There are provided method and apparatus for controlling a robot, in which when the robot is continuously controlled in different directions such that from the movement in the horizontal direction to the movement in the vertical direction, the movements in the horizontal and vertical directions from a predetermined position are executed in parallel during the movement in the horizontal direction. In the method, target movement positions in the horizontal and vertical directions are input, a first distance which is necessary to move the robot in only the vertical direction is input, and the predetermined position is determined on the basis of the target movement positions in the horizontal and vertical directions and the first distance. The movements in the horizontal and vertical directions include the equal acceleration motion and the equal deceleration motion. With this method, the operator can easily perform the programming and teaching of the robot such that the robot can reach a desired final target position while avoiding obstacles without colliding therewith in the shortest time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a robot in which, for instance, the orbit of a robot arm or the like is controlled in accordance with a program which has previously been written and, more particularly, to realize both of the high robot controlling speed and the safe orbit in the case of continuously executing the moving operations in different directions.
2. Related Background Art
As conventional techniques regarding the realization of a high speed in the continuous operation control of a robot, the techniques shown in, for instance, JP-A-58-177289, JP-A-60-132207, JP-A-61-146487, etc. are known.
The apparatus of JP-A-58-177289 comprises means for detecting the arm position and means for comparing the detected arm position with a predetermined position which has previously been stored, wherein when the arm has passed the predetermined position, the program steps progress even during the arm operation, thereby realizing the high control speed. In more detail, according to JP-A-58-177289, the movement in the horizontal direction is executed by a DC servo motor and the movement in the vertical direction is performed by an air cylinder. A chuck or the like is connected to the tip of the air cylinder. Assuming that a target position in the horizontal direction is point D, the air cylinder is driven at the time point when the arm passes a point D' before the point D, thereby starting the downward motion. The point D' is determined by presuming from the time required until the air cylinder arrives at the lowest position.
On the other hand, the control apparatus of JP-A-60-132207 uses DC servo motors for three axes and comprises: means for detecting the arm position; means for inputting an overlap area where the next operation can be started during the present arm operation; and means for discriminating whether the arm exists in the overlap area or not, wherein when the arm is located in the overlap area, the present movement command and the next movement command overlap to realize, the high control speed. The overlap area is input by the operation of an operator. The overlap area is defined as an area near a change point of the moving direction.
On the other hand, the apparatus of JP-A-61-146487 has a vertical movement control circuit and a horizontal movement control circuit which are independent of each other, wherein the horizontal movement is started by a timing signal from the vertical movement control circuit and the vertical movement is started by a timing signal from the horizontal movement control circuit. The timing signals are output by detecting the horizontal moving velocity so that the downward movement is finished after completion of the horizontal movement. In other words, when the horizontal movement and the downward movement overlap, the horizontal movement finishes early. At the time near the end of the downward movement, only the downward movement is executed, to realize high control speed and to prevent damage, accident, or the like, to the arm.
However, in the robot control, it is not always necessary to move the robot from the present position to a target position at high speed when the robot must clear an obstacle to arrive at the target position. In other words, if the robot cannot avoid an obstacle, high control speed may not be realized. The operations of the ascent.fwdarw.horizontal movement.fwdarw.descent per se must be executed because an obstacle exists between the present position and the target position although the robot inherently can reach the target position by only the horizontal movement. Such a situation will be appreciated, in the case of assembling a completed product from a plurality of parts where the robot must be controlled in a manner such that the robot finger gripping the part avoids an enclosure encasing the part and, further, both the finger and the part grasped by the finger do not collide with the semicomplete article during the assembly.
The above three conventional examples have a feature that the horizontal movement and the vertical movement are executed together in parallel for a certain period of time. The orbit which is obtained by the parallel motions in those two directions is specified by the synthesis of the moving velocities in those directions.
For instance, FIG. 14 shows orbits of the motions in the two directions which have been described in JP-A-61-146487. It is assumed that the time required from the start of the movement in the vertical (Z axis) direction to the arrival at the target position is set to a and the time required from the movement at a velocity v.sub.0 in the horizontal (X axis) direction to the stopping of the motion is set to b and is set to a predetermined offset value so as to obtain a certain downward movement after completion of the horizontal movement. The start time of the downward movement is set to the time when the velocity in the horizontal direction becomes v. ##EQU1## The above equation is satisfied only when it is assumed that the decelerating motion in the horizontal direction can be approximated by linear motion and the value of c is set to a small value. However, as shown in FIG. 14, if an obstacle 100 exists in the orbit of the parallel motions, the robot arm will be broken. Therefore, hitherto, a temporary target position in the vertical direction is set by repeating trials and errors by the operator so that the orbit of the parallel motions is set to enable an obstacle to be avoided and, thereafter, (only) the vertical movement is executed until the final target position in the vertical direction. However, in the process of the trials and errors, a serious accident may occur such that the robot collides with a tool or a workpiece or the like because the straight line portion upon descending cannot be specified. As the easiest method for avoiding such an accident, it is sufficient to merely reduce the parallel motion time period. However, such a method is contrary to the realization of high speed. This is because according to JP-A-61-146487, it is the primary object to define the period of time for the parallel motions on the basis of the decelerating velocity in the horizontal direction and the time which is required for the motion in the vertical direction and a viewpoint such that the highspeed control is realized without the safety feature of obstacle avoidance.
In the conventional example of JP-A-58-177289, as mentioned above, since the movement in the vertical direction is executed by the air cylinder, the position control is not executed, so that the safety is further unstable as compared with JP-A-61-146487.
On the other hand, according to JP-A-60-132207, since the overlap area must be input on the basis of the perception of the operator, safety and speed may not be adequate.

Method and apparatus for controlling an obstacle avoiding robot


In esports a game firm has a game played by a gamer and shown on a third party viewing platform. To the firm, the platform is a middleman. The customer of the platform should be a customer of the firm. The gamer guides a viewer to watch the gamer on a read only copy of the game installed on the viewer's computer. The platform is bypassed. The viewer is now the firm's customer. The firm monetizes with ads and subscriptions. A viewer can be a tour guide of the game to other viewers.

Esports rose to prominence in the last 10 years. It is the watching of someone else playing a computer game. Local esports is where the viewers are in the same physical space as the persons playing the game. This can be a sports arena where the viewers are sitting in the usual places associated with, say, a basketball game. While the gamers are sitting at tables on the floor usually occupied by the basketballers.
Remote esports is where viewers watch on their computers.


A gas seal for a bell-type annealing furnace is described. A ring supported by the furnace cover and a resilient pad supported by the base mate to form a gas seal when the cover is rested on the base. A cover-supported cooling jacket and a base-supported cooling jacket cooperate to enclose the seal when the cover is rested on the base. Load bearing structure is provided independent of the seal elements to avoid subjecting the seal elements to the weight of the furnace cover.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to annealing furnaces, and more specifically, a seal for a bell-type annealing furnace.
2. Background Information
In bell-type annealing furnaces, it is necessary to provide a seal around the cover to prevent the inert atmosphere used inside the furnace from leaking out and to keep atmospheric air from leaking in. There have been many prior designs for such seals, all of which have drawbacks and limitations.
One prior art furnace seal arrangement included flanges extending into troughs filled with liquid or sand to seal the perimeter of the furnace cover. Sand filled troughs provide a poor seal since sand is inherently porous and it scatters. Trough seals filled with liquid such as oil and/or water have been unsatisfactory due to the vapors created when the liquids are heated and the inflammable nature of some liquids.
Some furnace seals employed two machined mating surfaces having an O-ring centrally mounted between them. This seal worked well but was expensive.
Another prior art seal comprised a resilient pad carried on the lower edge of the cover in position to engage a bar on the furnace base. These resilient pads were fixed to the cover with epoxy making replacement of the seal time consuming and difficult, since the pads had to be scraped out from underneath. In many prior art designs where a resilient pad was used, the weight of the cover rested on the pad. Each time the cover was lowered onto the base, the resilient pad was further compacted so that eventually it lost its elasticity and effectiveness.
At least one prior art design employed an elastomer bag-type seal mounted to the cover. A ring supported by the base contacted the bag to form a seal. The bag typically had cooling liquid pumped through its interior. This design made it difficult to align the cover with the base. Furthermore, if the bag broke and water leaked into the furnace, a steam explosion could result.


