An image recording apparatus 1 for recording an image on a recording medium using colored ink and clear ink, including: an ink dot arrangement data generator 10B for generating colored ink dot arrangement data concerning arrangement of dots of the colored ink on the recording medium; a colored ink amount calculator 10C for calculating the amount of colored ink in a predetermined print area composed of pixels from the colored ink dot arrangement data; a clear ink amount calculator 10D for calculating the amount of clear ink in the predetermined print area from the amount of colored ink in the predetermined print area calculated by the colored ink amount calculator 10C; and a clear ink arranger 10E for arranging dots of clear ink in the predetermined print area,

Conventionally, an image processing apparatus for printing by adding transparent ink (hereinafter referred to as clear ink) to colored inks is known. As clear ink, for example, a one for making colored inks unnecessary (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 8-072230), a one for improving the glossy feeling (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-001410), and a one for preventing ozone color fading (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-014223) are known.
And, as a method for deciding the dot arrangement position and amount of the aforementioned clear ink, a method for generating quantized data for clear ink on the basis of the quantized data of colored ink obtained by performing the multilevel halftone process at a rough resolution and arranging dots of clear ink on the basis of the concerned quantized data for clear ink is known (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 11-334114).
Further, a method for retaining beforehand the dot arrangement pattern of clear ink and on the basis of the dot arrangement pattern of the concerned clear ink, arranging dots of the clear ink is also known (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 9-272203).
Further, a method for calculating the ink adhesion amount of colored ink in a predetermined print area and on the basis of the ink adhesion amount of the concerned colored ink, deciding the clear ink adhesion amount and arrangement position is also known (for example, WO 2004-069543). The method described in the Patent Document No. Hei 11-334114 has advantages that the burden imposed on the operation is little because the clear ink feed step is simple and the processing speed is fast.
However, the method described in the Patent Document No. Hei 11-334114 performs the half-tone process at a rough resolution, so that a problem arises that the image quality is deteriorated. Further, in the method described in the Patent Document No. Hei 9-272203, in the dot arrangement pattern in a small area, periodicity appears in the clear ink dot arrangement, thus irregularities may be caused, so that it is necessary to retain the dot arrangement pattern in a large area and a problem arises that a large capacity memory is necessary. Further, in the method described in the Patent Document WO 2004-069543, for example, in a solid image in which colored ink is arranged in the same pattern, the clear ink arrangement becomes a fixed pattern, so that irregularities of clear ink may be caused.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus, an image recording method, and an image recording program for preventing an occurrence of irregularities of clear ink, requiring no large capacity memory, and impairing no processing speed.

Image recording apparatus, image recording method, and image recording program

Abstract: wherein, the clear ink arranger has two or more clear ink arrangement order patterns and when a preset condition is realized, selects the clear ink arrangement order pattern according to the condition and arranges dots of clear ink in the predetermined print area.


A portable, foldable beach screen provides privacy and protection from wind and blowing sand for a reclining individual. The screen is constructed from a single panel and is foldable into a compact and easily carried configuration. The screen may include a reflective material on one or both major surfaces and can carry advertising messages or other printing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable, foldable beach screen which provides privacy and protection from wind and blowing sand for a reclining individual. More specifically, the invention relates to such an apparatus which is constructed from a single panel and is foldable into a compact and easily carried configuration. The screen may include a reflective material on one or both major surfaces and can carry advertising messages or other printing.
2. Background Art
Beachgoers are well aware that even a slight breeze blowing across the sand can be an annoyance for the reclining sunbather. Blowing sand deposited on the individual detracts from the otherwise pleasurable environment, yet is difficult to avoid. The chilling effect of a cool breeze, even absent blowing sand, can be undesirable and uncomfortable as well. Thus, one of the needs in the art is a portable beach screen which functions as a barrier to wind and sand for the reclining sunbather or beachgoer by means of a beach screen which will remain upright in even a substantial breeze.
Beachgoers may also desire a degree of privacy while sunbathing or otherwise reclining and this, too, may be difficult to obtain. Others in the immediate vicinity of the individual may annoy by kicking sand, and a physical barrier between the individual and her annoying neighbors can provide a degree of comfort. There is a need in the art to provide a portable beach screen which functions as a privacy screen for the beachgoer.
Other needs are a beach screen which provides a full body tanning device as well as a vehicle for advertising or other printed messages. These needs are fulfilled by a beach screen which can be manufactured quite inexpensively and thus is highly appropriate as a `give away` item for businesses located on or near the beach. Advertising slogans or other messages imprinted upon the screen will be highly visible to the beachgoing population. When one or both surfaces of the present beach screen are covered with a highly reflective material, the screen can be employed to reflect the sun's rays upon the sunbather.
A variety of devices intended to protect the beachgoer, and/or to provide a highly reflective surface for suntanning, are found in the prior art. None provide the simple and inexpensive construction and high versatility provided by the present beach screen, however.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,981,256 (Besnah; Apr. 25, 1961) discloses a protective and reflective device for use on the beach. The device is constructed from a plurality of individual panels interconnected by hinges. Thus, the cost to manufacture this device would be substantial.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,577 (Friedberg; Aug. 26, 1969) relates to a sun reflecting board adapted to be placed over the head of a sunbather. Although the patent illustrates that the board can be stood up on the sand, the board includes no provision to prevent it from falling over in a breeze. This device does not seem well suited as a screen for blocking wind and blowing sand.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,930,404 (Wagner; Oct. 10, 1933) discloses a privacy screen for beachgoers. Fabric panels are suspended from stakes driven into the sand. This device is not foldable and highly portable.


In a combined deceleration and acceleration device for the controlled closing and opening of, for example, furniture parts, a base part consisting of a cylinder and a guide structure is provided wherein a drag element is movably supported by the guide structure, and a piston with a piston rod is connected to the drag element which has a park position remote from the cylinder and is biased by an energy storage structure toward the cylinder for moving the piston into the cylinder in a controlled decelerating manner while carrying along the drag element and a movable part engaged with the drag element.

The invention resides in a combined deceleration and acceleration device with a drag element which is movable along a guide structure from a force- or form-locking park position to an opposite end position. The deceleration device comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic piston cylinder unit whose piston rod is connected to the drag element and the acceleration device comprises an energy storage structure which is connected to the drag element and is charged in the park position. Also, a guide system is provided which includes such a deceleration and acceleration device.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a combined deceleration and acceleration device and a guide structure including such a deceleration and acceleration device which comprises a relatively small number of parts and which can be easily and rapidly assembled.

Combined deceleration and acceleration device


A mounting structure for attaching a display panel (200) to a cover (100) of a display, comprising: a plurality of attaching portions (210) provided at a circumference of the display panel (200), each of the attaching portions including a screw hole penetrating thicknesswise of the display panel (200) and also including a guide wall formed on the surface of the display panel (200) facing the cover (100), the guide wall (230) surrounding the screw hole and extending thicknesswise of the display panel (200); and a plurality of bosses (300) vertically formed at the cover (100) and extending thicknesswise of the display panel (200), corresponding to a respective one of the attaching portions (210) for receiving screws, each of the bosses (300) integrally formed with at least two guide members (330, 340) that elastically contact the guide wall (230) and elastically deformed in a direction across an axis of the boss (300); wherein when the guide members (330, 340) of each of the bosses (300) come into elastic contact with the guide wall (230) of each of the attaching portions (210), a screw inserted through the screw hole of the attaching portion (210) is inserted into the respective boss (300).

For example, as disclosed in JP-A-2001-27752, in making a display with a liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display panel is attached to a cover of the display. A mounting structure of the liquid crystal display panel, disclosed in the above patent document, includes a plurality of attaching portions each having a screw hole provided at a circumference of the liquid crystal display panel, and also includes bosses, provided at the cover of the display, corresponding to the attaching portions. A tapping screw is inserted into the screw hole of the attaching portion and screwed into the boss.
In the above mounting structure, the inner diameter of the screw hole of the attaching portion is larger than the outer diameter of the tapping screw, for adjusting the position of the liquid crystal display panel relative to the cover, or for adjusting the position tolerance of the boss relative to the cover or the position tolerance of the attaching portion relative to the liquid crystal display panel. Thus, the position of the liquid crystal display panel relative to the cover is not constant. As a result, the liquid crystal display panel may be fixed in a manner such that the liquid crystal display panel is offset from the cover in the lateral direction or in the longitudinal direction, or in a manner such that the liquid crystal display panel is inclined relative to the cover, within the range of the gap between the screw hole of the attaching portion and the tapping screw inserted through the screw hole.
Further, in the structure disclosed in the above patent document, the cover, to which the liquid crystal display panel is attached, is positioned at the back side of the display panel, and to the back side cover, a front cover having a display window is attached. Due to this structure, in addition to the above-described positioning error, a positioning error between the back side cover and the front cover is generated, whereby the effective display area of the liquid crystal display panel may not be properly positioned relative to the display window of the front cover.


