Electrical connector assembly comprising a cover part and a contact assembly for providing a mechanical and electrical contact to an electrode, and connecting arrangements for connecting lead wire to the contact component. The contact component is made of an elongated flat-formed strip forming at least two contact points for the electrode and between the contact points forming a recess having walls enlarging when drawing away from the contact points. The contact points are arranged to press against the electrode for detachable fastening.

The disclosure relates to electrical connector assembly for connecting a lead wire to a press stud of a medical electrode, comprising a cover part and a contact component for providing a mechanical and electrical contact to the press stud of the patient skin electrode, and connecting arrangements for connecting lead wire to the contact component.
Electrocardiogram, ECG or EKG is a non-invasive test used to measure electrical activity in the heart. Electrocardiogram creates a graph that represents the normal phases of activation of the heart.
In electrocardiogram measurements electrical sensors called electrodes, i.e. patient skin electrodes are attached to predetermined positions on the arms, legs, and chest to record electrical activity and help assess heart function.
There is a global need to lower the costs of healthcare. This is due to the fact that average age of the whole population rises continuously, and therefore there are considerably more elder people that earlier and that is the reason why there are continuously increasing patient costs for public and private healthcare sectors.
The other need in healthcare is to reduce risk of cross-contamination between patients, for example with single patient use medical devices. These single use medical devices must be affordable to the care giver.
Owing to the facts above there is also a growing need for lowering the manufacturing costs with the electrocardiogram accessories. When carrying out efforts to lower the costs it is however extremely important simultaneously keep the reliability of the contact to the electrode in a safe level. Mechanical durability, electrical contact and signal quality must not be sacrificed during optimization efforts for costs.
Detachable connector, for example a snap connector, instead of integrated electrodes is necessary because the electrodes may need to be replaced during for example hospital stay of the patient. By replacing only the electrodes, and not the cables, total cost level of monitoring is considerably less when compared to use of integrated electrodes, i.e. technique in which also the cables must be replaced in situations when electrodes must be replaced.
Typical known prior art electrocardiograph snap connector assembly comprises a moulded plastic cover, a metallic top half, a bottom half for a spring element and a spring element for creating contact and normally further a lead wire, i.e. four or five parts if the lead wire is counted.
The number of parts lead to rather complicated and laborious manufacturing process in which there are seven cost rising manual steps, i.e.:                1. Cutting the spring wire        2. Forming the spring wire        3. Attaching the spring wire to the bottom half        4. Attaching the base and the spring to the top half        5. Preparing the lead wire, cutting and peeling of the outer and inner isolation        6. Soldering of the lead wire to the top half        7. Moulding of the plastic cover
In this connection it must also be understood that soldering of the lead wire to the top half needs perfect temperature and skilled personnel leading to rising of the costs.
As described above the assemblies known from the prior art comprise numerous forms of medical clips. Said solutions are generally formed from a moulded plastic body having an embedded electrically conducting infrastructure that is exposed in a female aperture for connection to a post of a medical electrode. Electrically conductive element is usually formed from several independent metal parts which are assembled together to for a final element. Number of various parts are often considerably high in the solutions known from the prior art which increases costs of said solutions.
Increased use of electrical instrumentation in the medical field has created increasing demands for inexpensive but reliable medical terminal connector. The medical field is still today seeking to find a highly economical, reliable and secure medical terminal connector. The situation described has become even worse in the later years because the number of the elderly people rises very rapidly and economical demands are very strict today.


Semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the semiconductor memory devices are provided, the semiconductor memory devices may include a one-time-programmable (OTP) cell and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The OTP cell includes a memory transistor and a program transistor. The program transistor may include a fuse electrode and may be spaced apart from the memory transistor. The EEPROM cell includes a memory transistor including a first gate and a selection transistor including a second gate. The OTP cell includes a first high-density impurity region which overlaps with the fuse electrode.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. Other example embodiments relate to semiconductor memory devices fabricated using a simpler method and having a higher reliability and methods of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor memory device having an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and a one-time-programmable (OTP) memory, which are nonvolatile memories, is frequently used in several fields (e.g., flat panel displays (FPDs)). The OTP memory refers to a memory in which data is written one time and is not erased, or programmed.

Semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same


Disclosed embodiments relate to a character detection method and apparatus. In some embodiments, the method includes: using an image including an annotated word as an input to a machine learning model; selecting, based on a predicted result of characters inside an annotation region of the annotated word predicted and annotation information of the annotated word, characters for training the machine learning model from the characters inside the annotation region of the annotated word predicted; and training the machine learning model based on features of the selected characters. This implementation manner implements the full training of a machine learning model by using existing word level annotated images, to obtain a machine learning model capable of detecting characters in images, thereby reducing the costs for the training of a machine learning model capable of detecting characters in images.

Machine learning has been widely applied to the technical fields of big data, image recognition, voice recognition, and so on. However, as regards the detection of characters in images, because currently existing annotation samples are generally word level annotation samples and cannot participate in the training of a machine learning model for character detection, the machine learning model for character detection cannot be fully trained, and consequently characters in images cannot be precisely detected. In addition, only samples that satisfy strict annotation requirements can participate in training, further reducing the number of annotation samples that can participate training.

Character detection method and apparatus

Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd


A dough dispenser for donuts, donut holes, fritters and so forth has a frame and dispensing hopper with a novel quick change hopper lock, a novel piston and adjustable dispensing valve for donut holes, and a novel structure for quick change of different sets of dispensing pistons and cutter dies.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a dough dispenser, for dispensing fluid doughs for pastries and other food products.
2. The Prior Art
The prior art in dough dispensers typically dedicates the dispenser to one specific size and shape of pastry form. A specific example, there are large donuts, standard donuts, mini donuts, donut holes, bismarks, and so forth. There is no single dispenser that will do all of these.
Installation and removal of dough dispensers to and from the frying equipment has always been a problem. These dispensers need to be washed and sanitized with regularity.
Mechanism or structures have not been provided for quick changing of the dough cutting piston and cutter die, and there has not been an adjustable mechanism for varying the size of a dispensed piece of dough.


An EIR terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory communicatively coupled to the microprocessor, and a radio frequency identifier (RFID) reading device including an antenna having a composite right- and left-handed (CRLH) structure. The antenna can comprise one or more spatially separated conductive cell patches mounted on a dielectric substrate, a feed pad mounted on the dielectric substrate, one or more conductive feed lines connected to the feed pad, and one or more ground planes mounted on the dielectric substrate. One or more conductive feed lines can be spatially separated from one or more conductive cell patches. One or more conductive cell patches can be connected by one or more vias to one or more conductive via lines.

RFID methods are widely used in a number of applications, including smart cards, item tracking in manufacturing and retail, etc. An RFID tag can be attached, e.g., to a retail item. An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal deployed at the cashier's desk can be equipped with an RFID reader to read and/or modify the memory of an RFID tag attached to a retail item.

RFID devices using metamaterial antennas


In a chain link fencing employing slats inserted vertically through adjacent links into an open channel which is inserted horizontally through the lowermost or uppermost course of links, a means of locking the slats to the channel to prevent easy removal of the slats from the fencing. Each slat is manufactured with a notch near one end thereof, and the channel is manufactured with a continuous barb along each free edge, one of which will engage the notch on the slat when the slat is inserted perpendicularly into the channel. For ease of assembly, the end of each slat nearest the notch is beveled.

1. Field of the Invention
It is common for owners and/or occupants of residential and commercial property to surround their property, in whole or in part, with a chain link fence to prevent or restrict the passage of people or animals across property lines. Chain link fencing does serve these purposes, but it has certain disadvantages. The appearance of chain link fencing is strictly utilitarian, and not necessarily attractive. Further, chain link fencing provides no privacy to the occupiers of the property, nor does it prevent the occupiers of the property from observing possibly distasteful views, such as that of passing traffic and the like.
To improve the appearance of chain link fencing, and to provide a degree of privacy to the occupiers of the property, it is a common practice to insert opaque slats between the links of the chain link fencing, usually in a vertical orientation. These slats occupy almost all of the lineal distance between the topmost and lowermost links of the fencing, and are usually restrained from falling through the fencing by means of an upwardly-concave channel inserted horizontally through the lowermost links of the fencing. The lower end of the slats rests in the channel.
The slat which is customarily used with chain link fencing is a flexible tube with a flattened cross-section, the long sides seen in cross-section being parallel, and the ends being approximately semi-circular. The width of the slat, as the word will be used hereinafter, is the width as seen in an external view; that is, the width of the slat is the distance between the extremes of the circular portions of the cross-section. The depth of the slat is the distance between the outer surfaces of opposite flattened sides of the slat.
Such slats are manufactured of polyethylene or similar plastic, although they can, and have been, made of wood or metal. The vast majority of such slats sold are, however, plastic. They are offered by manufacturers in various colors. There are various widths of slat to accommodate different sizes of fence mesh, but the depth of the slats is relatively uniform, and may vary from 0.310 inches (7.87 mm) to 0.315 inches (8.0 mm).
Chain link fences are subject to displacement of the slats, either by accident, or because of vandalism--the latter caused by persons who wilfully remove the slats and discard them, thereby creating an unsightly appearance, and destroying the privacy of the occupiers of the property.
2. Description of Related Art
Attempts to prevent the removal, intentional or otherwise, of slats from chain link fencing have consisted of methods or articles that require additional time to assemble into place. Such means require more of an assembler than merely inserting a channel along the bottom, and inserting the slats vertically through the fence links into the channel. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,044 of Cluff discloses a separate clip to be used with each slat and, in some embodiments, the use of a special lower channel as well as using one clip per slat.

