is chosen from other good conductors, such as gold.

Implantable infusion pump with level measurement


An apparatus for detecting microorganisms in a plurality of sealable containers adapted to sustain microorganism growth includes a single light source such as a laser with a two-dimensional laser deflector directing an output beam component from the laser serially towards each of the containers. A sensor is spread along an inner surface of the containers. The selective emission of a sensor is monitored to determine whether biological activity is present in a container. A disclosed embodiment includes the use of a high-frequency modulator and decay time sensors. Biological activity is determined by monitoring the decay time of the sensors.

The present invention relates to a non-invasive method and to an apparatus for detecting biological activities in a bodily fluid specimen sample, such as blood or sputum. Specimen samples and a culture medium are introduced into sealable containers, such as vials, and are then exposed to conditions enabling a variety of metabolic, physical, and chemical changes to take place in time presence of microorganisms within the sample.
The presence of a biologically active agent, such as bacteria in a patient's body fluids, especially blood, is generally determined using culture vials. A small quantity of the bodily fluid is injected through an enclosing rubber septum into a sterile vial containing a culture medium. The vial is incubated at 37.degree. C. and monitored for microorganism growth.
A technique used to detect the presence of microorganisms involves visual inspection. Generally, visual inspection involves monitoring the turbidity or eventual color changes of tile liquid suspension of a bodily fluid and culture medium. Known sensors respond to changes in pH, oxygen concentration, or carbon dioxide concentration by changing their reflectivity, opacity, color or by changing their fluorescence intensity. The outputs from these sensors are generally based upon light intensity measurements. Light sources used to excite the sensors or the photodetectors used to monitor intensities exhibit aging effects over time. This means that errors may occur. Additionally, vial positioning is extremely important when intensity measurements are required. Even minor vial mis-positioning may affect detection measurements. Further, it is not always possible to make incubators completely light tight. Random light entering an incubator may cause dark currents, also affecting detection measurements.
Disadvantages of intensity-based methods may be overcome by using modulated excitation light in combination with sensors that change their fluorescence decay time in response to changing pH, oxygen concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, or in response to other biological activities. Using this approach, intensity measurements are replaced with time measurements, so intensity changes do not influence the results. However, fluorescence decay time sensors require high-brightness short-wavelength light sources (550 nm or shorter) that are intensity-modulated at very high frequencies (typically above 100 MHz). Because such a light source/modulator combination is expensive, vials would have to be moved to the light source instead of having a light source for each vial. Moving parts, and the relatively long time interval between successive measurements for each vial are additional concerns. Nor is it likely that inexpensive high-brightness short-wavelength semiconductor diode lasers will be developed soon.
In known automated non-invasive culture systems, individual light sources, spectral excitation/emission filters, and photodetectors are arranged by each vial. This results in station sensitivity variations from one vial to the next. Therefore, extensive and time-consuming calibration procedures are required to operate such systems. In addition, flexible electrical cables are required to connect the individual sources and detectors with the rest of the instrument. With the large number of light sources, typically 240 or more per instrument, maintenance can become very cumbersome and expensive when individual light sources start to fail.
The method and apparatus of the present invention solves the inherent problems of the prior art, using a single high energy light source in conjunction with a light beam deflector, to detect biological activity in a large number of vials. Manufacturability and the ability to detect biological activity are increased while cost is lowered.

Detecting biological activities in culture vials


Methods and devices for controlling channel occupancy measurement quality are disclosed. A wireless device is configured for carrier aggregation under operation with frame structure type 3. The wireless device is configured to obtain a channel occupancy threshold, obtain a set of received signal strength indication, RSSI, samples on a carrier frequency and obtain a quality criterion for a channel occupancy measurement. The quality criterion defines a quality of an RSSI sample based on whether a value of the RSSI sample is within a range of a value of the channel occupancy threshold. The wireless device is further configured to determine the channel occupancy measurement for the carrier frequency based on the obtained channel occupancy threshold, the quality criterion and at least one RSSI sample of the set of RSSI samples, and perform at least one task based on the channel occupancy measurement.