A surgical fastener for fastening layers of body tissue as in skin grafting procedures. The fastener comprises a backspan and at least two barbed prongs. The barbs are flat, triangular and are coplanar with respect to each other, as well as being in parallel alignment with the axis of the backspan. The surgical fastener is made of bioabsorbable material to eliminate the need for removal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fasteners, and particularly to surgical fasteners used to join body tissue.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fasteners have been used surgically to eliminate the need for suturing, which is both time consuming and inconvenient. In many applications the surgeon can use a stapler apparatus, i.e., a fastener implanting device loaded with surgical fasteners to accomplish in a few seconds what would have taken many minutes to perform by suturing. This reduces blood loss and trauma to the patient. The terms "fastener" and "staple" are used interchangeably herein.
Surgical fasteners have been in the form of ordinary metal staples, which are bent by the delivery apparatus to hook together body tissue. Also, two-part fasteners have been used, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,670 in which a barbed staple is used in conjunction with a retaining piece to hold the staple in place.
Typically, the two part staple comprises a back span and two barbed prongs which are engaged and locked into a separate retainer piece. In use, the staple is pressed into the body tissue so that the barbs penetrate the tissue and emerge from the other side where they are then locked into the retainer piece. The retainers prevent the staple from working loose from the tissue. The two piece fasteners cannot be unlocked and are not removable. For this reason, they must be made of a bioabsorbable material.
Korthoff, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,674, herein incorporated by reference, discloses a two part surgical fastener comprising a fastener member and a retainer member. The fastener member has a base, and a pair of prongs extending perpendicularly from the base. The prongs are spaced inward from the respective ends of the base in order to prevent splaying of the prongs, and to improve hemostasis.
The two piece fasteners require the staple delivery apparatus to have access to both sides of the tissue. Usually, such devices have a U-shaped member into which tissue is inserted. The stapler apparatus has a fastener holder and an anvil which are pivotally connected at one end, and mounted on the legs of the U-shaped support structure. See, for example, Green U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,445, which discloses a surgical fastener and means for applying same. In a surgical operation, the issue to be joined is positioned between the fastener holder and the anvil, which contains the fastener retainers. The fasteners are ejected from the holder into the tissue, and the prongs are locked into the retainers.
In some applications, however, it is not possible to have access to body tissue from two opposite directions. For example, in skin grafting applications one can only apply fasteners from a stapler positioned above the skin.
The prior art includes many examples of surgical staplers which do not enclose the body tissue between an anvil and fastener holder. For example, surgical staplers such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,851 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,086 approach the skin from one direction. However, they require the use of staples which are malleable enough to be crimped by an anvil so that the prongs hook into the tissue. Typically, such staples are made of metal and are not bioabsorbable. They must be removed by another device, such as a stapler extractor. Furthermore, such staples are useful for joining tissue layers laterally, as for example in closing wounds in skin or fascia, but are not optimum for laminarly fastening one layer of tissue onto another, as in skin grafting.
Hence there is a need for a surgical fastener which is capable of being delivered into the surface of body tissue from one direction, which can join layers of tissue both laterally and laminarly as required in skin grafting applications, and which is bioabsorbable to eliminate the need for a separate and painful removal operation.


Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microstructures in two-dimensional square and rectangular arrays utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.

As the development of nanoscale mechanical, electrical, chemical and biological devices and systems increases, new processes and materials are needed to fabricate nanoscale devices and components. Optical lithographic processing methods are not able to accommodate fabrication of structures and features at the nanometer level. The use of self-assembling diblock copolymers presents another route to patterning at nanometer dimensions. Diblock copolymer films spontaneously assembly into periodic structures by microphase separation of the constituent polymer blocks after annealing, for example by thermal annealing above the glass transition temperature of the polymer or by solvent annealing, forming ordered domains at nanometer-scale dimensions. Following self-assembly, one block of the copolymer can be selectively removed and the remaining patterned film used as an etch mask for patterning nanosized features into the underlying substrate. Since the domain sizes and periods (Lo) involved in this method are determined by the chain length of a block copolymer (MW), resolution can exceed other techniques such as conventional photolithography, while the cost of the technique is far less than electron beam (E-beam) lithography or EUV photolithography, which have comparable resolution.
The film morphology, including the size and shape of the microphase-separated domains, can be controlled by the molecular weight and volume fraction of the AB blocks of a diblock copolymer to produce lamellar, cylindrical, or spherical morphologies, among others. For example, for volume fractions at ratios greater than about 80:20 of the two blocks (AB) of a diblock polymer, a block copolymer film will microphase separate and self-assemble into a periodic spherical domains with spheres of polymer B surrounded by a matrix of polymer A. For ratios of the two blocks between about 60:40 and 80:20, the diblock copolymer assembles into a periodic hexagonal close-packed or honeycomb array of cylinders of polymer B within a matrix of polymer A. For ratios between about 50:50 and 60:40, lamellar domains or alternating stripes of the blocks are formed. Domain size typically ranges from 5-50 nm.
Periodic cylindrical structures have been grown in parallel and perpendicular orientations to substrates. A primary requirement for producing perpendicular cylinders by thermal annealing is that the substrate floor must be neutral wetting to the blocks of the copolymer. Periodic hexagonal close-packed cylinders can be useful as etch masks to make structures in an underlying substrate for applications such as magnetic storage devices. However, that layout is not useful for making structures such as DRAM capacitors, which require a rectangular- or square-shaped array layout.
Graphoepitaxy techniques using substrate topography have been used in an attempt to influence the orientation, ordering and registration of the microphase-separated domains. Although one-dimensional arrays have been formed in trenches, no efforts have been made to address ordering of the domains over a large area, or to control the location and orientation of ordered domains in two dimensions.
Although there is a single report of forming ordered sphere-forming block copolymer films by Cheng et al. (Nano Lett., 6 (9), 2099-2103 (2006)), these have been limited to one-dimensional ordered arrays with adjacent arrays not aligned, the cylinders being off-set along the y-axis in neighboring trenches.
It would be useful to provide methods of fabricating films of two-dimensional arrays of ordered nanostructures that overcome these problems.

Two-dimensional arrays of holes with sub-lithographic diameters formed by block copolymer self-assembly


The present invention discloses a condensing tube and a filtration module thereof. The condensing tube comprises a hollow body having a central hollow compartment; a porous covering layer having gas permeability but being liquid impermeable; and a condensation chamber, being a space formed between the hollow body and the porous covering layer wherein a plurality of fins are provided radially along the hollow body in the condensation chamber to divide the condensation chamber into a plurality of condensation compartments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a condensing tube and a filtration module thereof, and more particularly to condensing tube and a filtration module thereof for membrane distillation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Membrane distillation is a distillation process to separate a high-temperature liquid and a low-temperature liquid by a porous membrane which has gas permeability but being liquid impermeable. Generally, there are four basic configurations for membrane distillation (MD): direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD), air-gap membrane distillation (AGMD), sweeping-gas membrane distillation (SGMD), and vacuum membrane distillation (VMD). Among them, AGMD exhibits the highest thermal efficiency. AGMD has not only been applied for separation of non-volatile components from water like desalination as other MD configurations, but also been specifically suitable to separate some volatile substances which can not be removed in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD), e.g. alcohols from an aqueous solution. However, the air gap between the membrane and the condensation surface results in lower permeate flux of AGMD since its configuration presents a new resistance to heat and mass transfer. According WO patent 86/07585A, an AGMD distillation apparatus is disclosed where it indicates that the thickness of the air gap should be between 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm to increase flow rate and reduce heat loss.
In searching the reports on the theory and experiments of AGMD, although some design and manufacturing reports about various membranes having high permeation can be found, the availability of the industrial MD modules is up to now one of the limitations for MD process implementation, even for AGMD. Due to the fact that MD is a non-isothermal process, the design of the MD modules must not only provide good flow conditions, low pressure drop and high packing density but also guarantee a good heat recovery function and thermal stability. Among various module configurations, a flat-sheet membrane in plate and frame modules (Liu, G. L.; Zhu, C.; Cheng, C. S.; Leung, C. W., Theoretical and experimental studies on air gap membrane distillation. Heat Mass Transf. 1998. 34, 329) shows the highest permeate flux, but the specific surface area of the membrane per module is the lowest. On the other hand, a hollow fiber module (Cheng, L. H.; Wu, P.-C.; Chen, J. Numerical simulation and optimal design of AGMD-based hollow fiber modules for desalination. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2009, 48, 4948) has the highest packing density, but the pressure drop along the fiber is the biggest because of the high ratio of fiber length to the fiber diameter.
Therefore, a membrane distillation module or system having high enough permeate flux to reach the application needs is very important for industries.