The temperature measuring apparatus includes: a light source; a first wavelength-dividing unit which wavelength-divides a light from the light source into m lights whose wavelength bands are different from one another; m first dividing units which divides each of the m lights from the first wavelength-dividing unit into n lights; a transmitting unit which transmits lights from the m first dividing unit to measurement points of an object to be measured; a light receiving unit which receives a light reflected by each of the measurement points; and a temperature calculating unit which calculates a temperature of each of the measurement points based on a waveform of the light received by the light receiving unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature measuring apparatus and a temperature measuring method, which can measure a temperature of an object to be measured (for example, a semiconductor wafer or a liquid crystal substrate) in a non-contact manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Accurately measuring a temperature of a substrate (for example, a semiconductor wafer) to be processed by using a substrate processing apparatus is very important in order to accurately control shapes, properties, and so on of films or holes formed on or in the semiconductor wafer based on a result of various processes such as film formation and etching. Accordingly, a temperature of a semiconductor wafer has been measured by using various conventional methods such as a temperature measuring method using a fluorescent thermometer for measuring a temperature of a rear surface of a base material, a resistance thermometer, or the like.
Recently, a temperature measuring technology using a low-coherence interferometer which can directly measure a temperature of a semiconductor wafer, which is difficult to do with the conventional temperature measuring methods, has been developed. Also, as the temperature measuring technology using the low-coherence interferometer, a technology has been suggested in which a light from a light source is divided into a measurement light for temperature measurement and a reference light by a first splitter, the measurement light is divided into n measurement lights by a second splitter, the n measurement lights are emitted to n measurement points, and interference between reflected lights of the n measurement lights and a reflected light of the reference light reflected by a reference light reflecting unit is measured to simultaneously measure temperatures of the plurality of (n) measurement points (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, in the above conventional technology, since a number of measurement points are limited by a number of lights obtained by the second splitter, it is difficult to measure temperatures of more measurement points as needed.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-112826

Temperature measuring apparatus and temperature measuring method


There is provided a method and apparatus for removing liquid from a well using well bore pressurized gas. A U-shaped tube having a small orifice near the bottom thereof is received in the well. The upper portions of both legs of the tube are connected to well bore pressurized gas. A liquid sensor is received in one leg of the tube. When liquid flowing into the tube through the orifice rises to the level of the sensor, a valve, which is connected to one leg of the tube, is opened and the well head pressurized gas forces the liquid out of the tube and then out of the well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of well fluid removal. More particularly, it relates to the removal of well fluid using pressurized gas available in the well bore.
2. Description of Prior Art
The accumulation of liquids in oil and natural gas well casings restrict the flow of fluids from the producing formation to the bore hole by exerting pressure on the face of the producing formation. Several methods of removal have been devised for removal of liquids from a bore hole, each having their own particular advantages and disadvantages. One method is by dipping the liquid out of the casing with a long bucket or "swab" operated by a cable from a truck-mounted winch.
During the initial production of an oil well often the gas pressure in the reservoir is sufficient for the oil well to flow naturally. In the production life of a flowing oil well, a point will be reached wherein there is insufficient gas pressure to overcome the hydrostatic head created by fluid accumulation in the well bore principally because of the decrease in reservoir gas pressure. Another contributing factor to the well's ability to flow is the accumulation of formation water in the well bore which will produce a fluid hydrostatic head equal to the pressure of the gas which enters the reservoir. To maximize the returns from an oil/gas well, it is important to conserve the gas in the reservoir because the gas content is the primary motive source pushing the oil to the well bore. As a well becomes watered out or the formation gas is depleted to the extent that production is seriously reduced or terminated, it is necessary to periodically swab the well or install mechanical gear to pump liquid from the bore hole to reduce the hydrostatic head. Either operation decreases the economic efficiency of the oil or gas well, requires additional supervision and the utilization of expensive equipment.
Another gas lift system consists of placing a tubing down the center of the bore hole, then one can pump the well by intermittently injecting gas from an external source either into the bore hole or the well casing to propel the oil either up the well casing or the tubing.
Another method is to place small holes in the tubing at appropriate intervals and the oil will flow from the bore hole into the tubing. The gas delivered through the tubing will bubble the oil to the top and out of the bore hole. This method is not very efficient and it requires a large ratio of the gas volume used to the volume of liquid lifted.
A device patented by Hart discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,949 is a downhole float tube encircling the lower end of production tubing which moves vertically to intermittently produce fluid from the well. This device is designed to pump slugs of liquid at a time. While his device is to operate automatically downhole, it is obvious that sand and grit reduces the reliability of this device. Inertia of operation of the float tube will tend to waste gas with each cycle. Sand and the dirty well bore will obviously be very detrimental to the operation of this mechanical apparatus. Last but not least, a malfunction may require one to pull all of the tubing and the apparatus from the bore hole to correct the malfunction.
The autoswab invented by Gramling and discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,134 utilizes natural gas pressure to operate a free-floating pressure-sensitive swab to automatically remove fluids from well casings. The bore hole environment with sand and paraffin presents difficulties for these mechanical devices.
Jack pumps are the most used devices to lift oil and water from oil and gas wells. Unfortunately, this method is capital intensive and requires considerable maintenance. It also requires heavy equipment to pull and insert the tubing, rods and to move the jacks.

Method and apparatus for pumping liquid from a well using wellbore pressurized gas


Disclosed are various embodiments for an anti-reflux tube-type enemator that is leakproof, easy-to-clean, and quickly inflates to provide a steady flow of solution. The anti-reflux enemator includes a nozzle comprising a nozzle outlet, a tube fluidly coupled to the nozzle, and an enema bulb fluidly coupled to the tube. The enema bulb is configured to store solution therein and, in response to a squeezing force applied to the enema bulb, direct the solution through the tube and the nozzle, and expel the solution through the nozzle outlet. An anti-reflux coupler is positioned between the enema bulb and the tube through which the solution passes from the enema bulb to the tube. One or more one-way air valves are positioned relative to an aperture of the enema bulb.

Enemators include syringe-type devices that can be utilized by patients and medical practitioners for cleansing the body, such as vaginal, anal, and other bodily cavities. Generally, enemators are filled with solution, such as clean or soapy water, which is injected into a cavity of a person by hand squeezing a bulb or similar apparatus. During this process, the solution may "reflux," where some solution is returned into the enemator, thereby contaminating the solution and affecting the use of conventional enemators.
Moreover, many types of enemators do not prevent leakage of solution. For instance, due to poor design and manufacturing, existing enemators in the art are unable to store solution for a long period of time without leakage. To address this, some enemators use a fixed leakproof structure so that they are not easy to clean, have a limited length of use, and a high purchasing cost. Also, a joint line on the side of the connected syringe nozzle exists in some enemators to ease manufacturing costs; however, the joint line often scratches the human body or is otherwise uncomfortable during use. Due to poor manufacturing and design, the outlet of the syringe nozzle is easily blocked, leading to a poor user experience.


An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having an ink discharge opening for discharging ink, a suction system for applying negative pressure to the ink discharge opening to suck ink therefrom to recover proper discharge of ink, and a first capping member for capping the ink discharge opening, the member being connected to the suction system to apply negative pressure to the discharge opening when it is capped. The apparatus also includes an ink retaining portion for retaining ink to be fed to the recording head, a vent opening in the ink retaining portion, and a second capping member for capping the vent opening. The capping members are operable in a first mode in which the first capping member does not cap the discharge opening and the second capping member does not cap the vent opening, a second mode in which the first capping member caps the ink discharge opening and the second capping member does not cap the vent opening, and a third mode in which the first capping member caps the ink discharge opening and the second capping member caps the vent opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a suction recovery mechanism and an ink jet recording apparatus using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recording apparatuses, such as printers, copying apparatuses and facsimile machines form images on a recording material, such as paper or a plastic thin sheet, on the basis of image information.
Such recording apparatuses are classified according to their recording methods into several types, including an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type and a laser beam type. Ink jet recording apparatuses operate in such a way that ink is discharged through openings in recording heads onto recording materials so as to perform recording.
An ink jet recording apparatus has the following advantages: it can easily record fine and delicate color images at a high speed by using color inks, and it generates little noise because it employs a non-impact system for recording.
Ink jet recording apparatus is equipped with an ink tank for retaining ink and a recording head through which the ink is discharged to perform recording. A cartridge-type recording head, in which an ink tank and recording head are formed integrally, is widely employed as a replaceable recording head.
When such a type of ink jet recording apparatus is not performing a recording operation, the recording head is tightly closed, or capped, so that the ink in a discharge opening does not dry out. Consequently, the opening is prevented from clogging.
An air communicating or vent opening is formed in the ink tank to keep pressure inside the tank constant while the recording apparatus is performing a recording operation. When the apparatus is not performing a recording operation, the vent opening must also be capped to prevent the ink from evaporating.
The structure of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus is such that when the recording head discharge opening is capped, the ink tank vent opening is simultaneously capped.
In such a structure, however, when the ink increases in viscosity or adheres to the discharge opening, thus clogging the opening, it is impossible or difficult to suck ink through the discharge opening to recover a proper recording condition because negative pressure is generated in the ink tank.