Retaining lock for chain link fence slats


A circuit protection device includes a circuit breaker having a first contact arm and a second contact arm, wherein the second contact arm is configured to move with respect to the first contact arm between a first position and a second position. The circuit protection device also includes a locking device coupled to the circuit breaker, wherein the locking device is configured to at least one of move the second contact arm from the first position to the second position and lock the second contact arm in the second position.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to circuit breakers and, more particularly, to devices that enable locking of circuit breakers in a tripped position and enable tripping of circuit breakers.
At least some known circuit breakers include an interlock and an auxiliary latch, wherein the interlock prevents the auxiliary latch from re-engaging after the circuit breaker has tripped due to detection of a tripping criteria, such as an overcurrent detection. For example, the interlock prevents the auxiliary latch from re-engaging until the circuit breaker is manually reset. Moreover, at least some known circuit breakers include a handle that enables a user, such as service personnel, to manually separate primary electrical contacts within the circuit breaker. The handle is coupled to secondary electrical contacts that provide power to the handle such that, when a preselected condition is detected and when the handle is in an "on" position, the primary electrical contacts are reconnected to enable current to flow through the circuit breaker. However, such known circuit breakers do not enable a circuit breaker to be manually tripped and locked in the tripped or open position using an externally-located arm or lever.

Locking device for use with a circuit breaker and method of assembly


Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for calculating a document rank score of documents in the dynamic World Wide Web (web) environment where documents are continuously added and deleted. The method and apparatus use partial updates to recalculate a document rank score of documents in view of a change, and dynamic updates that reflect a change occurring during calculation of the document rank score.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for calculating a document rank score. In particular, exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for calculating a document rank score of documents in the dynamic World Wide Web (web) environment in which is documents are continuously added and deleted.
2. Discussion of the Background
A search service providing system (hereinafter, referred to as a 'web search system') may search for documents on the World Wide Web (web) and/or the Internet, may collect documents, and may calculate scores of the collected documents by reflecting contents and link information of the documents. When an inquiry is input by a user, the web search system may provide the user with documents having the highest relevance with the inquiry or a list of such documents.
Billions of documents or more are present on the web. Contents of some of the web documents may be partially changed or deleted. Additionally, new documents may be generated and some old documents may be deleted. Therefore, a status of web documents is continuously changing.
To provide users with high quality web search service, the web search system needs to calculate document scores with respect to the inquiry by continuously reflecting changes in the web, and to promptly reflect the calculated scores in a search result.
The web search system repeats collecting, indexing, link information analysis, and service reflection at regular time intervals. The time intervals may be varied according to search service companies, and are generally at least one week to two weeks.
Therefore, if the web search system is able to reflect a change of documents every time the changed documents are found, and provide users with documents highly related to the inquiry, user satisfaction with respect to the search is service will greatly increase.
The document scores in the web search service may be calculated by a combination of a content-based score of documents and a link-based score. Accordingly, a quick update of the content-based score of documents and the link-based score is necessary to promptly reflect the change of documents in a search result.

Method and apparatus for dynamic update of document rank score


The invention relates to a reduced calorie fat and a process for the preparation of a reduced calorie fat, which includes esterification of edible oils with a source of behenic acid in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature in the range of about 25° C. to 150° C. for at least about 0.5 hours, and then recovering and purifying the reduced calorie fat using conventional methods.

Typical fats and oils provide approximately 6 kcal/g of metabolizable energy compared to 4 kcal/g for protein or carbohydrate [Atwater, W. O. et al., Annu. Rep. Storrs Agric. Exp. Stn. (1903) No.15, 123-146 & Maynard, L. A., J. Nutr. 28 (1944) 443-453]. In addition to the caloric and nutritional value, fats have many functions in the diet. Fats and oils carry, enhance and release the flavours of other food components, delays digestion, increases palatability of food and imparts the feeling of satiety. Certain unsaturated fatty acids like 9,12-octadecenoic acid (linole acid) which are known to be essential fatty acids are necessary as they are not produced in the body. Fats and oils are also associated with the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, and the absorption of these vitamins is impaired at very low fat intakes. Fat is also associated with diseases such as coronary heart disease and cancer, a high fat diet being positively linked to both. The U.S. Surgeon General has recommended that no more then 30% of the dietary calories should be derived from fat [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health, DHHS (PHS) Publication 88-50210, [U.S.GPO., Washington, D.C. (1988)]. Regulatory and advisory bodies advocate a lowered fat intake in order to reduce the incidence and morbidity of many coronary diseases, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.
However, food habits are difficult to change and the positive contribution of fats to increase the palatability of foods is generally recognized. The level of fat in the diet of affluent societies is too high and needs to be lowered. Reduced fat or low calorie foods as well as fat replacers or substitutes have been the result of numerous attempts to meet the health recommendations without changing traditional ways of eating.
Three different types of fat replacers namely carbohydrate-based, protein-based and fat-based are reported in the literature.
Carbohydrate-based fat replacers consists of many products like dextrin, polydextrose, maltodextrin, cellulose, gums etc., which are used as thickeners and stabilizers in frozen desserts, salad dressings, margarine type spreads, baked products, frostings and snacks. Many products based on starch have been developed specifically as fat mimetic [Alexander, R. J., Cereal Food World 40 (1995) 366-368]. However, starch based products are not good for diabetics for whom good glucose control is necessary [Grundy, S. M., Diabetics Care 14 (1991) 796-801]. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations state that sensitive individuals may experience a laxative effect from excessive consumption of maltrodextrins [U.S.A. Food & Drug Administration Regulations 21 CFR Part 105]. Some popular examples of carbohydrate based fat replacers are Stellar, Remyrise AP, N-Oil, Lycadex, Maltrin, Ex-cel, Fibercel, Centu Tex, Fibrex etc. [Jones, J. M., Chemistry & Industry, (1996) 494-498].
Protein-based fat replacers are produced using common proteins such as egg white, skimmed milk or whey by microparticulating them into a particle size of 1-3 μm to obtain a slippery and creamy fat like feeling which provide 1-2 kcal/g [Singer, N. S., et al., J.] Amer. Coll. Nutr. 9 (1990) 388-397]. These products are being used in variety of food products such as yogurts, cheese products, frozen desserts and also for formulating low fat baked goods such as cheese cakes and pie crust. Gelatin from fish waste was also reported as a fat replacer to use as a viscosity modifier and to impart a creamy texture. However, such fat replacers are reported to be hypersensitive for persons with allergy to the base proteins [Young, V. R., et al., J. Amer. Coll. Nutr. 9 (1990) 418-426]. Some examples of protein based fat replacers popular in the market are Dairylight, Simplesse, Lita, Calpra 75 etc. [Jones, J. M., Chemistry & Industry (1996) 494-498].
Carbohydrate-based and protein-based fat replacers are presently used in a range of foods, and are effective in delivering fat-like texture where the final product has a significant water content and is not exposed to extremely high temperatures or temperature variations [Mela, D. J., Fett/Lipid 98 (1996) 50-55]. These problems can be overcome by fat-based low calorie fats.
Fat-based low calorie fats have many advantages like functional and sensory properties very similar to the normal fats when compared to the carbohydrate and protein-based fat replacers. They also provide both the characteristic texture and flavour effects of native fats.
Many fat-based low calorie fats are reported in the literature namely propoxylated glycerols esterified with fatty acid chlorides [Masten, L. W., EP 571,219 (1993); White, J. F. et al., EP 325,010 (1989)]; fatty acid diesters of C4-10 dihydric alcohols [Klemann, L. P. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,512 (1994); Klemann, L. P. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,351 (1991)]; trioltriester derivatives [Klemann, L. P. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,179 (1991)]; polyol fatty acid polyesters [Kester, J. J. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,707 (1994); Letton, J. C., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,514 (1994)]; polyvinyloleate [D' Amelia, R. P. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,974 (1990)]; oleoylloeate [Jacklin, P. T. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,974 (1990)]; bis-oleoylaspartyladipare [Klemann, L. P. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,807 (1992)]; esterified alkoxylated mono- and diglycerides [Cooper, C. F. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,253 (1994)]; triglycerides containing C12-22 fatty acids having alkyl groups at least at the position 5,9,13 of the alkyl chain [Tagiri, M. et al., JP 04,325,055 (1992)]; 1,3-didecanoylglycerol [Mazur, A. W. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,660 (1992)]; alkyl or polyol thioesters [Klemann, L. P., U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,293 (1991)]; propyleneglycol diesters of medium chain and long chain saturated fatty acids [Stipp, G. K. et al., EP 495,553 (1992)]; alkylmalonic acid diesters [Fulcher, J. G. et al., Aus. Pat. 594,040 (1990)]; esterified polyoxyalkylene block co-polymers [Cooper, C. F. et al., EP 481,717 (1992)]; alkylglycoside fatty acid polyesters [Winter, D. D. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,054 (1990)]; fatty acid esters of sucrose [Letton, J. A., et al., EP 375,027 (1990)]; sorbitol fatty acid esters [Gruetzmacher, G. D., EP, 591,258 (1994)]; partially esterified polysaccharide with fatty acids [White, J. F. U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,466 (1990)]; alkoxylated sugar and sugar alcohol esters [Ennis, J. L. et al., EP 425,635 (1991)]; polysaccharide fatty acid polyester [Meyer, R. S. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,489 (1990)]. All these are unnatural compounds not normally encountered in human diet and the long term affects of consumption of such are presently unknown.
Examples of the more commonly known low calorie fats are OLESTRA™, medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), Caprenin and SALATRIM™. OLESTRA™ is a mixture of hexa-, hepta-, and octa-fatty acid esters of sucrose. The physical properties of sucrose polyesters are similar to normal triglycerides [Jandacek, R. J., et al., Chem, Phys. Lipids 22 (1978) 163-176]. OLESTRA™ is adaptable to most application where fats and oils are used. However, the major drawback to OLESTRA™is "anal leakage", the result of a non-digestible fat passing through the digestive system. OLESTRA™ also blocks the absorption of fat soluble vitamins [Bailey's Industrial Oil & fat Products, Vol. 1, Ed. Y. H. Hui (1996), p. 286; Jones D. Y. et al., Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 53 (1991) 1282-1287 and Dasher, G., et al., FASEB J. 8 (1994) 443].
MCTs are triglycerols composed of C6, C8 and C10 saturated fatty acids. Hunder, J. E., et al., [U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,753 (1989)] reported a low calorie peanut butter containing ≧10% MCTs. A peanut butter composition containing MCTs (41.96%) was reported to have excellent consistency and contained at least 10% fewer calories than the normal fat. However, MCTs may be toxic and may induce metabolic acidosis in large doses [Akoh, C. C. Inform 6 (1995) 1055-1061].
SALATRIM™ (short and long acylglycerol molecules) is a family of structured triacylglycerols prepared by interesterifying a completely hydrogenated vegetable oil with triacetin, tripropionin and/or tributyrin using sodium methoxide as a catalyst at 100-150C [Wheeler, E. L. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,197 (1991); Klemann, L. P. et al., 42, J. Agr. Food Chem. (1994) 42, 442-446]. Thus, the SALATRIM™ triglycerides are composed of mixtures of long-chain saturated fatty acids (predominantly stearic) and short-chain fatty acids (acetic propionic, and/or butyric) esterified to the glycerol backbone. A similar low calorie fat namely acetyl distearoyl glyceride was prepared by Wheeler, E. L. et al. [U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,197 (1991)]. Extensive testing in animals of SALATRIM™ has shown no changes in the intestinal microflora or secondary bile acids, and no increased mutagenicity or other toxicological effects [Hayes, J. R., et al., J. Agr. Food Chem. 42 (1994) 500-514; Scheinbach, S., et al., ibid, 42 (1994) 572-580; Hayes, J. R., et al., ibid, 42 (1994) 539-551; Hayes, J. R., et al., ibid, 42 (1994) 515-520; and Hayes, J. R., et al., ibid, 42 (1994) 521-527]. However, SALATRIM™ contains unnatural components such as very low molecular weight fatty acids and does not contain essential fatty acids.
Caprenin, a structured triglyceride consisting of caprylic and capric acids and the very long chain behenic acid which was developed for use in chocolate preparation. It yields only 5 cal/g instead of 9 cal/g because the short chain fatty acids have lower energy values and behenic acid is not well absorbed [Peters, J. C. et al., J. Am. Coll. Toxicol. 10 (1991) 357-67; Webb, D. R., et al, ibid 10 (1991) 341-356; Webb, D. R. et al., ibid., 10 (1991) 325-340]. Glycerin was esterified first with behenic acid to form glycerylmonobehenate, which was then reacted with capric and caprylic acids or their anhydrides, and then purified by molecular distillation and steam deodorization. Yoshida, T. et al., [JP 0559392 (1991)] reported the synthesis of 2-behenyl-1,3-dicaproyl glycerol by reacting tribehenin and ethyl caproate in the presence of lipase and the product's feed study on rats showed that absorption of the structured triglycerides was significantly lower and its excretion into feces was higher than other oils. In another report Yoshida R., et al., [Shoka to Kyushu 14 (1991) 27-30 C.A. 117: 47249 (1992)] reported the synthesis of triglycerides with a randomly placed long chain fatty acid (behenic acid) and two medium chain fatty acids (capric and caproic acids) and included it in the diet of rats. These triglycerides were poorly absorbed from the intestine; absorption of behenic acid was particularly poor. Caprenin feeding studies have shown that it produces no toxic effects when fed as the primary source of dietary fat [Webb, D. R. et al., Food Chem. Toxicol. 31 (1993) 935-946]; Webb, D. R., et al., J.Amer. Coll. Toxicol. 10 (1991) 341-356 and Webb, D. R., et al., ibid, 10 (1991) 325-340]. However, a six week study of relative effects on serum lipids and apolipoproteins of a caprenin rich diet feeding studies by Wardlaw, G. M., et al., [Am.J. Clin. Nutr. 61 (1995) 535-542] showed that caprenin can contribute to hypercholesterolemia in men and gastrointestinal complaints in some individuals.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Reduced-calorie fats containing behenic acid and process of making thereof