Condensing tube and filtration module thereof


A method of measuring the position and orientation of an object is disclosed in conjunction with an apparatus to achieve this method. The method and apparatus reduce the metal effects caused by metal objects which are in close proximity to a magnetic field generator. The metal effects are reduced by utilizing a magnetic field generator which creates a rotating magnetic field vector and then measuring the time required for that magnetic field vector to travel between a known reference point and the sensor whose position is being measured. By keeping the frequency of the rotating magnetic field vector constant and measuring the time required for this magnetic field vector to travel the previously mentioned distance, an angle between a reference axis and a vector directed toward the sensor can be determined. Once appropriate angles are measured, calculations can be undergone to determine the position of the sensor. Furthermore, by utilizing a plurality of sensors the orientation of the sensors with respect to one another can be determined.

Determining the position and orientation of objects in free space has many applications. Specific applications include targeting systems used in conjunction with various aircraft, computer peripherals which utilize the position sensing apparatus to position a cursor, and many other pointing applications. Generally, either a single sensor or a plurality of sensors are attached to a device such as a helmet and the position of those sensors is determined relative to known reference points. In an aircraft targeting application, a plurality of sensors are placed in a pilot's helmet and the position of those sensors is determined. Knowing the position of the plurality of sensors, the orientation of the pilot's helmet can be calculated in relation to a reference axis of the aircraft. The orientation of the pilot's helmet can then be used to direct certain devices in the same general direction as the pilot's line of sight.
One prior approach to determining the position and orientation of an object is to utilize magnetic transmitters and receivers. Typically, a magnetic signal is transmitted of a known value from a known reference point. Receivers, or sensors, placed in free space sense the magnetic signal and the position of the receiver is calculated based on the magnitude and direction of the sensed magnetic field signal. The receivers used in this type of application are three axis magnetic sensors which can detect three orthogonal components of a magnetic field.
When these magnetic transmitters and sensors are utilized in an aircraft cockpit, adjustments must be made to account for the large amounts of metal in the area. The presence of a metal object in close proximity to the magnetic transmitter can seriously alter the strength and uniformity of a magnetic field. Since large amounts of metals exist on an aircraft, eddy currents in the metal produce magnetic fields which distort any transmitted magnetic fields at all points in the cockpit. Due to these eddy currents, signals received by the sensor are not true indications of position. These metal effects produce serious errors when trying to determine the position and orientation of sensors within a cockpit.
One solution to the problem of metal effects has been to map the area involved. More specifically, measurements are made in the cockpit wherein a known signal is generated and the sensor is positioned at a known position, resulting in a sensor signal. This sensor signal is then stored and the characteristics of the magnetic field within the entire cockpit are thus determined. Once the magnetic field characteristics are determined, the errors due to metal effects can thus be accounted for.
Another solution to the problem of metal effects is to utilize optical signals rather than magnetic signals. In this application an optical signal is generated from a known point within the cockpit and an optical sensor receives the optical signal. Several disadvantages are inherent in the use of optical signals. One disadvantage is the necessity to have a free path between the sensor and transmitter. Any object placed between the transmitter and the receiver will render the device inoperable and ineffective. Furthermore, the receivers will have a limited field of operation. For example, when an optical signal is placed directly behind the pilot's head and the optical sensor is placed directly on the back of the pilot's helmet, should the pilot turn his head too far the optical signal will not be received. Thus, there is a need for multiple optical sensors and multiple optical signal sources.

Method and device for measuring the position and orientation of objects in the presence of interfering metals


A method and apparatus for reconfiguring a user equipment configured for multi-carrier operation from a first downlink control information set to a second downlink control information set while carrier aggregation is being used, including receiving a physical downlink control channel with downlink control information formats containing a carrier indicator field.

As used herein, the terms "user equipment" ("UE"), "mobile station" ("MS"), and "user agent" ("UA") might in some cases refer to mobile devices such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, handheld or laptop computers, and similar devices that have telecommunications capabilities. The terms "MS," "UE," "UA," user device," and "user node" may be used synonymously herein. A UE might include components that allow the UE to communicate with other devices, and might also include one or more associated removable memory modules, such as but not limited to a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) that includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) application, a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) application, or a Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM) application. Alternatively, such a UE might consist of the device itself without such a module. In other cases, the term "UE" might refer to devices that have similar capabilities but that are not transportable, such as desktop computers, set-top boxes, or network appliances. The term "UE" can also refer to any hardware or software component that can terminate a communication session for a user.
As telecommunications technology has evolved, more advanced network access equipment has been introduced that can provide services that were not possible previously. This network access equipment might include systems and devices that are improvements of the equivalent equipment in a traditional wireless telecommunications system. Such advanced or next generation equipment may be included in evolving wireless communications standards, such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A). For example, an LTE or LTE-A system might be an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) and include an E-UTRAN node B (or eNB), a wireless access point, a relay node, or a similar component rather than a traditional base station. As used herein, the term "access node" refers to any component of the wireless network, such as a traditional base station, a wireless access point, relay node, or an LTE or LTE-A node B or eNB, that creates a geographical area of reception and transmission coverage allowing a UE or a relay node to access other components in a telecommunications system. In this document, the term "access node" and "access device" may be used interchangeably, but it is understood that an access node may comprise a plurality of hardware and software.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Downlink control information set switching when using carrier aggregation


A single crystal is grown in a float zone which is inductively heated and the crystallizing single crystal is rotated in a direction of rotation which is periodically reversed at intervals in accordance with an alternating plan, wherein a dwell time during which the single crystal is in a state of rest because of the reversal of the direction of rotation is limited to no more than 60 ms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a method for growing a single crystal by crystallizing the single crystal from a float zone, the float zone being inductively heated and the crystallizing single crystal being rotated in a direction of rotation and the direction of rotation being reversed at intervals in accordance with an alternating plan which severely limits the period of the state of rest between alternating rotations.
2. Description of the Related Art
The invention pertains to the zone melting method or float zone method, or "FZ" method for short. It is often used for producing single crystals from silicon, which in turn are processed further into semiconductor wafers, from which electronic components are produced. Carried out in the classic way, a polycrystalline feed rod is melted at the lower end and a monocrystalline seed crystal is held against the melt and slowly lowered. In the further course of the method, molten material crystallizes on the seed crystal to form a single crystal. The seed crystal and the single crystal are located on a shaft, which is in connection with a drive which allows for the rotation, lifting, and lowering of the shaft. The volume of the melt is increased by further melting and lowering of the polycrystalline feed rod to form a float zone, which extends between the feed rod and the single crystal crystallizing on the seed crystal. The float zone provides the material necessary for the crystallization of the single crystal. Continued melting of the polycrystalline feed rod causes the single crystal to grow until the feed is exhausted.
It is not necessary to use a feed rod as a feed. Instead of a feed rod, fragments or granules may also form the feed. The feed does not necessarily have to be polycrystalline, either. US 2005/0188918 A1 and US 2009/0223949 A1 describe methods in which granules are used as the feed.
It is of advantage to rotate the crystallizing single crystal and to reverse the direction of rotation at intervals in accordance with an alternating plan. This measure, referred to as alternating rotation, brings about a more uniform distribution of dopants in the single crystal and promotes the growth of the single crystal in the desired cylindrical form. US 2003/0024468 A1 describes an alternating rotation that is carried out on the basis of a specific alternating plan.
The float zone is inductively heated and stabilized. For this purpose, an induction heating coil is arranged between the feed and the crystallizing single crystal. The induction heating coil is usually an almost annular flat coil with one turn, and the float zone extends through a central hole in the induction heating coil.
The region of the gap of the induction heating coil where the ends of the turn approach each other and the current supply is located, is critical, because the electromagnetic field generated by the induction heating coil is much stronger there than in the other regions of the induction heating coil. This fact can put at risk the undisturbed progress of the crystallization of the single crystal. In DE 2538831 it is proposed to allow the ends of the turn to overlap in order to reduce the field strength. According to DE 10 2011 122 381 A1, a problem in the crystallization of a conical portion of the single crystal that is caused by the lack of uniformity of the induction heating coil can be avoided by the alternating plan for the alternating rotation providing that the amount of rotation in one direction of rotation is not less than one revolution.

Method for growing a single crystal by crystallizing the single crystal from a float zone


A digital decision feedback equalizer is disclosed in which compensation for the post-cursors of the impulse response of the transmission channel is divided up into two regions. A first region encompasses the initial rapidly changing unpredictable transient response, possibly oscillatory, of the transmission channel. A fast acting, close-tracking linear filter is used to compensate for this largely unpredictable initial transient. The second region of the impulse response is the slowly changing, easily predictable asymptotic tail of the impulse response. This second region can be compensated for by a relatively slow acting, simple pole-zero filter. Together, the two equalizer sections provide an overall equalizer design far less complicated and less expensive than an equalizer based on a single linear compensating filter. A finite impulse response (FIR) filter is used to compensate for the unpredictable, rapidly changing initial transient portion of the impulse response, while an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter is used to compensate for the slower acting tail portion of the impulse response.

