The present invention provides a method for preparing cells for use in a hematology blood control. The preparation steps, namely the use of cross-linking agents such as aldehydes, involve a step-wise process starting with very low concentrations of a cross-linking agent. Successive fixations involve an increase in the concentration of cross-linking agent.

The present invention relates to a hematology blood control and, more particularly, to a hematology control made from human leukocytes and a method for the preparation of the control.
Instruments for the analysis of blood components and chemistry have been used for many years. The accuracy and sensitivity of these hematology instruments have steadily advanced. The early forms of hematology instrumentation have evolved to relatively complex machines that analyze the discreet components of blood based upon the intricate and subtle characteristics of its components.
The most recent iteration in automated hematology instrumentation has been the multi-part analysis of human white cells, in addition to the detection of red blood cells and platelets. The white cell populations typically include lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils. The methods for blood cell analysis involve the electrical and optical properties of each type of blood cell. The Beckman-Coulter(trademark) five-part white cell analysis instrument uses three different types of technologies, which include electrical impedance, a DC mathematical manipulation called conductance, using a low voltage DC (direct current) measurement, Rf (radio frequency modulation), and laser technology which includes light scatter and light absorption. The Rf measurement is typically used with the DC low frequency measurement to create a parameter called opacity which is a calculation of Rf divided by DC. Instruments by other manufacturers, such as Abbott Diagnostics(trademark), Technicon(trademark), and TOA(trademark), use a combination of electrical impedance, DC conductance and/or laser technology, Rf, depolarized 90xc2x0 angle light scatter, and/or light absorption. Although the basic types of electronic technology may appear the same, each manufacturer has a unique implementation for the instrument hardware and software that is required to analyze blood cells. The individual implementations of this technology by the various manufacturers have resulted in a wide array of reagents and methodology for each specific instrument of each manufacturer, thereby increasing the complexity and expense of their use. There is no one reagent or methodology that can be used with a plurality of instruments.
In order to ensure that a hematology instrument is working properly, it has been mandated by governments that there be a method to verify the integrity of the instrument using a blood control. The control should contain particles that represent all of the cellular elements of fresh blood, as well as a liquid component that serves as a suspending media similar to the function of human plasma. This synthetic plasma usually contains components that are the same as or function the same as native plasma. The components of synthetic plasma include inorganic salts, organic and/or inorganic buffers, and a viscous material for maintaining homeostasis similar to the plasma proteins. The manufacturer of a control provides all of the critical values such as cell count, cell size, and cell type. The control material should have sufficient shelf life to be used for days, weeks, or months to ensure the consistency of instrument performance over time.
The method for preparing a hematology control is dependent on the hardware and software design of the specific instrument in which the control is to be used, as well as the requirements for extended shelf life. Particles in blood control products that work like human white cells, red blood cells, or platelets on a Coulter(trademark) type instrument may not work effectively on other instruments, such as instruments manufactured by Abbott Laboratories(trademark), Technicon(trademark), or TOA(trademark) instruments.
Moreover, because these particles are usually modified from various types of blood cells, they do not behave like living native fresh blood cells. Consequently, human white cells fixed with a cross-linking agent like glutaraldehyde may behave like a neutrophil on an Abbott(trademark) instrument, but behave like cellular debris on a Coulter(trademark) instrument. Specially treated and cross-linked red blood cells from non-mammalian vertebrates may look like mononuclear cells on one type of hematology instrument and look like lymphocytes on another.
The control of the present invention is achieved using a gentle chemical removal of red cells, leaving an intact white cell preparation. The preservation steps, namely the use of cross-linking agents such as aldehydes, involves a step-wise process starting with very low concentrations of a cross-linking agent. The fixation part of the process outlined in this disclosure has also been applied to non-mammalian blood cells and therefor would appear to be a universal procedure for preparing all types of vertebrate blood cells. The examples below include small as well as large volume processes. It has been found that the concentration and timing elements must be adjusted based on the volume of the reaction mixture. Thus, a final volume of 15 mL will require different proportions of elements and different timing steps compared to a 1 liter batch. For example, it is possible to perform a 15 second centrifugation with a 15 mL tube process but this 15 second step is essentially impossible with a 1 L bottle batch. The selective use of lytic agents and the unique fixation process eliminates the need for supportive reagents as cholesterol, which have been found to be necessary for the successful display of preserved human white cells.
The basic components for the preparation of the control of the present invention include the following:
A quantity of source leukocytes between 0-5 days old, preferably one day old, stored in a styrofoam or other insulated container with sufficient cold packs to insure the units are cool but not cold. Overnight storage at 4xc2x0 C. will sufficiently alter the quality of the white cells or potentially require modifications in the processing of the blood.
A lytic agent including of any one or a combination of the following:
an organic acid such as formic, acetic, and propionic acids. The preferred acid is propionic acid.
a quantity of saponin in water. Suitable types of saponin include, but are not limited to, Sapindus and Quillaja. The preferred saponin is Sapindus.
A quench made with inorganic salts including one or a combination of the following:
Carbonate buffered, similar to that used in certain commercial products, such as Hematronix, Inc. Diff Pak(trademark) containing sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, and sodium chloride.
Buffer free sodium sulfate and sodium chloride salts.
Buffer free sodium sulfate only
Buffer free sodium chloride only
Sodium phosphate only
Any of the above salt solutions with cross-linking agent.
A post-lytic hypotonic fixing reagent including one or more of the following:
Low osmolarity salt, such as diluted M-Ringers, an xcex1-naphtol based salt solution, or diluted mammalian balanced salt solution as Osmocel(copyright).
a low carbon number glycol, such as propylene glycol
a cross-linking agent, such as an aldehyde like glutaraldehyde.
An additional post-lytic reagent including one or more of the following:
a cross-linking agent, such as an aldehyde like glutaraldehyde.
The preferred method for achieving the control of the present invention includes the gentle removal of non-white cell components from commercially available Source Leukocytes and the gentle step-wise preservation of the remaining white cells. The gentle removal of non-white cell components (i.e. red blood cells) from Source Leukocytes requires a lytic agent which preferentially removes blood cells. The preferred lytic agent includes a specific type of saponin called Sapindus. Other agents, such as short chain fatty acids with or without saponin, are also effective. Optimization of the process with saponin rather than a short chain fatty acid showed better performance when comparing weak versus strong Coulter instrument reagents.
The time of Source Leukocyte exposure to lyse and the volume of lyse are directly related to the size (volume) of the prepared white cells. Increased lyse time destroys non-neutrophil particles (i.e. lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils) faster than neutrophil particles. The red blood cell count in the Source Leukocyte material has some effect (slight increase in white cell volume with increased red cell count) on the quality of the preserved white cells when using low red cell count versus high red cell count in the Source Leukocyte units.
After lytic treatment of the Source Leukocytes, the remaining white cells are exposed to a hyperosmotic salt solution (i.e. quench) containing no fixative or a low to moderate concentration of fixative, in the range of 0.1% to 0.5%. The salt solution raises the ionic strength to normal or near normal concentration and it prevents protein agglutination and controls the cell size and laser light scatter. The low concentration of cross-linking agent in the quench or added soon after the quench, provides a mild stabilization of the protein moieties of the white cells.
The cells in lyse, quench, and glutaraldehyde are incubated for a short time, approximately one hour or less. Then the lytic/quench/fix solution is replaced with a hyposmotic solution containing a second round of low to moderate cross-linking agent, from about 0.5 to 10% glutaraldehyde, for 1-8 days at room temperature. It is preferable that the solution be kept at approximately 37xc2x0 C. for a period of time, preferably 2 and one-half hours, to maintain long term stability of cellular characteristics as observed on a Coulter(trademark) 5-part WBC analyzer. Incremental decreases in the salt concentration will increase the particle volume and decrease Coulter(trademark) Scatter. Incremental increases in the salt concentration will decrease particle volume and increase Coulter(trademark) Scatter. Adding a cross-linking agent after exposure to the hyposmotic salt solutions results in a slightly higher volume than adding directly to the hyposmotic salt solution. If a larger volume is required, adding the cross-linking agent to the hyposmotic solution will provide an incremental increase in volume.
A third fixation may be applied using moderate to high glutaraldehyde fixation, from about 1-20%. The fixative is typically added directly to the supernatant rather than washing the cells as part of the third (tertiary) fixation.
The general procedure for treating human white cells includes a very low concentration of fixative after red cell lysis. Successive fixations involve an increase in the concentration of cross-linking agent by geometric or preferred log concentrations. The successive fixation steps are performed to maintain the characteristics of non-treated white cells and to extend the stability of the treated white cells. For example, if the first fix is at 0.1% glutaradehyde, the second fixation would be 1% and the third would be 10%. In concert with the progressive fixation steps, it has been found that elevated heating of the secondary fixed cells for the first 0.25-2 hours of exposure results in larger more stable particles. To provide added stability, a third fixation step is provided at a higher concentration of cross-linking agent than the first and second fixation steps.
Finally, the fixed white cells are washed in a hyposmotic solution then resuspended and stored in an hyposmotic or isosmotic solution for 1-30 days then added to preserved red blood cells in a synthetic plasma.
Decreasing the ionic strength from 60% Ringers to 20% Ringers will increase the volume depending on the strength of the cross-linking agent.
Some of the fixation steps, such as the first and third, are not required to obtain acceptable results, but do provide better quality and better long term stability. The gentle removal of non-white cell elements, the timing of the lysis, the use of lyse concentration and lyse volume, and the use of low to high concentrations of cross-linking agents during the process provide the desired stability and quality to be maintained in a commercial blood control red blood cell suspension.
Another agent important to the process is a low molecular weight glycol, such as propylene glycol, which has been found to selectively preserve white cells that have unique properties depending on the assay instrument. For example, propylene glycol was found to effect the display of particles in the monocyte region on the Coulter(trademark) Model MAXM(trademark) where the same preparation on the Abbott(trademark) 3500(trademark) did not display the particles in the monocyte region. If the propylene glycol was removed from the preparation of Source Leukocytes, there was no display of particles in the monocyte region on the Coulter(trademark) instrument, but they were present with the Abbott(trademark) instrument.
The preferred method for preparing a hematology control in accordance with the present invention includes the following:
the time of cell exposure to lyse is reduced by optimizing:
the concentration of the lytic agent
having the largest practical ratio of lyse to Source Leukocytes.
the cells were given a preliminary fix as quickly as possible (elevated heat) with the lowest concentration of cross-linking agent (e.g. 0.1% glutaraldehyde).
fixation with a low to moderate concentration of agent to provide moderate stability.
fixation with a moderate to high concentration of agent to provide long term stability.