Suction recovery mechanism and ink jet recording apparatus using same


An electronic device holding system having a panel with a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, a handle surface, and an attachment surface, a handle is pivotally attached to the handle surface and can pivot either in a first direction toward the third end of the panel and a second direction toward the fourth end of the panel, or in a third direction toward the first end of the panel and a fourth direction toward the second end of the panel, and a first half attachment means on the attachment surface and a second half attachment means for attaching to a smart phone, tablet, or electronic reader, the first half attachment means is adapted to temporarily engage the second half attachment means.

It can be difficult to text or use a smart phone, tablet, electronic reader, or other electronic devices while lying down or in unusual positions. For example, users may have difficulty simultaneously gripping the phone or device and using their thumbs to operate the device. The present invention features an electronic device holding system for devices including but not limited to smart phones, tablets, and e-readers. The system of the present invention helps the user have unrestricted use of his/her thumbs for operating the phone or device in a quick and efficient manner. The system of the present invention helps improve the speed and ease of texting or using a smart phone, tablet, electronic reader, or the like while lying down or in other unusual positions. Furthermore, the system can help protect the device from damage if the device is dropped.


Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing media content tracking functionality, and, in particular embodiments, implementing temporal markers for tracking at least partial playback of media content. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive a request for media content from a user over a network, and might retrieve the media content from a database. A transcoder might insert temporal markers in a transport stream of the media content, which is sent to the user device. The user device might decode the transport stream, might track each temporal marker as the media content is presented to the user, might generate a message by compiling a list of the accessed temporal markers, and might send the message to the computing system. The computing system might receive the message comprising the list of temporal markers, which are indicative of portions of the media content that were actually presented to the user.

Conventional television or video on demand ("VOD") systems (as well as conventional audio on demand ("AOD") or music on demand ("MOD"), etc.) do not seem to currently track the amount of content that a user (or a plurality of users) actually view (or listen to) for any particular television or VOD content (or for any particular music content, etc.). Such conventional systems also do not appear to track partial consumption of media content (including video and/or audio content) for purposes of billing users for actual consumption of the media content; rather for subscription VOD or transactional VOD, the user must pay for the entire media content regardless of whether or not the user actually consumes the entire media content.
Further, conventional ratings track or the like do not appear to track the amount as well as the particular portions of particular media content that are actually consumed by each of a plurality of users. Such information, for example, could be used by content providers to improve production of future content, could be used by content distributors to improve distribution of future content better suited to the plurality of users, could be used by advertisers to better target ads to the plurality of users, and/or the like.
Hence, there is a need for more robust and scalable solutions for implementing media content tracking functionality, and, in particular embodiments, to methods, systems, apparatus, and computer software for implementing temporal markers for tracking at least partial playback of media content by users.


Methods and apparatus for providing configurable menus to customers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a computer server communicates with electronic ordering devices operated by customers, and the computer server receives purchasing information from one or more customers sent by respective ones of the electronic ordering devices. The computer server generates a first digitized menu for at least one of the customers based on the purchasing information, and sends the first digitized menu to the at least one electronic ordering device for display on the at least one electronic ordering device.

I. Field of Use
The present application relates to the hospitality industry. More specifically, the present application relates to systems and methods for providing configurable electronic menus to customers.
II. Description of the Related Art
Electronic menus, known as E-menus or I-menus, have been recently introduced to the hospitality industry to allow establishments such as bars, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, and sports venues to offer their patrons an exciting, new way to place orders for food, drinks, and other products and services. A typical E-menu may comprise a personal electronic device, such as a tablet computer, capable of displaying various choices to customers and allowing them to place orders wirelessly through the device. E-menus allow establishments to change menu items and pricing quickly and easily, relieving them of the cost of printing new menus to meet changing demands by customers. However, this technology is in its infancy and, therefore, the full potential of E-menus has yet to be reached.


A process for producing a rubber-modified styrene-based resin. The process includes supplying a styrene-based monomer solution containing 5 to 20% by weight of a rubber component containing a styrene-butadiene-based block polymer rubber with a styrene content of 20 to 50% by weight to a first polymerization zone where initial polymerization is conducted to a conversion of 10 to 30%, and then supplying the resulting initial polymerization solution to a second polymerization zone where polymerization is conducted to a conversion of 30 to 70%, while at the same time phase inversion is caused, thereby controlling a rubber particle diameter to a range of 0.2 to 1.5 .mu.m and an area average rubber particle diameter/number average rubber particle diameter ratio (Ds/Dn) to not more than 2.5. The process results in ease of removal of polymerization heat, reduced power for agitation and does not require a high strength apparatus. The rubber-modified styrene-based resin obtained by the process has a high impact strength, and excellent gloss and stiffness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for production of rubber-modified styrene-based resins. More particularly, it is concerned with a process for producing rubber-modified styrene-based resins which are excellent in a physical balance; for example, have a high impact strength, and further excellent gloss and stiffness, and thus which are suitable as materials for production of office automation (OA) devices, home electric appliances, car parts, and so forth.
2. Background Information
Rubber-modified styrene-based resins are widely used in various fields because they are excellent in impact resistance and stiffness, and have good moldability. As these rubber-modified styrene-based resins, polybutadiene rubber and styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber have heretofore been generally used.
In order to exhibit the excellent physical properties of gloss and impact strength of rubber-modified styrene-based resins, it is necessary to control the rubber particle diameter to the optimum range and to provide a narrow particle size distribution. In the case of polybutadiene rubber, since a phase transition (transition of a rubber phase from a continuous phase to a dispersion phase) at which rubber particles are formed occurs in an unstable region in the initial stage of polymerization at which the conversion of monomer is 5 to 15%, uniform mixing is needed, and in order to exhibit the gloss, it is necessary to control the rubber particle diameter to 0.5 to 1.5 .mu.m. For these reasons, it is necessary to employ a full mixing vessel-type reactor which is able to provide a high shearing force.
Use of such full mixing vessel-type reactors, however, has disadvantages in that the rubber particle size distribution is broadened and it is difficult to maintain a balance between gloss and impact strength. Thus it is considered that the phase transition in a system using polybutadiene rubber is caused by the use of a column-type reactor having a high plug flow, for example. In this case, however, high speed agitation providing a high shearing force is needed. In this agitation, it is required that in order to increase heat removal efficiency, a multi-plate reactor is used, and a heat conducting tube is passed through plates. Thus the above high speed agitation has disadvantages in that vibration of a stirring blade readily occurs, it is therefore necessary to increase the strength of the heat conducting tube, and in that a power neck is readily produced because of a high viscosity system.
In order to solve the above problems, it is considered to use a styrene-butadiene block copolymer rubber having a styrene content of at least 50% as used in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57433/1985.
This method, however, has disadvantages in that an interface tension with a polystyrene matrix is excessively decreased and thus even under a low shearing force, the rubber particle size is decreased, and the impact strength is extremely low although the gloss is very good.
In order to optimize the particle diameter in the above system, it is necessary to operate a column-type reactor while agitating at a very low speed. In this case, however, problems arise in removal of polymerization heat and insufficient agitation.

Process for production of styrene-based resin composition


An electrical junction box includes a circuit structure, a case main body made of a synthetic resin and having an accommodating portion that accommodates the circuit structure, and a cover 30 made of a metal and that is attached to the case main body, covering the accommodating portion thereof. The cover has a covering wall that covers the accommodating portion of the case main body and a side wall that is continuous with the covering wall and that is disposed around the case main body. The case main body is provided with an abutment portion that abuts on a portion of the side wall of the cover, but not on an end portion of the side wall that is located on the side facing away from the covering wall.

An electronic controller in which a circuit board unit in which an electronic circuit portion is assembled is accommodated in a casing that is made of a metal has conventionally been known (see JP 2001-223489A, for example). The metal casing is constituted by a flat box-shaped frame and a lid member that covers an opening of the frame, and is configured to be hermetically sealed by fastening the frame and the lid member to each other through screwing.
The aforementioned metal casing has a relatively small thickness. For this reason, in a state in which it is installed in a vehicle such as an automobile, the metal casing easily vibrates, and there is a risk that the frame and the lid member may hit each other at a portion other than a screwed portion and generate noise.
The present invention was made based on the above-described circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide an electrical junction box in which the generation of noise is suppressed.


A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a head section coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame between first and second angular positions, and a sensor operable to determine an angular position of the head section. The apparatus also has an alarm that is activated if the angular position of the head section is not sufficiently large enough.