As digital data services proliferate, the need for data channels to carry these services into homes and businesses likewise increases. It has become common to install special wideband transmission facilities in those places where such wideband digital services are desired. These special transmission facilities are expensive, require continuous maintenance, often in the outside plant portion of the facility, and require expensive terminal equipment. It would be of considerable economic benefit if the twisted-pair telephone wires currently extending to virtually all of the homes and businesses in the country were able to carry such wideband digital services.
It has long been known that noisy transmission channels of restricted bandwidth can be used to carry wideband digital signals with reasonable fidelity by the use of channel equalizers, i.e., circuits which compensate for the signal deterioration which takes place during transmission. This signal distortion can be represented by the impulse response of the transmission channel. The sampled impulse response includes a positive maxima which is the preferred signal sample and is called the cursor sample. The impulse response can thus be divided into a first region preceding the cursor sample, into which all pre-cursor samples fall, and a second region following the cursor sample, into which all post-cursor samples fall. Pre-cursor samples can be compensated for by means of an in-line filter in the received signal path. Post-cursor samples, however, are not so readily compensated for, particularly if such post-cursor samples are prolonged over a very large number of pulse periods.
Digital equalizers for compensating for post-cursor samples have often taken the form of adaptive digital decision feedback equalizers (DFEs) using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter in the feedback path. Such DFEs sample the received signal at regular pulse intervals, delay each sample, operate on each delayed sample to produce a compensation sample, and subtract the compensation sample from the incoming post-cursor pulse sample to substantially remove such post-cursor samples. For wideband digital signals, the impulse response of the channel extends over very many pulse intervals, requiring post-cursor compensation for that number of pulse intervals. This is typically accomplished by providing a plurality of compensating samples, using a tapped delay line. For very wideband signals, the number of taps on the delay line becomes so great that construction of the equalizer may not be economically feasible. For a 800 Kbs digital signal transmitted over a conventional twisted telephone pair, for example, the impulse response could very well extend over more than a hundred pulse intervals. In order to compensate for the distortions in such a channel, the FIR filter in the feedback path would have an exorbitantly high number of delay line taps and hence might not be economically feasible for many applications.

Wideband digital equalizers for subscriber loops


An accessory facilitating interaction with a projected image at least partially sourced by the image generation device. The accessory receives an input image from a device, and projects at least a derived image of the input image onto a surface on which the accessory sits. For instance, the accessory might project the input image itself, or perhaps some post-processed version of the input image. A camera system captures data representing user interaction with the projected image. Based on this data, an image input event is detected, and then communicated to the device. For instance, if the image generation device were a touch-sensitive device, the device may respond to the user contacting the projected image the same as it would if the user touched the image generation device at the same corresponding location. Embodiments described herein also relate color compensation of a displayed image.

There are a variety of conventional displays that offer an interactive experience supported by a computing system. Computer displays, for example, display images, which often have visualizations of controls embedded within the image. The user may provide user input by interacting with these controls using a keyboard, mouse, controller, or another input device. The computing system receives that input, and in some cases affects the state of the computing system, and further in some cases, affects what is displayed.
In some cases, the computer display itself acts as an input device using touch or proximity sensing on the display. Such will be referred to herein as "touch" displays. There are even now touch displays that can receive user input from multiple touches simultaneously. When the user touches the display, that event is fed to the computing system, which processes the event, and makes any appropriate change in computing system state and potentially the displayed state. Such displays have become popular as they give the user intuitive control over the computing system at literally the touch of the finger.
For instance, touch displays are often mechanically incorporated into mobile devices such as a tablet device or smartphone, which essentially operate as a miniature computing system. That way, the footprint dedicated for input on the mobile device may be smaller, and even perhaps absent altogether, while still allowing the user to provide input. As such, mobile devices are preferably small and the display area is often also quite small.


The weft winder for a weaving machine has (a) a non-magnetic, hollow-cylindrical outer frame member having an inner conical surface at one end thereof; (b) a rotor disposed rotatably and concentrically with the outer frame member, which is only rotatable; (c) a non-magnetic, inner frame member rotatably supported by the rotor and having an outer conical surface facing the inner conical surface of the outer frame member via a gap therebetween; (d) a pipe projecting from an outer end of the rotor and extending in the gap for guiding a weft; and (e) a plurality of magnet members each constituted by a plate-shaped magnet and a yoke and fixed to the inner conical surface and the outer conical surface, respectively, such that N poles and S poles of the magnets are circumferentially arranged alternately and that different magnetic poles of the magnet members are opposing each other via the gap. The magnet in each magnet member is magnetized in a thickness direction such that a magnetic pole on a front surface facing the gap has a larger magnetic flux density than that of a magnetic pole on a rear surface.

The present invention relates to an improved weft winder of a weaving machine for winding and supplying a weft to warp in the weaving process.
The weft winder for a weaving machine generally has a structure as shown in FIG. 6. The weft winder comprises an outer frame member 1 constituted by a hollow cylinder made of aluminum alloys, etc. and having an inner conical surface 2 at one end, a rotor 3 having a pipe 4 projecting from one end thereof for guiding a weft 5 and disposed in the outer frame member 1 such that it is concentrically rotatable, and an inner frame member 6 made of aluminum alloys etc. and rotatably supported by the rotor 3 via bearings 7 concentrically with the rotor 3. The inner frame member 6 is provided at a free end (inner end) thereof with an outer conical surface 8 facing the inner conical surface 2 of the outer frame member 1 via a gap G therebetween, and the pipe 4 of the rotor 3 extends through the gap G. The inner frame member 6 has a weft-winding portion 9 for winding the weft 5 supplied from the pipe 4 at the outer end.
FIG. 7 shows the details of a portion A in FIG. 6. In FIG. 7, the same members are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 6. The inner conical surface 2 of the outer frame member 1 and the outer conical surface 8 of the inner frame member 6 are each provided with a plurality of magnet members 10 each constituted by a plate-shaped magnet 10a a and a yoke 10b. Each magnet 10a is magnetized in a thickness direction, and a plurality of magnets 10a are arranged in a circumferential direction such that N poles and S poles are arranged alternately. Also, the magnets 10a on the inner conical surface 2 and the magnets 10a on the outer conical surface 8 are opposite each other with their different magnetic poles facing each other. Incidentally, the plate-shaped magnet 10a is preferably in the shape of a disc, and the yoke 10b is preferably constituted by an iron plate formed substantially in the shape of a bowl. The magnet 10a is fixed to the yoke 10b, which is in turn fixed to each of recesses formed in the inner conical surface 2 and the outer conical surface 8 via a bolt 11.
With the above construction, the rotor 3 can be rotated with a gap G between the inner conical surface 2 of the outer frame member 1 and the outer conical surface 8 of the inner frame member 6 kept constant due to a magnetic attraction of the magnet members 10, 10. Thus, the weft 5 guided through the pipe 4 can be wound around the weft-winding portion 9 of the inner frame member 6.
In the weft winder for a weaving machine having the above construction, however, there should be a large number of magnet members 10 in order to keep the inner frame member 6 stationary relative to the outer frame member 1 with a gap G between the inner conical surface 2 and the outer conical surface 8 kept at a constant distance. For instance, with the magnet members 10 each having a diameter of 21 mm, 24 magnet members are arranged. This leads to a close distance between the adjacent magnet members 10, 10 on the inner conical surface 2 and the outer conical surface 8, making it likely to have a short circuit of magnetic flux between the adjacent magnet members 10, 10. This in turn leads to the reduction of a magnetic attraction between the opposing magnet members 10 and 10.
For the purpose of increasing a magnetic attraction, it may be considered to reduce the gap G between the inner conical surface 2 and the outer conical surface 8. However, this is impossible because the pipe 4 usually rotating at a high speed of 2,000-2,500 rpm is vibrated to some extent. On the other hand, since part of the yoke 10b extends outside the magnet 10a, a short-circuiting of the magnetic flux would also take place in the extended yoke portions. Therefore, a large number of strong magnet 10a should be used, which would lead to a large weight and high cost of the weft winder.
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-142887 discloses a weft winder for a fluid jet-type weaving machine which comprises magnets contained in magnetic capsules which are fixed to inner surfaces of U-shaped magnetic yokes in order to maximize the magnetic attraction of magnets. However, this magnet members has a complicated structure and is not necessarily sufficient in terms of magnetic attraction between the opposing magnet members.
To solve the above problem, an improved weft winder for a weaving machine was previously proposed by Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-87183. This weft winder has a structure in which each magnet is lined with a yoke such as an iron plate and fixed to each of the inner conical surface of the outer frame member and the outer conical surface of the inner frame member by bolts. By this structure, this weft winder shows sufficient magnetic attraction between the opposing magnet members with smaller numbers of magnet members than those of the conventional ones. However, further improvement is desired to meet increasingly higher demands of performance and cost.

