A fuel vapor control valve for use in a vehicle fuel system is provided. The control valve has a rollover valve assembly with a valve member defining a point-bearing surface, a housing with an opening, and a chamber. The housing is mountable to a fuel tank. The valve member is movable within the chamber and a sealing element is movably located on the point-bearing surface of the valve member. The sealing element may be metallic and is configured to releasably seal the opening when the valve member is urged in a direction towards the opening.

The present invention relates to a fuel system valve, and particularly to a valve with a sealing element resistant to deformation for regulating the flow of fuel vapor through a venting outlet.
Vehicle fuel systems are known to include valve assemblies mountable on fuel tanks or in filler necks of the vehicle fuel systems. Such conventional valve assemblies are typically manufactured of plastic materials and may include pressure-relief, over-fill, and/or rollover components. Further, the valve assemblies may include a sealing element made of a plastic, hard rubber, or other elastomeric material.
By way of example, in operation, the typical plastic sealing element presses against a portion of the plastic valve assembly under vapor or fuel pressure, gravity, or the like to seal the valve assembly. Over time, the recurring sealing action and repeated exposure to vehicle vibrations and fuel tank pressures can flatten and wear down edges of the plastic sealing element. Moreover, that portion of the valve assembly, which is contacted and sealed by the sealing element, may deteriorate such as by developing an indentation due to the repeated contact with the sealing element.
Eventual deformation of the plastic sealing element and the contacted portion of the valve assembly adversely affects the sealing capacity of the valve assembly. It will be appreciated, for instance, that impaired sealing can degrade the rollover function of the vehicle fuel system. Specifically, a deformed sealing element in a rollover situation can permit fuel to leak past an outlet of the valve assembly to a fuel vapor recovery canister or directly to the atmosphere external to the vehicle, which may create a fire or explosion hazard.
According to the present invention, a vehicle fuel vapor control valve is provided for use with a vehicle fuel system. The component parts of the invention are simple, reliable, and economical to manufacture, assemble, and use. Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the attached drawings, or can be learned through practice of the invention.
According to an aspect of the invention, a fuel vapor control valve for regulating fuel vapor in a vehicle having a fuel tank and a recovery canister is provided. The fuel vapor control valve has a mounting portion with an inlet in communication with an inside of the fuel tank and an outlet for communicating fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the recovery canister.
The fuel vapor control valve in this aspect includes a rollover assembly, which has a valve housing and a valve member or float. The valve housing is configured for attachment to the mounting portion and has an opening in communication with the inlet of the mounting portion. The float is movable within the valve housing and has a structure and a seal depending from the float in a direction of the mounting portion. A skirt of the seal is retained with limited movement in a retention slot of the structure. Further, the retention slot has a contact surface and the skirt has a complimentary contact surface, which is configured to intermittently contact the contact surface as the seal releasably seals the opening. More specifically, the structure permits the seal to contact an area about the opening to releasably seal the opening when a level of fuel from the fuel tank contacts the float and urges the float in the direction of the mounting portion. Also in this aspect, the seal is made of a metallic material while the valve housing is an plastic material. The foregoing construction prevents deformation of the seal and the valve housing due to repeated contact by the seal against the contact surface when sealing the valve assembly.
According to another aspect of the invention, a rollover valve assembly, in some ways similar to the previous example, has a valve member movable in a chamber of a housing. The valve member in this aspect has a point-bearing surface on which a sealing element is movably located to releasably seal an opening in the housing when the valve member is urged in a direction towards the opening by rising fuel, gravity or the like.
The sealing element in this aspect has an insert (alternatively, receptacle) with a receiving surface, which may be cone-shaped to receive the point-bearing surface. The sealing element defines a substantially flat surface and a skirt disposed apart from the flat surface. The insert is affixed in the sealing element such that the skirt moves with a movement of the insert on the point-bearing surface. Accordingly, the flat surface releasably seals the opening when, for example, the fuel rises to urge the valve member toward the opening while permitting the valve member a limited range of motion about the sealing element when it is sealed against the opening.
Also in this aspect of the invention, the flat surface and the skirt of the sealing element are manufactured of a metallic material and the receptacle is manufactured from a plastic or elastomeric material. However, the flat surface, skirt and the receptacle can be unitarily constructed of metal, which can be stainless steel, aluminum, a non-corrosive alloy or combinations of these or other metals.
In another aspect of the invention, a rollover valve assembly similar to the foregoing embodiments has a housing, which is mountable to a fuel tank. The rollover valve assembly also includes a valve member movable in a chamber of the housing. A metallic sealing element is located on the valve member to releasably seal an opening in the housing in communication with the chamber when the valve member is urged in a direction toward the opening.
Moreover, the housing defines a plastic surface disposed about the opening, and the metallic sealing element defines a substantially flat surface configured to substantially uniformly contact the plastic surface and seal about the opening when the valve member is urged in the direction by a force such as rising fuel, gravity, a spring constant or the like. In this aspect, the flat surface of the metallic sealing element is polished such that it is substantially smooth and flat. This construction provides a flat, hard metal part, which, when contacting the sealing surface repeatedly, provides for a flat sealing surface and a tight seal. More specifically, because the flat metal surface does not deform the plastic sealing surface such as with grooves and indentations, the seal created by the metal sealing element to plastic sealing surface tends to produce a tighter seal than a plastic-to-plastic or metal-to-metal combination.
Another aspect of the invention includes a fuel vapor control valve for a fuel system, which has a fuel tank and a connection portion attached to a fuel vapor recovery canister. This example fuel vapor control valve includes a valve housing configured for attachment to the connection portion and a valve member, similar to the foregoing descriptions, which is axially movable in the valve housing. Further, the valve housing includes a first opening, a second opening and a disc holder or pocket. The first opening communicates with the fuel tank while the second opening communicates with the fuel vapor recovery canister. The disc holder is located between the connection portion and the second opening to hold a vapor restriction device such as a disc, which is movably seated in the disc holder. At least one hole in the disc is configured to permit a restricted passage of fuel vapor substantially at all times when the disc is normally seated in the holder. In some circumstances, the disc holder permits the disc to rise up momentarily to increase fuel vapor flow.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the attached drawings in conjunction with the following detailed description of the drawings, which exemplifies the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived, or can be learned through practice of the invention.