Method for preparation of hematology blood control


Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving an application installation log, the application installation log including per-user installation data indicating when each of a plurality of applications available through an application marketplace was installed on a plurality of computing devices, determining an overall score corresponding to a first application and a second application, the score indicating a degree of overlap in installation periods of the first application and the second application on the plurality of computing devices, determining that the overall score is greater than or equal to a threshold score, generating an index, the index associating the second application as an application of interest in view of the first application, and storing the index in computer-readable memory.

Mobile computing devices (or simply "mobile devices") may run a variety of software applications that extend existing device capabilities and that add new capabilities. Many types of applications are generally available, such as applications for information retrieval, communications and entertainment. Applications may be created by mobile device manufacturers and/or third parties (e.g., application developers), and may be pre-installed by the manufacturer, or may be downloaded and installed by device users.
Users may discover new applications through an interface associated with an on-line application marketplace by browsing a catalog of available applications. Additionally, information about new applications is generally available through advertising, industry reviews, "top 10" and "best" lists, and through word-of-mouth referrals. Upon learning of a new application, users may obtain, install, and use full versions of the applications, or user may access demonstration versions of the application that allow the user to try the application out with or without purchasing. Over time, users may keep applications, upgrade applications (e.g., from a demonstration version to a full version), and may delete applications that are no longer wanted.

Generating application recommendations based on user installed applications


A light modulation assembly for a digital projection apparatus comprising: a solid-state light source that provides an illumination beam; a spatial light modulator having a plurality of tiltable micro-mirrors, each micro-mirror being actuable to tilt with respect to a tilt axis between a first tilt position that provides on-state light and a second tilt position that provides off state light, and wherein the micro-mirrors deflect the illumination beam along an arced path defining a deflection plane as they are tilted between the first tilt position and the second tilt position; and a light baffle disposed alongside the optical axis and in the path of the off state light from the micro-mirrors, the light baffle having a light-trapping surface adapted to absorb the off-state light from the micro-mirrors on the spatial light modulator, the light-trapping surface having a plurality of protruding fins that extend outward from the light-trapping surface at an oblique angle.

In order to compete with conventional high-end film-based projection systems and provide what has been termed electronic or digital cinema, digital projectors must be capable of achieving brightness levels on the order of 10,000 lumens, projected onto screen sizes on the order of 40 feet in diagonal. The range of screens requires anywhere from 5,000 lumens to upwards of 40,000 lumens. In addition to this demanding brightness requirement, these projectors must also deliver high resolution (at least 2048×1080 pixels) and provide around a 2000:1 contrast ratio and a wide color gamut.
Some commercialized digital cinema projector designs have proved to be capable of this level of performance. However, there are still significant hurdles in usability and cost that must be overcome for widespread adoption of digital cinema systems. Digital projection apparatuses that meet the necessary performance requirements typically cost in excess of $50,000 each and utilize high wattage Xenon arc lamps that need replacement at intervals between 500-2000 hours, with typical lamp replacement cost often exceeding $1000.
One type of spatial light modulator (SLM) that is being widely utilized in projection solutions for multicolor digital cinema projection is the Digital Light Processor (DLP), a digital micromirror device (DMD), developed by Texas Instruments, Inc., Dallas, Tex. DLP-based projectors have demonstrated the capability to provide the necessary light throughput, contrast ratio, and color gamut for most projection applications from desktop to large cinema venues. DLP devices are described in a number of patents, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,791; U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,047 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,383, all to Hornbeck. Significantly, DLP devices can be used with solid-state light sources, such as lasers. Lasers are known to be advantaged over other types of light sources with regard to relative spectral purity and potentially high brightness levels. Solid-state lasers promise improvements in etendue, longevity, and overall spectral and brightness stability. The use of lasers can significantly reduce the cost of the illumination system and, at the same time, offer increased color gamut and sufficient brightness levels compatible with digital cinema applications. Laser arrays of particular interest for projection applications include various types of VCSEL arrays, including VECSEL (Vertical Extended Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) and NECSEL (Novalux Extended Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) devices from Arasor, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Among problems that must be addressed when using laser illumination with DLP and other micromechanical devices are the generation of unused off-state or "dump" light and the corresponding heat generation that results from attempts to absorb the unused dump light. Off-state or dump light is an inevitable by-product of the DLP modulation scheme. In order to understand how off-state light is generated, it is first useful to trace the path of modulated light. Referring to the schematic diagram of FIG. 1, a projector apparatus 10 has Red, Green, and Blue light modulation assemblies 40r, 40g, 40b, each with a corresponding light source 12r, 12g and 12b, respectively. Light source 12r has a red laser or other low angle (f/6 or higher) solid-state red light source; light source 12g has a green laser or other low angle solid-state green light source; light source 12b has a blue laser or other low angle solid-state blue light source. The light path within each light modulation assembly 40r, 40g and 40b follows the same basic pattern. An illumination beam from light source 12r, 12g or 12b is directed through a lens 50, an integrator 51, and other conditioning optics onto a thin-film dichroic surface 68. Dichroic surface 68 is treated to reflect or transmit incident light according to its incident angle. Incident illumination is reflected from the dichroic surface 68 onto a micro-mirror spatial light modulator 60, such as a DLP device, that reflects modulated light back through dichroic surface 68 and to a dichroic combiner 82. The dichroic combiner 82 has an arrangement of dichroic surfaces 84 that selectively reflect or transmit light according to wavelength, combining the modulated light from each light modulation assembly 40r, 40g and 40b onto a single optical path through projection optics 70, which project images of the spatial light modulators 60 onto a projection surface (not shown).
For a projector arrangement such as projector apparatus 10 in FIG. 1, off-state or dump light is the unused light that is deflected such that it is not reflected along the path of modulated light for projection onto the projection surface. The schematic side-view diagram of FIG. 2 shows how light is redirected by a micro-minor 66 in the DLP spatial light modulator 60 for any of the red, green or blue color channels. An incoming laser illumination beam 18 is incident on the surface of spatial light modulator 60. The micro-mirrors 66 are tiltable in response to digital image data for an input digital image, each micro-mirror 66 being actuable to tilt with respect to a tilt axis between a first tilt position 64 and a second tilt position 65. In the first tilt position 64 the micro-mirror 66 deflects the illumination beam 18 to provide on-state modulated light 22 along an optical axis O. In the second tilt position 65, the illumination beam 18 is directed away from the optical axis O to provide the off-state dump light 23. The micro-mirrors 66 deflect the illumination beam 18 along an arced path Q defining a deflection plane 67 as they are tilted between the first tilt position 64 and the second tilt position 65.
Once the dump light 23 is generated, it must be contained and absorbed in some way to prevent it from randomly reflecting from a chassis or other surface and inadvertently leaking back into the light path used for modulated light 22. This would degrade image contrast and could also compromise color fidelity and overall image quality. As a related problem, heat is produced when intense light levels, such as those generated by light modulation assemblies 40r, 40g and 40b, are absorbed. This heat must be removed to keep the projector apparatus from overheating. To complicate the problem further, there is some unpredictability as to the amount of dump light 23 that must be handled at any one time, since this depends on the image content and can vary from frame-to-frame in a digital motion picture.
Conventional solutions for absorbing unwanted light and dissipating the heat resulting from absorption use arrangements of baffles that may be coupled with heat sink devices, further supplemented by forced air cooling in some cases. Some approaches to the problem have also attempted to combine light- and heat-absorption functions in a single component. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,767 to Rodriguez, entitled "Honeycomb light and heat trap for projector," combines the functions of light-trapping and heat dissipation for an overhead projector by employing a coated honeycomb element in the ventilation path. U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,429 to Tausch, entitled "Light trap and heat transfer apparatus and method," describes the use of a metallic wool material for absorbing unwanted light and heat in a curing lamp apparatus.
These approaches have been found to not provide the level of performance that is needed for the high-intensity laser light associated with a digital cinema projector. One particular problem that has not been addressed relates to the pattern of movement of the beams generated by the micro-mirror spatial light modulators 60. During the transition time interval where the micro-mirror 66 pivots between the first tilt position 64 providing the modulated light 22 and the second tilt position 65 providing the dump light 23, the reflected light traces out the arced path Q. While this transition time interval during pivoting of the micromirror is very small, on the order of fractions of milliseconds, the cumulative effect of sweeping the off state light across the arced path complicates the task of suppressing the unwanted light and resulting heat that is generated.
Thus, it can be seen that there remains a need for a solution that effectively removes the off-state light and associated heat generated in high-end digital projection systems in a simple, cost-effective manner.

