A reel shaft for reeling a paper web in a reel-up, which reel-up includes at least one unit that is mobile in the longitudinal direction of the paper machine and supports a pair of opposite engagement members each of which includes an engagement part, which engagement parts are arranged for rotatably carrying and detachably engaging the reel shaft during reeling. In accordance with the invention, the reel shaft is free of a support shaft and has a self-supporting, tubular sleeve substantially formed of fiber-reinforced plastic, which sleeve has an envelope surface on which the initial wrapping of the paper web shall be performed, and also an internal surface defining an axial channel terminating in axial openings at the ends of the reel shaft. The invention also relates to a reel-up for such reel shafts.

During continuous reeling of paper in a reel-up in a modem paper machine, very stringent demands as regards strength are made on the reel spools on which the paper web is wound to form jumbo rolls. A modern paper machine produces paper with a web speed of several thousand meters per minute, and the width of the paper web in such machines is ordinarily in the range 2.5-8 meters. Accordingly, the reel spools must be sturdily dimensioned to withstand the weight of the paper roll and the rotational speed required by the web speed. The demands made on a reel spool in the reel-up of a paper machine are thus completely different from the demands made on reel spools occurring in machines for subsequent processing of the paper roll, for instance rewinders and slitter-winders.
To meet the requisite demands for strength, known types of reel spools comprise a hollow steel reel spool. At its ends, the steel reel spool usually has protruding shaft journals, intended to support the steel reel spool rotatably in the reel-up. In a common type of reel shaft, a paper core is detachably attached to the envelope surface of the steel reel spool by means of a locking device. Thus, the steel reel spool acts as a support shaft for the paper core and, once the paper web has been wound onto the reel spool, the locking device is disengaged from the paper core, whereupon the steel reel spool is extracted from the paper core with the aid of an extraction device. The exposed steel reel spool is thereupon provided with a new paper core and returned to a nearby stock of steel reel spools provided with paper cores to be used in a subsequent reeling sequence. Accordingly, the paper core forms the core of the wound paper roll and thus accompanies the wound paper to subsequent processing procedures. When the paper core in due course is disengaged from the paper during such a processing procedure, for instance during rewinding of the paper roll, an uncovered steel reel spool is inserted into the paper core and thereafter placed in the stock of steel reel spools provided with paper cores for the reel-up.
It is known to cover the steel reel spool with a composite core of fiber-reinforced plastic instead of a paper core. Whereas a paper core must usually be discarded after about three reeling cycles, that is after being mounted on and removed from steel reel spools three times, a plastic composite core has a virtually unlimited service life.
Another type of reel spool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,199, which, in common with the spindle described above, consists of a steel reel spool, having protruding shaft journals at its ends, intended to support the reel spool rotatably in the reel-up. Unlike the reel spool described above, however, the paper is in this case wound directly onto the envelope surface of the steel reel spool. In addition, at least one of the shaft journals exhibits a channel running axially through the same and communicating with the hollow interior of the steel reel spool, and the envelope surface of the steel reel spool exhibits a plurality of evenly distributed holes running through the same and likewise communicating with the hollow interior of the steel reel spool. When the paper web is to be wrapped around the empty steel reel spool in the initial phase of the reeling, a vacuum pump is connected to the shaft journal exhibiting the through-running channel, or to both shaft journals if both shaft journals exhibit through-running channels, to generate a negative pressure inside the steel reel spool. The negative pressure creates a flow of air in through the holes in the envelope surface of the steel reel spool, which flow of air unsettles the film of air surrounding the paper web so that the paper web can be adjoined to the steel reel spool more easily, thereby facilitating the wrapping of the paper web on the steel reel spool. In this case, however, the steel reel spool must accompany the wound paper to subsequent processing procedures, as the steel reel spool cannot normally be withdrawn from the paper roll without difficulties. When the paper in due course is unreeled from the steel reel spool, the same is returned to the stock of steel reel spools in the reel-up to be used in a subsequent reeling sequence.
Using a reel spool comprising a steel reel spool entails numerous problems, however. As previously mentioned, a reel spool must be dimensioned to satisfy predetermined strength criteria, and, because of the strength criteria, the steel reel spool must be fashioned with a large diameter and substantial material thickness. Consequently, a conventional reel spool has considerable mass and a great moment of inertia with respect to its rotational axis. This makes it very difficult to balance a conventional reel spool and it is almost inevitable that the reel spool must exceed at least one rotational speed that is critical as regards self-oscillation to achieve normal rotational speed for reeling. This subjects both the reel-up and the reel spool to very considerable mechanical stress. Moreover, irrespective of said self-oscillation, the great mass and moment of inertia of the conventional reel spool require the reel-up to have sturdy dimensions to support, control, accelerate, and decelerate the reel spool. The great mass of the conventional reel spool also makes it very difficult to regulate the linear load in the paper web, especially in the initial phase of the reeling, as the weight of the reel spool greatly outweighs the linear load. A further problem arises in such cases where the finished paper roll rests on a plane surface with the reel spool still in place at the center of the paper roll, as sometimes occurs. In such cases, the paper roll can be deformed under the weight of the reel spool. This is a problem particularly in the manufacture of soft crepe paper, where costly additional equipment is necessary to relieve the mass of the reel spool so that the paper roll is not damaged by compression. Besides, the target aimed at in the current trend, especially in the manufacture of soft crepe paper, is ever higher web speeds, which, to satisfy strength requirements, necessitates steel reel spools with ever greater diameters and that are ever more rigid and heavy, which accentuates the above-mentioned problems.
A further problem can arise when using a reel spool of the type described above, which is that a gap can arise between the steel reel spool and the paper or plastic composite core covering the steel reel spool during reeling. When such a gap arises, balancing faults occur, which make it difficult to regulate the linear load. This is a problem particularly when using paper cores, as paper cores can be difficult to manufacture within the margins of tolerance that ensure a good fit between the paper core and the steel reel spool. Further, paper cores are not particularly stable in shape, which means that they can lose their original shape during the course of processing.
Another problem additionally arises in the reel spool described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,199. The shaft journals and their fastenings in the steel reel spool must be sturdily dimensioned, because of the weight of the steel reel spool. In reel spools of this type, the cross-sectional area of the channel in the shaft journal through which air is extracted from the hollow interior of the steel reel spool is therefore small relative to the cross-sectional area of the channel forming the hollow interior of the steel reel spool. As the limited cross-sectional area of the channel in the shaft journal constitutes an obstacle to the flow of air, it can be difficult to achieve the desired negative pressure inside the steel reel spool during the initial wrapping.

