An assembly for use in a laser instrument which produces a plane of laser light by reflection from a cone. The assembly includes a weak focusing lens which improves the control over the planarity of the plane of light produced. Because it is weak, the weak focusing lens can be positioned over a relatively large distance to produce slight changes in the focus of the beam which is reflected to produce the plane of light. Critical, time consuming, and expensive manufacturing requirements can be relaxed, while improved performance results in superior laser instruments.

The present invention relates to the focusing of laser light emitted by laser instruments and, in particular, to the use of a weak focusing lens to improve the focus and alignment of a plane of laser light reflected from a cone in a laser instrument.
In many laser instruments a collimating lens or nearly collimating lens is used with a small source of laser light, such as a laser diode, to produce a beam of laser light which is either substantially collimated or focused to a distant focal point in the far field. In addition to producing beams of laser light, laser instruments also produce planes of laser light. In one such laser instrument 1, shown in part in FIG. 1A, a suspended, reflective cone 2 is used to reflect an axially oriented beam 3 of laser light 4 to produce a plane 5 of laser light. Where the reflective cone 2 is centered in the beam 3, the reflected laser light 4 emanates radially as a plane 5 in all directions with substantial uniformity. In many such laser instruments 1 the incident beam 3, and thus the reflected plane 5 of laser light 4, have a distant focal point.
Where reflective cones are used to produce planes of laser light, the angle at which laser light rays strike the cone is critical to the production of a level plane of light. Even slight changes in the angle at which the laser light rays strike the reflective cone will cause an umbrella-like shift in the plane of laser light produced, causing the plane to have a slightly conical shape, as also shown in FIG. 1A. Thus, it has been found that proper beam focus is needed to produce a level plane of laser light.
Laser diodes are typically used as a small laser light source 6 in such laser instruments 1. Ideally, the laser diode is at the design back focus distance of a collimating lens or nearly collimating lens 7, so that the intended beam of collimated or slightly focused laser light will be produced. However, where the separation between the laser diode and lens 7 varies from the design back focus distance, the angle at which laser light rays strike the reflective cone varies, and a large change in the planarity of the reflected light can result. It has been found that a change of 1 arc second, i.e. 1/3600 of 1 degree, in the angle of the incoming laser light rays is sufficient to produce the umbrella-like shift to an objectionable degree in the plane of laser light shown in FIG. 1A.
Several sources of such variation exist, but have been overcome by adherence to tight manufacturing tolerances. For example, during assembly of such laser instruments, mounting errors can cause the distance between the laser diode and collimating lens to vary. As well, each laser diode lases at a spot which cannot be exactly predetermined in all three dimensions. This variation from laser diode to laser diode effects the ability to mount the laser diode at the design back focus distance of the collimating lens. In addition, the curvature of the collimating lens surfaces can vary within a tolerance from lens to lens, causing the actual back focus distance to vary from the design back focus distance. To control the effect of these sources of variation, in the assembly of laser instruments, the distance from the laser source to the collimating lens has been tightly controlled to tolerances up to .+-.0.0003 inches.
As well, as there is variation from laser diode to laser diode in the spot at which the diodes lase, there is a limit to how closely the laser diode can be located on the focal axis 8 of the collimating lens or nearly collimating lens 7. As shown in FIG. 1B, where like numerals represent like elements, axial misalignment of the laser diode can also cause a tilting of the plane of laser light produced.
Because a very slight change in the back focus distance can have a critical effect on the focus of the beam and planarity of the plane produced, even after careful assembly, laser instruments using reflective cones require further testing and adjustment. The position of either the collimating lens or laser diode, and the separation therebetween is adjusted, as needed, to produce a plane of laser light having the desired orientation and planarity.
After installation in laser instruments, laser diodes occasionally burn out during use and need to be replaced. Since there is no adjustment of the collimating lens after initial installation and there is variation from laser diode to laser diode in the spot at which the diodes lase, there is a limit to how accurately the new laser diode can be matched to the design back focus distance of the collimating lens. Due to the sensitivity of reflected planes of laser light to the beam focus, planarity of the laser light plane produced by the repaired laser instrument can be effected, as shown in FIG. 1A. As well, there remains a limit to how closely the new laser diode can be located on the focal axis, and axial misalignment of the laser diode can, again, cause a tilting of the plane of laser light produced by the repaired laser instrument, as shown in FIG. 1B. Thus, when laser diodes are replaced, it becomes likely that the new beam produced in the laser instrument will be slightly out of focus and slightly off axis, causing a variation in both the planarity and the angular orientation of the plane of laser light produced.
Despite the necessity for careful manufacturing techniques, laser diodes have been successfully used as laser sources in a variety of laser instrument applications. However, the need exists for greater ease and flexibility in controlling the planes of light produced from laser diodes in laser instruments, and for replacement of laser diodes in a manner which will compensate for their inherent variability.