Measurements with License Assisted Access (LAA)
In general, LAA or operation based on frame structure type 3 refers to wireless device operation on at least one carrier in non-licensed spectrum such as Band 46 also used for Wi-Fi access, e.g., a wireless device can be configured with carrier aggregation with Primary Cell (PCell) in Band 1 (licensed spectrum) and Secondary Cell (SCell) in Band 46 (unlicensed spectrum). The frame structure type 3 is specified in 3rd Generation Partnership Project Technical Specification (3GPP TS) 36.211, which is introduced in Long Term Evolution (LTE) Release-13. A network node such as an evolved NodeB (eNB) operating in the unlicensed band only transmits signals which may be used for wireless device measurements using so called discovery reference symbols (DRS). Unlike CRS (common reference symbols) described in LTE-Release 8, DRS is not transmitted in every subframe, and is instead transmitted periodically (e.g., every 160 ms). Moreover, the network node may perform so called listen before talk (LBT) procedures to check that no other unlicensed node (such as a Wi-Fi access point) is transmitting before it transmits DRS. This means that from a wireless device perspective, the network node may be unable to transmit any particular DRS transmission. In certain regions, LBT functionality is required from a regulatory point of view to ensure fair coexistence of different radios and access technologies on the unlicensed band.
Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) in Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA)
There are three types of RSSI in E-UTRA: non-reportable RSSI used for Reference Symbol Received Quality (RSRQ) measurements, reportable wireless device RSSI used for LAA, and network node RSSI used for LAA.
The wireless device-reportable RSSI used for LAA is specified in 3GPP TS 36.214, v13.0.0, is described below:
DefinitionE-UTRA RSSI, comprises the linear average of the totalreceived power (in [W]) observed only in the configuredOrthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbolsand in the measurement bandwidth over N number of resourceblocks, by the wireless device from all sources, includingco-channel serving and non-serving cells, adjacent channelinterference, thermal noise etc.Higher layers indicate the measurement duration and whichOFDM symbol(s) should be measured by the wireless device.The reference point for the RSSI shall be the antennaconnector of the wireless device.If receiver diversity is in use by the wireless device, thereported value shall not be lower than the corresponding RSSIof any of the individual diversity branchesApplicableRRC_CONNECTED intra-frequency,forRRC_CONNECTED inter-frequency
The wireless device physical layer is capable of performing such RSSI measurements on one or more carriers, if the carrier(s) are indicated by higher layers, and reporting the RSSI measurements to higher layers. The wireless device physical layer provides to higher layers a single RSSI sample for each OFDM symbol within each configured RSSI measurement duration occurring with a configured RSSI measurement timing configuration periodicity. The wireless device can report RSSI in the range of [−100 dBm, −25 dBm] with 1 dBm resolution, and can also report an indication when RSSI<−100 dBm or RSSI>=−25 dBm. For this RSSI, the L1 (physical layer) averaging duration is pre-defined and it is one OFDM symbol. FIG. 1 shows an example of a reportable RSSI measurement for LAA where the RSSI measurement duration itself is 70 ms and where 70 RSSI samples, i.e., 70 OFDM symbols, are taken over each L1 measurement duration. Further, in FIG. 1, this example RSSI measurement may be configured by the following parameters:                periodicity of wireless device-reported RSSI measurement duration has values of 40, 80, 160, 320, 640 msec;        measurement duration of wireless device-reported RSSI measurement is 1, 14, 28, 42, 70 (where L1 in FIG. 1 is the averaging duration and L3 is the averaging window);        optionally configurable subframe offset for inter-frequency measurement: when the parameter is configured the wireless device measures according to the configured offset, and when the parameter is not configured the starting offset is chosen by the wireless device, e.g., randomly.
As is also shown in the example of FIG. 1, the measurement reporting to the network node, e.g., eNB, includes information used to determine the channel occupancy (CO) such as the average RSSI, which in the case of the example of FIG. 1 is: 210 RSSI samples/210.
Channel Occupancy Measurement
The wireless device-reportable RSSI measurement is used for the channel occupancy measurement, which is a percentage of (per-symbol) samples when the RSSI was above the configured channelOccupancyThreshold for the associated reportConfig. The channel occupancy measurement is reported by the wireless device to the network node via radio resource control (RRC), together with the RSSI:
MeasResultForRSSI-r13 ::=SEQUENCE {rssi-Result-r13    RSSI-Range-r13,channelOccupancy-r13  INTEGER (0..100)}
According to 3GPP TS 36.331, v13.0.0:
if the measRSSI-ReportConfig is configured within the corresponding reportConfig for this measId:
2> set the rssi-Result to the average of sample value(s) provided by lower layers in the reportInterval;
2> set the channelOccupancy to the rounded percentage of sample values which are beyond to the channelOccupancyThreshold within all the sample values in the reportInterval;
where:
ReportInterval::=ENUMERATED {ms120, ms240, ms480, ms640, ms1024, ms2048, ms5120, ms10240, mini, min6, min12, min30, min60, spare3, spare2, spare1}