Vapor control valve with a metallic sealing element

Alfmeier Prazision AG Baugruppen und Systemlosungen


A generator control device controls a generator that is driven by an engine to charge a battery and supply electric power to electric loads. In the generator control device the following steps are carried out: calculating a required electric power; calculating a difference rate that is a difference in an amount of a hazardous gas component of engine exhaust gas between a first case in which the generator generates the required electric power and a second case in which the generator does not generate an electric power divided by the electric power and controlling the generator to generate the required electric power if the difference is equal to or smaller than a first reference value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a generator control device that controls a generator so as to effectively reduce hazardous components of engine exhaust gases.
2. Description of the Related Art
Usually, a vehicle-mounted generator is controlled by controlling its field current according to a battery condition so that the battery does not become over-discharged, as shown in JP-A 2000-4502 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,621,250. Because the generator is driven by an engine, the fuel consumption of the engine increases as the load of the engine becomes heavier. As the engine load increases due to increase in the output electric power of a generator, more hazardous gas components such as NOx component are emitted from the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,932A discloses an engine control device to operate a generator only when the fuel consumption can be controlled within a low level. However, it is difficult to limit the hazardous components when a large amount of electric power is required generated.


A semiconductor device 100 includes a low-k dielectric insulator 104. In the preferred embodiment, a low-k dielectric material 104 is deposited. This material 104 is then cured using a plasma cure step. The cure process causes the density of the top portion 106 of layer 104 to be increased. The higher density portion 106, however, also has a higher dielectric constant. As a result, the dielectric constant of the layer 104 can be reduced by removing this higher density portion 106. This leads to a lower dielectric constant (e.g., less than about 3) of the bulk film.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a method of forming a semiconductor device with a substantially uniform density low-k dielectric layer.
Modern advances is semiconductor technology have led to smaller feature sizes and higher density devices. One of the issues that arises as dimensions shrink is the capacitance between adjacent conductors in a device. As individual conductors experience higher parasitic capacitances, the conductors tend to charge more slowly thereby decreasing the peak speeds at which the chip can operate. In addition, it is possible that adjacent conductors can interfere with one another through cross talk.
One technique that has been used to speed up the peak frequency of semiconductor devices is to use conductive materials that have lower resistivity. For example, a copper conductor will have a lower resistance than a similar geometry aluminum conductor. The lower resistance conductor will lower the RC time constant for switching on the lines.
A technique to lower the parasitic capacitance is the use of lower dielectric constant (low-k) materials as the insulator between materials. Silicon dioxide has a dielectric constant of about 4. Materials such as SILK(trademark) available from Dow Chemical or FLARE(trademark) available from Honeywell have a lower dielectric constant that silicon dioxide and have been used in these applications. Other low-k materials include Black Diamond (BD) from Applied Materials and LKD (low k dielectric) from JSR Micro, Inc.
In several aspects, the present invention relates to a process and device that includes a low-k dielectric insulator. In the preferred embodiment, a low-k dielectric material is deposited This material is then cured using a plasma cure step. The cure process causes the density of the top layer to be increased. The higher density portion, however, also has a higher dielectric constant. As a result, removing this higher density portion can reduce the dielectric constant of the layer. This leads to a lower dielectric constant of the bulk film.
In a first embodiment, a layer of low-k dielectric material is formed. This layer can be a SiCOH layer formed, for example, by chemical vapor deposition or by spin on deposition. A plasma cure is performed on the layer of low-k dielectric material. After performing the plasma cure, a top portion of the layer of low-k dielectric material is removed.
In a more specific embodiment, the present invention has application in a CMOS process, possibly using copper damascene interconnects. In this example, a number of CMOS transistors are formed in a semiconductor region (e.g., substrate, SOI layer, or other). An insulating layer, such as silicon dioxide, is formed over the transistors. A low-k dielectric material can then be formed over the insulating layer and plasma cured. A top portion of the low-k dielectric material is then removed. To form the interconnect, a trench is formed within the low-k dielectric material and filled with a conductive material, e.g., copper.
A preferred embodiment semiconductor device includes a plurality of CMOS transistors. An oxide layer overlies the plurality of transistors and a low-K dielectric layer, such as a SiCOH layer, overlies the oxide layer. The low-k layer has a substantially uniform density of between about 0.5 and about 1.5 and a dielectric constant at or below 3.0. A copper conductor is disposed within a trench in the low-k layer and a plurality of contacts extend through the SiCOH layer and the oxide layer to connect selected ones of the CMOS transistors with the copper conductor.
An advantage of preferred embodiments of the present invention is that the effective dielectric constant of an interlevel dielectric layer can be reduced. The process is relatively simple and does not require any proprietary process steps or any additional masking or other lithography.

Method of forming a semiconductor device with a substantially uniform density low-k dielectric layer

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A vibration motor is disclosed. The vibration motor includes a housing, a substrate engaging with the housing, a vibration unit received in the housing, an elastic member suspending the vibration unit, and a coil assembly interacting with the vibration unit. The vibration motor further includes a number of dampers located between the vibration unit and the elastic members for being constantly pressed and released.

Consumer products, such as mobile phones and portable multi-media players, generally include vibrators for generating tactile feedback. For example, a mobile phone has a vibrator for generating vibration while a call is called in, and a portable multi-media player has a touch screen having vibrators for getting tactile feedback.
A related vibration motor generally includes a magnet assembly and a stator assembly. The magnet assembly is generally elastically suspended in a housing of the vibration motor. Elastic members, such as springs, are used for suspending the magnet assembly. During the vibration, the magnet assembly vibrates within predetermined amplitude. In actual application, user needs the magnet assembly to come back to the balanced position for realizing fast vibration.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a new vibration motor which can satisfy the demand mentioned above.