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


A method of providing auxiliary services in a computer network marketplace relating to an originating transaction between a customer and a host is described. The originating transaction typically involves self-help moving and relocating, such as reserving a moving truck or trailer and other moving equipment. The originating transaction is processed by accepting customer input requested by the host. The customer can access content describing an auxiliary service relating to the originating transaction, such as services from other vendors relating to moving and relocating. The service provider is listed in the marketplace at the discretion of the host and the customer input for the originating transaction is used by the host to expedite processing of a secondary transaction for the auxiliary service between the customer and the auxiliary service provider. The customer can use the marketplace to view information on the auxiliary service provider and to purchase the auxiliary service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to customer/vendor marketplaces in a computer network environment. More specifically, the invention relates to an online marketplace for customers and vendors to transact business for services related to moving and allows for pre-payment of services and escrow services.
2. Discussion of Related Art
For many years, the Internet has allowed consumers of a wide variety of goods to get online and meet merchants and retailers. There are many models in which transactions between buyers and sellers of products or goods can take place. Companies in this space include some well known names such as Amazon, eBay, Priceline, Mercata, among hundreds of others. The models for such transactions include fixed prices, peer-to-peer bidding, volume purchasing, and bid and lock models. These models, as well as others, have been used for many years in the online world and have been widely successful.
However, similar models for selling services on the Internet or in online marketplaces are still evolving and have not yet had widespread acceptance. Presently, there are numerous online companies which provide marketplaces for customers and service providers, referred to as vendors, to transact business. An example of one such company is eLance which provides a shared workplace for its members who pay subscription and transaction fees. Members, e.g., a customer, bids for a service or can pay a fixed price for a service offered by a vendor. The customer and vendor then collaborate in a shared workspace. At Guru.com, customers can hire freelance vendors in a non-fee marketplace. Others include Sologig.com where freelancers can be hired for a fee and Servicemagic.com where service providers, such as plumbers, landscapers, and the like, pay a fee to bid on jobs posted by customers.
Many of the online marketplaces for services have not focused on a specific area of business. Most, if not all, service-oriented online marketplaces have taken a general character, supplying a wide variety of services in different fields without focusing on a particular business. One example of a business space that is primarily service oriented is the self-help or "do-it-yourself" moving business. In this business a customer rents a truck, trailer, or van to move their personal possessions to a new location instead of hiring a full service moving company to pack, load, unload, and transport the possessions. The Ryder Corporation, a transportation management and vehicle rental company, has a web site at Ryder.com or yellowtruck.com which allows customers to obtain information on vehicle rentals and other transportation needs. The customer can rent a vehicle and request that a service provider contact the customer in the future to enter a transaction.
The do-it-yourself moving business typically has as its primary or originating transaction between customer and vendor the renting of a van, truck, or trailer. A customer begins a move by renting a vehicle or trailer at one location and returns the vehicle at a different or same location. Often when moving, the customer may seek help for a wide variety of services. The most apparent being loading and unloading the vehicle or trailer. Customers may also seek help with packing and unpacking and with other common chores that need to be done when moving, such as housecleaning, painting, yard cleaning, garbage/waste removal, carpet cleaning, and so on. The list also includes less obvious items such as reserving a hotel room at the destination for the night before moving in and similar services at the destination, such as loading, removal of empty boxes, cleaning, assembling furniture, and so on.
Presently, customers seek moving-related services by searching the yellow pages and classifieds or asking for referrals at the moving equipment rental office, where employees are not generally permitted to provide such information but do so unofficially. The task of finding all the services a do-it-yourself moving customer may need becomes time consuming, inefficient, and disjointed. In addition, customers are typically left to choosing a vendor randomly from yellow page listings or classified ads. Customers seeking services or a vendor in a city or location different from where they live face the problem of getting information on the remote location. Obtaining such information from online yellowpages can be problematic or difficult for certain customers. In some cases customers go to Internet web sites for moving services, such as moving.com or move.com. These sites allow customers to access information and contact information of vendors regarding moving services and goods. The sites are an enhanced online yellow page listings for moving services and goods. The customer can access information on moving, such as moving tips, money saving ideas, and the like. In some cases a customer is linked to one vendor for a particular service or good as opposed to a listing of vendors along with information on rates and customer feedback. A customer visiting these sites is typically not able to transact business or make a purchase on these sites. Customers are not able to hire a vendor and pre-pay for the vendor services at the site. They are generally informational. Many of the vendors, such as those who offer the service of loading and unloading or provide housecleaning services, have minimum time or payment requirements. That is, the minimum that the customer must pay is dictated by the vendor, regardless of the level of need of the customer. For example, a student moving from shared housing to a studio will likely have to pay a vendor a minimum payment that exceeds the services actually needed by the student. The experience of moving is often not a pleasant one and calls for many disparate tasks apart from the basic job of transporting one's possession. Some of these varied tasks, if not brought "under one roof" may be overlooked and require a quick fix at the last moment. Online sites for making reservations for a truck, van or trailer for the do-it-yourself moving customer have gained widespread acceptance. Customers routinely log on and make more informed decisions on what type of moving equipment, truck size, and so on they may need. However, making arrangements for the varied services related to a move are not available at the same site despite the fact that such services, as noted above, are integral to moving and relocating.