Reel shaft and reel-up for reeling a paper web


The present invention provides a subsonic ammunition cartridge including a polymeric casing body comprising a generally cylindrical hollow polymer body having a body base at a first end thereof and a mouth at a second end to define a propellant chamber; a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber, wherein the propellant chamber has an internal volume that is between 25 and 80% less than the open internal volume of a standard casing of equivalent caliber; and a primer insert positioned at the body base and in communication with the propellant chamber.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with lightweight polymer subsonic ammunition casing and more specifically to a lightweight polymer subsonic ammunition casing having a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber.
Generally, there are two types of ammunition: supersonic ammunition, which fires projectiles with velocities exceeding the speed of sound; and subsonic ammunition, which fires projectiles with velocities less than that of the speed of sound and generally in the range of 1,000-1,100 feet per second (fps), most commonly given at 1,086 fps at standard atmospheric conditions. Traditional methods of making subsonic ammunition reduce the propellant charge (and in turn increasing the empty volume left vacant by the reduced propellant charge) in the shell until the velocity is adequately reduced.
Unfortunately, this empty volume can cause numerous problems including inhibition of proper propellant burn, inconsistent propellant positioning, reduced accuracy and propellant detonation caused by extremely high propellant burn rates. For example, since the propellant is free to move in the large empty volume, shooting downward with the propellant charge away from the primer gives different velocity results than when shooting upwards with the propellant charge close to the primer. Finally, usage of subsonic ammunition, and its attending lower combustion pressures, frequently results in the inability to efficiently cycle semi-automatic or fully automatic weapons where the propellant charge must produce sufficient gas pressure and/or volume to accelerate the projectile and to cycle the firing mechanism. With a reduced quantity of propellant, subsonic ammunition generally fails to produce sufficient pressure to properly cycle the firing mechanism. The art has provided numerous attempts to cure these problems, e.g., the introduction of inert fillers, expandable inner sleeves that occupy the empty space between the propellant and the projectile, insertion of flexible tubing, foamed inserts, stepped down stages in the discharge end of cartridge casings, or complicated three and more component cartridges with rupturable walls and other complicated features. Another approach has been to use standard cartridges in combination with non-standard propellants. However, the result of such prior attempts to solve the production of reliable subsonic cartridges have failed and let to subsonic rounds that have a larger variation in velocity and variance in accuracy potential.
In addition the use of polymer ammunition results in additional drawbacks, e.g., the possibility of the projectile being pushed into the cartridge casing, the bullet pull being too light such that the bullet can fall out, the bullet pull being too insufficient to create sufficient chamber pressure, the bullet pull not being uniform from round to round, and portions of the cartridge casing breaking off upon firing causing the weapon to jam or damage or danger when subsequent rounds are fired or when the casing portions themselves become projectiles. Accordingly, a need exists to develop solutions that make it possible to manufacture better and more price competitive subsonic ammunition than previously available.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed is a method for using a unique IP address for a limited period of time in a device connected to a LAN which includes a router and a LAN device. In the method, the LAN device sends a unique IP address request to the router to be allocated a unique IP address, when the LAN device needs a unique IP address. The LAN device returns the allocated unique IP address to the router after using the allocated unique IP address.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method for using an IP (Internet Protocol) address, and in particular, to a method for using a unique IP address in a private IP address domain.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a data packet is comprised of transmission data, at least one header and a footer of a lower layer, the header and the footer surrounding the transmission data. First, a header (of an application layer) for identifying an application is attached to the data, and then, a header (of a transport layer) for identifying a port and a protocol is attached to the resulting header-attached data. A network layer identifies the devices in the transmission side and the reception side using a network address such as an IP address. Finally, data link layer information is included in the data packet. In an Internet application, the network layer includes IP addresses of the transmission side device and the reception side device, and for correct transmission, these addresses should be unique addresses. However, because of the limitation on the number of possible addresses, it is not possible to allocate the unique IP address to every device on the Internet. One method for reducing a demand for the IP addresses is to use network address translation (NAT). In order to use NAT, it is necessary to allocate unique IP addresses to the devices connected to the Internet through a gateway such as a router. For example, the device connected to the Internet through a local area network (LAN) and the router, has an IP address that is unique only between the device and the router, and is not unique on the Internet. In the following description, the device having a unique IP address will be referred to as a "LAN device" for convenience of explanation.
A brief description of the NAT will be made below. In Internet communication, the respective LAN devices have different IP addresses, thus making it possible to identify the devices. However, not having a unique IP address, the LAN device cannot transmit a packet directly to the reception side over the Internet communication. Even though the packet is directly transmitted to the reception side, the device cannot receive a response to the transmitted packet. Instead, when it is desired to transmit a packet, the device includes its non-unique IP address, i.e., a source address (SA) in the network layer header and then transmits this packet to the router. The router removes this SA and instead, inserts its unique IP address, i.e., a router source address (RSA). The router registers SA, DA (Destination Address), SP (Source Port), DP (Destination Port) and PT (Protocol Type) of the network layer and the transport layer in a packet, and then, transmits the packet to the reception side over the Internet. Every response from the reception side includes SA2, DA2, SP2, DP2 and PT2. When the packet has been transmitted by the router, SA2 has a value of DA and DA2 has a value of RSA. The router searches the LAN address of the device that has transmitted this packet, by consulting the first registered SA, DA, SP, DP and PT, changes the reception address of the packet from RSA to SA, and then, transmits the changed address to the LAN device.
Although it is possible to solve the IP address limitation problem to some extent using the above method, there are some applications it cannot be used in. This is because upon failure to receive a response to an IP allocation request, it is not possible to transmit a packet to the device connected to the LAN through the Internet. Further, since the transmission side can transmit the packet only with the unique IP address, it is only possible to transmit the packet using the router.
However, the router does not know to which LAN device this packet should be transmitted.
In addition, a problem occurs even when an application transmits its IP address to the other party. When the LAN device transmits a LAN IP address, the reception side cannot transmit a response to the transmission side using this address. As one example of this case, there is an ITU (International Telecommunication Union) H.323 protocol. In the ITU H.323 protocol, the transmission side transmits an IP packet with its own IP address to the other party, and the reception side performs communication with the transmission side using this address. In this case, the LAN device cannot receive a response from the reception side, because the LAN device knows only the LAN IP address. In order to make such communication available, the router must change the IP address of the LAN device to the unique IP address by examining every packet, and must also perform a reverse operation thereof. This overloads the router.
Meanwhile, when the LAN device desires to statically use the unique IP address, the router can statically allocate one unique IP address to a specific LAN device. In this case, the router performs only an operation of converting the LAN IP address of the packet to the unique IP address and converting the unique IP address to the LAN IP address.
As stated above, when the device connected to the LAN is not allocated the unique IP address, it cannot receive a response from the other party even though the application transmits its own IP address to the other party. Further, the router must convert the IP address by examining every packet.

Method for using a unique IP address in a private IP address domain


A food weight sensing device for a microwave oven, which comprises a fixed electrode plate and a movable electrode plate which vary in overlapping area, according to a vertical movement of a movable spacer caused by the weight of a food to be measured. A capacitance signal indicative of the variation in overlapping area is converted into a frequency signal, so as to sense precisely the weight of food. The device comprises a fixed spacer, a movable spacer being movable with respect to the fixed spacer, a pair of plate springs disposed between the spacers, a weight sensing fixed member fixedly mounted beneath a base plate of the microwave oven and having a vertically extending actuating chamber opened at one end thereof, a fixed electrode disposed in the actuating chamber and having a fixed electrode plate being attached to an inner surface of the weight sensing fixed member defining the actuating chamber, and a movable electrode fixedly mounted at its lower portion to the movable spacer and having a movable electrode plate being vertically movable through the actuating chamber while maintaining a parallel state with the fixed electrode plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for sensing a weight of food products in a microwave oven, and more particularly to a food weight sensing device utilizing a variation in capacitance depending on a variation in overlapping area between electrode plates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As conventional weight sensing methods, there have been known a method utilizing a capacitance, a method utilizing a differential transformer and a method utilizing piezoelectric elements and a method utilizing a strain gauge.
From these methods, the method utilizing the capacitance is mainly applied to microwave ovens. For measuring the weight of an object (namely, the food), this method utilizes the following equation (1): EQU C=.epsilon.A/d (1)
wherein, C represents a capacitance, .epsilon. a dielectric constant, A the area of electrode plates, and d the distance between the electrode plates.
A process of measuring the weight of an object by using the equation (1) is carried out as follows.
When an object is laid on a tray of a microwave oven, it applies its weight to the tray, thereby causing the distance d between electrode plates expressed by the equation (1) to be varied. Due to such a variation, the capacitance C is varied.
Microwave ovens measure the weight of an object, using the above-mentioned principle.
Now, a conventional capacitance type weight sensing device using the above-mentioned principle will be described, in conjunction with FIG. 1.
FIG. i is a sectional view of the capacitance type weight sensing device adapted to a conventional microwave oven. As shown in FIG. 1, the device comprises a base plate 101 to which a L-shaped bracket 102 is fixedly mounted. A fixed spacer 103 of a 90.degree.-turned U shape is fixedly mounted to the upper portion of the bracket 102. To the fixed spacer 103, a movable spacer 105 of a 270.degree.-turned U shape is connected by means of upper and lower parallel plate springs 104a and 104b, so as to face the fixed spacer 103.
The plate springs 104a and 104b serve as cantilevers permitting the movable spacer 105 to move vertically within a predetermined distance, with respect to the fixed spacer 103, that is, the fixed support.
To the movable spacer 105 is fixedly mounted a load bracket 106 which has an inverted L shape. A tray 108 is mounted to the upper portion of the load bracket 106.
Beneath the fixed spacer and movable spacer 103 and 105, a pair of electrode plates 107a and 107b defining a predetermined space therebetween are mounted to the fixed spacer and movable spacer 103 and 105, by means of proper support members, respectively.
Operation of the device with the above-mentioned construction will now be described.
As an object is laid on the tray 108, the plate springs 104a and 104b fixed to the fixed spacer 103 in a cantilever manner are downwardly bent due to the weight of object such that their free ends spaced away from the fixed spacer 103 move downwardly. Accordingly, the electrode plate 107b fixed to the movable spacer 105 which is fixed to the free ends of the plate springs 104a and 104b moves downwardly, so that it moves away from the electrode plate 107a. As a result, the distance between the electrode plates 107a and 107b varies, thereby causing the capacitance C to vary.
Thus, the weight of object can be measured, using such a variation in capacitance.
However, the above-mentioned conventional capacitance type weight sensing device involves the following problems.
First, the variation of the distance d between electrode plates caused by the weight of an object to be measured is achieved within a narrow range, thereby causing the variation in capacitance to be also achieved within a narrow range. As a result, it is difficult to achieve a precise measurement.
Second, overall size of the device is undesirably large, since the electrode plates 107a and 107b have a large size of, for example, 100 mm.times.100 mm.
Third, since the plate electrodes 107a and 107b are exposed to external, there is a problem of an error in measurement caused by variations in environmental factors such as dust, temperature and humidity.

Food weight sensing device for microwave oven


An infra-red absorption glass for a reed switch is suitable for encasement of a reed switch using magnetic wire members made of Fexe2x80x94Ni based alloy (52 alloy). In the infra-red absorption glass, an infra-red transmittance at a wavelength of 1050 nm is not greater than 10% for a thickness of 0.5 mm and the content of Cl in the glass is not greater than 150 ppm. In the glass, a coefficient of thermal expansion in a temperature range between 30 and 380xc2x0 C. is preferably 85-100xc3x9710xe2x88x927/xc2x0 C. In addition, the infra-red absorption glass preferably has a composition consisting essentially of, by weight percent, 60-75% of SiO2, 1-10% of Al2O3, 0-10% of B2O3, 3.5-10% of RO (R being one or more selected from Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, and Zn), 0.5-5% of Li2O, 8-17% of Na2O+K2O, 2-10% of Fe3O4.