Weft winder for weaving machine having magnets with different surface flux density


When vehicle speed V decreases to or below a preset reference vehicle speed Vref during output of regenerative braking force from a motor in response to the driver's depression of a brake pedal, the vehicle of the invention performs a replacement pre-operation (steps S190 to S220 and S160) and a replacement operation (steps S240 to S280 and S160) and controls the motor and an electronically controlled hydraulic braking system to satisfy a braking force demand BF*. The replacement pre-operation actuates and controls pumps included in a brake actuator of the electronically controlled hydraulic braking system to exert their proper pressurization performance. The replacement operation decreases the regenerative braking force output from the motor and enhances a pressure increase by the pumps to replace the regenerative braking force with a pressure increase-based braking force BFpp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle and a control method of the vehicle. More specifically the invention pertains to a vehicle equipped with a motor that is capable of outputting regenerative braking force, as well as to a corresponding control method of such a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In one proposed structure of an electric vehicle, an electric motor in an electric driving system is used to rotate drive wheels both in a normal direction and in a reverse direction. When the vehicle speed exceeds a preset reference vehicle speed at the timing of the driver's depression of a brake pedal, the electric vehicle of this structure performs regenerative braking control (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. H06-284510). There is a vehicle equipped with an engine and a motor generator for regenerative braking. The vehicle stops the regenerative braking by the motor when the vehicle speed decreases to or below a preset threshold value. The vehicle changes the threshold value for stopping the regenerative braking according to the engine drive mode (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 2002-95106).
One proposed braking system for an electric vehicle equipped with a motor controls the motor to give a regenerative braking force, which is equal to a difference between an operational braking force computed from the driver's depression amount of a brake pedal and a mechanical braking force computed from a wheel cylinder pressure (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. H08-98315). One proposed structure of a vehicle includes both an engine and a motor generator for regenerative braking. This vehicle stops the regenerative braking at a vehicle speed decreasing to or below a preset reference vehicle speed and changes a threshold value for stopping the regenerative braking according to the drive mode of the engine (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 2002-095106). Another proposed structure of a vehicle has a drive motor to output a regenerative torque to drive wheels, and a hydraulic braking system to give a braking force to front and rear wheels corresponding to the hydraulic pressure generated by the driver's pressing force of a brake pedal. Upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition, this vehicle reduces the hydraulic pressure applied to the drive wheels by the hydraulic braking system and increases the regenerative torque produced by the drive motor corresponding to the decreased hydraulic pressure (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 2005-145147).


An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor body of a first conductivity type. The semiconductor body includes a first semiconductor zone of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. The first semiconductor zone extends to a surface of the semiconductor body. A second semiconductor zone of the first conductivity type is embedded in the first semiconductor zone and extends as far as the surface. A third semiconductor zone of the second conductivity type at least partly projects from the first semiconductor zone along a lateral direction running parallel to the surface. A contact structure provides an electrical contact with the first and second semiconductor zones at the surface. The second semiconductor zone is arranged, along the lateral direction, between the part of the third semiconductor zone which projects from the first semiconductor zone and a part of the contact structure in contact with the first semiconductor zone.

ESD structures serve to protect electronic circuit blocks against electrostatic discharge pulses or further current pulses which can occur, for instance, during the production of the integrated circuit or during the operation thereof. Examples of such pulses are HBM (HBM: Human Body Model) pulses in accordance with DIN IEC 60749-26, MM (MM: Machine Model) pulses in accordance with DIN IEC 60749-27, CDM (CDM: Charged Device Model) pulses in accordance with DIN IEC 60749-28. Without ESD structures there is the threat of destruction of useful components of the circuit blocks to be protected, e.g. by current or voltage overloading, which can lead for example to short circuits, an increase in leakage currents or else to defective gate oxides. This can lead to the loss of the functionality of the integrated circuit.
ESD structures typically comprise protection elements such as e.g. NPN or PNP bipolar transistors designed therefor, parasitic NPN or PNP bipolar transistors, SCRs (Silicon Controlled Rectifiers) or thyristors. The expression parasitic bipolar transistor is used herein for a sequence of NPN or PNP regions of arbitrary useful components whose NPN or PNP regions can act as a bipolar transistor.
ESD structures typically have breakdown voltages which lie above the maximum operating voltage of the pin to be protected and below the destruction voltage of the useful components connected to said pin. Typically, in the range of these two voltages in the case of an electrostatic discharge process the ESD structure begins to carry away discharge current. In this case, it is desirable for the breakdown voltage of the ESD structure to have a smallest possible separating interval from the maximum operating voltage at the pin to be protected, in order to have available a largest possible voltage window up to the destruction voltage of the useful components for the operation of the ESD structure. Limits are imposed on the minimization of said separating interval for instance by process fluctuations of the breakdown voltage and the temperature dependence of the breakdown voltage.


A filtration unit for purifying or treating fluid that includes one or more membrane units having a permeate section. The permeate section of the membrane units is fed fluid that passes through a sealing insert having a fluid inlet and a passage that discharges in fluid communication with the permeate section. The sealing insert is arranged in a support frame of the membrane unit to form a fluid channel for delivering fluid through the insert and along an outer perimeter surface that maintains performance of the membrane unit during operation.

Filtration units are used to filter a liquid, such as water, by typically submerging the filtration unit in the liquid. Vacuum is often used to force or pull liquid through membranes in the filtration unit to produce a filtered permeate. In order for the filtration unit to operate efficiently, the components need to be adequately sealed. Some existing filtration units include components that are permanently connected, for example glued or welded, to seal the components, which creates a single-piece component or filtration unit. In the event that one of the components fails or is damaged, the entire sealed unit often needs replaced at a significant cost. Therefore, there is an unmet need for an affordable sealed filtration unit that contains separate components that can be individually replaced as needed to control cost.
Additionally, filtration units can collect debris or scale during operation. To combat fouling, the filtration units can include a scouring component, such as an air scour, to reduce or prevent membranes from fouling and becoming blocked. Some existing air scour systems fail to evenly scour all the membrane surfaces or require additional components in order to do so. Scour systems also can dislodge debris that can collect in permeate feed conduits and clog or reduce flow to the filtration unit. Such flow disruptions can result in undesirable pressure drop and performance in the filter. Therefore, there is also an unmet need for an adequate air scour unit that evenly scours all membranes surfaces in a filtration unit that can ensure continuous flow to the permeate section.


Vehicle data detected in a vehicle 10 is transmitted to an information center 12 so as to detect a fault. When detecting generation of the fault, the information center 12 instructs the vehicle to perform a fault identification process. Identification of the fault location is performed while using mutual communication. When the detected fault is one that requires a recovery countermeasure, the information center 12 instructs the vehicle to perform a recovery process. The recovery process is performed while using mutual data communication so as to eliminate the influence of the fault.

A known conventional system disclosed, for instance, by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-73153 diagnoses a vehicle condition within the vehicle and, if it is anticipated that a fault may occur, transmits relevant information to a servicing institution via a communication device. Before the vehicle becomes unable to run on a road, the conventional system makes it possible to avoid an inconvenience, which may arise out of a vehicle fault, by prompting an user to take emergency countermeasures or to bring the vehicle into a servicing institution.
However, the above conventional system finishes a vehicle fault diagnosis within a vehicle, and communicates with an external institution only when it transmits fault diagnosis results. As such being the case, the above conventional system needs to store the whole information necessary for fault diagnostic processing within the vehicle.
Further, if a fault occurs to affect the vehicle's run, the above conventional system supplies information to an external institution even if the severity of the fault is low. When the intended purpose is to prevent the vehicle from becoming disabled, the vehicle does not always have to transmit the information to an external if the severity of the fault is low and does not immediately disable the vehicle. In this respect, the above conventional system unnecessarily increases the load on a vehicle's information process.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle fault diagnostic system that is capable of taking early countermeasures against a vehicle fault and reduces information processing load on the vehicle by establishing communication between the vehicle and an external institution.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-202003 discloses a system that chronologically stores information regarding to learning values which are outside a specified range, evaluates the stored information, and notifies the user of a fault that is about to occur. The above document also discloses a technology for transmitting relevant data to a vehicle dealer to prompt for early response.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-250248 discloses a system that exercises recovery control to inhibit the abnormality from spreading or expanding not only reports the abnormality when any abnormality is diagnosed.


The present invention is to provide a kind of first-aid gas mask, which uses an air filter to filtrates toxic gas and to further let the well filtrated gas be delivered to the transparent cover around the mouse and nose of the user for inhalation, which transparent cover is having an elastic band made on the bottom opening for fastening, through which bottom opening the exhalation is exhausted. This invention is easy to operate and practical for use in first-aid and, more particularly for use in emergent case during fire or pit disaster so as to help the user to escape with one's life.

The present invention is to provide a kind of fist-aid gas mask which is comprised of a transparent cover and an air filter. During dire or any other emergent condition, the transparent cover is put on one's head to let the air filter filtrate toxic gas so as to help one escape with one's life.
In daily news, disaster is constantly reported everywhere in the world. It is more terrible to encounter fire or pit accident. According to reports, many victims of disasters were choked to lose consciousness by carbon-oxide or toxic gas on the scene and come to a band end.
The main object of the present invention is to help people keeping to respire normally so as to escape with one's life from the scene of a disaster.
The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the annexed drawings as hereunder.