Off-state light baffle for digital projection


A method and apparatus for processing pulp is disclosed including opposed endless wires conveyed in the same direction and defining a web-forming space therebetween for dewatering the web, a pair of perforated dewatering tables supporting the endless wires for pressing the wires towards the web, the first perforated dewatering table ending upstream of the second perforated dewatering table, and a press roll downstream of the back end of the first perforated dewatering table and opposed to the back end of the second perforated dewatering table to form a nip between the press roll and the back end of the second perforated dewatering table, which has a profiled surface that interacts with the press roll to prolong the nip between the press roll and the back end of the second perforated dewatering table.

In pulp treating processes, pulp may be washed and dewatered in order to raise its consistency for a subsequent treatment stage. In some processes, the pulp is in the form of a web and may be treated in steps. In twin wire presses, the pulp web to be dewatered is located between two opposed wires which are pressed towards each other by means of perforated "tables" (plates/foils) and subsequent press rolls, such that the web may be dewatered through the permeable wires and further through the surface of the plates. Twin wire presses are commonly used for dewatering of pulps with an inlet consistency of approximately 3-10%. Pulp to be dewatered in twin wire presses is often pulp produced in a mechanical pulping process.
Conventionally, in a twin wire press for handling pulp, plates/foils and press rolls are combined although separated, and often a table dewatering section is followed by a press roll arrangement such that the wires pass directly from the table dewatering section to a series of nips formed between opposed press rolls. This arrangement is advantageous because in a nip formed between two press rolls the pressure may be much greater than in a table dewatering section. Hence, a first dewatering step is accomplished in a table dewatering section between two tables, wherein a second, more intense, dewatering is performed in a subsequent press roll arrangement involving at least two press rolls forming a nip between them. The table dewatering section is arranged in such a way that a wedge-shaped dewatering zone is created between the tables.
In a table dewatering section, the pressure between the tables may not go above a certain level, in order to prevent the wires from slipping with respect to each other. If the pressure between the tables becomes too high, a higher load on the drive roll is required which leads to higher friction. The higher friction may cause slipping in the drive roll nip which may cause the wires to slip with respect to each other in the table section. In the subsequent press roll arrangement, on the other hand, the risk of the wires slipping is minimal, especially since the wires rotate with the press rolls. Instead, the limitation in a press roll nip is that the dewatering degree may not be put too high in order not to scatter the pulp web. If the pressure between the press rolls is too high in comparison to the water content in the web, there will not be room for all of the water to be removed through the wires. Instead, part of the water will be pushed backwards through the web, such that the fiber web network may be broken, which will lead to subsequent delamination of the fiber web once outside of the nip (on the other side of the nip). The higher the pressure, the more influential the backward flow will be and the higher the risk of separation of the web. Therefore, conventionally, the first press roll nip in the press roll arrangement has to be arranged such that the risk of breaking the pulp web network is minimised, i.e. with a relatively low pressure and a low degree of dewatering. In fact, the first press nip of the press roll arrangement is therefore generally not very efficient. Instead, the object of the first press nip is to reduce the water content of the nip sufficiently such that a more efficient dewatering may be accomplished in the following press roll nip(s).
A problem with conventional dewatering table sections is hence that the dewatering achieved in them is too low, such that e.g. the first following press roll nip is dedicated to adapting the water content of the pulp web instead of efficiently decreasing it. In fact, this means that the first press roll nip is not efficiently used. This is a problem, since each press roll pair constitutes a large investment that should be utilised in full to bear its own costs.
Swedish Patent Specification No. 527,778 discloses an apparatus in which a press roll is arranged at the back end of the dewatering table section to provide an additional pressing force to improve the dewatering capacity of the arrangement. This arrangement includes a clear advantage over the prior art with respect to the dewatering degree. However, there are some limitations regarding the flexibility of this arrangement. In Swedish Patent Application No. 527,778 it is possible to adapt the force by moving the press roll towards or away from the opposed press table. In this respect the arrangement resembles a conventional press roll nip, including the risk of breaking the pulp web fiber network.
Also, the arrangement of Swedish Patent Application No. 527,778 allows little flexibility with respect to the possibility of adapting the dewatering degree of the press nip in accordance to the incoming consistency of the pulp. If the consistency of the incoming pulp increases from a given consistency to a somewhat higher consistency, i.e. the water content of the pulp increases, the force of the press roll needs to be released in order not to break the pulp web fiber network. Such an adjustment also reduces the dewatering degree of the press nip markedly, such that the possible dewatering degree of the nip between the press roll and the dewatering table becomes strongly dependent of the consistency of the incoming pulp, with little possibility to maximise the dewatering.
Therefore, there is a need of further ameliorating the dewatering degree of the table dewatering section arrangement, e.g. such that one pair of at least two following press roll pairs may be omitted. Alternatively, instead of omitting a pair of press rolls, the consistency out of the press may be increased. Another alternative which is enabled once the dewatering degree of the table dewatering section is ameliorated according to the present invention, is to ease the load on the table section which leads to less friction from the tables. It is desirable to be able to adapt the dewatering degree to a greater extent regardless of the consistency of the incoming pulp.
One object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method that enables an improved dewatering in a table dewatering section of a twin wire press.

Method and arrangement for ameliorating the dewatering in a thin wire press


An apparatus for producing molded articles attached to a flexible web by molding the articles in the cavity of a mold which includes entrances for the web and means for centering the web in the cavity. Elements are provided to trim waste from the molded article and automatically advance the web upon opening of the cavity. Elements are provided to separate articles with a predetermined length of web material attached.

Injection molding of various articles has been known for a considerable amount of time. In many cases it is desirable to attach an injection molded material to a web of flexible material. Examples include such articles as belts with attached buckles, cable ties with mountings and various types of zippers.
The conventional methods of fabricating items such as these commonly involve several steps. An example is found in manufacture of straps with attached buckles. The buckle is usually injection molded in a multi-part mold. Examples of such buckles are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,150,464 and 4,171,555. The next step is cutting of a length of flexible material to a desired length. The flexible material is then laced through the buckle to form an attachment. A common variation is sewing the flexible material to itself to form a connection to the buckle.
At various times attempts have been made to simplify the above process including gluing the material together rather than sewing. In the case of zippers ultrasonic welding has been used to attach molded parts to a web.
Due to the expense of the above processes the manufacture of parts having dissimilar materials has been limited to relatively high value parts.
Accordingly, there is a demand for a method and apparatus capable of manufacturing such parts in a single step.