This invention relates to an infra-red absorption glass for a reed switch, which glass is suitable for encasement of a reed switch using magnetic wire members made of Fexe2x80x94Ni based alloy (52 alloy).
A reed switch comprises confronting contact points including magnetic wire members and a glass tube enclosing those points and performs open/close operations of the contact points by applying a magnetic field from the outside of the glass tube. The encasement of the magnetic wire members into the glass tube is carried out by heating, softening, and sealing both ends of the glass tube in an inert gas, in a reducing gas, or in a vacuum in the state where the magnetic wire members are inserted in the glass tube. In the heating operation, use is made of a heat source available under the above-mentioned atmosphere, for example, an infra-red radiation type heat source using a halogen lamp with a reflecting plate for light convergence.
Under the above-mentioned circumstances, an infra-red absorption glass specially developed is used as a glass for a reed switch. Presently, use is widely made of the infra-red absorption glass having a characteristic such that an infra-red transmittance at a wavelength of 1050 nm is on the order of 15% to 20% when the glass has a thickness of 0.5 mm.
In the meanwhile, the reduction in size of electronic components is strongly desired as an essential condition in order to achieve the reduction in size and weight of electronic apparatuses which is remarkably accelerated in recent years. For the reed switch, reduction in size similarly proceeds. Accordingly, the reduction in diameter, length, and thickness of the glass tube which determines the size of the reed switch is carried out.
However, as the reduction in diameter, length, and thickness of the glass tube for a reed switch proceeds further, the following problems are caused in a conventional infra-red absorption glass to decrease the process yield and to place a limit in further reduction in size.
A first problem is as follows. Specifically, an infra-red ray from the halogen lamp forms a spot having the spread on order of 10 mm in diameter even if converged. When the center of the infra-red spot is brought into coincidence with the center of a sealing portion of the reed switch using the glass tube having a short length and a small thickness, a peripheral portion of the spot hits and heats the contact points of the switch which should not be heated in its nature. Therefore, it is necessary to intentionally deviate the center of the spot from the center of the sealing portion and to heat the sealing portion by the peripheral portion of the spot. However, the peripheral portion of the spot is low in infra-red energy and is unstable. Accordingly, the sealing requires a long time so that the productivity is decreased. In addition, nonuniformity in sealed pattern is increased so that the yield is deteriorated.
Next, a second problem is as follows. Upon sealing, the glass is in a softened state at about 1000xc2x0 C. and a glass component is evaporated although in a very small amount. Such evaporated component is again solidified on a surface of metal material and/or of the glass of the reed switch which are present in the vicinity and still relatively low in temperature. In case of the reed switch having a short length, the evaporated glass component is again solidified around the contact points of the switch to thereby cause contact fault (electrical connection defect) of the switch.
In view of the above-mentioned problems, this invention has been made. It is an object of this invention to provide an infra-red absorption glass suitable for efficiently producing a small-sized reed switch.
The present inventors have found out that the problems accompanying the reduction in size of a reed switch can be solved by limiting an infra-red transmittance of a glass to an appropriate lower range and by strictly restricting Cl content included as a small amount of impurity in the glass and propose this invention.
Specifically, an infra-red absorption glass for a reed switch of this invention is characterized in that an infra-red transmittance at a wavelength of 1050 nm is not greater than 10% when the glass has a thickness of 0.5 mm and the content of Cl in the glass is not greater than 150 ppm.
Description will be made in detail about this invention.
An infra-red absorption glass for a reed switch of this invention has an infra-red transmittance at a wavelength of 1050 nm which is not greater than 10% when the glass has a thickness of 0.5 mm.
The low infra-red transmittance is a characteristic essential to absorb heat radiation. It is assumed that the infra-red transmittance at a wavelength of 1050 nm exceeds 10% when the glass has a thickness of 0.5 mm. In this event, upon manufacturing a small-sized reed switch using the glass having a small diameter, a short length, and a small thickness, infra-red absorption from a halogen lamp is not sufficient so that an additional time and an extra energy are required for sealing. In addition, since the amount of infra-red rays transmitted through the glass to reach the inside of the reed switch is increased, contact point portions of the switch are heated so that magnetic characteristics would be deteriorated.
Furthermore, in the infra-red absorption glass for a reed switch of this invention, the content of Cl is extremely small.
Cl is contained as one of impurities in raw materials for the glass. If the glass prepared by the use of the above-mentioned raw materials is heated, salt such as NaCl and KCl is liable to evaporate. The evaporated salt is again solidified inside the reed switch to cause a contact fault (electrical connection defect). Therefore, in this invention, the content of Cl in the glass is limited to 150 ppm or less, preferably 100 ppm or less.
The content of Cl being greater than the above-mentioned range will remarkably increase the evaporation of the salt from the glass softened by the heat for sealing. In case of the small-sized reed switch, the salt is solidified in the vicinity of the contact points to cause the contact fault.
It is noted here that F exists as a component similar to Cl. F is sometimes contained as another impurity in the glass raw material and is sometimes positively introduced into the glass because it serves to reduce the viscosity of the glass or has a very strong action as a melting agent. However, if a large amount of F is contained in the glass, the salt such as NaF and KF is evaporated to possibly cause a problem similar to that mentioned in conjunction with Cl. Therefore, the content thereof is preferably limited. In this case, the content of F is desirably not greater than 5000 ppm, in particular, not greater than 1500 ppm.
In addition, it is important that a coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass in a temperature range between 30xc2x0 C. and 3800xc2x0 C. is limited to an extent of 85-100xc3x9710xe2x88x927/xc2x0 C. If the coefficient of thermal expansion is out of the above-mentioned extent, matching with the 52 alloy as magnetic wire members of the reed switch are impossible. This results in a leak (leakage of airtightness) at a sealing portion and, in the worst case, a damage of the glass.
As the glass having the above-mentioned characteristics, use is advantageously made of the infra-red absorption glass having a composition consisting essentially of, by weight percent, 60-75% of SiO2, 1-10% of Al2O3, 0-10% of B2O3, 3.5-10% of RO (R being one or more selected from Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, and Zn), 0.5-5% of Li2O, 8-17% of Na2O+K2O, 2-10% of Fe3O4.
In this invention, the reason why the composition of the glass is restricted as described above is as follows.
At first, SiO2 is a main component required to form a frame structure of the glass. If the content is more than 75%, the coefficient of thermal expansion is excessively low and the meltability is deteriorated. If the content is less than 60%, the chemical durability is deteriorated. In this event, the glass would be changed in quality by chemical treatment such as plating in a manufacturing step of the reed switch. In addition, it is impossible to achieve the weathering resistance which assures a long-term reliability as an electronic component.
Al2O3 has remarkable effects of improving the weathering resistance of the glass and suppressing devitrification upon melting of the glass. However, if the content is more than 10%, melting of the glass is difficult. If the content is less than 1%, the above-mentioned effect can not be obtained.
B2O3 has effects of promoting melting of the glass and reducing the viscosity of the glass to increase the efficiency of the sealing. However, if the content is more than 10%, the chemical durability is deteriorated.
Furthermore, the evaporation is increased upon melting so that a uniform glass can not be obtained.
CaO, MgO, BaO, SrO, and ZnO represented by RO have effects of lowering the viscosity of the glass and improving the weathering resistance of the glass. However, if the total amount is more than 10%, the devitrification of the glass is increased and the uniform glass is difficult to produce. If the content is less than 3.5%, the above-mentioned effects can not be obtained.
Li2O has effects of maintaining a high volume resistivity of the glass required as electrical insulation of the reed switch and increasing the coefficient of thermal expansion to some extent. In addition, the effect as a melting agent and the effect of lowering the viscosity are remarkably large. Therefore, if Li2O is used as an essential component, it is possible to minimize the content of B2O3 which is a component generally used as a melting agent of the glass but likely to evaporate. However, if the content of Li2O is more than 5%, the weathering resistance and the devitrification of the glass are unfavorably deteriorated. On the other hand, if the content is less than 0.5%, the above-mentioned effects can not be obtained.
Na2O and K2O are components which serve to increase the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass and to promote the melting of the glass, like Li2O. However, if the total amount of Na2O and K2 O exceeds 17%, the coefficient of thermal expansion is excessively large and the weathering resistance and the volume resistivity of the glass are remarkably deteriorated. On the other hand, if the content is less than 8%, a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion can not be obtained. Furthermore, the melting of the glass becomes difficult.
In addition, if the content of each individual component among Li2O, Na2O, and K2O does not exceed 80% of the total amount of these components, more excellent weathering resistance and high volume resistivity can be obtained by the action of a mixed alkali effect.
Fe3O4 (Infra-red rays are absorbed by FeO which coexists with Fe2O3 in the glass depending upon redox. Herein, all iron oxide is represented in terms of Fe3O4.) is used as an essential component in order to provide the glass with an infra-red absorbability. However, if the content is more than 10%, vitrification becomes difficult. If the content is less than 2%, the infra-red transmittance at a wavelength of 1050 nm can not be reduced to less than 10% when the glass has a thickness of 0.5 mm.
It is noted here that, in the above-mentioned glass, each component such as ZrO2 and TiO2 can be added to 3% for the purpose of adjusting the viscosity of the glass and improving the devitrification and the weathering resistance.
Next, description will be made about a method of manufacturing the infra-red absorption glass for a reed switch of this invention.
First, a batch is prepared so as to obtain a desired composition. At this time, it is important to select or refine and use glass raw materials with a less content of Cl (and F) so that the content of Cl (and F) contained in the glass is less than the above-mentioned range. In addition, a reducing agent may be added in an amount on the order of 0.1-1% with respect to the glass. In this event, it is possible to stably obtain the glass having the infra-red transmittance at a wavelength of 1050 nm which is equal to 10% or less when the glass has a thickness of 0.5 mm.
Next, the batch is melted. Subsequently, the molten glass is formed into a tubular shape and cut into a predetermined length. Thus, the infra-red absorption glass for a reed switch can be obtained.
Next, description will be made in detail about examples of the infra-red absorption glasses manufactured according to this invention.