Technique and apparatus using a moveable weak lens


A flow restrictor includes an exterior tube and an interior tube disposed within the exterior tube. A first flange is disposed at a distal end of the interior tube. An annular rib extends proximally from the first flange and has an interior diameter greater than an exterior diameter of the exterior tube. A second flange is disposed at a proximal end of the exterior tube. A ring member is disposed around the exterior tube between the annular rib of the first flange and the second flange.

The present invention generally relates to the field of storm water management and flood control. More particularly, the present invention relates to restricting the rate of storm water output from a drain pipe.
A storm drainage system is generally designed to accommodate and eliminate excessive amounts of storm water that might otherwise accumulate on roadways or flood homes. Typically, the storm drainage system channels the storm water from surface level where the potential for damage is high into underground pipes and/or cisterns where the storm water can be safely dissipated or stored for future dissipation. Such systems work well within design limits to protect the surface from flooding and the associated property damage and risk of harm associated therewith. However, a storm drainage system exposed to a flow of water beyond that which the system is designed to accommodate can be overloaded causing water to back up to the surface and potentially cause a flood.
Control of the rate at which storm water flows into or out of the storm drainage system can be important to prevent or inhibit such overload. For example, consider a first urban neighborhood having a modern storm drainage system designed to accommodate a tremendous volume of storm water. The first neighborhood is hit by a tremendous rainfall that is accommodated by the modern storm drainage system, and the storm water is channeled into drainage pipes to drain away from the first neighborhood as designed. A second nearby neighborhood has a storm drainage system interconnected with that of the first neighborhood. Unfortunately, the storm drainage system of the second neighborhood is incapable of accommodating the volume of water draining from the first neighborhood. Consequently, the storm drainage system of the second neighborhood becomes overloaded.
In this exemplary scenario, overload of the second neighborhood's storm drainage system makes it likely that the storm water would back up into the streets and homes and flood the second neighborhood. However, if the rate of flow of the storm water could be controlled at any stage between entering the drainage system of the first neighborhood and entering the drainage system of the second neighborhood, overload and flooding could be prevented. A need therefore exists for a device that can limit or restrict the rate of water flow into a storm drainage system to prevent overload of the system.
Storm pipes that comprise a typical storm drainage system are made from materials selected based on the size of the desired pipe, material strength, ease of handling, life expectancy, resistance to erosion, and cost, among other factors. Exemplary materials used in the construction of storm pipes include reinforced and non-reinforced concrete, corrugated polyethylene, corrugated polyvinyl chloride, and various grades of steel, as known in the art.