A device having two C-shaped hooks and a connecting tether enable a person to assume a seated position within a swimming pool while cleaning the waterline zone of the side wall of the pool. The hooks are precisely contoured so that, when placed in angled relationship to the side wall, the lower end of the hook abuts against the side wall of the pool, and the upper portion of the hook rests upon a horizontal deck surface that surrounds the pool.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a seating device, and more particularly concerns a seat to be used by a person performing maintenance work within a swimming pool.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Outdoor swimming pools often develop algeal growths on the sidewall and bottom portions of the pool. Removal of such growths generally requires a scrubbing treatment. The bottom portion of the pool can be effectively scrubbed by remotely operated devices powered by an electric or pneumatic motor, or can be manually scrubbed by means of long-handled brushes. The sidewall portions of the pool, however, and particularly the waterline region are not readily cleaned by machines or long-handled brushes. The waterline region requires greater than the usual amount of maintenance because of the deposition upon the sidewall at the waterline of oily materials such as suntan oil, air-borne debris, and residues of chemicals utilized in the regular treatment of the pool water.
In one approach to cleaning the waterline region of the sidewall, a person will enter the water, hold onto the edge or lip of the pool with one hand, and employ the other hand to manipulate a scrub brush or equivalent cleaning implement. In another technique, the person will kneel upon the lip and bend over to reach downwardly with the cleaning implement. Such techniques are extremely tiring and do not permit the person to apply adequate force upon the cleaning implement.
It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a device for enabling a person to easily clean or repair the waterline region of the sidewall of a swimming pool.
It is another object of this invention to provide a device as in the foregoing object which will supportively position a person in the swimming pool in facing relationship to the sidewall.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the aforesaid nature which easily engages the lip of the swimming pool and is easily positionable horizontally along said lip.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device of the aforesaid nature of durable, simple construction amenable to low cost manufacture.
These objects and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.


A compound semiconductor device having mesa-shaped element region, and excellent characteristics are provided. The compound semiconductor device has: an InP substrate; an epitaxial lamination mesa formed above the InP substrate and including a channel layer, a carrier supply layer above the channel layer and a contact cap layer above the carrier supply layer; ohmic source electrode and drain electrode formed on the cap layer; a recess formed by removing the cap layer between the source and drain electrodes, and exposing the carrier supply layer; an insulating film formed on the cap layer and retracted from an edge of the cap layer away from the recess; a gate electrode extending from the carrier supply layer in the recess to outside of the mesa; and air gap formed by removing side portion of the channel layer facing the gate electrode outside the mesa.

A) Field
The present invention relates to a compound semiconductor device and its manufacture method, and more particularly to a compound semiconductor device such as a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) using an InP substrate.
B) Description of the Related Art
One type of HEMT using an InP substrate has a structure that after a buffer layer, a channel (electron transfer) layer and a carrier (electron) supply layer are laminated on an InP substrate, a cap layer for contact is formed, the cap layer under a gate electrode is removed, and a T type gate electrode is formed on the carrier supply layer. In order to retain adhesion between the compound semiconductor layer surface and a resist layer, it is desired to form an insulating film on the compound semiconductor surface.
JP-A-HEI-6-232179 discloses a method and structure that an insulating film is laminated on a cap layer, an opening is formed through the insulating layer, and that the cap layer is wet-etched via the opening to form a gate electrode.
The structure shown in FIG. 5A is formed by manufacture processes illustrated in FIGS. 5B to 5E.
As shown in FIG. 5B, by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) or organic metal vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE), on a semi-insulating InP substrate 110, a buffer layer 111 of non-doped InP or InAlAs lattice-matching with InP is grown to a thickness of about 300 nm, a channel layer 112 of InGaAs is grown on the buffer layer 111 to a thickness of about 15 nm, an electron supply layer 113 of In0.52Al0.48As having an electron concentration of 5×1018/cm3 is grown on the channel layer 112 to a thickness of 40 nm, and a cap layer 114 of In0.53Ga0.47As having an electron concentration of 5×1018/cm3 is grown on the electron supply layer 113 to a thickness of 10 nm. The channel layer 112 may be made of InP.
As shown in FIG. 5C, drain/source ohmic electrodes 115 and 116 are formed in predetermined areas on the cap layer 114 by vapor deposition, and an alloying process is executed to form high concentration n-type regions under the ohmic electrodes 115 and 116. Next, by plasma CVD, an SiN insulating film 117 is deposited to a thickness of about 50 to 100 nm. This insulating film may be made of insulating material capable of being formed at a lower temperature than SiN, such as SiO2 and SiON.
As shown in FIG. 5D, a photoresist mask FA having an opening is formed by photolithography, and by using the photoresist film FA as an etching mask, the insulating film 117 is etched and removed from the region where an opening A1 is to be formed. This opening A1 functions as a mask when recess-etching to be described later is performed, and defines a channel length and a channel width of the gate electrode. After the opening A1 is formed, the photoresist film FA is removed.
As shown in FIG. 5E, a photoresist film FB is formed by photolithography, having an opening B1 being inclusive of the opening A1 and broader than the opening A1. After the photoresist film FB is formed, by using the insulating film 117 as a mask, the cap layer 114 is recess-etched to form a recess in the cap layer 114, the recess being broader than the opening A1 of the insulating film 117. This recess-etching may use etchant of aqueous solution of phosphoric acid and aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. A recess structure is also formed in the electron supply layer 113.
Next, Ti/Pt/Au are sequentially vapor-deposited to thicknesses of 50/50/500 nm, respectively. The unnecessary photoresist FB is removed by lift-off to form a Schottky gate electrode 118 shown in FIG. 5A. The Schottky gate electrode 118 is formed in a rectangular shape along the opening A1 of the insulating film 117, and does not contact the cap layer 114 although it contacts the electron supply layer 113. The opening A1 is hermetically sealed by the Schottky gate electrode 118 and an inner gap of the recess structure is shielded perfectly from an external atmosphere.
According to the structure and manufacture method illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5E, the SiN film used as a mask for recess-etching regulates a layout of the gate electrode. The gate electrode cannot be made nearer to the side edge of the cap layer than the opening position of the SiN film. The recess structure is symmetrical relative to the gate electrode, and a drain offset structure cannot be realized, which structure lowers the source resistance and improves a drain breakdown voltage by making the gate electrode near to the source electrode and remoter from the drain electrode. If a resist pattern is formed directly on the cap layer, adhesion of resist is bad and wet-etching liquid permeates into the interface. Wet-etching cannot be performed at a high precision.
International Publication WO 03/067764 proposes that a dummy pattern of phosphosilicate glass (PSG) or the like is formed on a cap layer, an SiN film is deposited on the dummy pattern, an opening is formed through the SiN film, having a shape that a gate electrode is to be accommodated and reaching the cap layer at asymmetric positions relative to the source and drain, the dummy pattern is etched via the opening, and the cap layer under the area from which the dummy pattern was removed is etched to thereby realize the drain offset structure. Similar to JP-A-HEI-6-232179, the SiN film of a hood shape exists above the cap layer, and the gate electrode contacts the SiN film. Although the drain offset structure can be realized, the layout or disposal of the gate electrode is limited by the hood structure of the SiN film, and parasitic capacitance is formed between the gate electrode and the SiN film of the hood shape.

Compound semiconductor device with mesa structure


Electronic devices may find and test wireless networks present at a location, and may display available networks to a user for selection and use. The finding and testing may vary based upon the location of the device, including such factors as previously determined networks for the area, time at the location, and so forth.

Electronic devices, such as electronic book reader devices ("eBook reader devices"), cellular telephones, portable media players, desktop computers, laptops, tablet computers, netbooks, personal digital assistants, and the like, may use wireless networks to access network resources. Traditionally the determination, selection, and configuration of wireless networks for use by electronic devices have been inconvenient and prone to error.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wireless networking selection techniques


There is provided a method of filling one or more recesses by providing the substrate in a reaction chamber and introducing a first reactant to the substrate with a first dose, introducing a second reactant to the substrate with a second dose, wherein the first and the second doses overlap in an overlap area where the first and second reactants react and leave an initially substantially unreacted area where the first and the second areas do not overlap; introducing a third reactant to the substrate with a third dose, the third reactant reacting with the first or second reactant to form deposited material; and etching the deposited material. An apparatus for filling a recess is also disclosed.

During manufacturing of electronic devices, such as an integrated circuit (IC), recesses, such as gaps or trenches, can be created within the substrate. Filling the recesses can take a variety of forms, depending upon the specific application.
A typical trench filling process may be subjected to drawbacks, including void formation in the trench. Voids may be formed when the filling material forms a constriction near the top of the trench before the trench is completely filled. Such voids may compromise device isolation of the devices on the integrated circuit as well as the overall structural integrity of the IC. Unfortunately, preventing void formation during trench fill may often place size constraints on the trenches, which may limit device packing density of the devices.
If the trenches are filled for device isolation, a key parameter in measuring the effectiveness of device isolation may be the field threshold voltage, that is, the voltage necessary to create a parasitic current linking adjacent isolated devices. The field threshold voltage may be influenced by a number of physical and material properties, such as trench width, dielectric constant of the trench filling material, substrate doping, field implant dose and substrate bias during processing.
Void formation may be mitigated by decreasing trench depth and/or tapering trench sidewalls so that the openings of the trench are wider at the top than at the bottom of the trench. A trade off in decreasing the trench depth may be reducing the effectiveness of the device isolation, while the larger top openings of trenches with tapering sidewalls may use up additional integrated circuit real estate. Such problems can become increasingly problematic when attempting to reduce device dimensions. Accordingly, improved methods and apparatus for filling a recess may be desired.