Infrared absorbing glass for reed switch


An electrical structure comprises a dielectric layer present on a semiconductor substrate. A contact opening is present through the dielectric layer. A nickel-tungsten alloy silicide is formed over the semiconductor substrate within the contact opening. A tungsten-containing nucleation layer formed within the contact opening covers the nickel-tungsten alloy silicide and at least a portion of a sidewall of the contact opening. A tungsten contact is formed within the contact opening and separated from the nickel-tungsten alloy silicide and at least a portion of the sidewall by the tungsten-containing nucleation layer.

The fabrication of semiconductor devices involves forming electronic components in and on semiconductor substrates, such as silicon wafers. These electronic components may include one or more conductive layers, one or more insulation layers, and doped regions formed by implanting various dopants into portions of a semiconductor substrate to achieve specific electrical properties. Semiconductor devices include transistors, resistors, capacitors, and the like, with intermediate and overlying metallization patterns at varying levels, separated by dielectric materials, which interconnect the semiconductor devices to form integrated circuits.
Field-effect transistors (FETs), such as metal-oxide-semiconductor FETs (MOSFETs), are a commonly used semiconductor device. Generally, a FET has three terminals, i.e., a gate structure (or gate stack), a source region, and a drain region. In some instances, the body of the semiconductor may be considered a fourth terminal. The gate stack is a structure used to control output current, i.e., flow of carriers in the channel portion of a FET, through electrical or magnetic fields. The channel portion of the substrate is the region between the source region and the drain region of a semiconductor device that becomes conductive when the semiconductor device is turned on. The source region is a doped region in the semiconductor device from which majority carriers are flowing into the channel portion. The drain region is a doped region in the semiconductor device located at the end of the channel portion, in which carriers are flowing into from the source region via the channel portion and out of the semiconductor device through the drain region. A conductive plug, or contact, is electrically coupled to each terminal. One contact is made to the source region, one contact is made to the drain region, and one contact is made to the gate stack.
Metallic tungsten (W) is the primary conductor for contacts. As semiconductor nodes are scaled down, the transistors and contacts become increasingly smaller and the electrical resistance may increase to unacceptable levels. To reduce contact resistance, silicides (silicon metal alloys) are often formed on the semiconductor substrate between a doped region, such as the source or drain, and the contact.
A typical contact is comprised of the liner layer (Ti/TiN) and the W metal. The Ti film is deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) and the thin TiN by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The W layer is formed in two steps. In the first step, a thin nucleation layer is formed with the reduction of tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) by either silane (SiH4) or diborine (B2H6). In the second step the bulk of W is deposited with the reduction of WF6 by hydrogen in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) environment. Fluorine (F), which is formed as a byproduct during the W deposition, can violently react with the Ti and Si underneath and form defects known as "volcanoes". These defects when created will prohibit the flow of current and irreversibly damage the contact. The TiN layer prevents F from reaching and reacting with the underlying layers.
Various issues arise with depositing and using Ti/TiN films. These films, especially as semiconductor devices are scaled down, can significantly contribute to contact resistance. In addition, as the TiN barrier is thinned to meet the scalability requirements, its barrier properties are degraded and the underlying Ti and/or the silicide/doped region may be exposed to fluorine.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus for depositing a soluble material, such as an organic polymer, onto a substrate uses an inkjet print head. The substrate is viewed from the underside by a CCD microscope during the deposition of an organic polymer droplet onto a well provided in a bank structure. As the organic polymer droplets are viewed when in wet condition they are more clearly visible and any offset or deviation detected between the deposited droplet and the well can be used to reposition a platen supporting the substrate. The substrate is viewed with light having a wavelength to which the substrate is transparent and, preferably, which does not include a wavelength component within the absorption region of the polymer.

The present invention relates to the deposition of soluble materials and in particular to the deposition of soluble materials using inkjet technology.
In recent years there has been an increase in the number of products which require, as part of their fabrication process, the deposition of organic or inorganic soluble or dispersible materials such as polymers, dyes, colloid materials and the like on solid surfaces. One example of these products is an organic polymer electroluminescent display device. An organic polymer electroluminescent display device requires the deposition of soluble polymers into predefined patterns on a solid substrate in order to provide the light emitting pixels of the display device. The substrate may, for example, be formed of glass, plastics or of silicon.
In the manufacture of semiconductor display devices, such as light emitting diode (LED) displays, it has been conventional to use photo-lithographic techniques. However, photo-lithographic techniques are relatively complex, time consuming and costly to implement. In addition, photo-lithographic techniques are not readily suitable for use in the fabrication of display devices incorporating soluble organic polymer materials. Concerns relating to the fabrication of the organic polymer pixels have, to some extent, hindered the development of products such as electroluminescent display devices incorporating such materials to act as the light emitting pixel elements. Consequently, it has been proposed to use ink-jet technology to deposit the soluble organic polymers in the fabrication of electroluminescent display devices.
Inkjet technology is, by definition, ideally suited to the deposition of the above soluble or dispersible materials. It is a fast and inexpensive technique to use. In contrast to alternative techniques such as spin coating or vapour deposition, it instantly provides patterning without the need for an etch step in combination with a lithographic technique. However, the deposition of the soluble organic materials onto the solid surface using ink-jet technology differs from the conventional use of the technology, to deposit ink on paper, and a number of difficulties are encountered. In particular, there is a primary requirement in a display device for uniformity of light output and uniformity of electrical characteristics. There are also spatial limitations imposed in device fabrication. As such, there is the non-trivial problem to provide very accurate deposition of the soluble polymers onto the substrate from the inkjet print head. This is particularly so for colour displays as respective polymers providing red, green and blue light emissions are required to be deposited at each pixel of the display.
To assist the deposition of the soluble materials it has been proposed to provide the substrate with a layer which includes a pattern of wall structures defined in a de-wetting material so as to provide an array of wells or elongate trenches, bounded by the wall structures, for receiving the material to be deposited. Such a pre-patterned substrate will be referred to hereinafter as a bank structure. When organic polymers in solution are deposited into the wells, the difference in the wettability of the organic polymer solutions and the bank structure material causes the solution to self align into the wells provided on the substrate surface. However, it is still necessary to deposit the droplets of organic polymer material in substantial alignment with the wells in the bank structure. Even when such a bank structure is used, the deposited organic polymer solution adheres to some extent to the walls of the material defining the wells. This causes the central area of each deposited droplet to have, at best, a thin coating of deposited material, perhaps as low as 10% of the material in comparison to the material deposited at the walls of the bank structure. The deposited polymer material at the centre of the wells acts as the active light emissive material in the display device and if the polymer material is not deposited in accurate alignment with the wells, the amount and therefore the thickness of the active light emissive material can be further reduced. This thinning of the active light emissive material is of serious concern because the current passing through the material in use of the display is increased which reduces the life expectancy and the efficiency of the light emissive devices of the display. This thinning of the deposited polymer material will also vary from pixel to pixel if deposition alignment is not accurately controlled. This gives rise to a variation in the light emission performance of the organic polymer material from pixel to pixel because the LED's constituted by the organic material are current driven devices and, as stated above, the current passing through the deposited polymer material will increase with any decrease in the thickness of the deposited material. This performance variation from pixel to pixel gives rise to non-uniformity in the displayed image, which degrades the quality of the displayed image. This degradation of image quality is in addition to the reduction in operating efficiency and working life expectancy of the LED's of the display. It can be seen therefore that accurate deposition of the polymer materials is essential to provide good image quality and a display device of acceptable efficiency and durability.