Controlling the channel occupancy measurement quality


An RF aperture coldplate for positioning in heat transfer proximity to heat-generating elements of an RF antenna system is presented. The RF aperture coldplate has a front side and a rear side. The RF aperture coldplate includes waveguides each forming an opening therethrough from the front side to the rear side, and passages substantially around the waveguides. The passages are configured to conduct cooling medium around the waveguides and between the front side and the rear side of the RF aperture coldplate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an RF (radio frequency) aperture coldplate.
2. Description of Related Art
RF systems have been developed to provide information of a scene or other useful data to a user or other system. RF systems may be adapted to function at different frequency bands. For example, RF systems such as radar and communication systems may operate in the X-band (8.0-12.0 GHz) or the Q-band (40.0-60.0 GHz), respectively. Sub-bands of these established bands may be used for specific purposes. For example, satellite communication systems may operate in the 40.0-45.0 GHz sub-band of the Q-band (40.0-60.0 GHz). One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that RF systems may function in one or more frequency bands.
Depending on the specific application, RF systems may be mounted in a variety of vehicles (e.g., air, ground, sea), ground stations (or other suitable permanent or semi-permanent ground fixtures), or satellites (or other spacefaring vehicles). One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that an RF system designer chooses hardware and integrates software to be used for operation with these specific applications in mind. For example, an RF system operating in the satellite communications sub-band of the Q-band may require hardware and software specifically developed for the physical and electrical characteristics of generating and propagating RF signals in the 40.0-45.0 GHz frequency band.
RF systems generally utilize antennas to transmit and receive RF signals. For example, RF systems utilize reflectors, horns, dipoles, phased arrays, and other antenna elements. RF systems using antenna arrays usually require an antenna plate to arrange the antenna elements. Certain RF systems that use circular elements perform in tandem with circular waveguides formed in the antenna plate itself.
Modern RF systems generally are cooled with air or liquid. Coldplates are formed as plates with hollow passages inside to circulate cooling medium (e.g., air or liquid) near heat generating elements of an RF system. For example, monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) generate a high amount of heat, and a coldplate may be used to draw heat away from such heat generating elements to increase performance or reduce component failure. Generally, it is advantageous to place the coldplate as close to heat generating elements as possible.
A traditional RF system includes a printed circuit board (PCB) composed of copper, which includes electrical components and wiring to generate and route the RF signals. Such RF systems typically have coldplates mechanically fixed to the PCB. Because the coldplate must mate securely, there is typically very little mechanical tolerance between the PCB and the coldplate. In an RF system where it is desirable to use an antenna plate having circular waveguides, the antenna plate must also be securely fixed to the PCB (on the opposite side of the coldplate). There is typically very little mechanical tolerance between the PCB and the antenna plate. Such systems are generally built from the back to the front, such that a coldplate is fixed to a PCB copper plate on one end and an antenna plate is fixed to the PCB copper plate on the other end. Both PCB/coldplate and PCB/antenna plate interfaces must mate securely. If there are gaps in the PCB/coldplate interface, there is a decrease in cooling performance. If there are gaps in the PCB/antenna plate interface, there is a decrease in electrical interface performance.


An audio tape cassette having a magnetic tape which is wound around a hub, a cassette shell and guiding parts which comprises a polypropylene resin including inorganic particles "A" dispersed in the tape cassette, wherein the magnetic tape has a back coating layer containing a polyester resin and inorganic particles "B" which have a hardness of not larger than that of the inorganic particles "A", and the magnetic tape has a CP value which is not larger than 1000 .mu.m.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an audio tape cassette audio tape combination which is suitable for recording high quality sound with less noise and a method for producing the audio cassette tape. More particularly, it relates to an audio tape cassette used together with an audio cassette tape which exhibits less deterioration in output-signals and less drop out of signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, [an] audio cassette tapes have been required to record high quality sound with less noise, as compact discs becomes popular. Therefore, in order to prevent vibration of a cassette shell, a softer material for the cassette shell is required over the conventional materials selected.
In the prior art, there is used a conventional cassette shell which is made of polystyrene resin, but this resin is hard and has less vibration absorbance at room temperature. In order to satisfy the demand mentioned above, it is proposed to use a new cassette shell which is made of polypropylene resin and, further, to add an inorganic powder such as calcium carbonate, talc, zinc oxide and mixtures thereof as a filler so as to increase the density of the resin.
In order to reliably reproduce sound from a source, some recent audio tape cassette tapes have been proposed having a back coating layer which has a proper roughness to give a proper friction condition with the tape transportation parts of a recording-reproducing apparatus so as to improve runability of the tape.
It is popular to form the back coating layer from a paint comprising certain size inorganic particles dispersed in a binder.
However, since the binder is too weak to hold the inorganic particles in the back coating layer formed from a paint, the particles easily drop in the form of pieces, accumulate on a site at which a tape and a guide part are contacted and then form minute protrusions at the site. As a result, the minute protrusions push the running tape from the back coating side to cause defects, such as cracks and streaks, in the magnetic layer.
The defects in the magnetic layer may cause various problems such as drop out.

Audio tape cassette, audio tape and production method of the same


A secure cryptocurrency transfer system between an electronic gaming machine and a cryptowallet.

The proliferation of mobile devices with Internet capabilities (e.g., mobile phones, wearable devices) has made it increasingly easy for users to conduct electronic commerce and online purchases using merchant websites and mobile applications. This has also led to an increased shift away from paper-based monetary schemes (e.g., the exchange of physical or paper currency) to instead rely upon electronic systems for monetary exchange. Many electronic payment systems have been developed for exchanging money, including the use of electronic wallets and electronic funds transfer (EFT). EFT includes a direct debiting/crediting of a user's bank account at the instance of the user from a remote location.
In the context of gaming, such as casino gaming, ticketing systems and chips have replaced the use of physical currency for wagering purposes. Casino customers are not permitted to directly use credit cards and debit cards for gaming, such as by inserting credit cards in gaming machines, but rather trade money for credits or chips, either at a gaming table or at a gaming machine for example, which can then be redeemed as paper currency after play is completed.
Another type of electronic system for monetary exchange is commonly referred to as an electronic peer-to-peer payment system or digital currency system. Bitcoin is one example of a digital currency system that utilizes cryptographic techniques, and thus the digital currency is referred to as cryptocurrency. Although there are many such cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) is one of the most well-known and thus will be discussed herein with reference to Bitcoin as encompassing other cryptocurrencies, as many other cryptocurrencies share similar features or derive from the same code base, such as Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Bitcoin SV (BSV). Payments made using the Bitcoin system are recorded in a ledger (the "Block Chain", which is maintained in parallel by many different entities in the system) using its own unique monetary unit, which is also called a "bitcoin." The Bitcoin system has no central repository and no single administrator, and thus is viewed as a decentralized virtual currency.
One drawback of systems such as Bitcoin is that fraudsters and criminals may be able to rely upon the generally anonymous nature of the Bitcoin system to avoid detection. Thus, while a person engaging in transactions involving traditional payment forms, such as credit cards and US dollars is normally identifiable, bitcoins are anonymous and do not typically require any identification (other than a randomly generated key address) of the party currently owning such bitcoins.
Thus, there is a need for new and enhanced cryptocurrency payment systems and methods to create a digital currency system that has greater efficiency and more security.