Online marketplace for moving and relocation services


Provided a vehicle skeleton member including: a portion obtained by joining a plurality of members constituted by a composite material of a thermoplastic resin and a reinforcing fiber, and an axis parallel to a front-rear direction and/or a right-left direction of the vehicle body is included in a joined surface by vibration welding.

A current vehicle skeleton member generally has a structure in which steel is subjected to sheet metal processing and assembled by spot welding.
Although the vehicle skeleton member has a very complex shape for providing a reinforcing structure for increasing body rigidity and a living space, a large limitation is not needed on the shape of a joint part owing to a robotized spot-welding technology, and therefore a high productivity is enabled.
On the other hand, in recent years, for decreasing environmental burdens of automobiles, saving of body weight has been strongly desired and application of a carbon fiber composite material to vehicle skeleton members has been attempted. In these vehicle skeleton members made from the carbon fiber composite material, their weight has been drastically saved as compared with the case of existing steel-made vehicle skeleton members. However, since the shapes of the members have to follow complex shape of the existing steel-made vehicle skeleton members, an expensive carbon fiber woven fabric is to be used and shaping thereof is performed by a hand lay-up or autoclave method that is low in productivity. Therefore, from the viewpoint of economic efficiency, wide range of use thereof has been extremely limited. Recently, although an improvement in productivity is attempted using RTM method (Resin Transfer Molding method) or the like (see, Patent Document 1), but it is hard to say that the technology can be applied to general vehicles, since a curing reaction time of a thermosetting resin used as a matrix is rate-limiting.
Moreover, at the application of the fiber-reinforced composite material to the vehicle skeleton member, the joint of the fiber-reinforced composite materials themselves and the joint of the fiber-reinforced composite material to the other material such as a metal become a problem. Although the fiber-reinforced composite material is light in weight and has a high strength, it is not preferable to apply a local load such as volt fastening, so that there have been proposed a large number of structures for dispersing the load at a fastening portion. Patent Document 2 shows examples of structures for attaching the fiber-reinforced composite material. The stress concentration at the joint portion can be avoided by these structures, but an improvement in productivity is limited since the structures are complex.
On the other hand, as a means for improving the productivity of fiber-reinforced composite materials, a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced composite material containing a thermoplastic resin used as a matrix has been developed. Such a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced composite material enables shaping within a short tact time by stamping after heated and plasticized. Since pressing pressure required for stamping is lower than that required for stamping molding of steel, integral molding is applicable in the case of such a size as a floor for a vehicle. Moreover, since the thermoplastic fiber-reinforced composite material can be softened by re-heating, it is also one characteristic that jointing by welding is possible.    (Patent Document 1) JP-A-2008-68720    (Patent Document 2) JP-A-2006-64010


A portable electronic device including a device printed wiring board; an electrical connector connected to the device printed wiring board; and a camera coupled to the device printed wiring board by the electrical connector at a sliding height connection. The sliding height connection allows the camera to slide relative to the electrical connector along a first axis to allow positioning of the camera relative to the electrical connector at one of a plurality of different heights along the first axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable electronic devices and, more particularly, to a portable electronic device having a camera or other image taking device.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones and PDAs, have been provided in the past with a camera for taking digital photographs. However, a problem exists regarding the manufacture of these portable electronic devices with cameras. The devices require individual different camera connection designs to accommodate different positions of the cameras relative to printed wiring boards inside the portable electronic devices. There has not been provided a standardized construction for connecting a camera with a printed wiring board that can be used in multiple different types of designs of portable electronic devices which have their printed wiring boards at different positions inside the portable electronic devices.
There is a problem of how to provide a common camera module in different device models; and especially in device models where device printed wiring boards are located in different positions in a Z direction (relative to an X-Y orientation of the printed wiring board). Product specific cameras and/or connectors for those devices have been manufactured in the past. Those devices have been designed so that a certain camera can fit into a specific device, but cannot be assembled in other designs. This has most probably caused compromises to product construction. This type of individualized device specific connection of cameras to printed wiring boards in different types or configurations of portable electronic devices increases the costs of multiple product lines and increases assembly complexity as well as research and development costs to design the different connections for the different designs.
There is a desire to provide a connection between a camera and a printed wiring board in a portable electronic device which can accommodate location of a module camera unit at various different Z direction positions relative to a printed wiring board to accommodate different designs and types of portable electronic devices. Thus, there is a desire to provide a connection system having common components, such as a common camera module and a common electrical connector, which has a variable or adjustable height connection of the camera module to the electrical connector. This type of variable or adjustable height connection preferably allows location of the camera relative to the printed wiring board at a variety of locations ranging from the printed wiring board being located proximate a rear end of the camera to the printed wiring board being located proximate a front end of the camera.


A squeeze treatment for preventing scale utilizes as the scale inhibitor a predominantly phosphinate containing composition comprising:. ______________________________________ Mole Percent - Ingredients Less Than ______________________________________ A. Monosodium phosphinicobis - 22 (succinic acid) B. Monosodium phosphinico- 26 succinic acid C. Sodium phosphonosuccinic acid 12 D. Sodium phosphate 5 E. Sodium phosphite 6 F. Sodium hypophosphite, and 6 G. A phosphinicosuccinic acid oligomer having the probable structural formula: ##STR1## ______________________________________. wherein G exceeds 25 mole percent, M is H, Na, K, NH.sub.4, amine salts and mixtures thereof and m and n are either 0 or a small whole number with the proviso that either m or n is a small whole number and the sum of m plus n is greater than 2.