Deposition of soluble materials using an inkjet print head and CCD microscope


The invention relates to an artificial turf with a backing and a large number of artificial grass blades which are fixed thereto, protrude substantially transversely thereof and are manufactured from plastic, and a fibrous, inherently damping material arranged between the artificial grass blades and connected to the backing or the blades. The fibrous, inherently damping material can herein be arranged in the form of a large number of blades which are connected to the backing and which likewise extend transversely of the backing, but less far than the artificial grass blades. The fibrous, inherently damping material can also take the form of a knit through which the artificial grass blades protrude and which can be formed integrally with the backing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an artificial turf, comprising a backing and a large number of artificial grass blades which are fixed thereto, protrude substantially transversely thereof and are manufactured from plastic. Such an artificial turf is generally known and is used on a large scale for practising sports such as football, hockey, tennis, rugby, baseball, American football and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The known artificial turf consists of a backing, for instance a fabric of synthetic yarns to which a large number of artificial grass blades is fixed. These artificial grass blades, which can be tufted or knitted to the back or co-woven therewith, protrude substantially transversely of the backing. The is artificial grass blades are generally manufactured from somewhat hard and smooth types of plastic, for instance polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene or mixtures thereof, or polyamides such as nylon. The artificial grass blades thus form a relatively robust and wear-resistant ground for playing sport or games.
In order to form an artificial grass surface the known artificial turf is arranged on a firm substrate or base layer of for instance sand, asphalt, stone chippings, lava or other preferably moisture-permeable material. Particular types of artificial turf herein also have sand spread therein after laying thereof.
In order to be able to play on the surface in the same manner as on a normal grass field, it is important that the artificial turf surface has roughly the same properties, particularly in respect of aspects such as the behaviour of the ball on the surface. For this purpose the artificial turf surface must be somewhat resilient and able to dampen shocks sufficiently, which is also important in preventing injuries to joints. This is the reason that the known artificial turf surface is generally provided with a damping material. This damping material, for instance rubber or a polyurethane foam, can be arranged under the artificial turf, whereby the damping action is however not very direct.
Use is therefore frequently made of rubber in the form of grains or granulate, which is arranged between the artificial grass blades. These rubber granules, which in the case of an artificial turf surface with sand spread therein can be mixed with the sand, as for instance described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,527, here therefore lie loose in the artificial turf. This has the drawback that it is not simple to obtain and maintain a uniform distribution of the damping over the surface of the artificial turf, since the rubber granules are per se not wholly identical and, when the field is used, will moreover be displaced and thus be spread unevenly. In the case of rainfall on a field with poor vertical drainage the granules can for instance be washed away to lower-lying parts of the field. In addition, the granules can come to lie on the surface, whereby they may adhere to the ball and the playing surface will furthermore become relatively rough locally. Also when the rubber granules are used in a surface with sand spread therein, there occurs in practice rapid separation of the sand and the rubber granules, whereby the damping will vary considerably over the surface.
The invention now has for its object to provide an artificial turf wherein these drawbacks do not occur. According to the invention this is achieved in an artificial turf of the above described type by a fibrous, inherently damping material arranged between the artificial grass blades and connected to the backing or the blades. xe2x80x9cInherently dampingxe2x80x9d material is herein understood to mean a material which is relatively soft and resilient per se, irrespective of its embodiment, while xe2x80x9cfibrousxe2x80x9d is understood to mean any elongate, slender embodiment of the material. Connecting the damping material to the rest of the turf prevents it being displaced and a uniform distribution thereof is thus ensured, which can moreover be adjusted and monitored during production of the artificial turf. In addition, the fibrous nature of the damping material also results in a further improvement of the damping action.
The inherently damping material is preferably a material different from the plastic from which the artificial grass blades are manufactured. The somewhat conflicting requirements of resistance to wear on the one hand and good damping on the other can thus be satisfied by a suitable choice of material. The inherently damping material is advantageously less stiff herein than the plastic of the artificial grass blades, so that, even in the case of corresponding material thicknesses, there still exist differences in damping between the artificial grass blades and the inherently damping material.
An artificial turf which is simple to manufacture and to lay is obtained when the fibrous, inherently damping material is arranged in the form of a large number of blades connected to the backing. These blades then preferably extend substantially transversely of the backing.
In order to prevent the playing characteristics of the artificial turf being affected by the damping material, the blades of the damping material advantageously protrude less far from the backing than the artificial grass blades. To this end the blades of the damping material can be shorter than the artificial grass blades, but it is also possible for them to be frizzed.
In another embodiment of the artificial turf according co the invention the fibrous, inherently damping material takes the form of a knit through which the artificial grass blades protrude. This knit is then preferably formed integrally with the backing, whereby the structure of the artificial turf is simplified.
The damping material, which is preferably moisture-absorbing so as to prevent injuries such as burns in the case of a xe2x80x98sliding tacklexe2x80x99, can be a natural or synthetic rubber, although a flexible plastic such as for instance a polyurethane can also be envisaged. Said materials can herein be applied in solid form or as foam.
In a variant of the artificial turf according to the invention of particularly simple structure, the inherently damping material is formed by the same plastic as that from which the artificial grass blades are manufactured.

Artificial turf including damping material


An off-mains switch (14) and a control box (15) for electrically adjustable articles of furniture, such as beds, chairs or tables, which automatically interrupt the connection to the power supply when the article of furniture is not adjusted, such that this will not constantly be under the mains voltage. These off-main switches require a multi-part cable which is rigid and thick. In the present structure (14, 15) a single two-part cable (13) is sufficient, as the off-mains switch (14) is configured such that the control signals between control unit/control box (15) and the off-mains switch are transmitted through a mains cable (13). A standard cable having two conductors is then sufficient. This means in turn that standard plugs may be used, and thus that the cable (13) may be connected to the power supply via an ordinary plug. Since, hereby, the off-mains switch may appear as a separate unit, production and logistics are facilitated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an off-mains switch as well as a control box for an actuator system intended for use in connection with electrically driven articles of furniture.
2. The Prior Art
To avoid the situation that an electrically adjustable and/or driven article of furniture, such as a bed, a chair or a table, is constantly supplied with mains voltage to the local transformer of the article of furniture, so-called off-mains switches have been developed, which automatically interrupt the connection between the mains supply and the local transformer when the article of furniture is not active, i.e. is not adjusted. The interruption may take place by means of a relay, or a unit having a corresponding relay function, located in the off-mains switch.
When the article of furniture is adjusted to perform e.g. a raise function, such as by operation of a functional key on a hand control associated with the article of furniture, or by a separate activation of the off-mains switch via the hand control and/or directly on the off-mains switch, the off-mains switch is activated and establishes the connection to the mains. Such off-mains switches are known from EP 0 615 667 B2 Okin, DE 92 12 599.9 U1 Dewert, EP 0 792 532 B1 LINAK as well as WO 2004/019463 A1 LINAK. Off-mains switches serve inter alia to prevent or at least reduce the presence of electric or magnetic fields, E-fields and H-fields, respectively, in the article of furniture.
The off-mains switch of EP 0 615 667 is based on an actuator system, in which the operational voltage to the actuator is also a control voltage. Activation of the relay relies on the use of an auxiliary voltage source, coupled in parallel with the main power supply, in the form of a capacitor coupled in parallel with the power supply. The capacitor is supported by a battery in the event that the capacitor should lose its charge. In practice, it has been found that both capacitor and battery may run out of power, and therefore the realization of the invention additionally includes a push-button for manual activation of the relay.
In EP 0 792 533, the mains voltage is interrupted by a set of TRIACs instead of a relay. When the system is operated, the TRIACs are activated by an optocoupler which receives power from a high capacity capacitor, which is kept charged by being connected briefly to the mains at regular intervals. This is done via separate control electronics based on a timer. Another solution is based on a small auxiliary capacitor permanently connected to the mains via voltage-restricting means, and with just enough capacity to activate the optocoupler a single time. These, however, are relatively expensive solutions.
In the vast majority of examples, the electrically adjustable article of furniture is equipped with an actuator system, which may be consist of at least one actuator driven by a low volt DC motor, a control box which may comprise a main power supply having a transformer for feeding the motor, a rectifier and a smoothing capacitor, an electrical control unit and finally at least one hand control which may be a wired and/or be a fixed operating panel or a remote control for activating the control unit. The electrical control unit moreover comprises control of the function which the activator may make the article of furniture perform.
The off-mains switch is typically mounted in a plug box which is inserted into an outlet, and the outlet is most often located at an arbitrary distance from the article of furniture. A special cable, hereinafter called intermediate cable or mains cable, is run from the off-mains switch to the article of furniture. This intermediate cable contains a mains cable having two conductors for feeding the main power supply, and optionally an additional conductor for earth connection, as well as at least one additional wire having a conductor for use in the control of the relay in the off-mains switch by means of the control unit, which may result in a strong and inflexible total intermediate cable.
A special cable, like an intermediate cable, is relatively costly per se, and to avoid special connectors, which may also be relatively costly, the cable is firmly mounted in the off-mains switch as well as in the power supply and the control unit. This is not very expedient in terms of handling and shipment. In addition, a standard length of the intermediate cable also has to be used, more or less, irrespective of the customer's needs being a shorter or longer cable.
It may be seen as an object of the invention to provide an off-mains switch as well as a control box for an actuator system intended for use for an adjustable article of furniture, which fully or partly solves one or more of the above problems singly or in any combination.
It may be seen as an object of the invention to provide a structure and a mode of operation for an off-mains switch and a control box, coupled to it, for an actuator system, in which electric and/or magnetic fields at the actuator because of a mains voltage do not exist, and in which it is constantly ensured that energy is present at the actuator for establishing connection of the actuator to the mains voltage.
It may be seen as an object of the invention to provide a structure of an off-mains switch and a control box for an actuator system, where a single cable having two conductors as an intermediate cable will suffice, that is where the intermediate cable exclusively consists of a cable having two conductors and optionally an additional conductor for an optional earth connection.
When the signals between the control unit and the off-mains switch may be transmitted through a mains cable, a separate conductor for transmitting the control signal is not needed, and a standard mains cable having two electrical conductors as an intermediate cable suffices. This means in turn that a standard plug may be used, and thus the cable may be connected to the power supply via an ordinary plug. Since the off-mains switch may hereby appear as a separate unit, production and logistics will be facilitated.
When the control signal applied from the control box to the off-mains switch is used as an indicator of the size of the low energy storage in the control box, a solution is achieved where the off-mains switch and the control box currently exchange information on the size of the energy storage. Hereby, the amount of energy on the low energy storage may be adapted such that enough energy is constantly available for supplying the control signal transmitter—but such that as little energy as possible is transferred to the control box in a passive state.
When the size and/or the frequency of the low voltage and thereby the low energy transfer to the low energy storage are changed only when so needed because of declining strength and/or frequency and/or duration of the control signal, a solution is achieved where it is constantly ensured that there is energy in the control box during "passive mode" for applying a control signal to the off-mains switch, and where it is ensured at the same time that the amount of low energy being transferred is adapted to this purpose.
The invention also relates to an actuator system, which comprises the inventive off-mains switch and control box, the actuator system additionally comprising an actuator with an associated operating unit.
The invention moreover relates to a system of furniture consisting of an actuator system according to the invention, the system of furniture additionally comprising an electrically adjustable article of furniture whose adjustment may be controlled by the actuator.
Additional advantages will appear from the following detailed description.