A semiconductor device for easily changing an operating voltage of an I/O circuit. The I/O circuit includes a first I/O cell, which operates with a first high-potential power supply, and a second I/O cell, which operates with a second high-potential power supply. The I/O circuit includes a control circuit for selectively activating the first and second I/O cells according to a voltage selection signal. In the I/O circuit, a signal having a voltage according to an operating voltage of the selected I/O cell is generated.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device including an output circuit that converts an output signal level of an internal circuit to a level according to an externally connected device.
In recent years, semiconductor devices are increasingly highly integrated, and operate at higher speed. To reduce power consumption, efforts have also been made to lower the driving voltage of semiconductor devices. However, some semiconductor devices, whose driving voltage is yet to be lowered, still operate at high driving voltages. A semiconductor device may be connected to a plurality of other semiconductor devices that have different power supply voltages. Such a semiconductor device includes input and output (I/O) circuits for generating operating voltages corresponding to the power supply voltages of the other semiconductor devices.
The I/O circuits are conventionally arranged on the periphery of the semiconductor device. The other semiconductor devices and such elements as resistors are connected to the I/O circuits. To distinguish between semiconductor devices, the semiconductor device on which attention is focused is herein referred to as a "main semiconductor device", and a semiconductor device connected to the main semiconductor device is herein referred to as a "sub-semiconductor device".
The operating voltage of an I/O circuit of a sub-semiconductor device differs depending on its type (e.g., its memory). The main semiconductor device includes a plurality of I/O circuit blocks corresponding to operating voltages of one or more sub-semiconductor devices. Each I/O circuit block provides the corresponding operating voltage via a terminal (pad).
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, I/O blocks 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are arranged on the periphery of a main semiconductor device 11, and an internal circuit 13 is arranged inside the blocks 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Each of the blocks 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d includes a plurality of I/O circuits. Each block may include input circuits or output circuits instead of I/O circuits.
The blocks 12a to 12d are connected to a corresponding sub-semiconductor device. Each of the blocks 12a to 12d receives a power supply voltage according to the power supply voltage of the corresponding sub-semiconductor device, and generates a signal having a level corresponding to the received power supply voltage.
For example, each of the first and third blocks 12a and 12c is connected to a sub-semiconductor device that includes an I/O circuit, which operates at a first power supply voltage VDD1 (e.g., 1.8 V). Each of the blocks 12a and 12c is supplied with the first power supply voltage VDD1. Also, each of the second and fourth blocks 12b and 12d is connected to a sub-semiconductor device that includes an I/O circuit, which operates at a second power supply voltage VDD2 (e.g., 3.3 V). Each of the blocks 12b and 12d is supplied with the second power supply voltage VDD2.
The internal circuit 13 operates at a predetermined internal power supply voltage VDDI (e.g., 1.2 V), and inputs and outputs a signal having a level corresponding to the internal power supply voltage VDDI. Thus, each I/O circuit included in the first and third blocks 12a and 12c includes a level conversion circuit for converting voltages between the first power supply voltage VDD1 and the internal power supply voltage VDDI. Each I/O circuit included in the second and fourth blocks 12b and 12d includes a level conversion circuit for converting voltages between the second power supply voltage VDD2 and the internal power supply voltage VDDI.
Each of the first and third blocks 12a and 12c converts the voltage of a signal from the internal circuit 13 of the main semiconductor device into the first power supply voltage VDD1, and provides the corresponding sub-semiconductor device with a signal having the first power supply voltage VDD1. Each of the second and fourth blocks 12b and 12d converts the voltage of a signal from the internal circuit 13 into the second power supply voltage VDD2, and provides the corresponding sub-semiconductor device with a signal having the second power supply voltage VDD2.
Pads of each of the blocks 12a to 12d are connected to power supply wiring to which the first power supply voltage VDD1 or the second power supply voltage VDD2 is provided. With this structure, the operating voltage of each of the blocks 12a to 12d is changed in correspondence with the operating voltage of the connected sub-semiconductor device, by changing the power supply voltage provided to the power supply wiring of each of the blocks 12a to 12d.

Semiconductor device including voltage level conversion output circuit


A direct data and power interface is provided to the patient support platform of a therapeutic bed that allows for a complete rotation of the patient support platform in either direction. To ensure that the data and power interface is not articulated beyond its physical limit as a result of manually rotating the bed in the emergency backup mode, a mechanical stop is provided to limit rotation of the patient support platform to about 730 degrees. Sensors are provided to detect activation of the mechanical stop.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to therapeutic beds, and more particularly to beds with a patient support platform operable to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the platform.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the problems in the art of prone positioning therapeutic beds is to provide data and power connections to the bed for both the power and controller equipment that moves the bed and for the patient monitoring systems on the bed. To allow unrestricted rotation of the bed of WO 99/62454, for example, electrical power has been provided by wire brushes at the interface between the rotating part of the bed and the nonrotating part of the bed. However, due to vibration and other abrupt movements, such wire brushes cause problems of electrical intermittence, which can be detrimental to the therapy of the patient. A direct power or data carrier would be preferable to eliminate such intermittence, provided that the wired connection is capable of articulation during movement of the rotating part of the bed into the prone position, and provided that a mechanism is provided to prevent excessive rotation in any one direction.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/821,552 filed Mar. 29, 2001, and Ser. No. 09/884,749 filed Jun. 19, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,833, the first of which is herein incorporated by reference, a prone positioning bed is disclosed that encompasses several distinct innovations. This divisional application is directed to a rotation limiter to prevent excessive rotation of the patient support platform in any one direction.
A therapeutic bed in accordance with the present invention is provided comprising a base frame, a patient support platform rotatably mounted on the base frame for rotational movement about a longitudinal rotational axis of the patient support platform, and a drive system for rotating the patient support platform on the base frame. A direct, wired connection is provided to the patient support platform that allows for a complete rotation of the patient support platform in either direction. The necessary electrical wires are housed within a chain-like cable carrier that is disposed within an annular channel attached to the patient support platform. An annular cover is installed adjacent the annular channel to retain the cable carrier within the annular channel, but the annular cover is not attached to the annular channel. Rather, the annular cover is attached to the nonrotating part of the bed. One end of the cable carrier is attached to the annular channel, and the other end is attached to the annular cover. The length of the cable carrier is sufficient to allow a full 360 degree rotation of the patient support platform in either direction from 0 degrees supine flat while maintaining a direct electrical connection.
More preferably, the direct, wired electrical connection to the patient support platform may be provided with a flat ribbon cable or flexible printed circuit board (PCB) cable in lieu of a chain-like cable carrier. The cable resides within an annular channel attached to the patient support platform, and an annular cover is fastened to a flange of the annular channel such that a gap exists between the annular channel and the annular cover around the outer periphery. One end of the cable is attached to the annular channel, which provides power and electrical signals to the rotating part of the bed, and the other end of the cable passes through the gap between the annular channel and the annular cover and is connected to the electrical apparatus on the nonrotating part of the bed. Like the cable carrier mentioned above, the cable has a length sufficient to allow a full rotation of the patient support platform in either direction while maintaining a direct electrical connection between the nonrotating and rotating parts of the bed. To ensure that the wired electrical connection is not articulated beyond its physical limit as a result of manually rotating the bed in the emergency backup mode, a mechanical stop is provided to limit rotation of the patient support platform to about 365 degrees. Sensors are provided to detect activation of the mechanical stop.
It is an object of this invention to provide a prone positioning therapeutic bed having a direct, wired electrical connection between the rotating part of the bed and the nonrotating part of the bed.
It is another object of this invention to mechanically limit rotation of the bed in either direction to one full 360 degree turn plus about 5 degrees, and to electrically detect when one full turn has been reached.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Rotation limiter for a lateral rotation bed