Chemical scales that result from the deposition of solid salts from supersaturated solutions frequently lead to lost production or abandonment of production wells. Deposits can plug the wellbore, tubing string, downhole safety valves and other valves, and casing perforations. Subsurface pumps can stick and the operation of surface lines and equipment can be restricted.
Deposition can be initiated by a variety of factors, including pressure, pH, and temperature changes, turbulence, surface characteristics, or mixing of incompatible fluids. Incompatible fluids are frequently encountered during waterflooding operations. A common factor that causes scale is pressure reduction encountered by fluids as they enter the wellbore during production. The partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in a CO.sub.2 saturated brine decreases. Precipitation of CaCO.sub.3 results.
A variety of scales, both organic and inorganic, cause production problems. Common inorganic scales are calcium and magnesium carbonate, calcium, magnesium, barium, and strontium sulfate, and iron sulfides. The calcium salts are the most common. Barium scales ar especially difficult to prevent and remove.
Scales can either be removed or inhibited. Walls can also be re-perforated in order to circumvent the plugged area. Most plugging is at the perforation, where pressure changes are first seen. The well can also be fractured in order to bypass previously scaled areas. Both re-perforation and fracturing are expensive and only temporary remedies since scale will rapidly re-form.
Well clean-out can be mechanical or chemical, both of which are expensive. They both involved well shut-in during the cleaning operation. Scales are dissolved by acid treatments, base treatments, two stage treatments (bases followed by acids), and chelants such as EDTA (ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid). Chemicals can be converters or dissolvers. Converters, both inorganic and organic, form solid reaction products. Inorganic converters are usually preceded by an acidizing stage. Organic converters usually form dispersions or pumpable sludges, formed when the scales slough off from the surfaces. Better scale penetration is generally seen due to this sloughing. An acidizing stage generally follows the organic converter treatment. "Solvents," such as chelants, are more expensive but generally more effective.
Scales can be kept from forming by dilution. Fresh brine or a solubility-increasing brine can be injected into the formation to dilute the connate fluid past the solubility limit of the scalant. This procedure is also expensive.
The most efficient way of dealing with scale is to inhibit its formation. Chemicals can be sequestrants or work as threshold inhibitors. Sequestrants form combination pairs with a species normally involved in precipitation, such as calcium ions. The interaction with the sequestrant is on molar basis and therefore requires a large amount of chemical. While effective, this procedure could be cost limiting.
A much more cost effective chemical treatment is to use a threshold chemical, that is, one that inhibits at a concentration well below equimolar amounts. Threshold chemicals can be effective at concentrations as low as 1/1000th the concentration of the scaling mineral. Precipitation is a complicated process involving supersaturation, nucleation, and crystal growth. An inhibitor can function by one or more mechanisms. It can interfere with the nucleation process or rate. It can interfere with the can be altered. It can also prevent adhesion of crystals to one another or to metal walls. In order to be effective, the scale inhibitor must be present during the nucleation stage of crystal growth.
The most common classes of inhibitor chemicals are inorganic phosphates, organophosphorous compounds and organic polymers. The common phosphates are sodium tripolyphosphate and hexametaphosphate. Organophosphorous compounds are phosphonic acid and phosphate ester salts. The organic polymers used are generally low molecular weight acrylic acid salts or modified polyacrylamides and copolymers thereof. Phosphonates and polymers are more thermally stable than polyphosphates or phosphate esters. Phosphates hydrolyze at high temperatures forming orthophosphates, the metal salts of which may be more insoluble than the scales that they are intended to inhibit.
The phosphates have low brine solubilities and are therefore frequently injected as solids. They can be injected into the wellbore by bypass feeders, baskets, filter packs and bottom-ho1e well packs. They can also be placed into the formation through fractures along with the fracturing fluids. The chemical then dissolves slowly, resulting in a steady, low concentration of inhibitor.
The phosphonates and polymers are more water soluble and are therefore used as solutions. Either the wellbore or the formation can be treated. Both batch and continuous methods are used for treating the wellbore. It can also be added as a component of a fracturing fluid. These treatments are not optimum since chemical does not contact the point of initial scale formation--for formation face or casing perforations. However, the tubing string and surface equipment will be treated.
A more efficient and less costly procedure is a "squeeze" treatment, in which the chemical is injected into the formation. Production is halted while chemical is injected at a pressure below frac pressure. The chemical optically penetrates the formation to a distance 1-6 feet radially from the wellbore. Inhibitor will then be released into the wellbore as production is resumed. Ideally, the concentration of inhibitor is constant and low (at a concentration slightly above that required for total inhibition--generally 2-4 ppm). The lifetime of a squeeze depends on the flow rate, oil/water ratio and many other factors but can last for 6 months and even up to 2 years.
Squeeze treatments are generally used for production wells. The chemicals could also be used at injection wells to prevent scaling of the injection brines with reservoir brines (if the brines are incompatible). Plugging can occur at the injection well or can occur as the injection fluids contact the formation brines in the reservoir. The injection well would generally not be squeezed then brine withdrawn from the well. The chemical would travel with the injection brine to the producer, also resulting in inhibition of possible scale there. Injection brines themselves have generally reached maximum precipitation, since they have been at equilibrium for some time. Precipitation occurs when injection brine contacts formation brine in these cases. Frequently, the wells are still only treated at the producer, even when injection brines are being used. However, the chemical should be useful for injection wells also.
The chemical can be physically adsorbed or precipitated. Scale inhibitors are ionic (anionic) in nature. Therefore, the adsorption/desorption is believed to be controlled by electrostatic interactions between the inhibitor and formation minerals. Physically adsorbed chemical is generally retained for a shorter time than a precipitated inhibitor. Another possible mechanism of inhibitor retention is phase trapping. Inhibitor will be present in the brine in unswept areas. This inhibitor will then generally be produced back erratically within a few pore volumes of resumption of flow.
A proppant containing a physically adsorbed inhibitor can be injected into a fracture. The chemical will be released from the proppant as production returns. A similar method involves injection of microparticles of an ion exchange resin into the formation followed by inhibitor injection. The resin holds, then slowly releases, the chemical.
Inhibitors precipitated in the formation by multivalent ions have shown the longest squeeze lives. The concentration of inhibitor produced is controlled by the solubility of the inhibitor salt at a particular flow-rate. The chemical is precipitated with multivalent ions, generally calcium. Precipitation with other ions, such as iron or chromium, has been proposed.
The inhibitor can become exposed to the ions in several ways: First, multivalent ions that naturally occur in the reservoir brine can contact inhibitor solution during injection. Upon setting in the reservoir before production is resumed, multivalents can be ion-exchanged from the reservoir minerals. Secondly, an acidic inhibitor solution can be injected. As the acidic solution contacts calcium carbonate and reacts, calcium will be released and the pH will rise. Precipitation will result. Many sandstone reservoirs contain some carbonate. Also multivalent ions can also be injected with the inhibitor if pH of the injection solution is low. As pH rises due to dilution or neutralization, precipitation will result.
A combination chelation/precipitation method has been proposed. The inhibitor remains soluble during injection due to chelation of added multivalent ions by an added chelant. Upon setting in the reservoir, the equilibrium shifts toward the calcium/inhibitor pair, resulting in precipitation.
One method has been proposed that does not require added ions. A low solubility inhibitor is made soluble by raising the pH of the injecting solution. On dilution and neutralizing, the chemical will fall out of solution.
Other methods of inhibitor placement have been mentioned. One involves a water-dispersible inhibitor injected in a water-in-oil emulsion, which reverts on water contact. It is proposed that organophosphonates can be retained more readily when injected with an adsorption agent (an amine or amine quaternary amxonium salt). Others have proposed that phosphonates adsorption last longer when used in various combinations with polymers. The polymer can be injected with the phosphonate or in alternate slugs.
The residual concentrations of phosphonates and phosphate esters can be easily and accurately determined in oil field brines by a titration method. However, no accurate method exists for field testing of polymer residuals.
Since precipitation squeezes are usually superior to adsorption squeezes, a superior squeeze chemical should be one whose calcium salt has a very low solubility. However, the solubility should not be so low that the concentration or produced inhibitor is below that required for effective scale inhibition.
Also, a inhibitor is needed that will inhibit barium sulfate scale as well as the more common scales. Barium sulfate scale is almost impossible to remove once formed and is becoming a more frequent problem, especially in Alaska and many foreign locations. In locations such as the North Sea, barium and strontium sulfate inhibition is becoming a major problem as waterflooding operations involving sea water increase.
Barium scales are a problem in waterflooding operations where sea water is used as an injection fluid. If the reservoir is high in barium, the sea water, being high in sulfate ion, will result in incompatible fluids (barium sulfate formation) in the reservoir. If the formation is high in calcium, calcium sulfate could result. Waterflooding (secondary recovery) or pressure augmentation--in order to increase production pressure--with other brines (not necessarily sea water) can result in incompatible fluids.
Scale inhibition studies have been carried out with calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate and barium sulfate. The precipitation of the inhibitor with calcium is unrelated to its intended inhibition. The inhibitor should also be capable of being precipitated with other metal ions such as magnesium, iron, chromium, etc.

Phosphinate inhibitor for scale squeeze applications


A paving machine includes a screed. The screed further includes an endgate, a mount, a platform, and a pavement edge forming member. The pavement edge forming member has a longitudinal member and a shaping plate coupled to the longitudinal member and is inclined at an angle to a non-paved surface. The shaping plate is configured to form a ramped surface between a mat and the non-paved surface.

Paving machines are commonly used to lay material such as asphalt or concrete on roads, bridges, parking lots, and other construction sites. Paving machines may further provide minor compaction to the laid material to form a mat on a paving surface. Paving machines generally include a screed to provide initial compaction to the mat. The screed may be extended or retracted depending on a desired width of the mat. An endgate may be coupled to the screed and may further be configured to move along the mat with the screed. The endgate prevents the material being laid from spilling over a non-paved surface.
The movement of the endgate with the screed may form a steep edge between the mat and the non-paved surface. The steep edge may cause inconvenience for an operator of a vehicle when the vehicle leaves the road surface and tries to return to the road surface. The inconvenience to the operator may be avoided by shaping the steep edge of the mat into a ramped surface between the mat and the non-paved surface.
The ramped surface between the mat and the non-paved surface is known in the art as a pavement edge or a safety edge. One way to form the pavement edge is to use a wedge-shaped attachment between an extender of the screed and a frame of a paving machine. However, using such attachment may prevent the extension and/or retraction of the screed. Another way to form the pavement edge is to use a tapered endgate shoe. The use of the tapered endgate shoe may reduce efficiency of the pavement edge forming operation. Further, the use of tapered endgate shoe may result in a significant amount of maintenance and cost.

Pavement edge forming apparatus for paving machine


A fuel cell with a recovering unit and a method of driving the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fuel cell includes i) an electric generator to generate electricity based on electrochemical reaction, ii) a recovering unit to recover and mix the fuel, unreacted fuel, and gas and water produced by the electrochemical reaction, and supply the mixed fuel to the electric generator, wherein the recovering unit comprises a valve, configured to discharge gas, which is selectively opened and closed depending on the operation of the fuel cell. With this configuration, the gas or the fuel is not introduced into the electric generator, even though the recovering unit is inclined or turned over. Further, even though the fuel cell is not in use for a long time, the mixed fuel is prevented from evaporating through the discharging pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell with a recovering unit and a method of driving the same, in which the recovering unit recovers gas, water and unreacted fuel produced in an electric generator of a fuel cell system and discharges the gas and recycles water and the unreacted fuel effectively.
2. Discussion of the Related Technology
In general, a fuel cell is a power generating system that directly transforms chemical energy into electric energy by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. In supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell system, pure hydrogen or hydrogen gained from methanol, ethanol, natural gas or the like can be directly used. Further, in supplying oxygen to the fuel cell system, pure oxygen can be directly used, or oxygen contained in air can be supplied by an air pump or the like.