The present disclosure relates to a patient support apparatus having at least one articulable deck section to support a patient in a variety of positions. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, having an alarm system.
The Joint Committee on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) recommends that, under some circumstances, a patient be supported on a hospital bed in a semi-recumbent position, instead of a supine position, to reduce the risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) occurrence. JCAHO recommends head-of-bed angle (HOBA) for mechanically ventilated patients of 45° in order to prevent pneumonia. For patients at high risk of skin breakdown, head-of-bed angle of 30° is recommended in order to prevent pneumonia and the development of pressure ulcers.


Apparatus, and an associated method, dynamically selects values of thresholds to be used in a determination of whether to request a handoff of communications between serving and target base stations of a cellular, or other, radio communication system. Because the thresholds are dynamically determined, the thresholds are selectable responsive to communication characteristics about the mobile stations with which communications are to be handed off.

The present invention relates, generally to a manner by which to facilitate selection of handoff of communications with a mobile station by a serving communication station to a target communication station, such as the serving and target base transceiver stations of a cellular communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and an associated method, by which adaptively to select the threshold at which the handoff of communication is requested. Because of the adaptive selection of the threshold at which the request is initiated, an appropriate threshold is selectable irrespective of the communication characteristics of the cells or other geographical areas defined by the serving and target communication stations.
A communication system is formed, at a minimum, of a sending station and a receiving station interconnected by way of a communication channel. The communication channel provides a communication path by which information originated at the sending station is communicated to the receiving station. Communication systems have been developed, and implemented, to communicate a wide variety of types of information between a large variety of types of sending and receiving stations.
Advancements in communication technologies have permitted new types of communication systems to be developed and implemented. A radio communication system is exemplary of a type of communication system. In a radio communication system, the sending station, a radio transmitter, transmits information upon a radio communication channel to a receiving station formed of a radio receiver. The radio communication channel is defined upon a radio link formed between the radio transmitter and receiver. The conventional need for a wireline connection to interconnect the sending and receiving stations is obviated due to the formation of the radio communication channel upon a radio link. A radio communication system permits, as a result, increased communication mobility. Sending and receiving stations of a radio communication system are operable to send and to receive information, respectively, at positions in which communications by a conventional wireline system would be impractical or impermissible.
A cellular communication system is a type of radio communication system which provides multiple numbers of users concurrently to communicate therethrough. Generally, such a communication system is referred to as a cellular communication system as the geographical area over which the cellular communication system is installed is divided into regions, referred to as cells. The cells are each defined by a fixed-site transceiver, referred to as a base transceiver station. The base transceiver stations are positioned at locations such that the cells defined thereby encompass the geographical area in which the cellular communication system is to be operable.
Radio communications are effectuable with a mobile station positioned at any location within the area encompassed by the cellular communication system. Generally, a mobile station communicates with the base transceiver station which defines the cell in which the mobile station is positioned. If the mobile station moves to be repositioned at another cell, a procedure, referred to as a handoff, is effectuated. Handoffs of communications are sometimes also effectuated due to channel traffic conditions or channel communication conditions irrespective of the repositioning of the mobile station.
In a handoff procedure, communications of the mobile station, initially with a first base transceiver station, referred to as the serving station, are transferred to another base transceiver station, referred to as a target station. Once the transfer is completed, subsequent communications of the mobile station are carried out with the target base transceiver station. Successive handoffs, from one base transceiver station to another, can occur as the mobile station travels through successive cells.
Handoff of communications from a serving base station to a target base station permits communications by a mobile station to continue even though the mobile station travels out of communication range with the base station which initially forms the serving base station. When in an active communication session, uninterrupted communications are generally possible with a mobile station as a handoff is effectuated from a serving base station to a target base station. And, the handoff occurs both without the active intervention of a user of the mobile station as well as, generally, also without the knowledge of the user that a handoff has occurred.
In different cellular communication systems, different manners are utilized by which to select when to effectuate handoff of communications with a mobile station from a serving base station to a target base station. In some systems, determination of when to initiate handoff of communications is performed entirely at the network infrastructure portion of the communication system. In other systems, at least some of the information utilized in the determination of when to initiate handoff of communication is determined at, or otherwise provided by, the mobile station. In some cellular communication systems, a procedure referred to as MAHO (mobile-assisted handoff) is utilized in the determinations of when to initiate handoff of communications.
In an exemplary MAHO procedure, measurement is made at selected intervals, by a mobile station of signal indicia of signals transmitted by the serving base station and one, or more, potential target base stations. The signal indicia is formed, for instance of signal strength measurements of the signals. Responsive to such measurements a report is made by the mobile station to the network infrastructure to request, when appropriate, a handoff of communications from the serving base station to a selected target base station. Thereafter, handoff of communications is selectably effectuated.
Communication characteristics might differ, however, in differing ones of the cells. In some cells, for instance, relatively low levels of fading are exhibited. In other cells, conversely, relatively high levels of fading might be exhibited.
Conventionally, uniform thresholds are utilized in the handoff procedures irrespective of the communication characteristics of the cells defined by serving and potential target base stations. However, due to the different communication characteristics of the different cells, the uniform thresholds might cause selection of initiation of a handoff of communications when a handoff is not necessary. And, also, selection might be made not to initiate handoff of communications when a handoff is necessary. If a manner could be provided by which adaptively to select the thresholds, responsive to communication characteristics, used in handoff procedures, improved communications in a cellular communication system would be possible.
It is in light of this background information related to handoff procedures in a radio communication system that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.
The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides apparatus, and an associated method, by which to facilitate selection of handoff of communications with a mobile station by a serving communication station to a target communication station.
Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, a manner is provided by which adaptively to select the threshold at which the handoff of communications is requested. An appropriate threshold is selectable irrespective of the communication characteristics of the geographical area in which the mobile station is positioned. Selection of the threshold to be used in the handoff procedures is responsive, in part, to the communication characteristics of the geographical area is defined by the serving and target communication stations. By adaptively selecting the threshold at which the request is initiated, an appropriate threshold is determined thereby to ensure that selection of the handoff of communications between serving and target communication stations is properly made.
If the communication characteristics exhibit minor amounts of fading, the threshold is set to be of appropriate levels. And, when the communication characteristics exhibit significant amounts of fading, the threshold is correspondingly set to be of other appropriate levels.
In one aspect of the present invention, a manner is provided by which to perform adaptive handoff of communications between a serving communication station and a target communication station. By performing the adaptive handoff of communications of an embodiment of the present invention, unnecessary handoffs of communications are reduced while also maintaining a possibility of an inadvertent communication interruption, such as a dropped call in a cellular communication system. Indications of the positioning of the mobile station and indications of values of selected RF (radio frequency) signal data are utilized to adjust dynamically a handoff threshold. Values of indications of the location at which the mobile station is positioned are requested only when an initial indication that a handoff of communications should be requested occurs. Thereby, continuous tracking of the position of the mobile station along with the corresponding privacy concern, is obviated.
Problems associated with conventional use of a fixed, nonadjustable handoff threshold are avoided. Conventionally, if the threshold is selected to be of too small value, unnecessary handoffs result. Unnecessary handoffs increase the amounts of signaling generated during operation of the communication system. And, if the value of the fixed threshold is selected to be too large, a necessary handoff might not be performed, resulting in an inadvertent communication termination. By dynamically altering the value of the handoff threshold responsive to, variously, the position at which the mobile station is located and RF signal statistics, the number of unnecessary handoffs which are performed is reduced while maintaining a low probability of an inadvertent communication interruption, all in contrast to conventional handoff procedures.
In another aspect of the present invention, a hysteresis threshold formed of a set of values is dynamically selected. The values are selected according to a mapping of the position at which the mobile station is located and according to mean and standard deviations of measured RF propagation data.
In one implementation, the handoff threshold is adaptively selected for communications in a cellular communication system installed throughout a geographical area. Signal strength measurements are made by a mobile station of signals, such as pilot signals, generated by a serving base station and one or more potential base stations. When differences between the values of the signals generated by the serving and target base stations exceed initial threshold values, a preliminary indication is made that a handoff of communications should be effectuated. Once such an initial determination is made, a request is then made to determine mobile station indicia, of both position and velocity, of the mobile station. If the mobile station is not moving, is or moving at a velocity beneath a selected level, a handoff request is generate responsive to the determinations made with respect to the initial threshold values. If, however, the mobile station is traveling at velocity greater than the selected value, analysis is further made of RF propagation data associated with the environment about the mobile station. Responsive to such additional information the hysteresis threshold values are altered. A determination is then made as to whether a handoff of communications should be performed by comparing values of the differences, earlier determined, between the values of signals generated by the serving and target base stations and the newly-decided threshold values. If a handoff of communications is needed, as determined by the subsequent comparison, a request for handoff of communications is requested.
In these and another aspects, therefore, apparatus, and an associated method, is provided for a radio communication system in which a mobile station is operable to communicate with a serving fixed-site communication station and to communicate with a target fixed-site communication station subsequent to effectuation of a communication handoff thereto. Selection of when to initiate the effectuation of the communication handoff is facilitated. A movement determiner is coupled to receive indications of differences between signal indicia associated with signals generated by the serving fixed-site communication station and signal indicia associated with signals associated with signals generated by the target fixed-site communication station. The movement determiner is selectably operable at least when the indications of the differences are beyond a first threshold set to determine movement indicia associated with the mobile station. A second threshold set calculator is coupled to receive indications of the movement indicia determined by the movement determiner. The threshold set calculator calculates second threshold set values when the movement indicia indicates selected movement of the mobile station. A second threshold set comparator is coupled to receive indications of the second threshold set values and indications of the differences between the signal indicia associated with the signals generated by the serving and the target fixed-site transceivers. The second threshold set comparator compares differences between the signal indicia and the second threshold set values. A handoff request selector is coupled to the second threshold set comparator. The handoff request selector selectably requests handoff of communications to the target fixed site communication station responsive to comparisons made by the second threshold set comparator.
The present invention will be better understood when read in light of the accompanying drawings which are described in the detailed description hereinbelow and in light of the claims appended hereto.