Method and apparatus for filling a recess formed within a substrate surface


A composition for conditioning nails and nail cuticles, containing, in weight percent based on the total weight of the composition,. (A) 53.0%-70.7% of anhydrous lanolin, PA1 (B) 12.0%-26.6% of peanut oil, PA1 (C) 2.9%-11.6% of olive oil, PA1 (D) 5.2%-16.4% of rose water, and PA1 (E) 0.9%-2.5% of vanilla extract.

This invention relates to a composition for personal body care and, more particularly, to a composition for conditioning cuticles and nails which is prepared from ingredients of natural, organic origin.
A number of compositions for conditioning or treating nails and nail cuticles are known. For example, Smith et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,828, discloses a nail conditioning composition which is an aqueous emulsion of six essential active ingredients. Three of these active ingredients are in the aqueous phase: sodium lauryl sulfate, urea and hydrolyzed animal protein. The remaining three ingredients are in the oil phase: mineral oil, cholesterol and a lipid component. This composition has a high water content, with the ratio of the aqueous phase to the oil phase being in the range from 2:1 to 10:1 by weight. Additives which may be used in the composition include 0.5-5.0% w/w of emollients such as natural oils and lanolin derivatives (lanolin oil, lanolin wax, or lanolin alcohol).
Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,609, discloses a hot oil treatment composition which is a mixture of oils, emollients, emulsifiers, anti-oxidants, antibacterial agents, proteins and vitamins. The mixture is used by mixing it with hot water to give an emulsion in which the fingernails are soaked.

Cuticle and nail conditioning composition


A manufacturing method includes the follow steps. Firstly, a carrier is provided. Then, a plurality of traces are formed on the carrier. Then, a trace molding compound layer is formed on the carrier by a first molding process. Then, the carrier is removed from the trace molding compound layer to expose an etched surface of the trace molding compound layer and trace upper surfaces of the traces. Then, at least a chip is disposed on the etched surface of the trace molding compound layer and the chip is connected to the trace upper surfaces. Then, a chip molding compound layer is formed on the etched surface by a second molding process substantially similar to the first molding process, wherein the chip molding compound layer and the trace molding compound layer are formed of substantially the same molding compound material.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a manufacturing method for a semiconductor package, and more particularly to a manufacturing method for a semiconductor package with enhanced routing design flexibility.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional Quad-Flat Pack (QFN) semiconductor package is shown. The semiconductor package 10 includes a chip 12, a lead frame 14, a plurality of wires 16, a chip base 18, a chip supporting studs 20 and an adhesive 24. The lead frame 14 located on the peripheral of the semiconductor package 10 is exposed from the bottom surface of the semiconductor package 10 to be used as an I/O contact of the semiconductor package 10. The chip 12 is disposed on the chip base 18. The chip base supporting stud 20 supports the chip base 18 to enhance the structural strength of the semiconductor package 10.
However, the wires 16, extended around the semiconductor package 10, are too long and exposed to the risk of short-circuiting. Besides, the lead frame 14, being used as an I/O contact, can only be disposed on the peripheral of the semiconductor package 10, hence limiting the number of the I/O contacts of the semiconductor package 10. Consequently, increasing the number of I/O contacts substantially increases the size of the semiconductor package. Moreover, the lead frame 14 being used as an I/O contact is exposed in the air, and is susceptible to the erosion by the environment.

Manufacturing method for semiconductor package


A user device supports a computer implemented game. An input from a user is received. This input requests a purchase of an in-game item. When this input is received, a determination is made as to whether the user device is on-line or not. If the user device is off-line, it is determined if the in-game item can be purchased in dependence on a locally available in-game currency budget. If so, the requested in-game item is provided in the computer implemented game.

Designers of computer games face significant technical challenges when designing games for so called "social" or "casual" gaming.
One such technical challenge is that of user engagement. Engagement involves designing gameplay to be engaging and rewarding for players. Typically designing games to be engaging requires providing gameplay that is at first simple yet increases in complexity so that players are rewarded and retain interest through increasing skill development and challenges.
Some games are designed to be played such that various purchases may be made when the user device is online. For those games which can also be played off-line, it can be frustrating for a user who is unable to make any purchases when off-line.
This patent specification describes not only various ideas and functions, but also their creative expression. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document therefore contains material to which a claim for copyright is made and notice is hereby given: Copyright King.com Limited 2014 (pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 401). A claim to copyright protection is made to all screen shots, icons, look and feel and all other protectable expression associated with the games illustrated and described in this patent specification.
The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other copyright rights whatsoever. No express or implied license under any copyright whatsoever is therefore granted.

Method and apparatus for providing off-line purchases in a computer implemented game


A high-strength galvanized steel sheet includes a steel sheet containing a predetermined component element, a mass ratio of a content amount of Si to a content amount of Mn in the steel (Si/Mn) being 0.2 or more, and a steel structure in which an average grain size of inclusions existing in an area extending from a surface to a position of ⅓ of a sheet thickness is 50 μm or less, and an average nearest distance between ones of the inclusions is 20 μm or more; and a galvanized layer provided on a surface of the steel sheet, in which an amount of diffusible hydrogen contained in the steel is less than 0.25 mass ppm, oxides containing predetermined elements in an outer layer portion of the steel sheet account for 0.010 g/m2 or more per one surface, and a tensile strength is 1100 MPa or more.

In these days when crash safety and fuel efficiency improvement of automobiles are strongly required, the strength increase of steel sheets that are materials of parts is being advanced. Further, in view of the fact that automobiles are being widely spread on a global scale and automobiles are used for various uses in diverse areas and climates, steel sheets that are materials of parts are required to have high antirust properties.
In general, when the strength of a steel sheet is enhanced, the formability of the steel sheet is reduced. In particular, a steel sheet provided with plating tends to have poorer formability than a steel sheet not provided with plating.
If a large amount of an alloying element is incorporated in order to increase strength, it is difficult for a good quality plating film to be formed on the steel sheet. Further, it is known that, if plating of Zn, Ni, or the like is provided, hydrogen that enters during the manufacturing process is less likely to be released from the interior of the steel.
Steel sheets having excellent bendability have thus far been developed. Based on the features of the method for forming such a steel sheet, how to design a location that is exposed to most severe forming conditions at the time of bending, that is, a location where stress is concentrated is presented as a solution to an issue. In particular, in the case of a steel sheet containing two or more kinds of steel structures with different hardnesses, it is likely that deformation will concentrate and defects of microvoids will occur at the interface between steel structures, and consequently bendability is degraded.
Also the control of an atmosphere in the furnace of an annealing-plating step is attempted in order to deposit good quality plating.
In Non-Patent Literatures 1 and 2, while the steel structure of a steel sheet contains ferrite and martensite, a steel structure of ferrite and martensite is temporarily produced and then tempering is performed to soften the martensite, and bendability is improved.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a high-strength steel sheet in which a structure homogeneity index given by a standard deviation of Rockwell hardness of a surface of a steel sheet and serving as an index indicating the homogeneity of the steel sheet is 0.4 or less and that is good in ductility and bendability and has a maximum tensile stress of 900 MPa or more, and a method for manufacturing the same. This literature provides a technique obtained as a result of improving, as a factor influencing bendability, the heterogeneity of a solidified structure at the time of casting, and presents, by this method, a steel sheet that has a maximum tensile stress of 900 MPa or more and is excellent in bendability.
In Patent Literature 1, at this time, the interior of an annealing furnace of a continuous galvanizing line is set to an atmosphere having a hydrogen concentration of 1 to 60 vol % and containing N2, H2O, O2, and incidental impurities as the balance, and the logarithm of the partial pressure of water and the partial pressure of hydrogen in the atmosphere, log (PH2O/PH2)1 is prescribed to −3≤log(PH2O/PH2)≤−0.5 in order to ensure good quality plating ability.
Patent Literature 2 provides a dual-phase steel sheet that contains 50% or more of bainite and 3 to 30% of retained austenite and in which the ratio between the hardness Hvs of an outer layer of the steel sheet and the hardness Hvb of a portion of ¼ of the thickness of the steel sheet is prescribed to 0.35 to 0.90. Further, annealing is performed in an atmosphere in which log(partial pressure of water/partial pressure of hydrogen) is −3.0 to 0.0, and thereby plating ability is ensured in a high alloy system.
Patent Literature 3 ensures bendability by prescribing a decarburized ferrite layer, and discloses, as a technique for manufacturing a plated steel sheet, a method of adjustment to an atmosphere containing 2 to 20 vol % of hydrogen and the balance containing nitrogen and impurities and having a dew-point temperature of more than −30° C. and 20° C. or less.