An apparatus includes a first word line, a second word line and a control. The second word line is contiguous to the first word line. The control circuit includes a first defective address storing circuit and a first detection circuit. The first defective address storing circuit stores first enable information along with first defective address. The first enable information indicates whether or not the second word line is functional. The first detection circuit provides a first signal when the first word line is accessed. The first signal indicates whether or not the second word line is functional. The control circuit activates the second word line when the first signal indicates that the second word line is functional and does not activate the second word line when the first signal indicates that the second word line is not functional.

Since a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), which is a typical semiconductor memory device, stores information by the electric charge accumulated in a cell capacitor, the information is lost unless a refresh operation is periodically carried out. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-258259 discloses that a control device, which controls the DRAM, periodically issues a refresh command, which orders the refresh operation, to the DRAM. The refresh command is issued from the control device at a frequency that all word lines are certainly refreshed once in the period of one refresh cycle (for example, 64 msec).
However, depending on the history of access to memory cells, the information retention time of predetermined memory cells are reduced in some cases. Then, when the information retention time of the predetermined memory cells is reduced to less than the one refresh cycle, there has been a risk that part of the information may be lost even if the refresh command is issued at the frequency that all the word lines are refreshed once in the period of one refresh cycle.
In order to solve such a problem, recently, a technique which restores the electric charge with respect to the information-retention-time-reduced memory cells by utilizing the history of access to the memory cells has been studied. This technique is called target-row refresh.
Herein, in a case in which a defective word line is replaced by a redundant word line, erroneous operations may occur unless the target-row refresh operation is carried out in consideration of that. This is for a reason that actually-used (functional) redundant word lines and unused (non-functional) redundant word lines are mixed in the redundant word lines. More specifically, when the unused redundant word line is selected in a target-row refresh operation, for example, if micro short-circuit is present at the unused redundant word line or the memory cells connected thereto, there has been a risk that other data may be broken.

Apparatuses and methods for controlling refresh operations


Apparatus for aspirating liquid from a container, e.g., a test tube, having a puncturable stopper includes a pair of stepper motors that share a common linear actuator or drive member. One motor operates to axially advance the linear drive member (preferably a lead screw) to a position in which it serves to position a rigidly connected tube-detector/stripper member in engagement with the top of a stopper on a tube. Thereafter, the second motor operates to move along the surface of the same drive member to advance an aspiration probe through the engaged stopper and into a liquid aspirating position within the tube. Preferably, a linear guide rail, slidably-mounted on a frame that supports the liquid-aspirating apparatus, serves to guide both the movement of the aspiration probe and the linear drive member. As a result of the shared components, the apparatus is highly precise and reliable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for aspirating liquids, such as biological specimens, from containers for processing. The invention is particularly useful in automated hematology instruments for extracting blood samples from sealed test tubes and the like for analysis.
2. The Prior Art
In conducting tests on biological liquids, it is common to employ automated instruments to extract liquid specimens from sealed containers, e.g., test tubes and the like. Such instruments typically include a movably-mounted sample aspiration probe that is adapted to puncture a rubber stopper atop a stationary specimen container to access and aspirate the liquid therein. These instruments often include a mechanism for sensing the presence of a specimen container at a desired specimen-aspiration position before the probe is moved in a direction to expose the probe tip, and most instruments include a device for stripping the rubber stopper from the aspirating probe as the probe is withdrawn from the container to prevent the stopper (and the container to which it is sealed) from following the movement of the probe due to frictional forces between the probe and stopper.
An automated instrument of the above type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,867 to Ely et al. The disclosed apparatus is adapted to move a liquid-aspiration probe along a vertical axis into and out of a stoppered test tube containing a liquid of interest. The aspiration probe is supported in a vertical orientation above the test tube by a rigid, horizontally-extending arm that forms part of a frame. Such arm is raised and lowered by lead screw that is incrementally rotated by a motor. As the lead screw rotates in a first direction, the probe-supporting arm is lowered to a position in which the tip of the aspiration probe punctures a rubber stopper that seals the liquid to be aspirated within the tube. Further rotation of the lead screw in the same direction serves to position the probe tip in an aspiration position below the liquid level in the tube. Following liquid aspiration, the stepper motor operates to rotate the lead screw in the reverse direction, thereby raising the probe-supporting arm to a position in which the probe tip clears the top of the tube. To strip the rubber stopper from the aspiration probe during withdrawal of the probe from the tube, a downward force is applied to the stopper during upward movement of the probe. Such force is provided by a relatively massive second arm that extends horizontally, i.e., parallel to the probe-supporting first arm, and hangs downwardly from the first arm in a positioned intermediate the bottom of the first arm and the top of the test tube. The bottom surface of the second arm supports a "foot" that serves, during the downward movement of the first arm, to both guide the vertical travel of the aspiration probe, and to detect and position the underlying test tube so that the center of the rubber stopper is aligned with the path of the probe tip.
In liquid aspirating instruments of the above type wherein the tip of an aspiration probe is used to puncture a rubber stopper that seals the liquid in the container, the friction between the external surface of the probe and the rubber stopper can easily exceed 10-12 pounds. Considering that there can be additional frictional forces at work in guiding the downward movement of a weighted plate used to apply a stripping force to the tube stopper in instruments of the above-described type, the required weight of such plate may be as much as 18-20 pounds to assure that the stripper mechanism operates reliably. Thus, it will be appreciated that this approach is disadvantageous if only from the standpoint that it adds considerable weight to the instrument.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,523 to McCandless, another automated apparatus is disclosed for accessing a liquid in a sealed container. This apparatus addresses the stripping problem noted above and provides several different solutions. First, to reduce the frictional force between the rubber seal on the container and a penetrating aspiration probe, an independent cap-piercing member is provided for cutting a slit in the cap (stopper) of a container (a test tube) before the aspiration probe enters the tube through the stopper. The slit, of course, facilitates movement of the probe through the stopper by reducing the frictional forces between the two. Further, means are provided for lubricating the cap-piercing member before it slices through the cap, and a residue of lubricant on the stopper will further reduce the stripping force required to separate the aspiration probe from the probe following aspiration. Finally, a "foot" which presses on the stopper during aspiration is mechanically locked in place by a solenoid-operated latch that operates during the liquid-aspiration and probe removal procedures. Thus, the use of a weighted foot, as taught by the above reference, is obviated through the combination of these relatively extreme features. While the aspirating apparatus of McCandless et al. does, indeed, facilitate the stripping function, it does so at the cost of a relatively complex mechanism. Further, the apparatus may be viewed as problematic in that it requires repositioning of the entire liquid aspiration apparatus after cap-piercing has been effected to align the aspiration probe with the container axis, and it further requires substantially perfect parallel alignment between two independently movable shafts, i.e., the aspiration probe and the cap-piercing member. The latter can be particularly problematic since any binding friction caused by the misalignment between the two shafts can produce a malfunction of the apparatus.

Apparatus for aspirating liquids from sealed containers


A seismic coupler includes two coupling members each having an end receptacle for securing to a reinforcing bar of a column of reinforced concrete; and a flexible assembly comprising a cylindrical core formed of alloy, a plurality of steel first rings put on the core, a plurality of flexible second rings put on the core in an alternating fashion with respect to the first rings, a flexible sleeve put on the first and second rings to have both ends being flush with that of the core, two cup-shaped cap members engaged each other to conceal the core, the first and second rings, and the sleeve, and two sets of a plurality of fasteners driven through the coupling members and the cup-shaped cap members into the first rings.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to earthquake engineering and more particularly to a seismic coupler for securing to a reinforcing bar of a column or beam of reinforced concrete with improved seismic performance.
2. Description of Related Art
For enhancing a building's seismic performance, a great variety of structural elements are developed. For example, typical damping mechanical couplers are installed in columns of a building. However, ability of withstanding heavy vertical load of the typical damping mechanical couplers is poor due to low tenacity.
Also, typical plastic mechanical couplers are installed in beams of a building for decreasing lateral displacement in the event of earthquake. However, ability of dispersing the shear wave energy between a wide range of frequencies of the typical plastic mechanical couplers is poor due to low plasticity.
Thus, the need of for enhancing the tenacity of columns and plasticity of beams of a building structure so as to survive an earthquake still exists.


A ferris wheel type container positioning mechanism having a ferris wheel arrangement carrying three carriages equally spaced thereon. The three carriages are pivotably attached between a pair of rotatably driven wheels and traverse a circular path during a first portion of its total path and traverse a linear path when being displaced adjacent to the floor. Rollers are provided on the bottom of the carriages to facilitate their linear displacements. The container platforms of the carriages may include a turn table and/or a tilt top to provide the best ergonomic positioning of the container for access by the worker.