Cryptocurrency transactional systems and methods


A stiffened panel includes a panel at least one of whose surfaces is equipped with stiffeners each of which includes a base that is pressed against the surface of panel, as well as a core that is oriented orthogonally relative to the base and whose first longitudinal edge is integral to the latter. At least one of the stiffeners includes a multitude of notches that cross over a second longitudinal edge of the core opposite the first edge, so that they extend towards the outside of the stiffener.

These types of panels, which fulfill a structural function, are used in a great many technical fields, such as aeronautics and in automobiles. In particular, they are used to strengthen the resistance of a thin panel to buckling. Their quantity and shape are determined so as to obtain the best possible compromise in terms of mechanical resistance and mass.
In particular, the use of stiffeners with a T-shaped cross-section for stiffening a panel is known. In this case, the base is affixed and pressed against one surface of the panel, and the core is oriented orthogonally to the base.
There are situations in which the height of the core must be increased, for example when required to attach parts or equipment in the distal part of the core, near its longitudinal edge opposite to the one that is integral to the base. Another function resides in the fact of creating, using the distal parts of the cores of the stiffeners, a physical barrier that is as far away as possible from the panel bearing the stiffeners, for the purpose, in particular, of limiting impacts on this panel, between the stiffeners.
In these circumstances, the core of the stiffener may have a cross-section that is disproportionately slender and which adversely affects its resistance to buckling, and which therefore adversely affects the overall resistance of the stiffened panel, when it is stressed in this manner. The compromise of mechanical resistance vs. mass then becomes inefficient.

Stiff panel for aircraft, comprising stiffeners with notched cores


A lifting fixture includes a housing; a plurality of jaws movable radially in and out of the housing to secure the fixture to a component to be lifted; at least one lifting bail extending from on end of the housing; and a screw mechanism operatively connected to the plurality of jaws for moving the jaws radially between an inward retracted position and an outward locking position. A related lifting and flipping process is also disclosed.

This invention generally relates to nuclear reactor vessels, and specifically to a unique lifting fixture and related process for the core support plate.
In a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, the core support plate provides lateral support and guidance to the control rod guide tubes, peripheral support pieces, in-core flux monitor guide tubes, and start-up neutron sources. The core plate itself is formed with an array of holes through which the control rod guide tubes pass. The core plate assembly is bolted to a support ledge between the central and lower portions of the core shroud. During core shroud replacement procedures, the core plate is typically removed and transported underwater to another location where it is cut or sliced into multiple pieces for disposal. After removal and during transport, the core plate is typically supported in an upright orientation on a support stand provided with an annular array of vertical supports, each of which has a horizontal support ledge upon which the core plate rests. Because of the geometry of the core plate, as well as the configuration of certain cutting tools, it is necessary to flip the core plate to an upside down orientation prior to slicing to allow access to the support structure of the core plate on the underside.

Core plate lifting fixture and related process


A suspended particle device is realized which enables control of the amount of light transmitted through a prescribed area, without any complicated switching circuit on a substrate. A suspension, containing charged particles and a disperse medium, is filled between an A-substrate and a B-substrate, and first and second electrodes are formed on the A-substrate. A DC voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes, to localize the charged particles on the second electrode side. Subsequently, an AC voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes to orient, while maintaining the localized state of the charged particles, the charged particles along a direction of an electric field. Light transmittance is lower in an area where the charged particles are present than in an area without charged particles, whereas, in the area where the charged particles are present, the light transmittance can be controlled by adjusting the AC voltage.