High-strength galvanized steel sheet, high strength member, and method for manufacturing the same


A tape tension adjusting device includes a tension arm rotatable in accordance with a tape tension, a restricting member for restricting the rotation of the tension arm when the tape tension applied is more than a predetermined value and a pressing mechanism for pressing the tension arm against the restricting member when the tape is not running.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tape tension adjusting device, and more particularly, to a device for adjusting the tension of a magnetic tape in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, such as a video cassette recorder (VCR), a digital audio tape recorder (DAT) or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a recording/reproducing apparatus using magnetic tape as a recording medium, such as VCR, a DAT or the like, a magnetic tape received within a tape cassette is drawn from the tape cassette, and a recording/reproducing operation is performed while pressing the magnetic tape against a recording/reproducing magnetic head, such as a rotating head or the like.
FIG. 1 shows a tape loading mechanism of a so-called helical-scanning VCR wherein a tape is drawn from a cassette and is helically wound around a rotating head drum to perform a recording/reproducing operation.
In FIG. 1, there are shown a cassette C, a supply-side reel SR and a takeup-side reel TR.
There is also shown a main chassis 101. A rotating head drum 102 is rotatably mounted on the main chassis 101 in an inclined state at a predetermined angle, and is rotated at a high speed by a motor (not shown).
Movable tape guide posts 103-106 draw a tape 116 from the cassette C mounted on the main chassis 101, and wind it around the rotating head drum 102 to form a tape path shown in FIG. 1. The movable tape guide posts 103-106 are operated by a well-known mechanism (not shown). A fixed guide post 107 for forming the tape path is provided on the main chassis 101. A capstan 108 drives the tape 116. A pinch roller 109 presses the tape 116 against the capstan 108 to run the tape 116.
A supply-side reel mount 128 and a takeup-side reel mount 132 engage the supply-side reel SR and the takeup-side reel TR within the mounted cassette C to rotate the reels, respectively. These reel mounts 128 and 132 are rotatably driven by well-known means (not shown).
A tension regulator arm (hereinafter termed a tension arm) 110 maintains the tension of the tape 116 running along the tape path at a constant value to provide good contact of the tape 116 with head drum 102. The tension arm 110 is rotatably disposed on the main chassis 101 via a pin 110a provided at one end of the tension arm 110. A pin 112 contacting the tape 116 is provided at the other end of the tension arm 110. The tension arm 110 is biased in a direction to press the pin 112 against the tape 116 by the elasticity of spring 114, and is connected to one end of a belt 130 wound around the outer circumference of the supply-side reel mount 128.
When the tension arm 110 is biased in a counterclockwise direction direction by spring 114, the supply-side reel mount 128 is braked by surface contact with the belt 130. When the tension arm 110 rotates in a clockwise direction, the belt 130 is loosened to reduce braking action applied to the supply-side reel mount 128.
When the tape 116 runs in the state shown in FIG. 1, if back tension applied to the tape 116 is reduce due to a change in the amount of the tape 116 wound around the supply-side reel SR, the tension arm 110 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the spring 114 to tighten the belt 130 around reel mount 128. The back tension, i.e., the load in the tape running system, changes as the diameter of the tape 116 wound around the reel SR changes, thus changing the rotational moment in rotating reel SR. Hence, the supply-side reel mount 128 is braked to increase the back tension, and the original tension is restored.
When the back tension on the tape 116 increases, the tension arm 110 is rotated in a clockwise direction against the spring 114 to loosen the belt 130. Hence, the brake force applied against the supply-side reel mount 128 is lessened to reduce the back tension, and the original tension is recovered.
In order to perform a stable recording/reproducing operation, it is necessary to apply a predetermined tension to the tape 116. As described above, since the tension arm 110 detects a change in the tape tension and automatically corrects the tension, it is possible to always maintain the tape tension at a predetermined value.
According to the tape loading mechanism, in an unloading state wherein the tape 116 is received within the cassette C, the movable guide posts 103-106, the pinch roller 109 and the pin 112 of the tension arm 110 are situated inside the tape 116 within the cassette C, as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1. When the tape loading mechanism operates, the movable guide posts 103-106, the pinch roller 109 and the pin 112 of the tension arm 110 draw the tape 116 from within the cassette C to provide a loading state wherein the tape path shown in FIG. 1 is formed.
The above-described tape loading mechanism, however, has the following problems.
That is, in a normal tape running state wherein the tape 116 runs in the direction of arrow A (the forward direction) shown in FIG. 1, the tape tension must be maintained constant. When the tape 116 is running, the tension arm 110 is free, and a change in the tape tension is detected to control the braking effect of the belt 130, as described above. The brake for the supply-side reel mount 128 is thereby controlled to maintain the tape tension constant.
When the tape 116 stops, the tape 116 must be loosened because the tape 116 may be damaged if an unnecessary tension is applied to the tape 116.
When the tape 116 runs in a direction reverse to the direction of arrow A (in a reversal playback operation or the like), since the capstan 108 is at a side downstream from the rotating head drum 102 in the forward running direction of the tape 116, the entire running system from the rotating head drum 102 to the takeup-side reel mount 132 becomes the rotation load, and the tape 116 is wound by the reel mount 128 which has previously been at the supply side. Accordingly, at the position of the tension arm 110, the tape 116 is pulled by the supply-side reel mount 128 to provide an excessive tension on the tape 116. As a result, the tension arm 110 is displaced by rotating in a clockwise direction against the spring 114, causing a change in the running position of the tape 116, whereby the tape 116 may be damaged by contacting the tape outlet in the cassette C.
Accordingly, the tension arm 110 must free the tape 116 when the tape 116 is running in the forward direction, restrict the tape 116 at a position where the tape 116 is loosened when the tape 116 stops, and restrict the movement of the tape 116 due to an excessive tension when the tape 116 is running in the reverse direction so that the running position of the tape 116 is not changed by the rotation of the tension arm 110 due to an increase in the tension.
In the above-described tape loading mechanism, however, the tension arm 110 is situated inside the tape 116 within the cassette C indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1 in an unloading state, draws the tape 116 by rotating in the direction of arrow B in accordance with a tape loading operation, and is at the tape loading position shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, it is impossible to provide means, such as a stopper or the like, for restricting the position of the tension arm 110 when the tape 116 stops or runs in the reverse direction, because such means obstructs the rotation of the tension arm 110.
Under such a background, in order to perform the position restriction in the above-described respective operational modes of the tension arm 110, there have been proposed configurations wherein the above-described stopper is separated from the rotational range of the tension arm 110 until the tape loading state is provided, and the tension arm 110 is moved to a position where it can be restricted after the tape loading operation has been completed.
FIGS. 2 and 3 shown an example of such configurations. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the same components as shown in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, a stopper arm 134 is rotatably disposed on the main chassis 101 by a pin 136. A restricting member 134a for restricting the position of the tension arm 110 is formed at one end of the stopper arm 134. A cam follower pin 134a engaging a cam groove 138a formed on a gear board 138 (to be described later) is provided at the other end of the stopper arm 134.
The cam board 138 functions as a mode control means for setting various kinds of operational modes including the tape loading mechanism shown in FIG. 1 via a well-known drive transmission mechanism (not shown), and is rotatably disposed on the main chassis 101 via a pin 140. A gear portion formed on the outer circumference of the cam board 138 meshes with gear 144 mounted on the rotation shaft of a motor 142, whereby the cam board 138 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 142 at a reduced speed.
The cam groove 138a, whose distance from the pin 140 serving as the center of rotation changes in accordance with the rotational position, is formed on the cam board 138 so as to control the rotation of the stopper arm 134 by the rotation of the cam board 138 via the cam groove 138a.
The relationship between the cam groove 138a of the cam board 138 and the stopper arm 134 will now be explained. FIG. 2 shows a state in the course of tape loading shifting from an unloading state to a tape loading state. In this state, the cam follower pin 134b of the stopper arm 134 moves along a small-diameter portion of the cam groove 138a during the unloading state and the tape loading operation, whereby the stopper arm 134 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and the restricting member 134a is maintained at a position out of the rotational range of the tension arm 110. Accordingly, the rotation of the tension arm 110 during the tape loading operation is not obstructed.
After the tape loading operation has been completed and the tension arm 110 has rotated to its operational position, the cam follower pin 134b of the stopper arm 134 moves from the small-diameter portion to a large-diameter portion of the cam groove 138a, as shown in FIG. 3, to rotate the stopper arm 134 in a clockwise direction. Hence, the restricting member 134a is moved to a position where the rotation of the tension arm 134 can be restricted. It is thereby possible to restrict the rotational position of the tension arm 110 if an excessive tension is applied during, for example, a playback operation of the tape in the reverse direction. p In the above-described method of restricting the tension arm using the movable members, however, positional accuracy is reduced due to a clearance between the respective members and the like, whereby, for example, the stability of the tape tension is reduced, and the tape is damaged by contacting the cassette because the running position of the tape is deviated, causing a problem from the viewpoint of reliability.
Furthermore, when the tape stops, the tension arm 110 is driven in a counterclockwise direction by the spring 114 to press its pin 112 against the tape. Hence, the tension continues to be applied to the tape, causing damage to the tape as described above.
In order to solve the above-described problems, a new stopper for restricting the tension arm 110 against the spring 114 is needed. Such a stopper must be separated from the tension arm 110 in its normal position because the stopper may obstruct the rotation of the tension arm 110 during the normal tape running state, and must be in close contact with the tension arm 110 only when the tape stops. In addition, the stopper cannot be provided within the rotational range of the tension arm 110.
However, it is almost impossible to provide a movable stopper mechanism for dealing with excessive tape tension to be used when the tape is not running at both sides of the tension arm 110, in consideration of limited space, complication of the configuration, and relationship with other mechanism. Accordingly, in the above-described tape loading mechanism, it is impossible to provide complete means for restricting the tension arm 110.