A data input apparatus for inputting control information to a data card for controlling a machine by means of the same comprises a memory in which specification of the machine to be controlled by the card have been stored and an operation panel for inputting operation mode of the machine. If the inputted operation mode is out of the stored specification of the machine, the control information of the machine is not inputted to the data card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data input apparatus for saving inputted prescribed data in a memory medium (for example an IC card) and to a control method therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to a data input apparatus for saving data for controlling a plurality of other machines by using the inputted data and to the control method therefor.
2. Description of the Background Art
Control of a copying machine employing an IC (Integrated Circuit) card has been proposed. According to the proposal, desired items and the levels of these items for a copying machine (items and desired values thereof such as copy paper size; A4, copying magnification; 1.2, number of copies; 13, and so on) are stored in an IC card. By loading the said IC card into the copying machine, the desired values for respective items are collectively set in the copying machine.
In the above described proposal, the input of data to be saved in the IC card (the data of the items and the desired values of the respective items) is carried out separately from the copying machine, namely, it is carried out by means of a prescribed data input apparatus independent of the copying machine.
As described above, when inputting data to an IC card, it is difficult to know what kind of data can be inputted thereto. Namely, we cannot check what kind of items in what range are available for the copying machine to which the data saved in the card is loaded.
Consequently, sometimes the operating mode stored in the card (the operating mode is defined by the items and the levels designated for respective items) cannot be set in the copying machine.
For example, when a data "paper size; A3" is stored in an IC card and the copy paper having the size of B4 is the largest available paper for the copying machine to which the card is to be loaded, the size A3 paper cannot be set.

Data input apparatus and control method therefor


A model railroad track cleaning car having a cleaning element suspended between a pair of wheeled trucks. The cleaning element is an abrasive material that is affixed to the underside of a weighted chassis that is suspended from a pair of articulating arms connected to the respective wheeled trucks. The cleaning material is easily replaced by removing a pair of fasteners from the chassis. A spring tension apparatus is positioned between the articulating arm and the cleaning element chassis to selectively position the cleaning element over the model railroad tracks. A retaining wire is captured in the articulating arm and engages the corresponding truck to turn the articulating arm with the truck, thus positioning the cleaning element over the model railroad tracks even when traversing a curve. A thumb wheel is formed with a notch that receives the articulating arm to lock the thumb wheel into a selected position.