A method of foam emulsion well cleanout for gas well. An emulsifier apparatus is provided having a compressed air inlet, a foaming solution inlet and a foam outlet. The compressed air inlet is connected to a source of compressed air capable of supplying compressed air to the emulsifier apparatus within a range of selected pressures. The foaming solution is connected to a source of foaming solution capable of supplying foaming solution to the emulsifier apparatus within a range of selected pressures. The foam outlet is connected to a discharge conduit supplying foam to a gas well. The production of foam is initiated out of the foam outlet of the emulsifier apparatus by supplying compressed air to the emulsifier apparatus through the compressed air inlet at a rate of approximately 300 to 400 c.f.m. and at pressures within a range of 175 p.s.i and 375 p.s.i. and foaming solution is supplied to the emulsifier apparatus through the foaming solution inlet at a rate of approximately 10 to 15 liters per minute and at pressures sufficient to overcome internal pressure within the emulsifier apparatus caused by the inflow of compressed air through the compressed air inlet. The pressure of compressed air supplied to the emulsifier apparatus through the compressed air inlet is increased with a corresponding increase in the pressure of foaming solution supplied to the foaming solution inlet until sufficient pressure is generated to force foam exiting the foam outlet along the discharge conduit and down the gas well with an average density of approximately 1 KPA per meter, while monitoring gas well pressure and varying compressed air pressure and foam density to ensure that pressure is always maintained at less than 80% of well pressure.

All petroleum producing wells drilled in sand formations, eventually become clogged by sand. Foam emulsion well cleanout equipment and procedures were developed for use in oil wells and are not suited for use with gas wells. Oil, particularly heavy oil, can be more than 1000 times the weight of natural gas. The pressure and volume of foam emulsion needed for effective cleaning of an oil well, would hinder rather than aid in the production of natural gas.
All attempts to adapt oil well foam emulsion cleanout methods to gas wells have, to date, proven unsuccessful. There have been so many instances of gas wells being damaged, that the industry is presently pre-mixing foam in tanks and then injecting the foam into the well under carefully controlled pressures. Working with pre-mixed foam does not permit the crew servicing the gas well to react rapidly to changes in pressure by increasing or decreasing the density of the foam.

Method of generating stable foam for oil and gas well cleanouts


A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes: providing a plurality of first element structures each including a submount, a light emitting element, and a light transmissive member, in this order; disposing the first element structures on a sheet member such that the submount in each of the first element structures faces the sheet member; and forming a first cover member on the sheet member so as to cover lateral faces of the first element structures.

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a light emitting device, a method of manufacturing a light emitting module, a light emitting device, and a light emitting module.
A light emitting device having a plurality of emission faces has been known. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-27620 describes a light emitting device including a plurality of light emitting elements, light transmissive members covering the upper faces of the light emitting elements, and a light reflecting member collectively covering the lateral faces of the light emitting elements.

Method of manufacturing light emitting device, method of manufacturing light emitting module, light emitting device, and light emitting module


In a computer program having a plurality of functional modules, an operational time for a functional module must be sometimes measured by tracing of the process, to improve the program. In this case, start and end points of the module to be traced are set as measuring points, with the addresses thereof, and the instructions in each of the measuring points are replaced by for the time measuring instruction before tracing. When the tracing starts, the control is stopped by the time measuring instruction and a measuring of the time, exchange of the time measuring instruction for the original instruction, execution of the operation by the original instruction, and exchange of the original instruction for the time measuring instruction are carried out, in this order, and are repeated until the end of the process. After the end of the process, an accumulation of the time and operation times of the module having the same address are carried out and the accumulated time and operation times are output for each module.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of measuring a cumulative processing time for modules required in a process to be traced, by measuring a current time of a start point and an end point of each required module.
2) Description of the Related Art
The present intense competition for the development of new products has engineers and designers of new products working day and night, and an effective method of reducing the work load of the engineers and designers is the use of a CAD (Computer Aided Design) system.
Usually, the hardware of the CAD system includes a computer (a minicomputer or a microcomputer), an external memory device such as a magnetic disk or magnetic tape, an image scanner, a graphic display, a key board, a plotter, and a machining center and so on. For example, the designer can define only a three-dimensional structure by a wire-frame on the graphic display, and then inputs a color, light source or texture parameter to obtain a display of a variety of actual images of new products, by using this system.
The software of the CAD system, however, is modularized into functional units. Namely, the software of the CAD system includes, for example, following modules: a surface modelling module for constructing a three-dimensional structure in the computer; a drafting module for automatically drawing dimensional lines; a design simulation module for realizing a stereoscopic image on the display; an instant shading module for instantaneously adding shading and shadows to the three-dimensional structure displayed; a parametric graphic defining module for making up a family of devices from one base device, by inputting actual dimensions; a mechanism simulation module for simulating a movement of a movable device; a database management module for classifying and arranging design data; a plotter output module for plotting a designed device; and a numeric control module for operating a machining center to thereby manufacture a device; and so on.
Note, a number of different CAD systems are available, and the software of a CAD system that is popular among users is always in demand. Accordingly, the manufacturers of software for the CAD system are always trying to make their software more efficient and with more functions.
In this connection, if the manufactured software program for a CAD system including many modules does not satisfy the required performance criteria, it is difficult to find which module is unsatisfactory. Namely, in the prior art, it is difficult to determine which module is frequently called up and operated, and thus it is difficult to calculate the operating time of each module.