Off-mains switch and a control box for electrically driven articles of furniture


A connector for a brace and a vertical post in a foundation for a manufactured building having support beams, the connector having a base and two opposing walls that each define an opening, a vertical support assembly having a plate that defines an opening and a tubular sleeve coaxial with an opening, which sleeve is coaxial with the openings in the walls when the plate is disposed on the base, and a threaded member extending from the tubular sleeve for engaging the vertical post. A fastener extends through the opening in one of the side walls, through the sleeve, through openings in a lower end of the brace, and through the opening in the opposing side wall, whereby the brace pivotably attaches to the base and the support assembly orients the threaded member vertically to support the vertical post. The connector used in a foundation for a manufactured building for connecting a brace and a vertical post to the manufactured building.

Manufactured buildings, mobile homes or trailer coaches include long longitudinal support beams underneath. Typically, when the building or coach is installed, a plurality of vertical piers or jacks are placed under the beams to support them. Most piers or jacks require placement on a rigid ground pan so as not to sink into the ground from the loading.
Conventional piers do not provide resistance to lateral or longitudinal forces that may be exerted on the manufactured building, such as by strong winds or earthquakes. Our U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,150 discloses a foundation for manufactured buildings that uses a lateral brace that pivotably attaches at a lower end to the ground pan under one of the support beams and attaches at an upper end to the other of the support beams. A separate pier is installed on the ground pan and contacts the support beam above the ground pan. The lateral brace enables the ground pan to resist lateral forces on the manufactured building while the pier supports the manufactured building. Similarly, the brace may be connected between the ground pan and the support beam over the ground pan, for resisting movement caused by longitudinal forces on the manufactured building.
Various types of vertical piers can be used. A pier may be constructed using cement blocks, steel members, and steel tubes. The cement blocks stack on the ground pan to a height just below the lower flange of the support beam. The stack is capped with wood plates that contact the support beam. Steel members used as a pier connect to a ground pan with a ground pan connector and to the support beam with a beam connector. A steel tube pier includes an extendable member that connects at an upper end of the tube to the support beam.
Because these support and bracing devices for foundation systems have to be installed in the field, it is desirable that they be simple to install, preferably by a single person, not require complex tools, and not require any alterations to the existing support beams, such as drilling, that could deleteriously affect the strength of the support beams.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for connector for support members of a foundation system that provides vertical support and lateral or longitudinal stability for a manufactured building. It is to such that the present invention is directed.

Connector and foundation for manufactured building


Provided are a nonvolatile memory device having multi bit storage and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes forming a tunneling dielectric layer, a charge storage layer and a charge blocking layer on a fin-active region, forming sacrificial patterns having a groove to open a crossing region of the active region on the charge blocking layer, selectively removing portions of the charge blocking layer, the charge storage layer and the tunneling dielectric layer exposed by the opening groove using the sacrificial layer patterns as an etch mask to expose a top surface and side surfaces of the active region, forming a gate dielectric layer on exposed portion of the active region to cover exposed side surfaces of the of charge storage layer, forming a first gate on the gate dielectric layer to fill the groove, removing the sacrificial layer patterns, forming second gates on side surfaces of the first gate, forming isolated local charge storage patterns, charge blocking patterns and tunneling dielectric patterns by selectively removing exposed portions of the charge blocking layer, the charge storage layer and the tunneling dielectric layer, and forming a source/drain region on the active region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory device, and more particularly, to a nonvolatile memory device having multi-bit storage and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is great demand for increasing memory density of nonvolatile memory devices and flash memory devices. Memory density increases by reducing the size of a memory cell or by allowing the memory device to store a greater number of states, i.e., multi-bit.
Research is being conducted into the implementation of a memory transistor capable of storing multiple bits in a single memory transistor. For example, a silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) transistor was introduced to implement a 2-bit operation of a memory device. The SONOS includes a silicon nitride layer as a charge storage layer between a gate and a semiconductor substrate. The 2-bit operation of the transistor can be achieved through a forward reading and a reverse reading of a threshold voltage Vth because the SONOS transistor stores charges in different locations.
As the integrity of nonvolatile memory devices increases, a line width of the charge storage layer and a channel width becomes narrow. Therefore, it is important to secure a wider valid channel width in nonvolatile memory devices. Also, the reduction of the channel width causes a short channel effect. In order to overcome this drawback, a method of securing a wider valid channel width is required.
The reduction of the channel width may also cause a cross-talking problem. That is, charge distributions stored in a charge storage layer are overlapped due to a narrow line width of the charge storage layer. For example, tail portions of charge distributions stored in both end regions of a charge storage layer may be overlapped. Accordingly, independent signals may interfere with each other and operations of the memory device cannot be distinguished. That is, interference between signals degrades the memory device's capability to store multiple bits.
Therefore, there is a demand to develop a memory device capable of independently storing charges in a charge storage layer in order to allow a nonvolatile memory device to perform a multi-bit operation or to store multiple bits.

Nonvolatile memory device having multi-bit storage and method of manufacturing the same


A solids supply systems having a solids deaeration zone and a solids pump zone, and to methods for supplying the solids e.g., pulverized dry coal, to an application, e.g., gasification process. The solids deaeration zone includes a roller system containing a plurality of porous roller assemblies, or a belt system containing a plurality of porous belt assemblies. The solids deaeration zone is operable to deaerate and convey the solids to the solids pump zone. In the solids deaeration zone, the solids become sufficiently compacted prior to and upon entry into the solids pump zone to be effectively conveyed through the solids pump zone.

The coal gasification process involves turning coal or other carbon-containing solids into synthesis gas. While both dry coal and a water slurry can be used in the gasification process, dry coal pumping is more thermally efficient than current water slurry technology. A wide variety of equipment has been used for pumping particulate material. Such transport equipment includes conveyor belts, rotary valves, lock hoppers, screw-type feeders, and the like.
One of the devices currently being used to pump dry coal to a high pressure is the cycling lock hopper. While the thermal cold gas efficiency of cycling lock hopper fed gasifiers is higher than other currently available technology in the gasification field, the mechanical efficiency of the cycling lock hopper is relatively low. The capital costs and operating costs of cycling lock hoppers are also high due to the high pressure tanks, valves, and gas compressors required in the cycling lock hopper process.
The use of dry coal extrusion pumps has become more common in dry coal gasification. However, some of the problems associated with currently available dry coal extrusion pumps are internal shear failure zones and flow stagnation problems. The presence of failure zones can lead to a decreased mechanical efficiency in the pump, as they result in a loss of the ability to transmit forces from the mechanical drive into transport of the particulate material.
For example, in dry coal extrusion type pumps such as rotary disk type pumps, particulate material enters a transport duct between two drive disk walls and is driven by movement of the drive walls from an inlet toward an outlet. The movement of the drive walls compacts the particles such that the particles transmit stresses across contacts with each other and the particulate material engages the drive walls, resulting in a drive force being transferred from the drive walls to the particulate material. As the particulate material enters the transport duct, it should be sufficiently compacted or compressed prior to or upon entry into the pumping apparatus to cause the particles to transmit stresses across their contacts, resulting in the formation of, what is referred to herein as, a transient solid or bridge composed of compacted particulate material that allows the solids pump to develop head or pressure in the particulate material and effectively convey the particulate material through the solids pump to a region of higher pressure. Successive bridges should occur cumulatively within the transport duct as further particulate material enters the inlet.
Fine particulate and powdery materials, such as dry pulverized coal, are difficult to effectively convey through the pumping system. Fine particulate and powdery materials tend to be aerated or well mixed with air when transported loosely or when loosely dropped through the inlet. The aerated fine particulate and powdery material may not be compacted enough to form a stress transmitting bridge of contacting particles between the rotary disks of the pumping device. As a result, the frictional force acting on the material by the rotary disks is not enough to transfer drive force to the material. Consequently, the fine particulate and powdery material may slip between the rotary disks and may not be effectively conveyed through the pumping device. If too much external force is applied to attempt to compress or deaerate the powdery material, the material tends to overly consolidate, clogging the inlet or the transport channel.
Thus, there is a need in the industry for an effective particulate transporting system for efficiently transporting fine particulate materials, particularly pulverized coal, using dry solids pumps that require particle bridging that allows the pumps to develop head or pressure in the particulate material.