This invention relates to the model railroads and, more particularly, to a device for cleaning the top surface of the tracks of a model railroad.
Model railroad sets operate electrically with the engine of the locomotive, or other powered car, receiving low voltage electrical current through the track into the wheels of the locomotive. When the tracks become dirty with oil, dust, oxidation, etc. the transmission of electrical current from the track into the locomotive wheels is hindered due to the lack of proper contact therebetween. Accordingly, it is often necessary to remove the oil and dirt from the top surface of the tracks to assure proper operation of the locomotive. One mode of cleaning the railroad tracks is to manually clean the surface of the tracks with appropriate cleaning material, usually wet with a cleaning solution, but this is a rather slow and laborious process. Providing a railroad car properly equipped with cleaning material will effect a surface cleaning of the railroad tracks while the model train is being run around the tracks.
Track cleaning cars for model railroads are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,475,771, issued to Murray Wittner on Jul. 12, 1949, depicts an attached piece of rolling stock on which is mounted felt pads at positions to correspond to the tracks. The Wittner track cleaning car is weighted to effect a cleaning of the top surface of the tracks. In U.S.Pat. No. 3,103,897, issued to Joseph Bonanno, et al on Sep. 17, 1963, and a corresponding U.S. Design Pat. No. 185,107, issued to Kenneth Van Dyck on May 8, 1959, provides a centrally positioned cleaning member that spans across the tracks. This cleaning member can be absorbent material or gritty material for roughening the top surface of the tracks.
In U.S.Pat. No. 5,816,168, issued to Matthew Poissant on Oct. 6, 1998, the model railroad car is equipped with a pair of rotating brush elements, somewhat like a street sweeper to remove debris from the surface of the tracks. In U.S.Pat. No. 5,904,100, issued to Barry Findley, et al on May 18, 1999, a three-rail track system cleaning mechanism is disclosed with a fresh supply of cleaning material being dispensed from a roll carried by the railroad car so that the cleaning material itself does not get dirty as it is rolled across the surface of the tracks.
The cleaning of railroad tracks with specialty cars for accomplishing the desired task is reflected in representative patents from the previous century. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 50,634, issued to G. C. Sharp on Oct. 24, 1865, and U.S.Pat. No. 195,217, issued to M. C. Isaacs on Sep. 18, 1877, are directed to brushes that are mounted on railroad cars for cleaning and clearing the tracks of dirt and debris. In the Isaacs patent, the brushes are retractable to permit selective engagement thereof. German Patent No. DE 28 01 111, granted on Mar. 15, 1979, is also directed to a cleaning device for effecting the cleaning of the top surface of a railroad track on which the car is traversing.
It is desirable to provide a model railroad car that will be operable to clean the top surface of the model railroad tracks as the car is being run around the tracks. The cleaning element being rubbed against the top surface of the tracks would be most effective if a tensioning element could vary the pressure exerted on the cleaning element and provide a coupling between the truck bearing the wheels and cleaning element to assist in the cleaning element following the truck around curves in the track.
It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the known prior art by providing a railroad track cleaning car having a weighted cleaning member suspended from a framework connected to fore-and-aft positioned trucks.
It is another object of this invention to provide a retaining wire interconnecting the truck and a articulating arm to which is mounted the cleaning element to force the articulating arm to move with the truck around curves in the track.
It is a feature of this invention that the railroad track cleaning car is provided with a spring pressure apparatus to vary selectively the spring pressure exerted on the cleaning element
It is an advantage of this invention that the cleaning element will clean the top surface of the model railroad track as the train in which the track cleaning car is attached runs across the track.
It is another feature of this invention that a retaining wire is clipped to a articulating arm and engaged with the truck to which the articulating arm is mounted so that the articulating arm will follow the movements of the truck.
It is another advantage of this invention that the cleaning element is maintained in engagement with the model railroad track even around curves.
It is still another advantage of this invention that the cleaning element is abrasive and scours the top surface of the model railroad tracks.
It is still another feature of this invention that the abrasive material on the weighted cleaning element is easily replaced.
It is yet another feature of this invention that the spring pressure adjustment mechanism includes a locking cap that engages the articulating arm to lock the selected spring pressure applied to the cleaning element.
It is yet another advantage of this invention that the cleaning element is suspended between a pair of trucks to support the cleaning element over the model railroad tracks.
It is a further advantage of this invention that the articulating arm interconnecting the truck and cleaning element is guided with the truck to keep the cleaning element over the model railroad tracks while traversing curves in the track.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a model railroad track cleaning car that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use.
These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a model railroad track cleaning car having a cleaning element suspended between a pair of wheeled trucks. The cleaning element is an abrasive material that is affixed to the underside of a weighted chassis that is suspended from a pair of articulating arms connected to the respective wheeled trucks. The cleaning material is easily replaced by removing a pair of fasteners from the chassis. A spring tension apparatus is positioned between the articulating arm and the cleaning element chassis to selectively position the cleaning element over the model railroad tracks. A retaining wire is captured in the articulating arm and engages the corresponding truck to turn the articulating arm with the truck, thus positioning the cleaning element over the model railroad tracks even when traversing a curve. A thumb wheel is formed with a notch that receives the articulating arm to lock the thumb wheel into a selected position.