Apparatus, and associated method, for adaptively selecting a handoff threshold in a radio communication system


A security system in which wireless transmitting security devices use a hybrid or dual encoding methodology, wherein a first part of a data message is encoded in a return-to-zero (RZ) format and a second part of the data message is encoded in a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) format, thereby increasing error detection and correction. In a first aspect of the invention, status information is included in the first part of the message and redundant status information is included in the second part of the message. In a second aspect of the invention, message sequence information is included in the second part of the message to avoid processing of stale or out-of-sequence messages.

Security systems used to monitor premises and determine if the premises has been breached or an alarm condition exists are well known in the art. These systems typically include a control panel, a systems communications medium such as a data bus, and a number of security devices located throughout the premises for performing a certain function in the system. Security devices typically include glass break sensors, smoke detectors, fire detectors, motion sensors, door and window opening sensors, etc. Security devices also include peripherals such as dialers, keypads, display consoles, RF transmitters and receivers, etc. The control panel is typically configured to communicate with the security devices to collect and send information with these devices, such as when a user enters a "system arm" code in the keypad in order to arm the control panel and the security system.
Although security devices have in the past been typically wired to the system control panel, it has been increasingly common to utilize a wireless system wherein the need for a data bus or wired loop is eliminated (in whole or in part) by using radio frequency (RF) communications between components. In particular, it is desirable to use an RF transmitter in conjunction with a security device such as a motion detector to transmit RF signals to an RF receiver located near or integrated with the control panel for effecting wireless communications between the security device and the control panel. The RF receiver may also be interconnected to a wired bus or loop (to which the control panel is attached) so that a wireless link is utilized between the security device and the rest of the (wired) security system.
Data integrity is a particular concern with wireless security systems since there is no wired connection between the security device and the control panel. Methods have been used in the past, such as a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), in an attempt to provide for some error detection and/or correction in data transmissions. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved methodology for ensuring error-free data transmissions between components of a security system.

Hybrid encoding of data transmissions in a security system


The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for checking component compatibility during the manufacture and installation of a build to order computer system. When components are selected to manufacture the computer, each component may be included in a database that may indicate the revision number of the component and whether the component has any compatibility conflicts with other components. The system may select the latest revision of a component that does not have compatibility conflicts with other components utilized in the computer system. Further, the apparatus and method of the present invention may check new revisions of a component to verify whether a compatibility conflict present in earlier revisions still exists and may update the database when additional compatibility conflicts are identified.

The present invention relates generally to the installation and manufacture of computer systems and more specifically to an apparatus and method for checking component compatibility in a build to order computer system.
Systems and methods for efficient manufacture and installation of build to order computer systems are known to the art. For example, it is known to the art to install software and perform tests on the computer systems prior to shipping the computer system to a customer. This may result in a computer system that operates correctly and is free of malfunctioning components. Further, it is known to the art to utilize systems comprising a database that may maintain a list of the available components and required testing procedures for the associated components that may be performed during installation to more efficiently produce build to order computer systems.
Upon a customer making an order, systems known to the art may analyze the database comprising the list of available components and prescribe testing for the components necessary in the installation of the computer system. However, some components and versions of components do not operate correctly when matched with other components. For example, a component may not be compatible with another component resulting in a malfunctioning computer system. Computer manufacturing systems known to the art are limited in that they do not analyze and prevent the installation of components and versions of components that may have compatibility conflicts with other components included within the build to order computer system.
If each component listed within the component table could come equipped with a version/revision identification and a compatibility property, then a build to order computer system could be manufactured with the latest version of components available while ensuring that no compatibility conflicts were present among the components of the computer system. As such, this may result in a computer system capable of more efficient installation of a custom software configuration. Consequently, it would be advantageous if an apparatus and method existed that could be used to check component compatibility and may find a specific revision of a software component to install that may be compatible with the other software components. Further, it would be advantageous if the apparatus may update the compatibility of components when conflicts are identified. It would also be advantageous if new versions of software components could be targeted for testing to determine if a conflict that existed in the previous version still exists in the new version.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for installing a custom software configuration on a build to order computer system capable of checking component compatibility. The apparatus may comprise a database that includes a list of components and a list of install/test steps. Each component may be identified specifically, by its class, by the version/revision number, and may also include a compatibility property. The apparatus of the present invention may be capable of updating the compatibility property of each component when new conflicts are identified. Further, the apparatus may specifically target testing of new versions of components that had a compatibility conflict in a previous version.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Apparatus and method for checking component compatibility in a build to order computer system


Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) polymers that have an average molecular weight of at least 500,000 g/mol and an enthalpy of at least 190 J/g is provided. The UHMWPE polymer may include at least one comonomer. The UHMWPE polymer is used to form a membrane, that, when expanded, has a node and fibril structure. The UHMWPE membrane has an endotherm of about 150° C. associated with the fibrils in the membrane. The membrane has a percent porosity of at least 25%, and in exemplary embodiments, the percent porosity is at least 60%. Additionally, the UHMWPE membrane has a thickness less than 1 mm. An UHMWPE membrane may be formed by lubricating the UHMWPE polymer, subjecting the lubricated polymer to pressure at a temperature below the melting point of the UHMWPE polymer to form a tape, and expanding the tape at a temperature below the melting temperature of the UHMWPE polymer.

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is well known in the art. Articles made from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene possess properties such as toughness, impact strength, abrasion resistance, low coefficient of friction, gamma resistance, and resistance to attack by solvents and corrosive chemicals. Because of the favorable attributes associated with ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has been utilized in a variety of applications, such as load-bearing components of articulating joint prostheses, vibration dampener pads, hydraulic cylinders, sports equipment, including, but not limited to, skis, ski poles, goggle frames, protective helmets, climbing equipment, and in specialized applications in aerospace.
UHMWPE polymers can be processed by compression molding, ram extrusion, gel spinning, and sintering. However, these conventional processes have one or more undesirable feature or attribute, such as requiring high solvent levels, processing above the melt temperature of the UHMWPE polymer, they result in a non-porous structure, and/or are costly and/or slow to process. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a process for making an UHMWPE article that is processed below the melt, has high strength, has a microstructure of nodes and fibrils, and is highly porous.

Method for producing porous articles from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene


Embodiments of the invention provide a system for encrypting web session data which may include a session management module adapted to receive data from a web application module and provide a token that represents the data in encrypted form to the web application, wherein the web application is adapted to use the token to represent the data. The system may also include a tokenizer module communicably coupled to the session management module, wherein the tokenizer module is adapted to receive the data and generate the token. Further, the system may include a database communicably coupled to the session management module, wherein the database is adapted to receive the token and the data, associate the token with the data, and store the token and the data.

Visa's PCI-DSS gives very specific guidelines about how card data is to be handled if it is to be stored in an "at-rest" state. PCI-DSS compliance in an enterprise computing landscape can be difficult due to the requirements around encryption. The XiSecure product was created to address these difficulties, and it does so by creating a centralized location where data can be stored in a way that complies with PCI-DSS. XiSecure also potentially removes PCI-DSS requirements from some systems since sensitive data is replaced with a token that can be passed between the various enterprise systems.
New integration methodologies such as the "Enterprise Service Bus" or ESB are a new challenge to overcoming the PCI-DSS requirements on systems. Using an ESB, messages are exchanged between services by using a database to persist messages on the "bus". This generally means that messages incoming from external sources, such as a web-based e-commerce system, are persisted directly to disk upon entering the service bus. This persisted data often contains sensitive information such as credit card numbers; sensitive data such as card numbers should never be persisted to disk unless they are first encrypted according to the PCI-DSS.
The merits of interpreting this "no persistence unless encrypted" literally can be debated. While it does seem obvious that persisting unencrypted data to the database should be avoided, the ESB uses the database more as an inter-process communication conduit rather than a place to store and retrieve organized data. Certainly, if interpreted literally, modern operating systems that implement virtual memory (where a running program's memory can be written to disk by the operating system without the program's knowledge) would be impossible to comply with the PCI-DSS. Regardless of lack of technical specifics that is typical of the PCI-DSS, the interpretation tends to be strict when involving the ESB due to the involvement of writing data into a database.
Therefore, there is a need for a Secure Web Encryption Accelerator (XWEA) that is designed with this strict interpretation of the storage of sensitive data in the database.