Method of measuring cumulative processing time for modules required in process to be traced


An applicator (10) for applying a friction modifying material to the top of rails (12). The wayside applicator includes an applicator bar (26) that has a dam for holding friction modifying material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for lubricating railroad rails or for applying friction modifiers to railroad rails.
2. Description of the Invention Background
In the operation of railroads, it has long been the practice to apply grease or friction modifier materials onto railroad rails, such as to the top of rails or sides of the rails at curves, turnouts, switches, in some cases the sections of the track immediately before a switch, and periodically spaced along the length of the track. Such lubricants and friction modifying materials, such as grease, can either reduce or increase the friction where necessary to improve train performance and reduce wear on both the rails and the train wheels.
In the case of a friction modifying material, i.e., a material that increases the friction between the train wheel and the rail, the practice has been to apply the friction modifier material to the top of the rail to contact the train wheels. However, such prior art devices have been less than adequate. Either the friction modifying material does not reach the center of the rail or substantial amounts of friction modifying material are wasted by dripping or pouring along the sides of the rail.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome this limitation.


An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a latent image carrier, and a developing device. The developing device includes a container, a supporter, first and second developer-transporting members, first and second magnets, a pair of first urging members, and a pair of second urging members. The pair of first urging members presses the container toward the latent image carrier while being interposed between the supporter and the container. The first urging members serve as two vertexes of a first triangle surrounding the center of gravity of part of the developing device excluding the supporter. The pair of second urging members presses the container toward the latent image carrier while being interposed between the supporter and the container. The second urging members serve as two vertexes of a second triangle surrounding the center of gravity of part of the developing device excluding the supporter.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses.
2. Summary
According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes a housing; a latent image carrier that is rotatably supported by the housing, the latent image carrier being cylindrical, the latent image carrier having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and developed; a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier; and a supporter that is secured to the housing, the supporter supporting a container of the developing device such that the container is movable toward or away from the latent image carrier. The developing device includes the container that contains a developer, a first developer-transporting member and a second developer-transporting member each having a rotation axis that is substantially parallel with a rotation axis of the latent image carrier, the first and second developer-transporting members each being disposed such that a circumferential surface thereof faces the latent image carrier, the first and second developer-transporting members each transporting the developer to a position at which the developer faces the latent image carrier by rotating in a circumferential direction of the circumferential surface while carrying the developer on the circumferential surface, and the first and second developer-transporting members being positioned so as to be adjacent to each other, a first magnet and a second magnet disposed inside the first and second developer-transporting members, respectively, the first and second magnets attracting the developer to the circumferential surfaces of the first and second developer-transporting members, respectively, and a pair of first urging members pressing the container toward the latent image carrier while being interposed between the supporter and the container at a first end portion in a direction of the rotation axes of the first and second developer-transporting members. When the image forming apparatus is projected in the direction of the rotation axis of the latent image carrier, the center of gravity of the developing device is positioned so as to be surrounded by a triangle in which the rotation axis of the latent image carrier, a portion of the container at which one of the first urging members presses, and a portion of the container at which the other first urging member presses serve as vertexes of the triangle.


A surface light source LED device includes a circuit board, at least one power input and at least two LED bar elements, the at least two LED bar elements are arranged in a staggered manner, and each of the LED bar elements includes a plurality of LED bars arranged linearly on the circuit board. Each of the LED bars has a straight strip structure and has a plurality of LED dies of the same type provided inside. The plurality of LED dies is arranged linearly at equal intervals.