Active solids supply system and method for supplying solids

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


A network apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a search request for a surrounding user terminal, to a plurality of user terminals; a receiver configured to receive a search result for the surrounding user terminal based on the search request; and a controller configured to determine, on the basis of the search result, a scheduling terminal that performs an assignment of a radio resource used for the D2D communication, from among the plurality of user terminals. The transmitter transmits, to a user terminal determined as the scheduling terminal, a scheduling terminal request to request that the user terminal acts as the scheduling terminal.

In 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) which is a project aiming to standardize a mobile communication system, the introduction of Device to Device (D2D) communication is discussed as a new function after Release 12 (see Non Patent Literature 1).
In the D2D communication, a plurality of adjacent user terminals perform direct device-to-device communication without passing through a network. On the other hand, in cellular communication which is normal communication in a mobile communication system, a user terminal performs communication through a network.
It is noted that cases are assumed where assignment of a radio resource used for the D2D communication is led by a network apparatus such as a base station and the assignment thereof is led by a user terminal that performs the
D2D communication. As a result of the user terminal itself performing the D2D communication assigning the radio resource, it is possible to reduce a load of the base station.
In the case where the assignment of the radio resource used for the D2D communication is led by the user terminal, a case is assumed where there are a plurality of D2D groups to which a user terminal that assigns the radio resource (hereinafter, "scheduling terminal") and a user terminal to which the radio resource is assigned (hereinafter, "non-scheduling terminal") belong. In this case, the non-scheduling terminal that belongs to the plurality of D2D groups and performs the D2D communication is assigned the radio resource from each scheduling terminal belonging to each D2D group. Generally, the scheduling terminals respectively independently assign the radio resource, and thus, the radio resources assigned to the non-scheduling terminals may overlap to cause trouble in the D2D communication.
Further, even when the non-scheduling terminal is not assigned the radio resource from the plurality of scheduling terminals, if a plurality of D2D groups mixedly exist, then the overlapping of the radio resources assigned by the plurality of scheduling terminals may still cause trouble in the D2D communication. In particular, the larger the number of D2D groups, that is, the larger the number of scheduling terminals, the higher the possibility that the radio resources overlap.


A disc cartridge capable of preventing entering of dust into a casing and ensuring a stable and positive operation without damaging a disc while satisfactorily exhibiting a cleaning effect and keeping proper contact between a recording head and the disc. A casing is provided thereon with a slide area which is formed by a slide area defining section of the casing. The slide area is formed with at least one head inserting hole. The slide area defining section is provided on an inner surface thereof with at least one thick-walled portion in a manner to extend along a whole periphery of a portion of the head inserting hole overlapping a sheet-like liner and inwardly project from the inner surface of the casing, so that the liner may be pressed against the disc at a force of a constant level over a wide area of the disc and block a communication between an exterior of the cartridge and its interior through the head inserting hole.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disc cartridge, and more particularly to a disc cartridge which is adapted to rotatably receive a disc-like medium such as a magnetic disc, a floppy disc, a hard disc, a cleaning disc, an optical disc, a photo-magnetic disc or the like therein for recording and/or reproducing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a conventional disc cartridge is so constructed that a floppy disc, a compact disc, a video disc or the like used for a digital-data storing unit, a video unit or the like is rotatably received in a casing for protection against damage and dust to assure its safety in both use and non-use. Also, in the conventional disc cartridge, the casing is provided on each of upper and lower inner surfaces thereof with a sheet-like liner so as to be contacted with a surface of the disc.
In the conventional disc cartridge, a recess provided on each of the upper and lower inner surfaces of the casing for constituting a disc receiving section is formed into a substantially flat shape and is provided thereon with elongated projection-like ribs, which serve to pressedly contact the liner with the surface of the disc.
Such construction of the conventional disc cartridge causes the disc to be locally pressed by means of the elongated projection-like ribs, so that the disc and liners may be substantially damaged, resulting in an cleaning effect of the liner and a satisfactory contact of the liner with the disc being deteriorated, as well as the disc being unserviceable.
Further, in the conventional disc cartridge, a portion of a casing on which a slide area is defined is substantially reduced in thickness when a shutter is made of a plastic material, because formation of a shutter by a plastic material requires to significantly increase a thickness of the shutter for ensuring its rigidity and smooth operation. Unfortunately, this leads to deterioration of formability and/or workability of the casing.
Such disadvantages as described above are somewhat eliminated by techniques disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 44540/1982, Japanese Utility Model Application Laying-Open Publication No. 201667/1982, Japanese Utility Model Application Laying-Open Publication No. 201669/1982 or Japanese Utility Model Application No. 93872/1986.
Unfortunately, the techniques disclosed fail to effectively prevent entrance of a foreign matter such as dust, moisture or the like into the casing by suction due to rotation of a disc in use, because they cannot block a communication between an exterior of a cartridge and its interior through a head inserting hole. Also, they fail to provide a casing, particularly, a portion of the casing on which a slider is movably fitted with rigidity sufficient to fully prevent any deformation of the portion. Further, the techniques cause insufficient cleaning, resulting in dust often remaining on a disc.
Thus, the conventional disc cartridge is highly deteriorated in durability and reliability.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to develop a disc cartridge which is capable of ensuring safety of both a disc and a casing in both use and non-use to permit the cartridge to exhibit satisfactory durability and reliability.

Disc cartridge with thick portion surrounding head insertion hole


A light distribution structure 10 and a related element 100, such as a light guide, are provided. The structure 10 is preferably an optically functional layer comprising an at least one feature pattern 11, 11A established in a light-transmitting carrier by a plurality of three-dimensional optical features variable in terms of at least one of the cross-sectional profile, dimensions, periodicity, orientation and disposition thereof within the feature pattern. In some instances, the optical features are embodied as internal optical cavities 12 capable to establish the total internal reflection (TIR) function at a horizontal surface and at an essentially vertical surface thereof. A method for manufacturing the light distribution structure is further provided.