A multi-positional chair assembly comprises a frame portion defined by a pair of sinuously-shaped bars. The frame portion includes a back support section, a middle section, and a buttocks support section. The sections are joined at multiple junctions defined by a bowed shape. A resilient panel traverses the pair of sinuously-shaped bars, providing a supportive surface for a user. The panel may include a resilient metal sheet, apertures, or parallel strips of material. The frame portion can be positioned in multiple positions to provide a sitting surface, including a lounge chair position and a higher elevated stool position. The chair assembly reconfigures between the lounge chair position and the stool position through rotation. Rotating the buttocks support section and the legs to engage the ground surface achieves the lounge chair position. And rotating the back support section and the legs to engage the ground surface achieves the stool position.

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, chair designs for office, home, waiting rooms, and the like, are designed for optimum posture of the chair occupant. Typically, the back portion of these chairs is designed to match the curves of the human trunk. Also, a bar stool is a type of tall chair, often with a foot rest to support the feet. The height and narrowness of bar stools makes them suitable for use at bars and high table.
It is known in the art that small living spaces and an on-going interest in multi-purposeful and flexible spaces in today's modern society can be explained with a continual growing population. Human factors and ergonomics haven't changed, but the growing urban housing development requires new design to adapt its urban phenomenon. Given the fact that living spaces are being smaller, the solution is on re-configuring furniture while maintaining the primary human needs and comfort.
There has been a fixed idea of what a chair can be, typically a stationary chair with one function. In addition, placing the chairs with high and low seating heights in front of each other where the chair in the back functions as a stool while the chair in front reclines as a lounging position provide unobstructed views during events. Its convertible feature minimizes seating needs by enabling users to customize seating preferences.
The present invention of a multi-positional chair assembly provides a dual-purpose chair that can be converted either as a lounge chair or a bar stool. Both positions are ergonomically dimensioned with ideal heights, widths and angles that not only offers comfort but its capacity to transport, with stack-able features for optimal storage use.
Other proposals have involved multi-positional chairs. The problem with these chairs is that they do not provide both a lounge chair and a bar stool in the same configuration, with the chairs having different heights. Also, the chairs are not stackable. Even though the above cited chairs meet some of the needs of the market, a multi-positional chair assembly that comprises a frame portion defined by a pair of sinuous shape traversed by a flexible panel, which can be positioned in multiple positions to provide a sitting surface, from either a lounge chair position, and a higher elevated stool position, is still desired.


An image forming device includes a plurality of power consumption parts that operate by power supply from a power source. The image forming device includes a failure detection part that detects occurrence of an unrecoverable failure, and a main controller that suppresses an amount of power supplied to the plurality of power consumption parts in response to detection by the failure detection part of the occurrence of an unrecoverable failure.

A conventional image forming device determines whether to turn on and off a power source device depending on the condition of a failure that has occurred in the device, and whether to turn off the power source that supplies power to the entire device when an unrecoverable failure occurs, in order to save unnecessary power consumption (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2010-147810 (paragraphs [0068]-[0076] and FIG. 2), for example). In the applications, the "unrecoverable failure" means a failure that may be caused by heat generated by components and the like inside the device and that is difficult to overcome by the device itself, and that might damage the device. For example, an abnormal rotation and low performance of a cooling fan that are caused by a power supply error, are included. A case where a cooling fan stops due to accumulated dust or waste is as well.
However, in the above-described conventional technology, when the unrecoverable failure occurs, the entire device is always stopped because the power source that supplies power is turned off. Therefore, there is a problem that it is inconvenient for the user, as the device cannot be used until the device has recovered from the failure. The present application has an object to solve the above-described problem and to maintain the user's convenience by allowing the device to be used even when the unrecoverable failure occurs.

Image forming device and failure control system for the same


A spiral bristle (201) includes: a first component (231), a second component (233), and a third component (235), with each of the second and third components (233, 235) wrapping around the first component (231) in a helical and spaced-apart manner, the second and third components (233, 235) isolated from one another by the first component (231). An oral care implement includes the spiral bristle.

Presently color is used in individual bristles, which are generally combined into bristle tufts of a toothbrush, to provide the user with an indicator of the wear due to use of the toothbrush. In the case of spiral bristles, the introduction of color for purposes other than to show wear, such as for decorative purposes, can be problematic because bristles on a toothbrush tend to have a small cross sectional diameter, which for some bristles are on the order of 0.5 mm or less. Therefore, decorative color on a toothbrush tends to be created by groupings of bristles having the same coloration, or by larger tooth cleaning elements, which make it easier to introduce coloration due to the larger scale size as compared to an individual bristle.

Oral care implement and spiral bristle for use with the same


A semiconductor sealing epoxy resin composition includes a flexibilizer which is a previous reactant between a denatured silicone oil having epoxy groups and a phenol novolak resin, a novolak type of epoxy resin, a hardening agent, an accelerator, a filler, a die lubricant, and a surface treatment agent. This composition has a heat and moisture resistance needs for a semiconductor sealing material, and as well as a low elastic modulus.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor sealing epoxy resin composition, and, more particularly, to a semiconductor sealing epoxy resin composition using a flexibilizer comprising a reactant product of denatured silicone oil having an epoxy group and phenolnovolak resin, which exhibits the heat and humidity resistance of epoxy resins, as well providing a hardened material with low elasticity, great strength, and low expansion ratio.
In recent years, semiconductor devices tend to be enlarged and greatly integrated, and if such semiconductor devices are sealed by a conventional epoxy resin composition, the chip can generate cracks or the bonding wire can be cut due to the thermal stress caused between the difference in the linear thermal expansion ratio of the chip (or lead frame) and the sealing resin. The reliability of the semiconductor products therefore deteriorates. The reason for this deterioration the nature of conventional semiconductor sealing epoxy resins; they have been developed for achieving heat resistance and water resistance using a hardened material which is too hard and lacks flexibility, therefore creating great stress in the device.
In order to minimize this stress, the materials which make up the semiconductor device need to have a lower elastic modulus, expansion ratio and glass transition point. However, in order to retain the moisture resistance and head resistance, the glass transition point needs to be sufficiently high. A method of realizing a low stress comprises using a flexibilizer. However, when the conventional flexibilizer is used to lower the elastic modulus, the glass transition point of the hardened material can be excessively lowered, causing the electric characteristics and the moisture resistance of the semiconductor device to deteriorate at high temperatures, thus making it not suitable as a semiconductor sealing resin composition.
In order to improve the semiconductor's electric characteristics at high temperatures, low elastic modulus silicone resin can be used as the flexibilizer and is mixed with an epoxy resin. However, a use of the silicone resin causes deterioration in the adhesiveness between the resin and metal, thus increasing the vapor moisture transmission, leading to an unreliable moisture resistance.
As a flexibilizer exhibiting an excellent moisture resistance without lowering the glass transition point, a denatured rubber epoxy flexibilizer is proposed. This flexibilizer is obtained by reacting polybutadiene having carboxyl groups at both ends thereof, or a copolymer of a polybutadiene having carboxyl groups at both ends thereof, and acrylonitrile with an epoxy resin. However, when such flexibilizer is stored at high temperatures, unsaturated bonds in the polybutadiene structure deteriorate due to oxidation, resulting in the loss of flexibility.
Furthermore, a semiconductor sealing epoxy resin composition exhibiting an excellent heat resistance is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-2322 in which phenolnovolak epoxy resin and phenolnovolak resin are mixed into the epoxy resin as the hardening agent. However, this composition suffers from insufficient crack resistance. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-108220, a semiconductor sealing epoxy resin composition exhibiting excellent heat resistance (glass transition point and so on) and excellent crack resistance is disclosed which contains 0.05 to 10 wt % of a rubber component. However, this composition deteriorates when it is subjected to a high temperature standing test (strength can be lowered and its weight can be also reduced).