Methods and devices for cutting workpieces, which include a laser adapted to at least partially cut a workpiece, are described. The workpiece is a wafer having a plurality dies each with an integrated circuit. A mechanical cutter follows the laser and engages the workpiece. An embodiment of the mechanical cutter includes a cutting blade adapted to complete a cut through a workpiece. A method includes a two-pass cutting procedure. The first pass is made by a laser, which scribes the workpiece. The second pass is made by the mechanical cutter. In an embodiment, the mechanical cutter follows the scribe created by the laser. In an embodiment, the workpiece is supported by a table. The workpiece moves relative to the laser and the mechanical cutter.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 from Singapore Application No. 200105517-7 filed Sep. 10, 2001, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuit manufacturing equipment, and in particular to apparatus and methods for dicing wafers.
Wafers are fabricated with a plurality of dies each having a plurality of integrated circuit elements therein. A die represents one individual chip that must be separated from adjacent dies before packaging. Conventionally, dies are separated from each other and the rest of the wafer by a saw blade. With the existing dicing technology of using diamond-nickel blades, the backside cutting quality can be improved by performing a two-pass cut. However, this will reduce productivity by around 50% and a wider saw kerf is expected. This is due to machine accuracy for the second pass. The wider saw kerf hinders progress towards a smaller saw street and thus leading to a lower die per wafer count.
Another area of concern when separating the dies is chipping on the top surface of the dies or fragmentation on the bottom surface of the dies adjacent the saw street. It is believed that one the of possible causes for the top or bottom surface fragmentation detected after the dicing process is the presence of a passivation layer, test structures, and/or metal layers deposited on the saw street during various wafer fabrication processes. These materials are not removed during wafer fabrication due to the higher operational cost and cycle time required for such fabrication steps. The impact of these materials on the cutting quality can be seen in FIG. 1. The reason for this poor cutting quality is believed to be due to the clogging of the blade, which results in overloading of the blade during dicing.
It is believed that a two-pass cut process using a saw blade for each cut pass will not significantly improve topside chipping as compared to a single-pass cutting due to the presence of test structures and metal layers on the wafer. The cutting quality of a two-pass cut can be seen in FIG. 2. A comparison on the cutting quality obtained from a single-pass cut and a two-pass cut is shown in Table 1.
The numbers associated with the back side chipping and back side cracking represent the size, e.g., length or width, of such defects in microns. As shown in Table 1, the backside chipping and cracking improves approximately 40-50% using a two-pass cutting process. The top side chipping, for example, in its width, does not improve significantly in a two-pass cutting process.
While saw cutting of wafers is the conventional industry standard, there remains drawbacks with such cutting. Saw blades wear over time. This results in inconsistent cutting quality from when the blade is new and subsequent cutting operations. Consequently, the operator must predict when the blade has reached the end of its useful life. This can not be predicted accurately. Accordingly, the saw blades may be changed before the end of their useful lives resulting in higher equipment costs than necessary due to premature saw blade replacement. Moreover, saw blades introduce mechanical stresses in the workpiece while sawing, especially at the surfaces of the workpiece. Due to these stresses saw blades may not be used to cut very thin workpieces, such as ultrathin semiconductor wafers.
A recent development in wafer dicing is laser cutting. However, laser dicing of semiconductor wafers have failed to meet the rigid demands of industry. One significant drawback of using lasers is the collateral thermal damage to the chips caused by the laser. New lasers have been proposed to overcome the drawbacks of conventional lasers in the area of semiconductor dicing. An example of such a system is being promoted by Synova SA. of Lausanne, Switzerland, and described in WO 99/56907, titled xe2x80x9cMATERIAL SHAPING DEVICE WITH A LASER BEAM WHICH IS INJECTED INTO A STREAM OF LIQUIDxe2x80x9d, herein incorporated by reference. WO 99/56907 describes a method and device for shaping material of workpieces using a laser beam which is injected into a stream of liquid. The liquid, which is to be formed into a stream, is fed to the nozzle channel opening such that the liquid does not swirl, especially without flow components which are tangential to the nozzle channel axis. The laser irradiation is focused on a channel entry plane and the liquid is fed to the channel opening in such a way that a liquid retention space is avoided in a beam focusing ball and in the immediate surroundings thereof. Another laser cutting arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,499, herein incorporated by reference. However, these laser cutting arrangements require a reduced speed when used to cut wafers. The feedspeed of the wafer is reduced to 40 mm/s and 20 mm/s for wafers with 305 xcexcm and 470 xcexcm thickness, respectively. This is due to the greater laser pulse energy required. Therefore, with this method, laser cuts can be achieved at the expense of productivity.
For the reasons stated above, for other reasons stated below, and for other reasons which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for improved integrated circuit manufacturing equipment and methods of manufacturing integrated circuits.
The present invention is directed to methods and devices for cutting workpieces, which include a laser adapted to at least partially cut a workpiece. In an embodiment, the workpiece is a wafer having a plurality dies each with an integrated circuit. An embodiment of the present invention further includes a mechanical cutter following the laser and engaging the workpiece. An embodiment of the mechanical cutter includes a cutting blade adapted to complete a cut through a workpiece. An embodiment of the cutting blade includes a nickle-diamond cutting surface on a circular blade. An embodiment of the laser includes a liquid guided laser beam. An embodiment of the laser includes a yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser.
In an embodiment, a process according to the present invention includes a two-pass cutting procedure. The first pass is made by a laser, which scribes the workpiece. The second pass is made by a mechanical cutter. In an embodiment, the mechanical cutter follows the scribe created by the laser. In an embodiment, the workpiece is supported by a table. The workpiece moves relative to the laser and the mechanical cutter. In an embodiment, the relative movement of workpiece is at a speed of about 120 mm/sec.
These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description of the invention and referenced drawings or by practice of the invention. The aspects, advantages, and features of the invention are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities, procedures, and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A Category 5 (as well as newer revisions, such as Category 6 and Category E)/single-pair surge protector module for protecting telecommunications related equipment and the like from transient voltage and current surges includes a two-piece interfitting housing which receives a miniature printed circuit board therein. The miniature printed circuit board is used to mount a Category 5 (as well as newer revisions, such as Category 6 and Category E)/circuit surge protector device. The surge protector device includes a pair of voltage suppressors and four banks of diodes.