A torsion bar capable of torsional deformation, a ring arranged at a shaft end portion of a spool and connected rotatably integrally with an outer peripheral portion on the other side in an axial direction of the torsion bar, a plastic-deformable plate member having one end side fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the ring and the other end side being a free end in the vicinity of an inner peripheral portion of the shaft end portion of the spool, and a projecting portion which projects from an inner peripheral surface of the spool, which is brought into contact with the other end of the plate member after the torsion bar starts rotating integrally with the spool and an impact absorbing load of the torsion bar becomes constant due to torsional deformation, and which imparts a load for plastically deforming the plate member in further rotation of the spool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a retractor device for a seatbelt that can wind a seatbelt and a seatbelt device having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A seatbelt device provided on a seat of a vehicle generally has a retractor device for a seatbelt which winds one side of a seatbelt (webbing) capable of being extracted, a tongue provided at the seatbelt, and a buckle device for causing an occupant to wear the seatbelt.
The retractor device for a seatbelt retracts the seatbelt inside by winding it around a winding member (spool) by using a spring force, locks extracting of the seatbelt from the winding member at a collision when an impact acts, and restrains the body of the occupant who is rapidly moving forward with this locked seatbelt. At this time, since the occupant moving forward is rapidly restrained, a load by a reaction of the restraint acts on the chest part or the like of the occupant through the seatbelt. In order to alleviate the load applied onto the occupant, a method in which a predetermined tensile load of the seatbelt is held while predetermined feeding-out resistance or more is applied on the seatbelt immediately after the lock, and the seatbelt is fed out by a predetermined length in that state so as to absorb collision energy acting on the occupant (Energy Absorption; hereinafter referred to as "EA" as appropriate) has been known.
For example, in a retractor device described in JP, A, 2010-089528, an EA mechanism provided with a shaft member (torsion bar) is disclosed. That is, in this EA mechanism, one side end portion of a winding member is connected to a shaft member, and the other side end portion of the shaft member is locked at a collision so that the collision energy is absorbed by plastic deformation caused due to torsion of the shaft member.

Retractor device for seatbelt, and seatbelt device


With a hybrid vehicle driven at extremely low speeds only by power from the electric motor, when a state-of-charge of the battery becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined level or when a rotational speed required on the air conditioner compressor is less than a desired rotational speed, power from the internal combustion engine is transmitted to the output shaft by engaging the first engaging and disengaging mechanism, starting the internal combustion engine by power from the electric motor, and thereafter, engaging the first engaging and disengaging mechanism or the second engaging and disengaging mechanism between a fully applied state and a fully released state.

When driven on a road congested with heavy traffic, a vehicle moves at low speeds or repeats stops and starts. Additionally, depending on the cause for traffic jam, or area, season or hours when a traffic jam takes place, vehicles move slowly in column on a congested road. When caught in such a traffic jam, vehicles tend to be driven on a congested road at extremely low speeds of 7 km/h or lower, for example. When a hybrid vehicle that can be driven by power from a motor in addition to power from an engine is driven at extremely low speeds, it is desirable that the hybrid vehicle runs on EV driving in which the hybrid vehicle is driven only by power from the motor that is driven by electric power supplied from a battery. This is because the motor can be driven in increments from a state where the revolution speed thereof is zero.

Hybrid vehicle control unit and control method


A method and system for controlling a local content aggregated system includes a switch module receiving external channel signals, user receiving devices and a local headend generating a local channel signal. The local headend communicates the local channel signal to the switch module and communicates local channel program guide data to the user receiving devices. The user receiving devices receive external program guide data corresponding to the external channels. The user receiving device selects either a first external channel signal from the external channel signals or the local channel signal at the program guide to form a selection signal corresponding to a selected channel at a first user receiving device of the user receiving devices. The user receiving device communicates the selection signal to the switch module, which is switched in response thereto. The switch module communicates the selected channel signal to the first user receiving device.

Satellite television has become increasingly popular due to the wide variety of programming available and the quality of service. Hotel systems may offer various types of programming from cable systems or satellite systems to guests. Often times, the systems are provided without program guides or other amenities typically found in a home viewing experience.
Hotel or other property owners often provide information to guests using the video distribution system. Content provided to guests through the video distribution system may be referred to as local content channels. Hotel systems often do not provide convenient systems for hotel operations to change local content or provide guest means for easily accessing content.

Aggregated content distribution system and method for operating the same


A data-playing controller includes a register for storing a plurality of control parameters, a first-in-first-out buffer (FIFO) for storing data, and a control circuit capable of accessing a memory dynamically. The register can be electrically connected to a data-playing device. The control circuit can store the control parameters via the FIFO to the memory first, and then transfer the control parameters stored in the memory via the FIFO to the register during a synchronizing blank period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display controller and related method, and more particularly, to a display controller capable of writing a plurality of control parameters into a display control register and related method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a functional block diagram of a video display system 10 according to the prior art. The video display system 10 comprises a video display device 12 for displaying video, and a display control register 14 coupled to the video display device 12. The display control register 14 stores control parameters, which are control data for the display control register 14 to control the video display device 12 to display video. The display control register 14 can be updated at any time, so that the video display device 12 may have a video-flickering or even a video-interruption problem during a non-blanking period when the video display device 12 displays video.
Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a functional block diagram of a video display system 20, which is proposed to overcome the drawbacks of the video display system 10. In addition to the video display device 12 and the display control register 14, the video display system 20 further comprises a secondary register 24 coupled to the display control register 14.
Though able to be updated at any time, the same as the display control register 14, the secondary register 24 will copy the control parameters to the display control register 14 at any time other than the non-blanking period. Therefore, the video display system 20 is free of both the video-flickering and the video-interruption problems. However, because the secondary register 24 is installed to accompany the display control register 14, and the video display system 20 usually requires hundreds of register cells in display control register 14, the video display system 20 thus requires as many as hundreds of corresponding register cells in the secondary register 24 and has a high cost in consequence.

Display controller and associated method


A dielectric coating, a solid electrolytic layer and a collector layer are provided to one face of a porous valve metal sheet. An insulating section covers this metal sheet including the layers discussed above. Conductive bodies, which are coupled with a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal, respectively, are surfaced on at least one face of the insulating section. Connecting bumps are formed on these conductive bodies, so that ICs and other parts are coupled with these bumps. This structure realizes a thin composite electronic component having an excellent high-frequency response.

The present invention relates to a composite electronic component to be used in various electronic apparatuses.
A conventional composite electronic component comprises an integrated circuit (IC), a capacitor, an inductance, and a resistor placed on a circuit board. In such a conventional composite electronic component, a capacitor is mounted on a circuit board as a solid electrolytic chip-capacitor in the same manner as other parts such as resistors and inductance parts.
Electronic circuits have been digitized recently in response to the market""s demand, and this tendency involves high-frequency responses of electronic parts. A wiring is usually accompanied by a resistance component and an inductance component, and those components have not been raised as a problem. However, such components now block the solid electrolytic capacitor, which is surface-mounted on a circuit board together with an IC, from responding fast to a high-frequency.
The present invention aims to overcome the foregoing drawback and provide a thin composite electronic component having an excellent in high-frequency response and being directly bump-connectable to an IC. The composite electronic component of the present invention comprises the following elements: a capacitor element; an insulating section for covering the capacitor element; a connecting terminal, provided to at least one face of the insulating section, for electrically coupling with the capacitor element; a plurality of wiring patterns, provided to the same face as the connecting terminal, for conducting with electronic components; and outer terminals, provided to lateral faces of the insulating section, for electrically coupling with the capacitor element.
The capacitor element of the composite electronic component includes the following elements: a first connecting terminal provided to a porous valve metal sheet which has dielectric coating on both its surface and the inner wall of its void holes; a second connecting terminal provided to the porous valve metal sheet via a solid electrolytic layer at the face opposite to the first connecting terminal; holes at least communicating with the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal, the hole having an insulating film on its inner wall; and conductive bodies formed in the holes, and the conductive bodies being electrically connected with the first and second connecting terminals but insulated from other sections.
The connecting terminals are thus formed on the surface of the thin capacitor, and various chip parts including an IC can be mounted via the connecting terminals so that high-frequency response is substantially improved. At the same time, the composite component is downsized and thinned.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A gas-insulated switching device includes: a vacuum valve having a movable contact provided on one side of a movable conductor and a fixed contact provided to a fixed conductor; an insulation rod connected to another side of the movable conductor led out from the vacuum valve through a bellows; an operation rod connecting the insulation rod and an operation device; an airtight container in which the insulation rod, the other side of the movable conductor, and the operation rod are accommodated; and an intermediate pressure chamber formed by communication between internal spaces of the bellows and the airtight container. A sliding contact member is provided to the other side of the movable conductor. The sliding contact member is connected, via the airtight container, to a main circuit conductor. A communication portion provided between the airtight container and the sliding contact member allows communication inside the airtight container.