In existing technologies, with features such as high-luminance, energy-saving, multi-color, and fast-changing, LED has been widely applied in technical fields of lighting that require light sources. In the field of vehicle lamp, LED has become the most prominent light source. It is widely known that during a process of driving a vehicle, besides providing necessary road lighting, another important function of a vehicle lamp is to emit signals (signs) or warnings to other vehicles or pedestrians for raising awareness of safety. In a functional perspective, vehicle signal lamps mainly include position lights, turn signal light, and brake lights.
As the brand recognition has become more sought after, signal lights of the vehicle lamp are also not limited to providing signal, but have become an important medium to emphasize style features of a brand. As conventional lighting technologies have been lacking the capability of the realization of fashionable and creative light designs, newer technologies and materials are increasingly applied to the vehicle signal lamps. Specifically, a uniform surface light source may be the future trend of the vehicle signal lamps. From two-dimensional lighting display to three-dimensional lighting display, a trend of development sequentially adopts incandescent lamp (and halogen lamp), LED lamp (direct illumination LED), LED lamp in combination with light diffusion materials, LED lamp of specialized structure, and OLED (organic light-emitting diode) light. Based on the LED lamp of specialized structure, the present disclosure aims to provide LED device of a wide-angle surface light source.
Product features of three conventional light source products for vehicle signal lamps are analyzed as below:
1. Direct Illumination Vehicle Lamp:
Advantages: direct illumination LED lamp can have multiple light sources and high efficiency.
Disadvantages: direct illumination LED light sources are not a uniform light source.
2. Vehicle Lamp of LED in Combination with Light Diffusion Materials:
Advantages: by using LED in combination with light diffusion materials, the quantity of LED used can be reduced.
Disadvantages: the vehicle lamp using LED in combination with light diffusion materials has issues of larger structure and less space for design, due to light intensity attenuation by diffusion materials, and the light diffusion materials cannot be used in a vehicle lamp requiring a greater LED light intensity
3. OLED Vehicle Lamp:
Advantages: OLED has features such as emitting a uniform light, having a lightweight structure, and saving energy and reducing carbon emission.
Disadvantages: limitations and issues of the OLED include low production volume, high cost of a customized light source using OLED light as the cost of using OLED is generally five times higher than that of using a common LED, and OLED has a short life expectancy. OLED, also known as organic light-emitting diode, has organic materials which easily react with oxygen in the environment, thereby gradually reducing an area that emits light, and therefore, an average life expectancy of the OLED is 6,000 hours (an average life expectancy of a LED light source is longer than 20,000 hours), and the overall light intensity thereof is lower.
Regarding the U.S. Pat. No. 8,497,519 related to the uniform surface light source, entitled "BATWING LED WITH REMOTE PHOSPHOR CONFIGURATION", the technical disadvantages disclosed in this specification are as follows: 1. The mold for producing the lens has a limited form, and LED dies are limited to be in a rectangular arrangement and cannot be flexibly adjusted for various types of a customized lamp; 2. The production process is complex and cannot be simplified, and lacks a consideration for the economic value.
Regarding the U.S. Pat. No. 8,382,337, entitled "LIGHTING DEVICE, LIGHT SPREADING PLATE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME", the technical disadvantages disclosed in this specification are as follows: 1. This specification does not have a linear arrangement, and is difficult to meet the requirements of appearance of the customized lamp; 2. This specification does not have a better diffusion effect of a wide-angle uniform surface light source; 3. This specification uses more LED dies; 4. When this specification is applied to the vehicle lamp, a uniformity requirement of not visually perceiving a particle light source cannot be satisfied.
Regarding the U.S. Publication No. US-2011-0141729-A1, entitled "RETROFIT-STYLE LAMP AND FIXTURE, EACH INCLUDING A ONE DIMENSIONAL LINEAR BATWING LENS", the technical disadvantages disclosed in this specification are as follows: 1. Embodiments of this disclosure provide a directly replaceable LED tube; 2. LED light source consists of a plurality of single LED components (not a LED die), in a dotted arrangement that are separate from each other; 3. The uniformity of the surface light source is insufficient, and is prone to have disadvantages of a concentrated light intensity; 4. This disclosure is completely unusable in a vehicle lamp usage.
Regarding the U.S. Publication No. US-2015-0036347-A1, entitled "COMPOUND LENS AND LED LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE INCORPORATING THE SAME", the technical disadvantages disclosed in this specification are as follows: 1. The mold for producing the lens has a limited form, and cannot be flexibly adjusted for various types of the customized lamp; 2. The lens is not directly covered upon the LED light source, and a spatial structure is located between the lens and the LED light source, thereby lowering the light-emitting intensity; 3. In this specification, the production process cannot be modularized, and this specification lacks economic value in terms of the manufacturing perspective.


A controlled release fertilizer composition and methods to produce the controlled release fertilizer composition are described. The controlled release fertilizer composition comprises a water soluble fertilizer core that is coated with a polymeric layer, intermediate layer, and a sulfur layer. If desired, the sulfur layer can be coated with an outer water-insoluble layer.

Fertilizers have been used for many years to supplement nutrients in growing media. In recent years the art has focused on techniques to deliver controlled amounts of plant nutrients to the soil or other growing media. It is recognized, for example, that controlling the release of plant nutrients such as nitrogen from highly soluble fertilizer granules is desirable because releasing the nutrients over an extended period of time achieves advantages which include increased efficiency of fertilizer use by plants, reduced application costs since fewer applications of fertilizer are required and reduced nutrient loss caused by leaching and denitrification. The coating of sulfur on the surface of the fertilizer granules may reduce the dissolution rate of the granules and impart controlled-release characteristics. In essence, the water in the soil, and rain water are kept away from the very soluble fertilizer until a granule develops a flaw such as a crack or fissure in the coating, or the coating is penetrated by microbial action.
Due to the inherent brittleness of the crystalline solid sulfur-coating which farms on the granule, and the thin, or even non-continuous coating on many of the granules, it is essential that some type of secondary outer coating or sealant be applied onto the sulfur-coated surface. This sealant conventionally is either a polymeric hydrocarbon, petroleum-based wax, or a combination of high viscosity polymeric paraffinic oil plus polyethylene, which is spray applied as a hot melt liquid onto the hot, but solidified sulfur-coating surface. Although these sulfur coated fertilizers have received substantial uses, there are problems from the standpoint of obtaining uniform coating thicknesses, predictable release characteristics resulting from cracks in the sulfur coatings, essential abrasion and impact resistance, and the complexity of the processing steps.
More recently, because of problems associated with sulfur coated fertilizers, such as above defined, polymer coated fertilizers have received substantial attention, particularly in view of the improved controlled release properties obtained with certain polymer coated fertilizers at lower coat weights.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,531 (Hudson) teaches a controlled release, particulate fertilizer product having a water soluble fertilizer central mass encased in a plurality of water insoluble, abrasion resistant coatings. At least one inner coating is a urethane reaction product derived from reacting recited isocyanates and polyols. The outer coating is formed from an organic wax.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,296 (Markusch et al.) teaches a slow-release polyurethane encapsulated fertilizer using oleo polyol(s). U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,261 (Markusch et al.) provides a process for the production of polyurea encapsulated fertilizer particles comprising applying an isocyanate-reactive component containing at least two amine groups to the fertilizer particles, and applying a polyisocyanate to the amine coated particles to form polyurea coated particles.
Sulfur containing isocyanate compositions and a process for the production of encapsulated fertilizer compositions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,981 (Markusch et al.). The fertilizer compositions are prepared by applying a mixture of sulfur and an isocyanate to the fertilizer and then applying an isocyanate-reactive material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,374 (Detrick) describes a fertilizer composition wherein a sulfur coating is applied to a fertilizer core, and thereafter a polymer coating is applied over the sulfur.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,633 (Hirano et al.) teaches a granular fertilizer coated with a thermosetting resin coating that may be urethane and a hydrophobic compound, which may be wax. U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,686 (Geiger et al.) teaches a slow-release polyurethane encapsulated fertilizer using polyurethane and wax.
It is also known in the art to pre-coat particulate plant nutrient with organic oil and particles as a means to improve the release profiles of the particulate plant nutrient (U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,781; Goertz et al.).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,746 (Detrick et al.) describes a process of first coating a fertilizer with a polymer, then coating the polymer with sulfur and thereafter applying a polymer coating. The polymers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,659 (Moore), U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,403 (Moore) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,292 (Detrick). These polymers require that the substrate contains a minimum quantity of reactive —NH2 groups. Thus, these are not applicable to all fertilizer compositions for which slow release properties may be desirable.
Although polymer coated fertilizers as above described have received substantial attention, they are expensive to manufacture. There is a need in the art to provide controlled released fertilizer formulations that are abrasion resistant, and that reduce the cost of fertilizer production.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Controlled release fertilizer composition