Semiconductor sealing epoxy resin composition


An object of the present invention is to provide: a thermoplastic elastomer composition, which is accompanied by less environmental burden, and which has flexibility, rubber elasticity, formability and recyclability; and a molded product obtained using the same. The present invention is directed to a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a thermoplastic resin (A) derived from a non-petroleum source, and at least one rubber (B) selected from a natural rubber, a diene polymer rubber, an olefin polymer rubber, an acrylic rubber and a silicone rubber, the thermoplastic elastomer composition being obtained by allowing the rubber (B) to be dynamically crosslinked with a crosslinking agent (C) in the presence of the thermoplastic resin (A). Preferred (A) is a polylactic acid, or a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), and preferred (B) is a natural rubber.

In recent years, environmental pollution caused by discarding plastics, global warming due to gasses generated in incineration of plastics, and the like have been problematic. Under such circumstances, for example, polylactic acid obtained by polymerization of lactic acid produced by fermentation of starch or the like, and the like have attracted attention as biodegradable plastics and carbon neutral materials (Patent Documents 1 and 2). Herein, the term "carbon neutral material" refers to a material which yields a small amount of discharge of carbon dioxide gas during the entire life cycle (from collecting the raw material until disposal).
The polylactic acid obtained from carbohydrates (starch and the like) produced by plants are accompanied by significantly smaller amount of a carbon dioxide gas generated during time periods from the manufacturing step to disposal step, as compared with general resins derived from petroleum (i.e., being carbon neutral).
Furthermore, similarly to polylactic acid, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) polymers have also attracted attention (Patent Documents 3 and 4). The poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) polymers can be produced, for example, using a microorganism, from a methane gas obtained by fermentation of organic wastes such as garbage, food wastes and livestock excreta under anaerobic conditions, or from plant raw materials. In addition, the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) polymers are biodegradable after the disposal, or are turned back to the methane gas by microorganisms, therefore, they are recyclable and environmentally friendly plastics.
Moreover, polybutylene succinate polymers have also attracted attention as materials accompanied by a smaller amount of carbon dioxide gas discharged, as compared with general resins derived from petroleum (Patent Document 5). The polybutylene succinate polymer can be manufacture by, for example, using succinic acid and a diol component as raw materials, and the succinic acid can be manufactured by fermentation of a saccharide such as sugarcane or maize.
As described in the foregoing, a variety of plastics constituted using a material derived from a non-petroleum source taking into consideration the environment have been developed so far. However, these plastics are inferior in flexibility, rubber elasticity, compression set property and the like, and many of these are also accompanied by difficulties in molding processing, whereby their applicable scope has been restricted.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-275303
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-040598
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2006-045366
Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2005-304484
Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2005-211041


Nucleic acid molecules from nematodes encoding PAN and ZP domain containing receptor polypeptides are described. PANZP polypeptide sequences are also provided, as are vectors, host cells, and recombinant methods for production of PANZP nucleotides and polypeptides. Also described are screening methods for identifying inhibitors and/or activators, as well as methods for antibody production.