Great hopes are placed on light control devices using an SPD in the field of applications such as building materials aimed at energy saving through incident sunbeam control and display devices and optical devices using light transmission and reflection control functions. An SPD is a device whose optical characteristics vary between when no voltage is applied thereto and when a voltage is applied thereto. Generally, in an SPD, electrodes are formed on transparent substrates disposed to mutually face and a suspension containing light control particles (hereinafter also referred to simply as "particles") which are dispersed therein and which react to an electric field is provided between the substrates and between the electrodes.
The light control particles to be filled in an SPD are those which show optical anisotropy for absorption and reaction. Such light control particles include those which are caused to show optical anisotropy by their anisotropic shapes. Hence, particles whose aspect ratio is not 1 and which are rod-shaped, needle-shaped or shaped like flat plates are used as light control particles.
When no voltage is applied, the light control particles in a suspension are engaged in Brownian motion to be oriented randomly, so that light incident on the suspension is absorbed and scattered to be blocked without being transmitted.
When a voltage is applied, on the other hand, the light control particles in a suspension are affected by dielectric polarization caused by an electric field and are uniformly oriented along the direction of the electric field. In this state, light incident on the suspension is modulated by the oriented light control particles. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 53 (1978)-144893, for example, when the direction of incident light is the same as the direction of the electric field and the direction along which the particles are oriented, the incident light can be transmitted through the suspension to achieve high transmittance and such a state is referred to as an open state.
Another method for controlling a light control area in an SPD is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No 2005-156811. In the method, plural electrode pairs are formed on a substrate or on a spacer disposed between substrates and control is effected by selecting an electrode pair across which a voltage is to be applied.
When controlling a light control area using prior-art SPD technology, however, it is necessary to select an electrode pair across which a voltage is to be applied out of plural electrodes. For light-control area control, therefore, it is necessary to perform passive matrix drive or active matrix drive. Furthermore, to realize more continuous light-control area control, it is necessary to increase the number of electrodes. Increasing the number of electrodes, terminals and matrix drive elements makes the SPD structure more complicated resulting in increasing the number of production processes to eventually increase the production cost.
Such a cost increase can be avoided by developing SPD technology which makes it possible to continuously control a light control area between electrodes. An object of the present invention is to provide technology for realizing light-control area control between electrodes by focusing attention on light control particle material, SPD structure, and SPD driving method.

Suspended particle device and method for driving same


A polypropylene-based calendered or injection-molded article satisfying the requirements of (1) having a tensile modulus TM of 5 MPa or higher and (2) having, when measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), no melting point or a melting point Tm (xc2x0 C.) satisfying the formula: TMxe2x89xa75xc3x97Tmxe2x88x92450, is less tacky and excellent in flexibility and transparency. Such a polypropylene-based calendered or injection-molded article is produced from a propylene polymer satisfying the requirements of (1) having a component soluble in a 25xc2x0 C. hexane in a content H25 of 0 to 80% by weight; (2) having, when measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), no melting point or a melting point Tm (xc2x0 C.) satisfying the formula: xcex94Hxe2x89xa76xc3x97(Tmxe2x88x92140) wherein xcex94H is a melting endotherm (J/g); and (3) having an intrinsic viscosity [xcex7] of 1 to 3 dl/g as measured at 135xc2x0 C. in tetralin.

The present invention relates to a novel polypropylene-based calendered or injection-molded article, and more particularly, to a novel polypropylene-based calendered or injection-molded article with little tackiness which is excellent in flexibility and transparency and molded at low temperatures.
Conventionally, calendered articles have been produced by rolling a soft resin between two or more rolls to form film-like shaped or sheet-like shaped articles having a definite thickness (also called as xe2x80x9ccalendering methodxe2x80x9d), and vinyl chloride resins have been extensively used as the soft resin. It is known that the vinyl chloride resin generates harmful substances upon burning. For this reason, it has been strongly required to develop a calendered or injection-molded article made of a substitute resin. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-202237 discloses a calendered article that is produced by using, as the substitute resin, a specific xcex1-olefin-polyene copolymer and an olefin polymer. However, the calendered article is poor in flexibility because a stereoregularity is as high as 98 mol %. Polypropylene is proposed as a candidate for the substitute resin. However, polypropylene is ill-balanced between flexibility and tackiness, thereby rendering it practically unusable. Recently, there has been proposed olefin polymers produced in the presence of a metallocene catalyst. Examples of such olefin polymers include a copolymer produced from ethylene and xcex1-olefin in the presence of a metallocene catalyst. However, the copolymer has a problem of increasing the tacky component when softened. Further, the copolymer is poor in transparency and surface properties, and therefore, unsuitable as a raw material of calendered articles or injection-molded articles.
An object of the present invention is to provide a polypropylene-based calendered or injection-molded article with little tackiness which is excellent in flexibility and transparency and molded at low temperatures.
As a result of extensive research, the inventors have found that the above object is achieved by a polypropylene-based calendered or injection-molded article having a tensile modulus within a specific range, and exhibiting, when measured by a differential scanning calorimeter, no melting point or a melting point which satisfies a specific relationship with the tensile modulus. The present invention has been accomplished based on this finding.
Thus, the present invention provides a polypropylene-based shaped article selected from the group consisting of calendered articles and injection-molded articles satisfying the following requirements of:
(1) having a tensile modulus TM of 5 MPa or higher; and
(2) having, when measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), no melting point or a melting point Tm (xc2x0 C.) satisfying the following formula:
TMxe2x89xa75xc3x97Tmxe2x88x92450.
As a polymer for constituting the calendered and injection-molded articles, there may be preferably used a propylene polymer [A] satisfying the following requirements of:
(1) having a component soluble in a 25xc2x0 C. hexane in a content H25 of 0 to 80% by weight;
(2) having, when measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), no melting point or a melting point Tm (xc2x0 C.) satisfying the following formula:
xcex94Hxe2x89xa76xc3x97(Tmxe2x88x92140)
wherein xcex94H is a melting endotherm (J/g); and
(3) having an intrinsic viscosity [xcex7] of 1 to 3 dl/g as measured at 135xc2x0 C. in tetralin.
The above propylene polymer [A] is preferably a propylene homopolymer [A-1] having:
(1) a meso pentad fraction [mmmm] of from 20 to 80 mol %; and
(2) a racemic pentad fraction [rrrr] satisfying, together with 1xe2x88x92[mmmm], the following formula:
[rrrr]/(1xe2x88x92[mmmm])xe2x89xa60.1.
The propylene polymer [A] is produced by polymerizing propylene, or polymerizing propylene with ethylene and/or C4-C20 xcex1-olefin, in the presence of a polymerization catalyst comprising:
(A) a transition metal compound represented by the following general formula (I):
wherein A1, A2, E1, E2, M, X, Y, q and r are as defined hereinafter; and
(B) at least one component selected from the group consisting of a compound (B-1) capable of forming an ionic complex by reacting with the transition metal compound (A) or a derivative thereof, and an aluminoxane (B-2).