In lightning applications, illumination performance largely depends on a light distribution system utilized. Typical lightguide (LG) systems include optical patterns that control light outcoupling efficiency upon light extraction. In order to control an emitted light angle distribution and to achieve a desired performance, conventional lightguide solutions designed for illumination/lightning applications still utilize a number of separate optical films, such as brightness enhancement films (BEFs), for example. Thus, from FIG. 1B one may observe that by conventional lightguide solutions (hereby, the most typical solutions based on microlens- and V-groove shaped optical patterns) implemented without BEFs, controlling light distribution a desired manner is not possible. However, with the multilayered solutions (with several structurally distinct layers) it is impossible to achieve full lamination and transparency, and it is further impossible to produce thin and bendable lightguides, as well as to make asymmetric profile distribution within a lightguide. In addition, several separate layers have reduced efficiency in comparison to a single layer. The latter is especially evident when light is recycled within the light distribution system, such as for polarizing purposes, for example.
The U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,846,089 and 9,791,603 disclose multilayer film stack solutions for light distribution control. These solutions do not exploit light (internally) incident within a lightguide medium and thus fail providing a function of light extraction from the lightguide medium.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,089 thus discloses an optical structure comprising a number of prismatic transmissive films, such as BEFs, bonded together and a bonding method. Mentioned films are transmissive type optical components that manage light distribution angles and redirect light generated by the lightguide. These films utilize light directed out of the lightguide (i.e. outcoupled or extracted light), which typically has to be uniform and light streak-free. However, in order to achieve two-dimensional light distribution control, the film stack disclosed requires provision of at least two different prismatic sheets. Additionally, bonding films together with adhesive(s) reduces optical performance and efficiency. Moreover, the method does not allow for direct optical bonding with the LG medium, since otherwise this would totally ruin the lightguide performance.
The U.S. Pat. No. 9,791,603 discloses, in turn, an improved transmissive prismatic film bonding solution configured to minimize decreased light directing performance and improve mechanical strength. The basic function of said prismatic film stack is comparable to the one disclosed in the previous patent. This film stack utilizes light exiting the lightguide, which light is extracted (out-coupled) and directed out of the lightguide by conventional pattern profiles. Then the multilayer stack is only (re)directing light.
Single-layer LG solutions with linear optical feature patterns are known. For such solutions, two fundamental problems exist when using multiple point light sources, such as LEDs. Typically, multiple point light sources cause visible light streaks starting from a vicinity of the lightguide leading edge until the middle of the lightguide. Another fundamental issue is an extremely wide light extraction distribution in transverse direction (i.e. it is impossible to control directions of the outcoupled/extracted light). Wide angular extraction distribution typically pertains to a fact that conventional LEDs provide for Lambertian distribution of radiant intensity.
FIG. 1A shows a conventional lightguide 1 solution implemented within a concept of bonded optics that generally aims at creating optical functionality within a three-dimensional (3D) system. The lightguide 1 comprises a light-transmitting substrate 1A with a light distribution film 2 on its top surface, which top film comprises a plurality of linear pattern features, such as prominent profiles 3 alternating with grooves 3A. Light rays from a light source 31 are indicated by arrows. The solution shown on FIG. 1 is not fully embedded. From a luminance distribution chart one may observe, at "a", that extracted light has wide angular distribution in transverse direction and, at "b", that light leakage (so called stray light) occurs via the top film 2 by light transmission through the pattern profiles 3, 3A (see also top figure, showing light rays transmitted through the features 3, 3A).
Luminance distribution chart clearly indicates that in LGs implemented as 1 or similar thereto, in is impossible to control angular distribution of extracted in transverse direction. Thus, undesired and uncontrolled light leakage (stray light "escaping" from the lightguide in an unintended direction) caused by light transmission and penetration through the optical pattern profile(s) accounts for markedly reduced illumination efficiency.
To alleviate the light streak problem curvature pattern shapes can be utilized for light extraction. Thus, utilizing discrete microlenses (FIG. 1B, left) or radial grooves (not shown) can eliminate light streaks. However, curvature shapes do not solve a problem of controlling transverse extraction distribution. Light is thus extracted at even wider angle as compared to the linear pattern shape. Therefore certain challenges still exist in controlling extracted light distribution in two directions (longitudinal and transverse), when using microlenses and other curvature patterns.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,350 thus discloses a multilayered LG solution with linear, discrete (prismatic) pattern features configured for light extraction, wherein layers are adhered to one another. The solution further includes a microlens layer laminated on the top of the lightguide. The pattern features are relatively large and can be considered as bonded optics. Nevertheless, the disclosed solution does not resolve the problem of multiple point source utilization without light streaks. The problem of two-directional extracted light distribution control is not resolved either. Additionally, large extraction features can cause light recycling, which accounts for the undesired light leakage (stray light). In present disclosure, simulation FIGS. 1 and 4B demonstrate this fundamental issue.
In view of lightguide construction issues, another major drawback is associated with an absence of cost-effective production methods and tools for manufacturing the LGs with advanced 3D structures for large surfaces, i.e. for the surfaces equal or superior to about 0.5-1.5 m2 (square meters). Manufacturing lightguides and/or related light distribution structures for such large surface areas is extremely expensive, wherein costs per each master tool (surface coverage about 1.5 m2) is unacceptable. Additionally, the process is challenging in view of fabricating patterns on an entire (lightguide) surface(s) and volume manufacturing by moulding, for example. This harshly limits possibilities for exploiting the most efficient and advanced optics solutions with high optical power and reduced power consumption which could, in overall, bring the illumination solutions onto a new performance level.
Conventional LGs are further impeded by a number of problems arising upon light extraction (outcoupling). Thus, in conventional LGs, when light ray(s) propagating within a light-transmitting medium hit an internal surface of said lightguide at an angle of incidence equal to or greater than the critical angle (relative to the surface normal), a phenomenon of Total Internal Reflection (TIR) occurs. Upon TIR, light does is not refracted out (outcoupled) of said lightguide/light pipe, but instead light is reflected back into the lightguide medium. Such solutions are inefficient in illumination applications.

Light distribution structure and element, related method and uses


A system for forming a cavity in a backfill mixture comprising granular material and water positioned in an at least partially excavated stope. The system includes a base and a drainage tube assembly in an extended condition thereof. The drainage tube assembly extends between a lower end secured to the base and an upper end positioned above an upper surface of the backfill mixture. The extended drainage tube assembly includes a tube portion thereof with a permeable material and defining the cavity therein into which the water from the backfill mixture is drainable, through the permeable material. The system also includes a drainage pipe, for permitting the water that has drained into the cavity of the extended drainage tube assembly to exit the stope.

Mined-out portions of stopes are often backfilled with tailings (often referred to as "backfill"), pumped into the stope from a mill. As is well known in the art, the tailings typically include substantial amounts of water. Draining the backfill is a difficult task that may take a long time. The undrained water can exert significant pressure on structures at the stope entrances (fill fences). The known practices tend to rely on relatively slow drainage, which results in substantial water pressure exerted against fill fences over extended periods of time.
For instance, a first "panel", or portion, of the ore may be removed, and the opening left by its removal may be backfilled. Typically, once the backfill has been drained sufficiently and "cured", a second "panel" of the ore is removed. Subsequent panels may also be removed, sequentially.
As is well known in the art, as an initial step in excavating the first panel, a raise (i.e., an elongate generally vertical opening) is formed at an outer end of the first panel, to provide a blasting void in which the broken ore caused by blasting the first panel is receivable. The raise may be formed by incremental drilling and blasting, or by a raise bore, or by any other conventional means. Driving a raise by conventional means is an extremely expensive and time-consuming process.
A blasting void is an opening into which some of the broken ore is partially directed by the blast. The blasting void is needed due to the rapid increase in volume of the blasted ground of the second panel, upon ignition of the blast.
In conventional mining, one of the first steps in mining the second panel would be to create a blasting void for the second panel. Typically, this is done by creating a substantially vertical void in the solid rock of the second panel (at one side or end of the second panel), by conventional means.
As is well-known in the art, the step of forming the blasting void for each panel is relatively expensive and time-consuming. Once the blasting void for the second panel is created, the second panel may be drilled using conventional drills, to produce a blasting pattern in the second panel designed to blast toward the blasting void. Subsequently, the second panel is blasted, and the broken ore therefrom is removed by conventional mucking methods.
After the broken ore of the second panel has been excavated, the opening created by the removal of the second panel is backfilled. Typically, the process is repeated with respect to a third and possibly further subsequent panels until the stope has been fully excavated.

System and method for forming a cavity in a backfilled stope


Pharmaceutically acceptable solutions of acidic, basic or amphoteric pharmaceutical agents are disclosed. These solutions are suitable for encapsulation in gelatin capsules for subsequent oral administration and include the pharmaceutical agent, an ion species and a solvent system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solutions containing acidic, basic and/or amphoteric pharmaceutical agents for encapsulation in gelatin capsules.
2. Description of the Art
Soft gelatin capsules and hard shell gelatin capsules are well known for the oral administration of pharmaceutical agents. For pharmaceutical agents of relatively low solubility and/or relatively high dosage amount, gelatin capsules can pose problems for the pharmaceutical formulator. For example, if a given pharmaceutical agent has a relatively low solubility, it may need a relatively large volume of solution in order to deliver a unit dose. While it is may be possible to encapsulate such a large volume of solution in a soft gelatin capsule, for example, the resulting capsule may be too large for conventional oral administration to human patients.
In similar fashion, if a pharmaceutical agent requires a relatively high dose, a large volume of solution may be necessary in order to deliver this dose. Encapsulation of this large volume may result in a capsule that is too large for convenient oral administration to human patients.
As one approach to solving this problem in the capsule formulation art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,643 (Yu, et al.) discloses the use of polyethylene glycol based solutions for acidic, basic and amphoteric pharmaceutical agents. These polyethylene glycol based solutions contain either an hydroxide species or a hydrogen ion species that causes the appropriate pharmaceutical agent to partially ionize, i.e., the pharmaceutical agent is present in both the free form and the salt form. The partial ionization described in Yu, et al. results in enhanced solubility for the acidic, basic or amphoteric pharmaceutical agent. This enhanced solubility, in turn, may permit the preparation of a solution of pharmaceutical agent that is highly concentrated enough to be encapsulated in a conveniently sized gelatin capsule for oral administration. The Yu, et al. patent discloses that enhanced solubility solutions can be prepared using polyethylene glycol and contemplated equivalents of polyethylene glycol, such as polyethylene glycol ethers of various alcohols and copolymers of polyethylene glycol.
The present inventors have discovered that other solvents may be used to form pharmaceutically acceptable solutions that exhibit enhanced solubility characteristics. These enhanced solubility pharmaceutical solutions have the advantages contemplated by Yu, et al., i.e., encapsulation of dosages in small capsules.

Enhanced solubility pharmaceutical solutions