Fuel cell with recovering unit and method for driving the same


There are provided a first mold 2 and a second mold 1 that can be brought into and released from contact with the first mold 2. A substrate 70 provided in both the molds 1, 2 and mounted with electronic components is subjected to resin sealing and molding by filling with resin of cavities formed by both the molds 1, 2. The second mold 1 is placed on a base plate 9 so as to be capable of horizontally reciprocating, and has a cavity block 7 that can be brought into and released from contact with the first mold 2 and a mold clamping mechanism 16 that supports the cavity block 7 and that brings and releases the cavity block 7 into and from contact with the first mold 2 so as to perform mold clamping. On the base plate 9 is provided a horizontal actuation mechanism 11 for moving the second mold 1 to a facing position where the second mold 1 faces the first mold 2 and to a non-facing position where the second mold 1 has been moved sideways from the facing position.

The present invention relates to a resin sealing apparatus.
Conventionally, there have been resin sealing apparatuses in which an upper mold and a lower mold are opened and closed by actuation of a mold clamp actuation device and in which a lower-mold mount plate supporting the lower mold is shuttled back and forth by a shuttling servo motor so that operations of supplying material and removing a molded product can be performed without great vertical separation between the upper and lower molds (see Patent Document 1, for instance).    [Patent Document 1] JP H06-252192 A


Cement compositions comprising a strength-enhancing lost circulation material, and methods for cementing using such cement compositions. Exemplary embodiments of the cement compositions comprise cement, water, and a strength-enhancing lost circulation material. Optionally, other additives suitable for inclusion in cement compositions may be added.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to subterranean cementing operations, and more particularly, to cement compositions comprising strength-enhancing lost circulation materials, and methods of using such cementing compositions in subterranean formations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydraulic cement compositions are commonly utilized in subterranean operations, particularly subterranean well completion and remedial operations. For example, hydraulic cement compositions are used in primary cementing operations whereby pipe strings such as casings and liners are cemented in well bores. In performing primary cementing, hydraulic cement compositions are pumped into the annular space between the walls of a well bore and the exterior surface of the pipe string disposed therein. The cement composition is permitted to set in the annular space, thereby forming an annular sheath of hardened substantially impermeable cement therein that substantially supports and positions the pipe string in the well bore and bonds the exterior surface of the pipe string to the walls of the well bore. Hydraulic cement compositions also are used in remedial cementing operations such as plugging highly permeable zones or fractures in well bores, plugging cracks and holes in pipe strings, and the like.
Subterranean formations transversed by well bores are often weak, highly permeable, and extensively fractured. In some cases, such formations may be unable to withstand the hydrostatic head pressure normally associated with fluids (e.g., cement compositions and the like) being injected into the formation. In such cases, the hydrostatic pressure may be sufficient to force such fluids into the fractures and/or permeable zones of the formation, which may result in a significant loss of fluid into the formation. This loss of fluid circulation is problematic for a number of reasons. For example, where the loss of circulation occurs during a cementing operation, excessive fluid loss may cause a cement composition to be prematurely dehydrated and may decrease the compressive strength of the cement composition. Excessive fluid loss into the formation may also prevent or reduce bond strength between the set cement composition and the subterranean zone, the walls of pipe, and/or the walls of the well bore.
Previous attempts to minimize the loss of circulation into the subterranean formation involved the addition to the cement composition of a variety of additives including, but not limited to, asphaltines, ground coal, cellulosic, plastic materials, and the like. The addition of such additives was an attempt to plug or bridge the fractures and/or the permeable zones in the formation where the treatment fluids are typically lost. However, during a cementing operation, the addition of the lost circulation materials often has been detrimental to the compressive strength of the cement composition because, inter alia, such additives do not bond to the cement. Because one function of the cement is to support the pipe string in the well bore, such reduction in the compressive strength of the cement composition is undesirable.

Cement compositions comprising strength-enhancing lost circulation materials and methods of cementing in subterranean formations


The invention provides a controller for determining the presence of faults within a fuel injection system of an engine system. The engine system comprises a first injector and at least one further injector, each injector comprising a needle control valve and a pressure control valve. The controller comprises: inputs for receiving data relating to a first engine system parameter; outputs for outputting a control function for controlling the injector valves of each of the injectors, and; a processor for controlling the control function output from the controller. The processor is arranged to output a control function such that the needle control valve of the first injector is kept closed in order to prevent injection from the first injector and to monitor the first engine system parameter as the needle control valve is kept closed, a change in the first engine system parameter indicating that the first injector is operating substantially within normal operating parameters and no or substantially no change in the first engine system parameter indicating that the first injector is faulty.

Many engine systems use high pressure unit injectors having two valves per injector (cylinder). The first valve is located in the pumping part of the injector and cooperates with the cam shaft and a pumping plunger to create high fuel pressures. This valve is commonly referred to as the pressure control valve. In certain engine systems it is also known as a spill control valve. The second valve controls fuel injection from the injector. This valve is known as the needle or injection control valve.
Depending on the engine configuration, the cam shaft may be mounted to the side of the cylinder block or alternatively it may be mounted above the cylinder block. The first configuration results in an injector where the two valves (pressure control and needle control valves) (and their associated hardware) are separated and located on different parts of the engine. FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2 show the various engine configurations and location of the injector valves.
FIGS. 1a and 1b show a schematic picture of an engine 1 where the cam shaft 2 is mounted to the side of the cylinder block 3. It can be seen that the injector part of the injector 5, which incorporates the needle control valve, is located on top of the cylinder block 3. The injector pump 7, which incorporates the pressure/spill control valve, is located to the side of the cylinder block 3.
The pressure control valve and needle control valve are connected via a high pressure fuel line 9.
An alternative engine arrangement is shown in FIG. 2 which is a sectional view of an injector with an overhead cam arrangement. In this case the cam 11 is mounted directly above the injector 13. As a consequence the pressure control valve 15 and needle control valve 17 are mounted within the same injector structure. In the arrangement of FIG. 2, the pressure control and needle control valves are connected by a supply passage within the body of the injector 13.
In the event of an injector failure within a fuel injected engine system it can be difficult to identify the nature and location of the fault within the engine system. If the injector malfunction is electrical in nature then the fault can generally be identified by the engine management system. However, if the fault is mechanical in nature then the engine management system may not see any difference in its electrical inputs and may therefore be unable to locate or identify a fault.
Failure to identify a fault correctly can lead to wasted time, effort and cost in a service and repair facility because, for example, both pressure control and needle control valves may need to be tested and/or replaced manually before a successful repair can be achieved. It can also be the case that different control valves have different repair procedures and so identifying the location and nature of a fault prior to the commencement of a repair process is highly desirable.
The present invention seeks to overcome or substantially mitigate the above mentioned problems and to provide an apparatus and method for determining the presence of faults within the fuel injection system of an engine.

Controller and control method for an engine control unit


A composition composed of at least a first ethylene/α-olefin/nonconjugated polyene interpolymer, which can be used to produce low compression set, foamed rubber materials, articles made from the composition, and methods of producing the composition and articles.

There is a need for polymer compositions that have balanced cell expansion, smooth extruded surfaces and low water absorption for the targeted foam density, for producing foamed materials, particularly foamed, sponge weather-strip materials. For certain OEM manufacturers which produce car doors that are lighter and require thinner weather seals, existing polymers do not possess the necessary properties to meet tensile, compression set, surface quality or extrusion shape requirements for sponge weather seals. Therefore, there is a need for a polymer composition for forming sponge weather strips and other sponge articles with improved mechanical properties, surface quality and lower foam densities, and which have thinner profiles and are lighter in weight. Such a material would be useful, for example, for reducing automotive vehicle weight for improved fuel efficiency. These needs have been met by the following invention.

Ethylene/α-olefin/nonconjugated polyene interpolymer compositions and articles prepared from the same


According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor device includes semiconductor stacked layers provided on a substrate and including a nitride semiconductor; a source electrode and a drain electrode provided on the layers and being in contact with the layers; and a gate electrode provided on the layers and provided between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The layers have a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, and a carrier running layer interposed between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer. The second barrier layer and the carrier running layer are removed in a region in which the source electrode on the layers is provided. A part of the source electrode is in contact with the first barrier layer. And another part of the source electrode other than the part of the source electrode is in contact with the second barrier layer.

In a semiconductor device, it is effective to use a material having a high critical electric field in order to realize a high breakdown voltage and a low on resistance. Since a nitride semiconductor has a high intensity of the critical electric field, the semiconductor device realizing the high breakdown voltage and the low on resistance is achieved by using the nitride semiconductor.
In the nitride semiconductor device, as a method of increasing an avalanche capability, a method of connecting a source electrode to a substrate, or alternatively a method using a p-type GaN layer or using a layer structure in which a two-dimensional hole gas is generated is employed.