A curtain hanging device is disclosed. The curtain hanging device features a rod which has a rectangular cross section composed of a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, and a fifth surface. The first and fifth surfaces of the rod lie within the same plane and are spaced opposite and parallel to the plane of the third surface. The first and fifth surfaces have a lateral dimension less than that of the third surface and are spaced from each other, such that a channel is formed along the length of the curtain hanging device. The curtain hanging device includes at least one I shaped slide member. The I shaped slide member has a first end, a second end and a web connecting the first and second ends. The first end has a pair of side surfaces and is dimensioned to slide within and along the channel such that the pair of side surfaces remain parallel to the second and forth surfaces. The second end has a grooved surface and a pair of horizontal surfaces. The grooved surface has a concave groove extending substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the I shaped slide member along the channel. The horizontal surfaces abut the grooved surface. The curtain hanging device also includes an overlay. The overlay has an affixing means and a brace portion. The affixing means are disposed to allow removably affixing the overlay to the I shaped slide member. The brace portion has a mating surface and an attachment surface. The mating surface has a convex portion dimensioned to mate with the concave grooved surface of the second end of the I shaped slide member. The attachment surface is provided with one portion of a two portion self-adhering material.

1. Brief Description of the Invention
The instant invention discloses a novel curtain rod and attachment system using a hook and fabric or hook and loop attachment system of the type sold under the trademark Velcro, to attach the curtain to the curtain rod system.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Curtains have been traditionally connected to rods through a variety of securing means, including hooks as well as direct application to the rod. Once a curtain is directly placed on the rod it can only be altered length wise by removal from the rod and hemming. Changing the length when hooks are used requires removing the curtain and adjusting their position and re-hanging the curtains. Curtains hung by traditional means also do not release when pulled upon. Instead of the curtain releasing, either the entire rod assembly comes down or the curtains tear. Falling curtains and rods can also be a possible endangerment to small children, who are most likely to pull or climb on them.
The instant invention overcomes these problems by disclosing a method of hanging curtains that are easily adjustable and release when pressure is applied.


An electroconductive element comprising a support, a subbing layer, and an electroconductive layer, wherein the electroconductive layer is formed by coating, on the subbing layer, a solution comprising:. (A) a compound semiconductor, PA0 (B) a solvent dissolving the compound semiconductor, and PA0 (C) a resin or a resin precursor soluble in the solvent.

In the recent progress of electronics, the impartation of electric conductivity to the surface of plastics has become a particularly important theme. With such plastics advancements have occurred in, e.g., static prevention for preventing the occurrence of various problems caused by static electricity, for example, the occurrence of the attachment of dust, etc., electric discharging caused by electrostatic charging, and electromagnetic wave obstruction of casings and parts of electronic instruments.
Transparent electroconductive films have been widely used, e.g., as base materials for electrophotographic recording, base materials for electrostatic photographic recording, transparent electrodes for thin film type liquid crystal displays, transparent electrodes for dispersion type electroluminescence, transparent electrodes for touch panels, antistatic films for clean rooms, windows of electric meters, video tape recorders, etc., transparent heaters, etc. The development of transparent electroconductive films which are inexpensive and have high performance has been strongly desired.
Conventional transparent electroconductive films include the semiconductor type thin films, such as indium tin oxide films (ITO films) doped with tin, tin oxide films doped with antimony, cadmium tin oxide films (CTO films), copper iodide films, titanium oxide films, and zirconium oxide films. Among these films, the ITO films are most excellent in terms of both transparency and electric conductivity. Tin oxide films require a high base plate temperature for forming films and hence it is difficult to apply such a film to a polymer film. CTO films have a smaller energy gap (the absorption end is at a longer wavelength side) than the ITO films. Thus, when the film thickness is increased, the film become yellowish to some extent. Also, copper iodide films, titanium oxide films, and zirconium oxide films are inferior in both transparency and electric conductivity to the aforesaid semiconductor films.
The above semiconductor thin electroconductive films are formed by, e.g., vapor deposition which requires large production equipment for forming the films, which increases the production cost.
As a method of forming the above semiconductor thin films at a low cost, a method of previously applying a subbing layer to a polymer film and letting a compound semiconductor absorb in the surface of the subbing layer is known. According to this method, the subbing layer can improve the adhesion of the support for a layer further formed thereon as described in JP-B-48-9984 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,272) (the term "JP-B" as used herein refers to an "examined Japanese patent publication").
Hitherto, for a coating type electroconductive film using a compound semiconductor is formed by a method of forming a subbing layer on a support using a resin having adhesivity to the support and coating thereon a solution of a compound semiconductor to form fine particles of the compound semiconductor near the surface of the subbing layer at a high concentration.
However, although the electroconductive film of semiconductor formed by the aforesaid method is, in the beginning, excellent in terms of adhesion to the support, the transparency, and the electric conductivity, there are disadvantages in that the fine particles of the compound semiconductor become aggregated over the passage of time so as to form large crystals. This causes white turbidity and reduces the transparency. Further, the electric conductivity is greatly reduced at the white turbid portions.
When a commercially available vinylidene chloride resin or vinyl chloride resin coating material is used as the binder for the subbing layer, the components formed by the photodecomposition, etc., reduce the electric conductivity of the compound semiconductor such that is not useful for practical purposes in a field requiring light fastness.
In the wide application field of a transparent electroconductive films, it is as a matter of course required that the electric conductivity be stable for a long period of time. Depending on the usage, it is also important that the film has a resistance to organic solvent solubility.
For example, in the case of applying the transparent electroconductive film to an electrophotographic recording material, the electroconductive film is used in a form of a multilayer structure formed by coating a barrier layer, a layer of a photoconductive composition, a protective layer, etc., on an electroconductive film.
In the case of forming these multilayer coating structures, it frequently happens that the coating solvent causes fine cracks or creases in or on the subbing layer and the electroconductive layer, which gives serious problems for practical use. Hence, it has been desired to solve these problems.
Furthermore, the adhesion of such a coating layer and the electroconductive layer of a compound semiconductor is frequently insufficient. Hence, improvement of the adhesion has also been desired.