This invention relates generally to surge protection devices for protecting telecommunications related equipment from power and transient surges. More particularly, it relates to an improved 5-pin surge protector module formed of a two-piece interfitting housing which receives a single miniature printed circuit board for mounting a Category 5 (as well as newer revisions, such as Category 6 and Category E)/circuit surge protector device so as to protect a single pair of telephone lines against transient voltage and current surges.
As is generally well-known to those skilled in the telecommunications industry, modern telecommunications equipment is susceptible to transient surges such as those caused by lightning strikes and other surges on the transmission lines. Thus, various arrangements of surge protector circuits are known in the prior art which have been provided for connecting to each pair of incoming telephone lines so as to be normally non-conductive but are rendered conductive when a high voltage surge exceeds a predetermined breakdown voltage (e.g., 250 V) for protecting the equipment. Each pair of incoming telephone lines includes a xe2x80x9ctipxe2x80x9d line and a xe2x80x9cringxe2x80x9d line. Each of the tip and ring lines is typically connected to a conventional 5-pin surge protector module via a protector block. One of the five pins is connected to an incoming tip line. A second one of the five pins is connected to an incoming ring line. A third one of the five pins is connected to an outgoing tip line. A fourth one of the five pins is connected to an outgoing ring line. A fifth one is connected to a ground potential. However, the conventional 5-pin surge protector module does not meet the current Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) for Category 5 specification (TIA/EIA Standard 568A).
There is also known in the prior art of a circuit protection assembly for protecting telecommunications related equipment having up to 25-pairs of wires from transient voltage/current surges and also meets the TIA specification for Category 5. Such a Category 5/25-pair circuit protection assembly of the prior art is described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,093 to M. Masghati issued on Oct. 17, 2000 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. However, there has not been available heretofore to the knowledge of the inventors of a Category 5 (as well as newer revisions, such as Category 6 and Category E)/5-pin surge protector module for protecting only a single pair of telephone lines.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved 5-pin surge protector module for protecting only a single pair of telephone lines and yet still meets the TIA specification for Category 5 (as well as newer revisions, such as Category 6 and Category E). Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have developed such an improved Category 5 (as well as newer revisions, such as Category 6 and Category E)/5-pin surge protector module.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved 5-pin surge protector module which is relatively simple and economical to manufacture and assembly but has been traditionally unavailable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved Category 5 (as well as newer revisions, such as Category 6 and Category E)/5-pin surge protector module for protecting only a single pair of telephone lines.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved 5-pin surge protector module formed of a two-piece interfitting housing which receives a single miniature printed circuit board for mounting a Category 5 (as well as newer revisions, such as Category 6 and Category E)/circuit surge protector device.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a circuit surge protector module for protecting telecommunications related equipment and the like from transient voltage and current surges which includes a housing formed of a co-mating base member and a cover member. The cover member has a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and opposed side walls all formed integrally together. Input tip and ring pins, output tip and ring pins and a ground pin extend outwardly from the base member. A printed circuit board sub-assembly includes a miniature printed circuit board, a header formed on one end of the printed circuit board and jumper wires. The miniature printed circuit board is fixedly joined to the base member via the header and the jumper wires. A circuit surge protector device is mounted on the miniature printed circuit board. The surge protector device includes voltage suppressors and four banks of diodes.