In a method for using a film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process, process conditions of a film formation process are determined. The process conditions include a preset film thickness of a thin film to be formed on a target substrate. Further, a timing of performing a cleaning process is determined in accordance with the process conditions. The timing is defined by a threshold concerning a cumulative film thickness of the thin film. The cumulative film thickness does not exceed the threshold where the film formation process is repeated N times (N is a positive integer), but exceeds the threshold where the film formation process is repeated N+1 times. The method includes continuously performing first to Nth processes, each consisting of the film formation process, and performing the cleaning process after the Nth process and before an (N+1)th process consisting of the film formation process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process for forming a film on a target substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, and also to a method for using the apparatus. The term "semiconductor process" used herein includes various kinds of processes which are performed to manufacture a semiconductor device or a structure having wiring layers, electrodes, and the like to be connected to a semiconductor device, on a target substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate used for an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or FPD (Flat Panel Display), by forming semiconductor layers, insulating layers, and conductive layers in predetermined patterns on the target substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In manufacturing semiconductor devices, a process, such as CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), is performed to form a thin film, such as a silicon nitride film, silicon oxide film, poly-crystalline silicon film, on a target substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer. For example, a film formation process of this kind is arranged to form a thin film on a semiconductor wafer, as follows.
At first, the interior of the reaction tube (reaction chamber) of a heat processing apparatus is heated by a heater at a predetermined load temperature, and a wafer boat that holds a plurality of semiconductor wafers is loaded. Then, the interior of the reaction tube is heated up to a predetermined process temperature, and gas inside the reaction tube is exhausted through an exhaust port, so that the pressure inside the reaction tube is reduced to a predetermined pressure.
Then, while the interior of the reaction tube is kept at the predetermined temperature and pressure (kept exhausted), a film formation gas is supplied through a process gas feed line into the reaction tube. For example, in the case of CVD, when a film formation gas is supplied into a reaction tube, the film formation gas causes a thermal reaction and thereby produces reaction products. The reaction products are deposited on the surface of each semiconductor wafer, and form a thin film on the surface of the semiconductor wafer.
Reaction products generated during the film formation process are deposited (adhered) not only on the surface of the semiconductor wafer, but also on, e.g., the inner surface of the reaction tube and other members, the latter being as by-product films. If the film formation process is continued while by-product films are present on the interior of the reaction tube, some of the by-product films separate therefrom and generate particles. These particles may drop onto the semiconductor wafer, and reduce the yield of semiconductor devices to be fabricated.
In order to solve this problem, cleaning of the interior of the reaction tube is performed after the film formation process is repeated several times. In this cleaning, the interior of the reaction tube is heated at a predetermined temperature by a heater, and a cleaning gas, such as a mixture gas of fluorine and a halogen-containing acidic gas, is supplied into the reaction tube. The by-product films deposited on the inner surface of the reaction tube are dry-etched and removed by the cleaning gas. Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 3-293726 discloses a cleaning method of this kind.
In order to suppress particle generation, it is preferable to perform a cleaning process frequently, for example, to clean the interior of a reaction tube every time a thin film is formed on a semiconductor wafer. However, in this case, the downtime of the heat processing apparatus becomes longer, thereby lowering the productivity. Accordingly, it is required to suppress particle generation, while improving the productivity. Further, as described later, the present inventors have found that, when a film formation process is performed after the interior of a reaction tube is subjected to cleaning, a problem may arise in that the film formation rate (deposition rate) is lowered, so the reproducibility of the process is deteriorated.

Method for using film formation apparatus


Computed radiography imaging plates incorporating an intensifying material that is coupled to or intermixed with the phosphor layer, allowing electrons and/or low energy x-rays to impart their energy on the phosphor layer, while decreasing internal scattering and increasing resolution. The radiation needed to perform radiography can also be reduced as a result.

Computed radiography (CR) is a reusable digital radiography modality. It utilizes reusable imaging plates incorporating a relatively thin, flexible construction. These imaging plates include a photostimulable phosphor layer, which converts radiation into a latent image. This image is retrieved using a laser-catalyzed photoemission phosphor layer. A CR scan produces a digital image. The imaging plate is erased with light to remove any remaining latent image that was not retrieved by the laser, thereby allowing the imaging plate to be reused. From a technician's standpoint, there is little difference between film and CR radiography, and general handling and use precautions are very similar, the biggest differences being related to the operation of the CR scanner, as opposed to the film processor.
Much of the advancement of radiographic technologies comes from the medical sector. Industrial non-destructive testing (NDT) markets are significantly smaller. The medical sector primarily uses energies of in the range of about 25-150 KeV for imaging. Advancements in the medical sector's technologies, equipment, and protocols emphasize lowering the radiation received by a patient undergoing a given test.
Most conventional imaging plates are constructed in a similar manner, and the following is not an exhaustive list of construction options, but covers the basic construction and functionality of the major layers. Starting from the back of the imaging plate and moving to the front (i.e., source side), the imaging plate includes:                A backing layer that provides structural support. This backing layer is relatively thick and made of plastic or the like.        A group of layers designed to reflect some wavelengths of light, but not others; in most plate constructions, the light emitted by the phosphor layer is reflected to decrease dose to the patient with only an acceptable sacrifice of resolution. Imaging plates designed for higher resolutions can be specifically designed to not reflect light emitted by the phosphor layer. Most imaging plates can be designed to not reflect light from the laser used to stimulate the phosphor layers.        The phosphor layer that reacts with x-rays to produce a latent image. The phosphor layer releases light in proportion to the radiation absorbed when stimulated by a laser.        A clear plastic protective layer used to protect the phosphor layer yet allow light to enter and leave the imaging plate. This layer is normally thinner on higher resolution plates.        Binding layers may also be present between other layers.The imaging plates are built by or for film manufacturers and have a very similar construction to film. However, film does not have the reflective/antireflective layers, and film replaces the phosphor layer with a layer of light and x-ray sensitive silver salts.
Commercially available CR imaging plates are optimized for use in the KeV energy range. The typical setup for CR is as follows.                The imaging plate is placed inside a light-tight container, typically a film/CR cassette or sleeve, where the test object itself can serve as the light-tight container, or the x-ray area can be darkened.        Between the object and the source, a collimator(s) can be used to lessen the effect of scatter by decreasing the size of the primary beam.        At the source, some filtration can be used to preferentially remove lower energy radiation from the primary beam, decreasing scatter and effectively increasing the average energy of the primary x-ray beam.
In medical radiography, great care is taken to minimize patient radiation exposure, and reduced radiation exposure is one focus of the present disclosure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,011 is related to the present disclosure: An X-ray image intensifier tube which includes a luminescent layer with an absorption material having a high absorption for secondary X-rays which are generated in the original luminescent material and which are intercepted to only a very small extent by the original luminescent material. The absorption material may be included in the layer of luminescent material in homogeneous form as well as in recesses in said layer. In addition to improved resolution, a higher efficiency can be achieved by ensuring that, upon interception of the secondary radiation, the absorption material generates luminescent or secondary radiation which is intercepted by the original luminescent material.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0034351 is also related to the present disclosure: Disclosed are a radiation image conversion panel, which provides high luminance, an image without white or black defects, an image free from cracks and an image with reduced unevenness, and its manufacturing method. Also disclosed is an X-ray radiographic system employing the radiation image conversion panel. The radiation image conversion panel of the invention comprises a substrate and provided thereon, a reflection layer, a phosphor layer and a protective layer in that order, wherein the phosphor layer is composed of a phosphor crystal in the form of a column, and the reflection layer is formed by vapor phase deposition of two or more kinds of metals.

Computed radiography imaging plates and associated methods of manufacture


A computer implemented method handles service requests for HTTP-based services via IP ports that are located on HTTP servers. These HTTP servers are logically coupled to a port sharing mechanism that handles service requests from clients, and each of the multiple HTTP servers provides the same HTTP-based service. A request for the HTTP-based service is sent to an IP port in a first HTTP server. However, this IP port has a current number of active IP connections that exceeds a soft cap. Nonetheless, this IP port is directed to accept and execute the request, and then to terminate its connection with the client. Any subsequent request for this same HTTP-based service is directed to another of the multiple HTTP servers.

The present disclosure relates to the field of computers, and specifically to computer systems that utilize Internet Protocol (IP) ports. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to handling overflow conditions in IP ports on Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) servers.
HTTP servers provide access to HTTP-based services, such as web pages, etc. Communication sessions between a requesting client and the HTTP servers are often via one or more IP ports on the HTTP servers. These communication sessions may be persistent or temporary.

Handling HTTP-based service requests Via IP ports

International Business Machines Corporation


A device for reversing the direction of motion of a paper sheet has a passage for guiding the paper sheet inside and includes a plurality of rollers each having a specified function. A first roller serves as a driver roller, its rotation causing the paper sheet to be transported into and out of the passage. A second roller is for contacting and rotating with the first roller and thereby transporting the paper sheet in the first direction into the passage. A third roller is disposed on the opposite side of the first roller from the second roller and serves to transport the paper sheet in the second direction out of the passage by contacting and rotating with the first roller. A fourth roller is another driver roller and is disposed in the passage. It allows the front edge of the paper sheet to pass by when it is transported in the first direction by means of the first and second rollers. When the paper sheet has passed between the first and second rollers and its back edge has been disengaged from them, a guiding member pushes and guides the back edge of the paper sheet towards the third roller and the four roller rotates so as to transport the paper sheet in the second direction out of the device.