A switching device which is provided to a transmission and distribution grid for power and opens/closes a circuit is, in the case of having a rated voltage of several kV or higher, placed inside a pressure tank in which insulation gas is sealed, so as to improve insulation performance for creepage, etc. Conventionally, SF6 gas having excellent insulation performance has been mainly used as the insulation gas. However, SF6 gas is a greenhouse gas that is very high in global warming potential. Therefore, discharge thereof to the atmosphere is restricted at present, and, as insulation gas that is low in global warming potential and substitutes for SF6 gas, for example, gases such as dry air, CO2, and N2 are desired to be used. These insulation gases are inferior to SF6 gas in insulation performance. Therefore, it is necessary to make adjustments such as causing the gas pressure in the pressure tank to be higher than in the case of SF6 gas.
The switching device is provided with a bellows together with a movable conductor for opening/closing the circuit. In the case where the switching device is a vacuum circuit breaker, the inside of a container of the circuit breaker is kept vacuum. When a tank internal pressure is increased, the bellows is subjected to the differential pressure between the vacuum and the tank internal pressure. Therefore, a problem arises in terms of the strength of the bellows.
To address the above-described problem, for example, the following structure is known. The internal space of a bellows in a vacuum valve is set as a compartment having an intermediate pressure lower than a tank internal pressure and higher than a vacuum, whereby the differential pressure to be applied to the bellows is reduced, and thus the vacuum valve in which the strength of the bellows does not need to be increased is provided in a pressure tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1).


Determining the reasons for packet loss in a wireless local area network; such as an IEEE 802.11 network. The method uses the strength of received signals at a wireless station, such as the received signal strength indicator (RSSI), noise levels (e.g, non-802.11 energy in the 2.4 GHz frequency range), and packet loss information together to determine the network status. In most implementations, the 802.11 implementation (e.g., the 802.11 driver) is responsible for maintaining statistics on the RSSI and the noise whereas the measure of the packet loss is the responsibility of the application. The network status is determined by the endpoint station independent from the access point.

WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks) utilize RF (Radio Frequency) signals or light signals to connect mobile endpoints to each other or to a centralized gateway and transmit data over a wireless medium between the physical endpoints or between a mobile endpoint and an endpoint on a network that is connected to the WLAN. In 1997 the IEEE published standards for WLANs under the title of 802.11 (also known as "Wi-Fi"). The IEEE 802.11b protocol has gained popularity over the past few years and deployment of 802.11b networks is expected to increase significantly in the near future. Currently, most of these networks are used for data access from laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The basic hardware setup of an IEEE 802.11 network is the Basic Service Set (BSS), which is merely a number of endpoint stations that communicate with one another. And ESS is larger than a BSS and can be a combination of BSSs or a BSS and other associated network nodes, components, and LAN lines. Using a WLAN to place voice phone calls using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocols) over WLAN is also expected to grow significantly in the near future. However, VoIP over WLAN presents a unique set of problems that must be addressed prior implementing this technology.
There exists a plurality of 802.11 standards that each use different frequency bands and have varying data transmission speeds. The original IEEE 802.11 standard supported wireless interfaces operating at speeds of up to 2 megabyte per second (Mbps) in the 2.4 GHz radio band. By using different modulation techniques, IEEE 802.11b raised the data transmission rates to 11 Mbps, while 802.11a supports up to 54 Mbps transmission rates at a 5 GHz frequency. The IEEE 802.11g is developing a standard for data transmission rates of 54 Mbps at the 2.4 GHz frequency.
WLANs under 802.11 use media access control (MAC) protocols to transmit between wired and wireless devices. Each wireless network card is assigned a MAC address used to identify the station. In a BSS, IEEE 802.11 enables wireless mobile stations (STAs) to communicate through a wireless network interface directly with each other or with other stations through an access point. An access point (AP) is a centralized gateway providing message and power management and access to an external LAN (Local Area Network) and/or the Internet.
The access to wireless networks is controlled by coordination functions. The distributed coordination function (DCF) provides access similar to Ethernet CSMA/CA access. The DCF determines if the RF link between devices is clear prior to transmitting. Stations use a random backoff after every frame to avoid collisions. Endpoint stations provide MAC Service Data Units (MSDUs) after detecting no current transmissions. The MSDUs functions to transmit data frames to the proper endpoint station.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary WLAN enterprise network under IEEE 802.11 protocols. One basic service set (BSS) has a wireless access point (AP1) 12 and a second BSS has a wireless access point (AP2) 14. An AP bridges data with wireless STAs that are associated with that AP. An enterprise network typically has multiple BSSs and multiple APs distributed throughout an office complex or among floors on buildings so that a STA may be operated from nearly anywhere in a complex or building. Each AP in a BSS has an RF propagation broadcast area that has an effective range based upon broadcast power, natural signal attenuation, and interferences. AP1 12 has an RF propagation area defined exemplarily by coverage ring 13, and AP2 14 has an RF propagation area defined exemplarily by coverage ring 15. A WLAN may also be used to send voice data signals using a WIPP (Wireless Internet Protocol Phone or IP Phone) 16 that transmits data signals using voice protocols, such as voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Notebook computer 18 is associated with AP1 12 using a wireless network interface card and transmits data using IEEE 802.11 protocols. Both APs 12,14 are connected to an internal corporate Intranet 20. The Internet 26 may be accessed through intranet 20 and gateway 22 or alternatively through AP1 12 through a Radius authentication server 24.
The first steps in improving WLAN performance is to identify the network the STA is operating in and to determine the current network status in terms of congestion, interference and cell overlap. It is rare of APs to inform the nodes about the congestion level in the BSS. If the STA is working with an AP which supplies no network status information, it is up to the STA to determine the current congestion level of the network. A starting point is to define network congestion. A BSS is congested if the traffic generated by all STAs present in the BSS is high enough to cause significant packet loss.
Packet loss is usually a good indicator of the network status. However, packet loss in the wireless network can occur due to many reasons: congestion from other 802.11 nodes in the BSS, being far away from the AP, or due to interference with cordless phones, Bluetooth® signals, or microwaves signals, since 802.11 operates in the license-free frequency range of 2.4 GHz. A problem with prior art methods is the inability to determine reasons for packet loss.

End-point based approach for determining network status in a wireless local area network


A wear monitoring system for measuring incursion depth into an abradable coating includes a layer of abradable coating including a depth. At least one measurement circuit includes a plurality of conductive leads disposed within the abradable coating. The conductive leads are spaced radially apart within a common radial plane corresponding to the depth of the abradable coating. A plurality of resistor elements corresponds with the plurality of conductive leads. Each of the plurality of resistor elements are in electrical communication with one of the plurality of conductive leads disposed within the common radial plane of the corresponding one of the plurality of conductive leads. An electrical characteristic of the circuit varies responsive to cutting of one or more of the plurality of conductive leads by a passing airfoil. A gas turbine engine and method are also disclosed.

A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. Air entering the compressor section is compressed and delivered into the combustion section where it is mixed with fuel and ignited to generate a high-speed exhaust gas flow. The high-speed exhaust gas flow expands through the turbine section to drive the compressor and the fan section.
Abradable coatings are utilized in compressor and turbine sections on inner surfaces of a casing proximate a rotating airfoil. The abradable coating is utilized where minimizing clearances between a static casing structure and the tip of a compressor or turbine blade is desirable to increase engine efficiency. The abradable coatings are worn away by abrasive tips in the compressor and turbine sections to provide the desired clearance. The abradable coating not only provides closer clearances but also adjusts those clearances during engine operation to accommodate changes due to loading and thermal changes. While some level of wear can be estimated based on engine operation, such estimates of incursion depths of an airfoil tip into the abradable coating may not be as accurate as desired. The depth of incursion into an abradable coating as well as dynamic changes in abradable coating wear provides information that can be utilized to determine abradable coating depths and to monitor engine operating efficiencies and changes.
Turbine engine manufacturers continue to seek further improvements to engine performance including improvements to thermal, transfer and propulsive efficiencies.

Embedded sensor for in-situ monitoring of blade tip incursion