Polypropylene-based calendered article and injection-molded article


A deteriorated capacity calculator calculates a deteriorated capacity that is a capacity reduced from the capacity of a cell in an initial state. A gas amount calculator calculates an amount of gas contained in a container for the cell, from the deteriorated capacity. A pressure calculator calculates a pressure inside the container for the cell from the amount of the gas, a volume of a void space of the container for the cell and the temperature of the cell. A pressure monitor outputs a control signal for stopping charging or discharging of the battery when the pressure inside the container for at least any one cell is equal to or greater than a threshold pressure.

During charging of or discharging of a rechargeable battery, gas may occur in a container for a cell included in the rechargeable battery depending on conditions for use of the rechargeable battery and thus cause pressure to increase in the container. When pressure in the container reaches pressure that causes activation of a safety valve provided for the container, the safety valve is activated which in turn releases the gas from the container to the outside. As a result, bursting of the container for the cell can be prevented. However, since the gas released by the operation of the safety valve is combustible electrolyte vapor, the gas may affect human health and may ignite. Therefore, stopping charging of or discharging of the rechargeable battery before activation of the safety valve is desirable.
A battery pack disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes cells and determines whether there occurs dilatation of the cells by detecting contact between conductors placed on main walls of cell casings for the cells. An electric vehicle control device disclosed in Patent Literature 2 measures internal pressure of a secondary battery with a sensor, and in a case where the internal pressure is greater than a threshold pressure, the electric vehicle control device displays information about occurrence of malfunction of the battery, forbids the secondary battery from being charged, and stops an engine. A battery charge controlling device disclosed in Patent Literature 3 detects a pressure increase in a container based on a signal outputted from a strain sensor that is provided for the container that houses cells.

Rechargeable battery protecting apparatus and power storage system


A current control device is described. The current control device includes at least one line socket configured to couple to a first power system. The current control device also includes at least one load socket configured to couple to a second power system and at least one micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switching device coupled between the at least one line socket and the at least one load socket. The at least one MEMS switching device is configured to selectably couple the first power system to the second power system.

The present application relates generally to electric utility meters and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for use in switching electrical power.
Electric utility companies provide electricity to both residential and commercial customers. To monitor an electricity usage of customers, electric utility companies often install one or more electricity meters on customers' premises. Such electricity meters often measure an amount of current and/or power provided to the customer, and recently started to include a switch mechanism that enables power distribution to the customer to be terminated or commenced as needed. Electricity meters often must conform to one or more industry standards, such as those set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Such standards may impose restrictions upon utility meter design, such as required dimensions for a utility meter housing and/or an amount of current and/or voltage that a utility meter must be able to measure and withstand.
Most current meter implementations do not include a mechanism for an electric utility company to terminate or commence power distribution to a customer. Such a meter requires a technician to visit the customer premises and to physically remove or connect the meter to terminate or to commence power distribution as applicable. Such on-site visits may be costly and/or take a significant amount of time and/or money. Other known meters include a mechanism that enables an electric utility company to remotely terminate or commence power distribution to a customer. Such meters generally include a mechanical switch that requires a two-way communication device and a complex triggering mechanism to switch from a conducting to a non-conducting state.
At least some known residential, commercial and/or industrial electricity meters only operate on poly-phase power generated by electric utility companies. Because of industry standards and power requirements of such facilities, electricity meters may be unable to include a mechanical switch within its enclosure that enables the electric utility company to switch from a conducting to a non-conducting state. Other known electricity meters use solid state electronic switches to remotely connect and disconnect a customer's premises to and from the electric utility company's power distribution system, or grid. However, while in an "off" state, traditional solid state switches may exhibit a leakage current and have subsequent power losses. While in an "on" state, the same switches may exhibit additional power losses because of an on-state voltage drop across the solid state switch. Because of these power losses, traditional solid state switches may cause an undesirable buildup of heat within known electricity meters. Moreover, at least some known electricity meters are unable to reduce or eliminate fault currents that may flow through the meter.