A direct-drive, backlash-free servovalve in which the tip of an electric motor continually engages opposite sides of a receiving groove in the valve spool. The tip has a trapezoidal cross-section and tapers downwardly toward its extreme end. Rotation of the tip causes a translation of the valve spool, and can only progress until a side of the tip jams against one of the groove's sidewalls.

It is well known to use an electric motor to cause a shifting of a servovalve's spool. This is usually accomplished through a mechanical link that converts the rotary motion of the motor's output shaft into a linearly-directed force that acts on the valve's spool. One example of such a mechanical link is an offset tip of the motor's shaft engaging a groove/aperture in the spool. In this manner, rotation of the shaft causes the tip to move in an arc, thereby applying a force on the spool that is at least partially directed along the spool's longitudinal axis.
One problem with a mechanical link that employs an offset tip of the motor's shaft is that there can be significant backlash in the connection between the tip and the valve. This is usually due to the tip having a single linear contact with the shaped groove/aperture in the valve's spool. When the rotation of the motor's shaft is reversed, any play whatsoever between the tip and the sides of the spool's groove/aperture will allow the tip to move without a concomitant movement of the spool.
One method used in the prior art to overcome the above-noted problem is to fully retain the shaft's tip within a bushing located in the spool's receiver. This is taught by Spurbeck in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,494. However, this is only a temporary solution since backlash will arise as soon as the bushing wears. In addition, the extra parts increase the valve's cost and maintenance requirements.
A second problem with prior art direct-drive valves is that it is both necessary and extremely difficult to precisely limit the amount of rotational movement of the drive motor's shaft. When a valve's spool is shifted due to a rotational movement of a drive motor's shaft, the amount of rotation determines the length of the valve's stroke (translation of the spool). If the motor's shaft rotates to a lesser or greater extent than is required, the spool may not shift a full stroke, or will shift too far, or may even shift a full stroke and then reverse direction and partially retrace its path. Therefore, precisely limiting the motor's rotation is absolutely critical to proper valve function.
There have been a number of methods employed in the prior art to limit the amount of rotation of the motor's output shaft. Most commonly, the motor includes internal stops that stop the rotor's movement. However, the stops can break or wear, resulting in improper rotation of the motor's shaft.
Another method for limiting the rotation of the motor's output shaft is taught by Hair et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,568. The patent teaches the use of a shaped cam plate that is attached to the tip portion of the motor's shaft. When the motor is attached to the valve body, the plate is received within a specially-shaped cavity in the valve body. As the tip rotates, it causes the plate to shift within the cavity. The tip movement, and hence the motor's rotation, is stopped when a side of the plate abuts a sidewall of the cavity. While this is an effective method for limiting the rotation of the motor, it requires the use of a cam plate that must be precisely machined and secured to the shaft in a slip-free manner. Furthermore, the body of the valve must include a precisely machined cavity for receiving the plate. Once the plate is within the cavity, the cavity must remain free of corrosion and dirt, since any foreign material on the contact surfaces would adversely affect proper operation of the valve. In addition, any wear of the cam plate, of the connection between the plate and shaft, or of the cavity's sidewalls will result in inaccurate movement of the valve's spool. Additionally, the added parts and precise machining increase the valve's cost and its maintenance requirements.