This invention relates to a device for reversing the direction of motion of a paper sheet and more particularly to such a device capable of dependably reversing the direction of transportation of a paper sheet, independent of its material quality or shape.
Such devices for reversing the direction of motion of a paper sheet are recently coming to be used frequently in apparatus such as copiers, printers and facsimile machines. FIG. 1 shows an example of prior art paper reversing device 1 of this kind, disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 8-67390, provided with a passage 15 extending vertically between a pair of guide plates 14a and 14b for guiding a paper sheet vertically upward and downward. An upper driver roller 11, adapted to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction by means of a motor (not shown), is disposed at one end position (xe2x80x9cthe start positionxe2x80x9d) 15a of the passage 15. A paper-supplying follower roller 12 is pressed against the upper driver roller 11, and a paper-discharging follower roller 13 is pressed against the upper driver roller 11 from the opposite side, sandwiching the upper driver roller 11 with the paper-supplying follower roller 12. These two follower rollers 12 and 13 are adapted to rotate by following the motion of the upper driver roller 11. The combination of these three rollers (the upper driver roller 11, the paper-supplying follower roller 12 and the paper-discharging follower roller 13) is sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cthe tri-roller.xe2x80x9d
At a position inside the passage 15 vertically below the tri-roller, there is provided another driver roller (xe2x80x9cthe lower driver roller 16xe2x80x9d) adapted to be rotated in the clockwise direction by means of another motor (not shown), and another follower roller 18 is disposed opposite thereto. The rotary shaft of this follower roller 18 is supported by a solenoid 17 such that the follower roller 18 is movable horizontally (to the left and the right with reference to FIG. 1) by this solenoid 17. When the follower roller 18 is moved by the solenoid 17 to the left, a gap appears between the follower roller 18 and the lower driver roller 16 for passing a paper sheet therethrough. When the solenoid 17 moves the follower roller 18 to the right, the follower roller 18 is pressed against the lower driver roller 16 and rotates therewith.
The front edge of a paper sheet 2 transported to the paper reversing device 1 is brought to the start position 15a of the passage 15 so as to be clamped between the upper driver roller 11 and the paper-supplying follower roller 12 and guided vertically downward through the passage 15. At this moment, the lower driver roller 16 is not activated and the follower roller 18 is retracted to the left by the solenoid 17, leaving a gap so as to allow the paper sheet 2 to pass therethrough.
After the front edge of the paper sheet 2 passes through the gap between the lower driver roller 16 and the follower roller 18, the follower roller 18 is moved to the right by the solenoid 17 such that the paper sheet 2 becomes clamped therebetween. Since the lower driver roller 16 is not driven yet, however, it is caused to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction by the downward motion of the paper sheet 2 (while the follower roller 18 is thereby caused to rotate in the clockwise direction). In other words, the paper sheet 2 continues to be transported downward inside the passage 15.
As the back edge of the paper sheet 2 passes the contact point between the upper driver roller 11 and the paper-supplying follower roller 12, the lower driver roller 16 starts to be driven by the associated motor, rotating in the clockwise direction and thereby causing the paper sheet 2 to reverse the direction of its motion and to move in the vertically upward direction inside the passage 15, while remaining clamped between the lower driver roller 16 and the follower roller 18. Thus, the upwardly moving paper sheet 2 is discharged out of the passage 15 from its back end while being sandwiched between the upper driver roller 11 and the paper-discharging follower roller 13.
In summary, the paper reversing device 1 serves to supply the paper sheet 2 downward into the passage 15 from its front edge, to reverse the direction of transportation of the paper sheet 2 after the supplying is completed (when its back edge is brought inside the passage 15) and to discharge it out of the passage 15 from its back edge by moving it upward. Such a mode of supplying and discharging a paper sheet by means of a tri-roller as described above, that is, the mode of using a driver roller and a paper-supplying follower roller to supply a paper sheet and using the same driver roller and a paper-discharging follower roller to discharge the paper sheet is commonly referred to as the tri-roller method.
A problem with the paper reversing device 1, as described above, is that the cross-sectional size of the passage 15 is large at its start position 15a where a tri-roller is disposed. As a result, the space for the paper sheet to pass through is large, giving rise to the possibility that the back end of the paper sheet 2 may not dependably move from the side of the paper-supplying follower roller 12 to the side of the paper-discharging follower roller 13 when the paper sheet 2 inside the passage 15 is about to be discharged. This probability increases in particular in the case of curled paper.
As explained above, furthermore, the paper sheet 2 which has been supplied into the passage 15 by means of the upper driver roller 11 and the paper-supplying follower roller 12 is guided downward through the passage 15. This gives rise to another possibility that the paper sheet 2 may undergo a free fall as soon as the back edge of the paper sheet 2 is released from the clamping between the upper driver roller 11 and the paper-supplying follower roller 12. This probability of free fall is particularly high if the paper sheet is thin or heavy.
It is therefore an object of this invention in view of the problems described above to provide an improved paper reversing device capable of dependably reversing the direction of motion of a paper sheet and discharging it independently of the material quality or shape of the paper sheet.
A paper reversing device embodying this invention for reversing the direction of motion of a paper sheet, with which the above and other objects of the invention can be accomplished, may be characterized as comprising a passage for guiding the paper sheet therethrough, a plurality of rollers each having a specified function and a guiding member for pressing and guiding a portion of the paper sheet in a specified direction for discharging. One of the rollers (xe2x80x9cthe first rollerxe2x80x9d) is a driver roller and its rotation causes the paper sheet to be supplied (in xe2x80x9cthe first directionxe2x80x9d) into and discharged (in xe2x80x9cthe second directionxe2x80x9d) out of the passage. Another roller (xe2x80x9cthe second rollerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cthe paper-supplying follower rollerxe2x80x9d) is for contacting and rotating with the first roller and thereby transporting the paper sheet in the first direction into the passage. Still another roller (xe2x80x9cthe third rollerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cthe paper-discharging follower rollerxe2x80x9d) is disposed on the opposite side of the first roller from the second roller such that the second and third rollers sandwich the first roller therebetween, and serves for transporting the paper sheet in the second direction out of the passage by contacting and rotating with the first roller. There is still another roller (xe2x80x9cthe fourth rollerxe2x80x9d) which is a driver roller disposed in the passage and serves to allow the front edge of the paper sheet to pass by when it is transported in the first direction by means of the first and second rollers. When the paper sheet has passed between the first and second rollers and its back edge has been disengaged therefrom, however, the guiding member functions to press and guide the back edge of the paper sheet towards the third roller and the four roller rotates so as the transport the paper sheet in the second direction and discharge it between and by means of the first and third rollers. In this manner, the direction of motion of the paper sheet inside the passage can be dependably reversed without regard to the material quality or the size of the paper sheet.
If the second roller and the guiding member are coaxially disposed so as to share a shaft as their common axis of rotation, their structures can be simplified. If the guiding member is designed to have a surface configured along the outer periphery of the first roller, the paper sheet can be more dependably guided towards the third roller.
The guiding member may be designed to press the paper sheet by its own weight, or by the gravitational force thereon. If the guiding member is made of an elastic material such that it pushes and guides the back edge of the paper sheet by its elastic force, the guiding of the paper sheet thereby can be effected more dependably.
The passage for the paper sheet may be preferably be designed such that the aforementioned second direction is sloped and makes a specified acute angle from the vertical direction towards the third roller. The paper sheet can then be discharged more smoothly. The angle of the slope is preferably selected to be equal to the angle made by the line which is tangent to both the first and third rollers. It is further preferable to design the passage so as to include a curved lower end part such that the paper sheet can be prevented from falling freely by its own weight inside the passage. The radius of the curvature of this curved portion may be varied according to the material characteristics of the paper sheet. This lower end part of the passage may be made detachable such that a jamming paper sheet can be removed easily. For example, the passage may be structured so as to be separable into a first passage part and a removable second passage part, connector members being provided to connect them. The passage may be formed by means of guide plates to make it openable for removing a jamming paper sheet.
A paper holder member may be disposed inside the passage for serving to hold the paper sheet so as to dependably prevent the free fall of the paper sheet in the first direction inside the passage.
A fifth roller may be further provided as a follower roller, disposed opposite the fourth roller for transporting the paper sheet in the second direction by contacting the fourth roller. An elastic member may be provided to support the shaft of the fifth roller to apply its biasing force on the fifth roller towards the fourth roller.
The fourth roller may be D-shaped in cross-section, having a straight line portion and an arcuate portion, such that the paper sheet can be passed by smoothly in the first direction when it is being supplied into the passage and transported dependably in the second direction when it is being discharged.
With a device thus structured according to this invention, each paper sheet is transported in the first direction by means of the first and second rollers but as soon as it passes through these rollers and its back edge is disengaged from them, the fourth roller begins to transport it oppositely in the second direction while its back edge is pressed and guided towards the third roller. Thus, the paper sheet is dependably discharged between the first and third rollers with the direction of its motion reversed.

Device for reversing direction of motion of paper sheet


An inkjet printing process includes advancing a print medium so that it contacts a relatively high-contact area of a platen. After the print medium first contacts the relatively high-contact area, ink is deposited on a side of the medium not contacting the platen to form an image. The print medium continues to advance so that the image passes over a relatively low-contact area of the platen.

In a typical inkjet printer, a print head deposits ink onto a surface of a print medium to form print images, e.g., including text. A page-wide print head can print the width of a page without moving, while a moving print head can be moved along the width of the page. In either case, the print head is designed to print a band or "swath" at a time. A media-advance mechanism advances the media longitudinally past the print head so that the image can extend longitudinally along the medium. (Herein, "length" and "width" refer to dimensions respectively along and transverse to the direction of media travel during printing, regardless of the media dimensions.)
As the print medium passes the print head, it is typically supported on the side opposite the print head by platen, so that the medium is a known distance from the print head. An inkjet platen may support the medium on a series of ribs. Gaps between the ribs can accommodate a possible deformation of the print media as wet ink is deposited. Without the gaps between the ribs, any deformation of the media would be toward the print head, which would have a more deleterious impact on print quality.

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.