Nematodes (derived from the Greek word for thread) are active, flexible, elongate, organisms that live on moist surfaces or in liquid environments, including films of water within soil and moist tissues within other organisms. While only 20,000 species of nematode have been identified, it is estimated that 40,000 to 10 million actually exist. Some species of nematodes have evolved to be very successful parasites of both plants and animals and are responsible for significant economic losses in agriculture and livestock and for morbidity and mortality in humans (Whitehead (1998) Plant Nematode Control, CAB International, New York).
Nematode parasites of plants can inhabit all parts of plants, including roots, developing flower buds, leaves, and stems. Plant parasites are classified on the basis of their feeding habits into the broad categories: migratory ectoparasites, migratory endoparasites, and sedentary endoparasites. Sedentary endoparasites, which include the root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne) and cyst nematodes (Globodera and Heterodera) induce feeding sites and establish long-term infections within roots that are often very damaging to crops (Whitehead, supra). It is estimated that parasitic nematodes cost the horticulture and agriculture industries in excess of $78 billion worldwide a year, based on an estimated average 12% annual loss spread across all major crops. For example, it is estimated that nematodes cause soybean losses of approximately $3.2 billion annually worldwide (Barker et al. (1994) Plant and Soil Nematodes: Societal Impact and Focus for the Future. The Committee on National Needs and Priorities in Nematology. Cooperative State Research Service, US Department of Agriculture and Society of Nematologists). Several factors make the need for safe and effective nematode controls urgent. Continuing population growth, famines, and environmental degradation have heightened concern for the sustainability of agriculture, and new government regulations may prevent or severely restrict the use of many available agricultural anthelmintic agents.
The situation is particularly dire for high value crops such as strawberries and tomatoes where chemicals have been used extensively to control soil pests. The soil fumigant methyl bromide has been used effectively to reduce nematode infestations in a variety of these specialty crops. It is however regulated under the U.N. Montreal Protocol as an ozone-depleting substance and is scheduled for elimination in 2005 in the US (Carter (2001) Califonia Agriculture, 55 (3):2). It is expected that strawberry and other commodity crop industries will be significantly impacted if a suitable replacement for methyl bromide is not found. Presently there are a very small array of chemicals available to control nematodes and they are frequently inadequate, unsuitable, or too costly for some crops or soils (Becker (1999) Agricultural Research Magazine 47 (3):22-24; U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,714). The few available broad-spectrum nematicides such as Telone (a mixture of 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin) have significant restrictions on their use because of toxicological concerns (Carter (2001) California Agriculture, Vol. 55 (3):12-18).
The macrocyclic lactones (e.g., avermectins and milbemycins) and delta-toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are nematicidal actives that in principle provide excellent specificity and efficacy and should allow environmentally safe control of plant parasitic nematodes. Unfortunately, in practice, these two approaches have proven less effective for agricultural applications against root pathogens. Although certain avermectins show exquisite activity against plant parasitic nematodes these chemicals are hampered by poor bioavailability due to their light sensitivity, degradation by soil microorganisms and tight binding to soil particles (Lasota & Dybas (1990) Acta Leiden 59 (1-2):217-225; Wright & Perry (1998) Musculature and Neurobiology. In: The Physiology and Biochemistry of Free-Living and Plant-parasitic Nematodes (eds R. N. Perry & D. J. Wright), CAB International 1998). Consequently despite years of research and extensive use against animal parasitic nematodes, mites and insects (plant and animal applications), macrocyclic lactones (e.g., avermectins and milbemycins) have never been commercially developed to control plant parasitic nematodes in the soil.
Bt delta toxins must be ingested to affect their target organ, the brush border of midgut epithelial cells (Marroquin et al. (2000) Genetics. 155 (4):1693-1699). Consequently they are not anticipated to be effective against the dispersal, non-feeding, juvenile stages of plant parasitic nematodes in the field. Because juvenile stages only commence feeding when a susceptible host has been infected, nematicides may need to penetrate the plant cuticle to be effective. In addition, soil mobility of a relatively large 65-130 kDa protein—the size of typical Bt delta toxins—is expected to be poor and transgenic delivery in planta is likely to be constrained by the exclusion of large particles by the feeding tube of certain plant parasitic nematodes such as Heterodera (Atkinson et al. (1998) Engineering resistance to plant-parasitic nematodes. In: The Physiology and Biochemistry of Free-Living and Plant-parasitic Nematodes (eds R. N. Perry & D. J. Wright), CAB International 1998).
Many plant species are known to be highly resistant to nematodes. The best documented of these include marigolds (Tagetes spp.), rattlebox (Crotalaria spectabilis), chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum spp.), castor bean (Ricinus communis), margosa (Azardiracta indica), and many members of the family Asteraceae (family Compositae) (Hackney & Dickerson. (1975) J Nematol 7 (1):84-90). In the case of the Asteraceae, the photodynamic compound alpha-terthienyl has been shown to account for the strong nematicidal activity of the roots. Castor beans are plowed under as a green manure before a seed crop is set. However, a significant drawback of the castor plant is that the seed contains toxic compounds (such as ricin) that can kill humans, pets, and livestock and is also highly allergenic. In many cases however, the active principle(s) for plant nematicidal activity has not been discovered and it remains difficult to derive commercially successful nematicidal products from these resistant plants or to transfer the resistance to agronomically important crops such as soybeans and cotton.
There remains an urgent need to develop environmentally safe, target-specific ways of controlling plant parasitic nematodes. In the specialty crop markets, economic hardship resulting from nematode infestation is highest in strawberries, bananas, and other high value vegetables and fruits. In the high-acreage crop markets, nematode damage is greatest in soybeans and cotton. There are however, dozens of additional crops that suffer from nematode infestation including potato, pepper, onion, citrus, coffee, sugarcane, greenhouse ornamentals and golf course turf grasses.
Nematode parasites of vertebrates (e.g., humans, livestock and companion animals) include gut roundworms, hookworms, pinworms, whipworms, and filarial worms. They can be transmitted in a variety of ways, including by water contamination, slin penetration, biting insects, or by ingestion of contaminated food.
In domesticated animals, nematode control or "de-worning" is essential to the economic viability of livestock producers and is a necessary part of veterinary care of companion animals. Parasitic nematodes cause mortality in animals (e.g., heartworm in dogs and cats) and morbidity as a result of the parasites' inhibiting the ability of the infected animal to absorb nutrients. The parasite-induced nutrient deficiency leads to disease and stunted growth in livestock and companion animals. For instance, in cattle and dairy herds, a single untreated infection with the brown stomach worm can permanently restrict an animal's ability to convert feed into muscle mass or milk.
Two factors contribute to the need for novel anthelmintics and vaccines for control of parasitic nematodes of animals. First, some of the more prevalent species of parasitic nematodes of livestock are building resistance to the anthelmintic drugs available currently, meaning that these products will eventually lose their efficacy. These developments are not surprising because few effective anthelmintic drugs are available and most have been used continuously. Some parasitic species have developed resistance to most of the anthelmintics (Geents et al. (1997) Parasitology Today 13:149-151; Prichard (1994) Veterinary Parasitology 54:259-268). The fact that many of the anthelmintic drugs have similar modes of action complicates matters, as the loss of sensitivity of the parasite to one drug is often accompanied by side resistance—that is, resistance to other drugs in the same class (Sangster & Gill (1999) Parasitology Today 15 (4):141-146). Secondly, there are some issues with toxicity for the major compounds currently available.
Infections by parasitic nematode worms result in substantial human mortality and morbidity, especially in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The World Health Organization estimates 2.9 billion people are infected, and in some areas, 85% of the population carries worms. While mortality is rare in proportion to infections, morbidity is substantial and rivals diabetes and lung cancer in worldwide disability adjusted life year (DALY) measurements.
Examples of human parasitic nematodes include hookworms, filarial worms, and pinworms. Hookworms (1.3 billion infections) are the major cause of anemia in millions of children, resulting in growth retardation and impaired cognitive development. Filarial worm species invade the lymphatics, resulting in permanently swollen and deformed limbs (elephantiasis), and the eyes, causing African river blindness. The large gut roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides infects more than one billion people worldwide and causes malnutrition and obstructive bowel disease. In developed countries, pinworms are common and often transmitted through children in daycare.
Even in asymptomatic parasitic infections, nematodes can still deprive the host of valuable nutrients and increase the ability of other organisms to establish secondary infections. In some cases, infections can cause debilitating illnesses and can result in anemia, diarrhea, dehydration, loss of appetite, or death.
Despite some advances in drug availability and public health infrastructure and the near elimination of one tropical nematode (the water-borne Guinea worm), most nematode diseases have remained intractable problems. Treatment of hookworm diseases with anthelmintic drugs, for instance, has not provided adequate control in regions of high incidence because rapid re-infection occurs after treatment. In fact, over the last 50 years, while nematode infection rates have fallen in the United States, Europe, and Japan, the overall number of infections worldwide has kept pace with the growing world population. Large scale initiatives by regional governments, the World Health Organization, foundations, and pharmaceutical companies are now underway attempting to control nematode infections with currently available tools, including three programs for control of Onchocerciasis (river blindness) in Africa and the Americas using ivermectin and vector control; The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis using DEC, albendazole, and ivermectin; and the highly successful Guinea Worm Eradication Program.
The obvious missing weapons in the fight to control human parasitic nematodes are vaccines. Systematic vaccination against childhood diseases likes measles, mumps, polio, etc. has been among the most important and cost effective factors increasing lifespan and wellness in the developed world over the course of the 20th century. Expansion of these health gains into the developing world using existing vaccines, as the Gates Foundation is supporting, has the potential to capture immediate health gains. Such an approach could be equally effective for nematodes if such vaccines existed.
Research into vaccines for parasites, from malaria to nematode worms, has shown parasites to be challenging organisms to control by immunization since, unlike many viruses, antibody or cellular responses to most surface antigens fail to result in control. However, multiple vaccines for the control of nematode parasites in animals have shown efficacy either in testing or in veterinary use. For example, vaccination of dogs with irradiated hookworm larva results in high levels of protection to subsequent hookworm challenge. The same approach works for protection of gerbils from filarial worms. Unfortunately, parasitic nematodes cannot be grown in the quantities required for such a killed whole organism vaccination approach, with limited exceptions such as the Intervet niche product HuskVac™ for cattle lungworm. The greatest commercial success to date in immunization for veterinary parasites has come from the recombinant antigen vaccines TickGARD™ and Gavac™ for cattle which block the lifecycle of the ectoparasite Boophilus microplus, a bovine tick. Rather than utilizing a surface antigen, each of these vaccines targets an antigen, Bm86, expressed on the luminal surface of the tick mid-gut so that as the ectoparasite drinks the host's blood, it is exposed to antibodies that interfere with intestinal function. The same intestinal target approach has been successful in small-scale trials against the sheep parasitic nematode Haemonchus, a blood feeder similar to hookworms that can be controlled by vaccination with the purified parasite intestinal microvilli protein H11. Importantly, unlike a typical vaccine where the antigen is used to trigger a cascade of immune attack on the entire organism, the parasite intestinal approach utilizes an antibody response to "knockout" the function of a crucial nematode gene product, similar to the function of a drug.
Finding effective compounds and vaccines against parasitic nematodes has been complicated by the fact that the parasites have not been amenable to culturing in the laboratory. Parasitic nematodes are often obligate parasites (i.e., they can only complete their lifecycles in their respective hosts, such as in plants, animals, and/or humans) with slow generation times. Thus, they are difficult to grow under artificial conditions, making genetic and molecular experimentation difficult or impossible. To circumvent these limitations, scientists have used Caenorhabidits elegans as a model system for parasitic nematode discovery efforts.
C. elegans is a small free-living bacteriovorous nematode that for many years has served as an important model system for multicellular animals (Burglin (1998) Int. J. Parasitol. 28 (3):395-411). The genome of C. elegans has been completely sequenced and the nematode shares many general developmental and basic cellular processes with vertebrates (Ruvkin et al. (1998) Science 282:2033-41). This, together with its short generation time and ease of culturing, has made it a model system of choice for higher eukaryotes (Aboobaker et al. (2000) Ann. Med. 32:23-30).
Although C elegans serves as a good model system for vertebrates, it is an even better model for study of parasitic nematodes, as C. elegans and other nematodes share unique biological processes not found in vertebrates. For example, unlike vertebrates, nematodes produce and use chitin, have gap junctions comprised of innexin rather than connexin and contain glutamate-gated chloride channels rather than glycine-gated chloride channels (Bargmann (1998) Science 282:2028-33). The latter property is of particular relevance given that the avermectin class of drugs is thought to act at glutamate-gated chloride receptors and is highly selective for invertebrates (Martin (1997) Vet. J. 154:11-34).
A subset of the genes involved in nematode-specific processes will be conserved in nematodes and absent or significantly diverged from homologues in other phyla. In other words, it is expected that at least some of the genes associated with functions unique to nematodes will have restricted phylogenetic distributions. The completion of the C. elegans genome project and the growing database of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from numerous nematodes facilitate identification of these "nematode-specific" genes. In addition, conserved genes involved in nematode-specific processes are expected to retain the same or very similar functions in different nematodes. This functional equivalence has been demonstrated in some cases by transforming C. elegans with homologous genes from other nematodes (Kwa et al. (1995) J. Mol. Biol. 246:500-10; Redmond et al. (2001) Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 112:125-131). This sort of data transfer has been shown in cross phyla comparisons for conserved genes and is expected to be more robust among species within a phylum. Consequently, C. elegans and other free-living nematode species are likely excellent surrogates for parasitic nematodes with respect to conserved nematode processes.
Many expressed genes in C. elegans and certain genes in other free-living nematodes can be "knocked out" genetically by a process referred to as RNA interference (RNAi), a technique that provides a powerful experimental tool for the study of gene function in nematodes (Fire et al. (1998) Nature 391 (6669):806-811; Montgomery et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad Sci USA 95 (26):15502-15507). Treatment of a nematode with double-stranded RNA of a selected gene triggers the destruction of expressed sequences transcribed from that gene, thus reducing or eliminating expression of the corresponding protein. By preventing the translation of specific proteins, their functional significance and essentiality to the nematode can be assessed. Determination of essential genes and their corresponding proteins using C. elegans as a model system will assist in the rational design of anti-parasitic nematode control products.

Nematode PAN and ZP receptor-like sequences