Electroconducting semiconductor and binder or binder precursor coated in a subbing layer


To enable two intermediate rollers to be selectively associated with a combined damping and inking unit as connecting rollers, or with the applicator roller of the damping unit as a first rider roller and a tandem second rider roller, the spindle of the second intermediate roller is removably received at both ends, a bearing lever pivotable around the axis of the first ink spreader roller. Also, swing levers are pivotally connected, one at each end, to the spindle of the first intermediate roller and each swing lever has guides for guiding the second intermediate roller between its first position as a connecting roller and its second position as a tandem roller laterally below the first intermediate roller and in engagement with the applicator roller of the damping unit.

It is known from DE-BM 1,932,642 to dispose, between the final damping roller of a damping unit and the first inking roller of the inking unit, either a single intermediate roller or, if the final damping roller is, for example, too far away from the first inking roller, two or more intermediate rollers in consecutive relationship and to engage the intermediate rollers with an inking or damping spreader roller.
The use of an intermediate roller pair is already known from a research report No. 3,216 "Damping Device" of the German Research Society for Printing and Reproduction Technology (FOGRA), at page 30, FIG. 38. Here, both damping liquid and ink are applied to the plate cylinder by way of the applicator rollers of the damping unit. This kind of operation is satisfactory for many printing jobs, for example, in the case of thickly coated subjects which do not tend to mottle.
It is also known from DE 3,637,460 to engage a first rider roller and, as an over-rider or tandem roller, a second rider roller with a common applicator roller of a damping unit in order to reduce, by rolling of the rider roller on the applicator roller, the excess of damping agent which is due to the blank part of the plate cylinder and which may of course leave unwanted streaks on the end product.

Change-over device for an intermediate damping roller in an offset printing press


A driving power source rotational speed control device is provided in a vehicle outputs power of a rotary driving power source via a continuously variable transmission as motive power, that changes the rotational speed of the rotary driving power source in association with changes in the vehicle speed when acceleration is requested. The control device includes: acceleration/deceleration state determination means determines whether the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating when acceleration is requested; and rotary driving power source rotational speed change setting means sets the change gradient of the rotary driving power source rotational speed to establish the association of the rotary driving power source rotational speed with changes in the vehicle speed when acceleration is requested. The rotary driving power source rotational speed change setting means suppresses reductions in the rotary driving power source rotational speed when the acceleration/deceleration state determination means determines that the vehicle is decelerating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving power source rotational speed control device and a driving power source rotational speed control method, for use in a vehicle that outputs power of a rotary driving power source via a continuously variable transmission as driving power for traveling, that changes the rotational speed of the rotary driving power source in association with changes in the vehicle speed when acceleration is requested.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-51842 (JP-A-2006-51842) describes a device, used in a vehicle equipped with a continuously variable transmission, that increases the output rotational speed of a rotary driving power source, such as an internal combustion engine, in association with an increase in the vehicle speed when acceleration is requested, in order to obtain sufficient acceleration for a requested output (page 12 and FIGS. 7 to 12). The device of JP-A-2006-51842 corrects an acceleration target input shaft speed (the target output rotational speed of the rotary driving power source) using a vehicle speed change correction amount, so that it increases in association with an increase in the vehicle speed, even if there is no change in the accelerator pedal depression amount.
However, the vehicle may decelerate due to an increase in the travel resistance, such as an increase in the road gradient, even when acceleration is requested. When such deceleration occurs, the target output rotational speed decreases as a result of correction using the vehicle speed change correction amount, because the output rotational speed of the rotary driving power source is changed in association with the vehicle speed as discussed above.
In addition to deceleration due to the travel resistance, reducing the rotary driving power source output rotational speed also makes the driving power insufficient to further decelerate the vehicle. This may make the driver feel uncomfortable.

Driving power source rotational speed control device and driving power source rotational speed control method


Implementations of a mobile pet feeder are provided. In some implementations, the mobile pet feeder comprises a water container, a holder, an upper strap, and a lower strap.

Pets, such as dogs or cats, are often carried for a ride in a vehicle, such as a car or sports utility vehicle (SUV). Such pets often need to eat food and drink water while riding in the vehicle, particularly for long rides. Therefore, it may be desirable to feed such pets food and water while riding in the vehicle.
However, it is desirable to feed such pets while riding in the vehicle without causing a mess from spillage of the food or water. There does not exist a device specifically designed for feeding pets in this manner.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method of using the mobile pet feeder comprises positioning and attaching the mobile pet feeder to the back side of a seat of a vehicle.