The maintenance of a continuous supply of parts or materials at a part fabrication or production line operator station has always been a problem in manufacturing facilities. Normally, the parts or materials are presented to the operator station on a pallet or in pallet mounted containers. When a pallet or container becomes empty, it has to be replaced with a fully loaded pallet or container. This has resulted in excessive time losses while the empty pallet or container is removed and replaced with a full one.
Various types of ferris wheel mechanisms have been developed over the years for providing access to various articles, parts or materials. Wilson, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,105, discloses a planetary parking structure for automotive vehicles. The parking structure is in the form of a ferris wheel having a plurality of platforms, each holding a vehicle. A planetary gear system maintains the platforms parallel to ground surface. Solski et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,759, teaches a pallet transfer device having a ferris wheel type mechanism which transfers a pallet from an upper conveyor to a lower conveyor. Krysty, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,024, Burgess et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,748 and Lemons in U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,180, disclose ferris wheel type display and tool holding mechanisms.
Various other types of pallet or container transfer devices are commercially available. Harcon Engineering, Inc. of Madison Heights, Mich. and Steel Master Transfer, Inc. of Orion, Mich. disclose pallet and container transfer mechanisms having a vertical lift at one end which transfers the empty pallet or container from a lower load conveyor to an upper unload conveyor. These commercially available mechanisms include mechanisms of tilting the container to provide easier access to its content and turntables which permit the container to be rotated. Airfloat Corporation of Decatur, Ill. also teaches mechanisms for rotating and tilting a pallet or container.
The invention is a ferris wheel type mechanism for positioning pallets and/or containers in which two or more pallets and/or containers may be positioned at the operator station and which is easy to load full containers and remove or unload empty containers.

Ferris wheel type container positioning mechanism


Surfaces of a structure are treated from a walkway within an enclosure suspended from the structure. The enclosure has a downwardly-converging cross section terminating in a vacuum conveyor for collecting and removing particles accumulating from the blasting process. The enclosure is preferably provided in modules. The vacuum conveyor removes the particulate material for transfer to conventional separating and re-cycling equipment. the enclosure and walkway are moveably suspended from transverse guideways secured to the structure.

The maintenance of steel bridges centers in preventing or inhibiting corrosion, which becomes a particularly severe problem in areas where salt is used to stop the formation of ice on the roadway. If left unchecked, the corrosion can eventually compromise the structure to the point that it can no longer carry its designed load. Corrosion is dealt with by the use of special paints, some of these (particularly the older ones) having a lead base. The effective life of a paint job depends on the nature of the paint, and the manner of its application, including the preliminary surface preparation. Some presently available paints, properly applied, can be expected to last for 20 years or more. Lower quality of materials and work will shorten the life expectancy considerably.
Maintenance procedures normally involve particle blasting the surfaces of the structure to remove the old paint, and condition the surfaces to receive the new coatings. This is followed by spraying on several coats of various materials in sequence. Both steps produce serious pollution problems. The work is commonly done from scaffolding under the bridge, requiring the blocking off of one or more lanes of roadway. Very little serious attention had been given to the confinement of the blasted materials and the sprayed paints to the immediate work area. This has resulted in the release of vast quantities of dust containing particles of lead and other toxic materials in the surrounding atmosphere. The particles are fine enough to become airborne, and may travel surprising distances before settling out eventually and contaminating the ground. Some areas around the sites of major projects have become practically inhabitable, resulting in extensive liability to the contractor and/or to the states where the work was authorized and done.
In the painting phase of the project, the difficulty has been the release of airborne paint particles that migrate from the work area out to where automobiles passing in adjacent lanes are exposed to an unwanted application of spotty color. Two or three hundred cars requiring repainting at over two hundred dollars each raises the cost of the project considerably. In the usual bridge project, there may well be five successive painting passes over the structure in sequence, with labor representing about half of the cost. Because of the difficulty in preventing these conditions, insurance protecting the contractor and the State is either unattainable, or available only at prohibitive costs.
Removal of the material cleaned from the bridge presents still another problem. The quantity of it can run to hundreds of tons, and collection of it and delivery to a disposal site is costly. Above a certain point in toxic content, the disposal becomes especially costly. At further increase in the toxic concentration, state law may require special disposal techniques at state expense. Oddly enough, a lead content of sixty-five (65) percent or more will eventually provide a sizeable market value to manufacturers equipped to recycle the material to salvage the lead for reuse. The usual work procedures, however, require additional processing to increase the toxic concentration to the point that the recycle value becomes available.
These problems are present in the maintenance of other structures as well. The surfaces of buildings, ships, and many others requiring similar treatment, will produce similar conditions. The present invention is directed at the confinement of all airborne particles to the immediate work area, and to the complete recovery of all blasted materials so that blasting particles can be recycled and concentrated for disposal or reuse.


An automotive theft preventing circuit including a battery, ignition switch and starter connected in series. An anti-theft device connected in series therewith comprising a metallic adjusting screws contact plate and a spring loaded contact pins plate underneath it. A coded plastic card is underneath the last-mentioned plate having a plurality of upstanding pins and a plurality of holes in vertical and horizontal alignment with openings in the spring-loaded contact pins plate. Some of the metallic screws are surrounded by insulation to make the circuit more theft-proof.

This is an improvement of the auto anti-theft device covered by my previous U.S. Pat. No. .varies.,674,307 dated June 23, 1987.
There has been a major problem in this country with the theft of automobiles, running into the millions, plus the cost exceeding billions of dollars to repair or replace them.
There has been a flood of different kinds and types of auto anti-theft devices that have entered the market place to date. However, thieves are still able to circumvent them and drive the car away. The present device makes it exceedingly difficult to circumvent.


In some embodiments, coupled multi-core fiber is used for optical transmission. The coupled multi-core fiber includes multiple cores each supporting a spatial mode. The cores are positioned close enough to cause coupling between their modes that generates supermodes, that are used to transmit data.

Capacity limits for single-mode fiber transmission has been a subject of research ever since it was recognized that the Kerr nonlinearity imposes a fundamental limit on fiber capacity. It is well known that the nonlinear coefficient is inversely proportional to the effective area in a single-mode fiber. Therefore, a simple and effective way to reduce the nonlinear penalty is to increase the fiber core diameter and thus enlarge the effective area. However, this approach is limited by increased macro-bending loss and/or dispersion.
Recently, a new method using "few-mode fibers" in single-mode operation was proposed to increase the core diameter without changing the loss and dispersion properties. Few-mode fibers (FMF) are optical fibers that support more than one spatial mode but fewer spatial modes than conventional multi-mode fibers. Although FMFs can carry more than one mode, the fundamental mode can be excited and transmitted without mode coupling over very long distances, as long as the effective indexes of the supported modes are sufficiently different from each other.
Space-division multiplexing (SDM) has also been proposed to increase fiber capacity. Fiber bundles are attractive for use in SDM because of their simplicity and compatibility. FMF is also a candidate for use in SDM because it supports a few large effective area modes and because mode coupling can be avoided if a large effective index difference (ΔNeff) exists among the modes. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks associated with using FMFs for long-distance SDM. First, there is typically a large differential modal group delay (DMGD) among the modes of FMFs. Second, the modal loss of FMFs increases with mode order. Third, mode coupling is inevitable when using FMFs as the number of modes increases because large effective index differences are difficult to maintain for all modes.
Multi-core fiber (MCF) has further been proposed as a candidate for SDM due to its zero DMGD, equal loss, and ultra-low crosstalk between modes. However, the mode density of MCFs typically must be kept quite low in order to maintain low crosstalk. For example, the first MCF demonstrated for SDM transmission was painstakingly fabricated to reduce the crosstalk to a level of less than −30 dB/km. In more recent efforts, crosstalk has been reduced to the current record of −90 dB/km. In addition, each mode of an MCF still suffers a large nonlinear penalty because its effective area is the same as or smaller than that of an SMF.
As can be appreciated from the above discussion, it would be desirable to have a high-capacity optical transmission approach that avoids one or more of the above-described drawbacks.

Systems and methods for optical transmission using supermodes

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


A tape circuit board for manufacturing a fine pitch semiconductor chip package, a method for manufacturing the tape circuit board, and a semiconductor chip package using the tape circuit board are provided. The tape circuit board includes an insulating base film having a first surface and a second surface. An adhesive layer is formed on the first surface of the base film. Further, wiring patterns are formed on the adhesive layer. Conductive bumps extend through the base film and the adhesive layer and are connected to the wiring patterns. The conductive bumps extend above the second surface of the base film.