Method and apparatus for switching electrical power


The present invention provides a redundant prime mover system to drive a machine having an engine coupled to the machine, and a motor/generator coupled to the machine and an electrical network connection. The engine and the motor/generator have three or four operating modes. The first operating mode drives the machine with the engine. The second operating mode drives the machine with the motor/generator. The third operating mode drives the machine and the motor/generator with the engine such that the motor/generator generates electricity for delivery to the electrical network connection. Alternatively, the third operating mode drives the machine with both the engine and the motor/generator. This alternate operating mode can also be included as a fourth operating mode.

The present invention relates generally to the field of prime mover systems and, more particularly, to a redundant prime mover system.
Large shaft driven machines, such as compressors or pumps, are typically driven by a single prime mover, such as an electric motor or engine. For example, compressors on natural gas pipelines are typically driven by an engine or turbine that burns natural gas from the pipeline. In locations where electricity is readily available, the compressor may be driven by an electric motor.
Motor/generators have been added to engine or turbine driven compressors to generate startup torque and to generate electricity from the excess output power generated by the engine or turbine when the power requirement of the compressor is less than the output power generated by the engine or turbine. Such a system is designed to continuously operate the engine or turbine at an optimal level during all seasons no matter what the power requirement of the compressor is. As a result, this system is not designed to selectively run the compressor in more than two operating modes. Moreover, the system is not designed to generate and sell electricity back to the electric utility.
Another system uses a hydraulic turbine, motor/generator and pump combination wherein the motor/generator drives the pump to pump water into a reservoir in one mode and when the water is removed from the reservoir, the water drives the hydraulic turbine which drives the motor/generator to generate electricity. Similarly, a gas turbine, motor/generator and compressor combination has been used in a two operating mode system. The gas turbine drives the motor/generator to generate electricity when the compressor is not used, and the motor/generator drives the compressor when the gas turbine is not used. These systems are not designed to selectively run the compressor in more than two operating modes depending on various parameters.
Accordingly, there is a need for a redundant prime mover system that provides increased reliability, versatility and efficiency.
The present invention provides a redundant prime mover system that can be operated in three or four different operating modes, which increases the reliability, versatility and efficiency of the system. The present invention includes an engine or turbine, a motor/generator and a machine, such as a compressor or pump. The four different operating modes are: driving the machine with the engine or turbine; driving the machine with the motor/generator; driving the machine and the motor/generator with the engine or turbine such that the motor/generator generates electricity; and driving the machine with both the engine or turbine and the motor/generator in a load sharing arrangement. The system can be selectively switched between these modes depending on one or more parameters. As a result, the present invention can be set to run in the most cost effective mode or can arbitrage the price differences between electricity and the fuel used by the engine.
The present invention provides a redundant prime mover system to drive a machine having an engine coupled to the machine, a motor/generator coupled to the machine and an electrical network connection, and a controller communicably coupled to the engine and the motor/generator. The controller has at least three operating modes. The first operating mode drives the machine with the engine. The second operating mode drives the machine with the motor/generator. The third operating mode drives the machine and the motor/generator with the engine such that the motor/generator generates electricity for delivery to the electrical network connection. Alternatively, the third operating mode drives the machine with both the engine and the motor/generator. This alternate operating mode can also be included as a fourth operating mode.
In addition, the present invention provides a redundant prime mover system to drive a machine having a motor/generator coupled to the machine and an electrical network connection, an engine coupled to the motor/generator, and a controller communicably coupled to the engine and the motor/generator. The controller has at least three operating modes. The first operating mode drives the machine with the engine. The second operating mode drives the machine with the motor/generator. The third operating mode drives the machine and the motor/generator with the engine such that the motor/generator generates electricity for delivery to the electrical network connection. Alternatively, the third operating mode drives the machine with both the engine and the motor/generator. This alternate operating mode can also be included as a fourth operating mode.


A method for searching for an optimal temperature of an ink jet chip of a printhead before printing includes controlling the printhead to print a swath of data according to a predetermined swath density, measuring the temperature of the ink jet chip after printing of the swath of data, and comparing the measured temperature with a target temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for searching for an optimal temperature of an inkjet chip of a printhead, and more particularly, to a method for searching for an optimal temperature of an ink jet chip of a printhead for a predetermined swath density.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ink jet printers provide good printing quality at a fair price and as a result, have become the most popular printing equipment. With the quick advancement of technology, better printing quality has been a target that information industrial circles work to achieve. Generally speaking, an ink jet printer, such as a bubble-jet printer, uses heating elements of the printhead to heat ink. When the energy level imparted to the heating elements is high enough, ink becomes bubbles and is jetted from the nozzles of the printhead. The ink consumes a part of the energy. However, the remaining part of the expended energy will stay in the printhead so that the temperature of the printhead increases.
After the temperature of the printhead exceeds a maximum temperature Tmax at which the printhead can operate normally, printing quality deteriorates. Therefore, most manufacturers control or limit a threshold temperature of a printer to ensure that the temperature of the ink jet chip will not exceed the maximum temperature Tmax during printing. When the printhead finishes printing a swath, the best condition is that the temperature of the ink jet chip is about the maximum temperature Tmax at which the printhead can operate normally.
When printing higher swath densities, the temperature variations of the ink jet chip are larger. That is, the temperature of the ink jet chip shows a larger growth during printing. On the contrary, for lower swath densities, the temperature variation of the ink jet chip is smaller. In other words, when printing lower swath densities, the temperature of the ink jet chip increases during printing, but the increase is less than the increase when printing higher swath densities. Of course, if the threshold temperature Tthreshold of the printhead, meaning the temperature to which the ink jet chip is preheated before commencing printing, is set to a lower temperature, this can ensure that the temperature of the ink jet chip does not exceed the maximum temperature Tmax at which the ink jet chip can operate normally. However, when printing lower swath densities using such a printhead, after finishing printing, the finishing temperature of the ink jet chip is much lower than the maximum temperature Tmax so that printing quality is poor and standby time is increased due to the smaller temperature variations and the lower threshold temperature Tthreshold. If the threshold temperature Tthreshold is set to a higher temperature in order to optimize printing quality, the temperature variations of the ink jet chip are too large when printing higher swath densities. What is worse, during printing, the temperature of the ink jet chip exceeds the maximum temperature Tmax, damaging the printhead.