This application relies for priority upon Korean Patent Application No. 2001-5868, filed on Feb. 7, 2001, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor packaging technology and, more particularly, to a semiconductor chip package having a tape circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Recently, in order to meet the pressing demand for miniaturization, thinner profiles, higher integrity, higher speeds, and high pint counts in semiconductor packages, tape circuit boards have become increasingly popular. The tape circuit board includes an insulating thin base film made of a polyimide resin, wiring patterns on the base film, and connection leads connected to the wiring patterns. The tape circuit board employs a so-called xe2x80x9cTape Automated Bonding (TAB)xe2x80x9d technique, where bumps on a semiconductor die are gang-bonded to the leads of the tape circuit board. Thus, the tape circuit board is referred to as a xe2x80x9cTAB tapexe2x80x9d. As one example of a semiconductor chip package using the tape circuit board, a Tape Carrier Package (TCP) is explained below.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional tape circuit board and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional tape carrier package.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a conventional tape circuit board 110 includes an insulating base film 111 made of polyimide resin, an adhesive layer 112 formed on the base film 111, and wiring patterns 115 formed on the adhesive layer 112. The wiring patterns 115 are typically formed by laminating a Cu film and selectively photo-etching the Cu film. The wiring patterns 115 can be covered with a protection layer 116 made of solder resist, and leads 115a connected to the wiring patterns 115 are exposed from the protection layer 116 and extend across a window 113.
Again referring to FIG. 2, a conventional carrier package 150 includes the tape circuit board 110 of FIG. 1 and a semiconductor chip 130 mounted on the tape circuit board 110. The semiconductor chip 130 has chip bumps 135 and is flip-chip bonded to the tape circuit board 110 using the chip bumps 135. The chip bumps 135 on electrode pads 131 of the semiconductor chip 130 are bonded to the leads 115a of the tape circuit board 110. The electrical bonding portion between the semiconductor chip 130 and the tape circuit board 110, the active and the side surfaces of the semiconductor chip 130, and the exposed leads 115a are encapsulated with a potting resin, thereby forming a molding portion 140.
Since this conventional tape carrier package uses a tape circuit board on which fine wiring patterns are formed, the distance and pitch between neighboring leads can be minimized, thus maximizing lead density. Further, this tape carrier package can employ semiconductor chips with a large number of chip pads and fine pitch or large-sized semiconductor chips. Therefore, the tape carrier package using the tape circuit board achieves high-integrated and multi-functional semiconductor device.
However, the conventional tape carrier package with the tape circuit board has several problems in meeting the demand for fine pitch of the chip pads of the semiconductor chip. That is, the tape carrier package is limited in its ability to decrease the pitch of the leads and to precisely align the chip bumps to the leads. Furthermore, the leads are exposed to the external environment before the molding step, which causes deformation or damage to the leads during the assembly process. Therefore, it is not easy to apply the tape circuit board to a tape carrier package with fine pitch, particularly 40 mm pitch.
In order to prevent the above-described problems, a Kapton-type transparent tape circuit board without a window for mounting semiconductor chips has been introduced. Similarly, as a package with fine pitch, a Chip On Film (COF) package is now being developed. The COF package has an excellent bending force and a good flexibility, compared to the conventional tape carrier package, is of high quality, thus meeting the demand of Active Matrix LCD devices (AMLCD). However, because this COF package has a two-layered structure, dissociation between the base film and a Cu layer occurs during High Temperature Storage (HTS) test, and since the film needs to be unloaded, mass production is difficult. Therefore, if a tape circuit board that could be applied to the fine pitch semiconductor chip package were developed, mass production can be accomplished.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tape circuit board for application to a fine pitch semiconductor chip package, a method for manufacturing the tape circuit board, and a semiconductor chip package using the tape circuit board.
In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects, a tape circuit board includes an insulating base film having a first surface and a second surface. An adhesive layer is formed on the first surface of the base film. Further, wiring patterns are formed on the adhesive layer. Conductive bumps extend through the base film and the adhesive layer and are connected to the wiring patterns. The conductive bumps extend above the second surface of the base film.
Preferably, the bumps are disposed in plural columns, and bumps in one column are not aligned with the bumps in adjoining columns. A window for mounting a semiconductor chip is formed through the tape circuit board, and the bumps are formed on the tape circuit board around the window. The bumps are formed on two sides or four sides around the window.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing tape circuit boards is provided. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises: (a) preparing an insulating base film having a first and a second surface, the first surface on which an adhesive layer is formed; (b) forming bump holes penetrating the adhesive layer and the base film, and a window for mounting a chip; (c) forming wiring patterns on the adhesive layer; (d) coating the wiring patterns with a protection layer; (e) forming a photoresist layer on the second layer of the base film so that the bump holes are open; (f) forming bumps connected to the wiring patterns by filling the bump holes using the photoresist layer as a mask; and (g) removing the photoresist layer.
Preferably, in step (f), the bumps extend above the second surface of the base film. After step (g), the manufacturing method may comprise polishing the bumps or applying a cover film on the second surface of the base film.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor chip package comprises: a tape circuit board including a base film having a first and a second surface, the first surface on which an adhesive layer is formed; wiring patterns formed on the first surface of the base film; and bumps passing through the base film and the adhesive layer, connected to the wiring patterns, and extending above the second surface of the base film; a semiconductor chip having a plurality of electrode pads and chip bumps formed on the electrode pads, wherein the chip bumps are bonded to the bumps of the tape circuit board; and a molding portion for molding a bonding portion between the tape circuit board and the semiconductor chip, and the active and the side surfaces of the semiconductor chip.
Preferably, the bumps of the tape circuit board and the chip bumps of the semiconductor chip are made of the same material and a protection layer covers the wiring patterns.

Tape circuit board and semiconductor chip package including the same


A method is described for reducing the lead and/or barium emission of articles of crystal glass containing lead and/or barium, particularly so-called lead crystal and baryte glasses, on contact with a liquid phase, particularly aqueous, aqueous-acidic, alcoholic and aqueous-alcoholic liquids such as acetic acid solutions, wine, whiskey, liqueurs and the like, with the crystal glass objects being treated, if applicable before and/or after acid polishing, with 5 to 45% by weight of an alkali hydroxide solution at a temperature of 20.degree. to 60.degree. C.

This invention refers to a method of reducing the lead and/or barium emission of articles of crystal glass containing lead and/or barium, particularly so-called lead crystal and baryte glasses, on contact with a liquid phase, particularly aqueous, aqueous-acidic, alcoholic and aqueous-alcoholic liquids such as acetic acid solutions, wine, whiskey, liqueurs and the like.
It is common knowledge to process crystalline glasses containing lead and up to 32% lead crystal glasses, as well as baryte glasses with up to 7% by weight of BaO, uncut, cut or pressed, to form drinking glasses, bowls, vases, etc. The surface is greatly enlarged by the often extensive cutting, and the many edges produce optimal reflection of the impinging light and hence the desired brilliance of the surface.
For some four to five years, following great improvement in analytic technology, drinking glasses and bottles containing lead and barium have been tested for possible lead and/or barium emission in an acidic medium and, for bottles, in an alcoholic medium.
Tests have shown that the emissions are greatest in the first 24 hours and that they then asymptotically approach a saturation value.
The lead emission in an acidic medium is measured with a 4% acetic acid solution at 20.degree. C. as a function of time.
Furthermore, subjecting crystal glasses of the kinds described above to acid polishing is generally known. For instance, this can be done with a mixture of a 20 to 40% hydrofluoric acid and a 15 to 30% sulfuric acid. In addition, in EP-A 0 106 301 a method is known for polishing glass objects in a polish bath containing sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid, wherein acids having a dissociation constant greater than that of the hydrofluoric acid are added to control the fluorine ion concentration. With this method a polish with a greatly reduced surface wear-off can be achieved.
A disadvantage of the known crystal glasses is their lead and/or barium emission on contact with liquid phases.

Method of reducing the lead and/or barium emission of crystal glass objects containing lead and/or barium on contact with a liquid phase


Methods and systems are disclosed for managing bundle pricing of services. In one implementation, a system comprises a database for storing master contracts and billing customizing tables. The master contracts refer to the data of the billing customizing tables by means of result and condition attributes. This has the advantage that a modification of the billing customizing data, such as for the purpose of changing the bundle pricing scheme for the master contracts, does not require storage of the updated data in the database.

Bundle pricing of services is known in various industries, such as in the banking and telecommunication industries. For example, a telecommunication customer is charged with telecommunication fees for various telecommunication services, such as voice communication, data communication, the use of pre-paid and post-paid services, and/or the transmitted data volume. Typically the customer receives a rebate for the telecommunication services depending on the amount of usage of the various telecommunication services.
Bundle pricing is also commonly used in retail banking. For instance, a bank's customer gets a rebate for bank fees, such as fees for account maintenance fees, inter-account transfers, debit orders, electronic account payments, cash withdrawals and/or interest rates, when a certain condition is fulfilled, such as when one of the accounts of the customer exceeds a defined threshold balance.
Bundle pricing conditions, such as the threshold balance, may be stored with a customer contract data record. If the threshold balance needs to be changed, this requires storage of a new threshold value for each customer master contract. This is a common disadvantage of known data processing systems that are used for bundle pricing, as storing the new threshold value for thousands or even millions of customer master contracts requires a relatively long processing time and has a relatively high processing expense.
Therefore, there is a need to provide improved data processing systems and methods that facilitate a reduction of the data processing resources for bundle pricing applications.