Method and printhead capable of searching for an optimal temperature of an ink jet chip of a printhead before printing


Provided is a low-resistance connection body for a high-temperature superconducting wire, in which a high-temperature superconducting bulk body and a high-temperature superconducting wire including a high-temperature superconducting layer are connected to each other, wherein a melting point of the high-temperature superconducting layer is higher than a melting point of the high-temperature superconducting bulk body; the high-temperature superconducting layer and the high-temperature superconducting bulk body are in contact at a connection site of the high-temperature superconducting wire and the high-temperature superconducting bulk body; and a surface of the high-temperature superconducting bulk body that is in contact with the high-temperature superconducting layer is crystallized due to crystal growth. Two high-temperature superconducting wires can be connected, with low resistance, through connection of the two high-temperature superconducting wires to one high-temperature superconducting bulk.

Superconducting wires are widely used for instance in NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) devices and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) devices. Rare earth-based high-temperature superconducting wires (REBCO superconducting wires) have been produced in recent years, and research and development is being conducted in which such superconducting wires are utilized.
Joining of superconducting wires to each other is an essential technical issue with a view for instance to achieving longer wires and realizing a persistent current mode. Low-resistance connection between REBCO superconducting wires is conventionally accomplished by soldering; as is known, however, electrical resistance values of about 10−8Ω are incurred in this technique.
Research has been carried out in recent years for directly joining REBCO superconducting wires to each other. PTL 1 proposes a technique relying on a melt diffusion method. In this technique, the protective layers of two REBCO superconducting wires are removed, and the wires are heated up to the melting point of superconducting layers, while causing the superconducting layers to abut each other and while applying pressure to the latter; thereby, part of the abutting superconducting layers in the thickness direction undergoes melt diffusion, and the superconducting wires become joined to each other as a result. PTL 1 reports that the REBCO superconducting wires can be connected to each other with yet lower resistance than is the case when the wires are joined by soldering.

Low-resistance connection body for high-temperature superconducting wire material and connection method


A vacuum belt assembly (10) to drive tubular bag material (11) through a packaging machine. The assembly (10) includes three belts (19, 20, 21) with the belts (19, 20, 21) being driven by rollers (22). The belts (20, 21) have respectively lengths (28, 29) being located in planes inclined by an angle greater than 0° but less than 180°, preferably an obtuse angle.

In packaging machines, such as packaging machines employed to package snack foods, strip bag material is delivered to a former which configures the strip bag material into a tubular configuration. The tubular bag material is longitudinally sealed adjacent its longitudinal edges so that it maintains a tubular configuration, with product being delivered to the interior of the tubular bag material through the former. The tubular bag material is subsequently engaged by sealing jaws that transversely seal the tubular bag material and transversely cut the tubular bag material so that discrete bags of product are provided. The tubular bag material is moved through this apparatus by belts or rollers to which a vacuum is applied. Apertures in the belts or rollers are positioned against the tubular bag material so that the tubular bag material is urged into contact therewith due to the reduced air pressure applied to the surfaces of the tubular bag material engaged by the belt or rollers.
Examples of the above-described packaging apparatus are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,753,336 and 4,663,917, while a previous assembly to drive the tubular bag material through the packaging machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,943.
Typically two or three belts are provided to drive the bag material. In some instances two of the belts are located adjacent each other so that the longitudinal edges of the tubular bag material are positioned therebetween, with the overlapping edges being engaged by a backseal bar assembly that heats the tubular bag material to longitudinally seal the bag material. Typically, an inner support is located in the interior of the tubular bag material and against which the tubular bag material is pressed by the backseal bar assembly. The belts are driven and are supported by rollers that have a rotational axis that is generally horizontal, with the tubular bag material having a longitudinal axis that is generally vertical. Each belt has an engaging length that engages the tubular bag material, with the engaging lengths being generally planar and located in the same plane. The tubular bag material is also engaged by a third belt located on the opposite side of the tubular bag material to the backseal bar and again is driven.
In other instances only two belts are used, the belts being located on opposite sides of the bag material.
The above-described belt arrangements have the disadvantage that they change the configuration of the tubular bag material to the extent that it reduces the area available for the product to move when being delivered to the interior of the tubular bag material. Accordingly, movement of the product is inhibited.

Vacuum belt assembly to drive tubular bag material