A feed-screw support structure is adapted to absorb thermal expansion of a feed screw in a machine tool. It comprises a main-body member, a bearing-holder at the one end of the feed screw slidably arranged in the main-body member, a clamping member provided between the bearing-holder member and the main-body member and adapted to fix these members, and a device for operating the clamping member in accordance with factors and matters related to heat generation in the feed-screw. The bearing-holder member being normally held in a stationary condition by the clamping member, the feed screw being allowed to relieve thermal expansion by temporarily releasing the stationary condition when heat generation in the feed screw takes place to a relatively large degree. Alternatively, the structure may comprise a main body member, piezoelectric elements, a bearing case at the one end of the feed screw arranged between the piezoelectric elements and restricted in the axial movement by the bracket of the main-body member, and a device for measuring factors related to heat generation in the feed screw, fine adjustment of the bearing in the axial direction being effected by varying the voltage of the piezoelectric elements.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a feed-screw support structure adapted to absorb the thermal expansion of the feed screw of a saddle, table or the like in a machine tool, in particular, a machining center.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a machine tool which is required to have particularly high dynamic performance, such as a machining center, the feed rigidity must be heightened by supporting both ends of the male screw in such a manner as to preclude any movement in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. 12. Even if a ball screw is employed for the feed screw, the screw will expand with heat if the machine is operated long since the heat generation due to the rolling friction of the ball will cause gradual temperature rise. In view of this, it is the normal practice, in a machine of the type in which both screw ends are fixed, to provide the screw with pre-tension for absorbing elongation. However, in a case where the machine is operated long at high speed, this pre-tension alone cannot absorb the elongation completely, which leads to the generation of an excessive compressive force in the screw, resulting in not only deterioration in accuracy, but also damage to the thrust bearing or an excessively shortened lifetime thereof. To cope with this, various methods of restraining the heat generation in the screw are being practiced. According to one such method, a hollow screw is employed through the central hole of which coolant is allowed to flow. In another method, the heat generation is restrained by means of an oil-mist lubrication system or the like in the ball nut portion.


An angular single-phased electromagnetic actuator including a stator structure constituted of a first magnetic stator part and a second magnetic stator part connected exclusively by a non-magnetic spacer. A movable member including a thin magnetized portion is provided within an air gap between the stator parts. Stator parts are selected so as that: ##EQU1## where, S.sub.fer is the section of the stator part as measured in any radial plane included in the area scanned by the movable radial plane defined by the radius between the two adjacent poles of the magnetized portions,. S.sub.a is the surface of one among the 2N pairs of poles as measured in the plane normal to the magnetization, PA1 B.sub.fer is the induction within the stator, PA1 B.sub.a is the induction within the magnet, with ##EQU2## B.sub.r is the remanent induction of the magnet, L is the magnet thickness, and PA1 E is the distance between the stator poles, in the absence of the magnetized portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a single-phased electromagnetic actuator including a stator structure having two stator parts provided on both sides of a thin magnetized portion of an angularly movable member.
2. Discussion of the Background
An electromagnetic actuator as above-noted is disclosed in the International Patent Application CH-8 700 063 filed June 1, 1987 on the priority of the Swiss Patent Application No. 22,886 filed June 2, 1986. In the electromagnetic actuator disclosed in this International Application, each of the stator parts is formed with a very high magnetic permeability material. At least one of these parts has 2N+1 magnetic poles of which one half is energized by an electrical coil. The thin portion includes 2N pairs of magnetized poles which are transversally magnetized and alternate in the angular motion direction. The thin magnetized portion has through the whole working range a substantially linear demagnetization characteristic. Such electromagnetic actuators as above-noted allow the movable member to move within a limited distance with a substantially constant strength. Such apparatus, however, has a major drawback. In effect, the magnetic circuit closing must necessarily be done by means of magnetic seals provided either in the stator structure rear part, namely perpendicular to the displacement path of the movable member, or in some planes being parallel to the displacement path of the movable member. This results in a significant increase of the overall space required by the stator structure.
The overall space requirements for these actuators are increasingly critical, and a number of applications require an extreme miniaturization not compatible with the embodiments of the apparatus such as known in the prior art.

Single-phased angular electromagnetic actuator


The apparatus relates to a dual load tester that is hand held and highly portable. The dual load tester includes two resistive loads, and the two resistive loads may be used in series or one of the resistive loads may be used individually to test batteries, charging systems and starter motors of different voltage and current ratings. The operator of the device may, by closing the appropriate switch, first test a 12-volt battery and then test a 24-volt battery. In a similar manner, the tester may be used to test charging systems and starter motors of different voltage and current ratings. The testing functions of the dual load tester may be automated for testing various devices. The dual load tester includes a first resistive load and a second resistive load. The resistive loads may be used together or individually to test a battery, charging system, starter motor or other device.

Testers capable of testing multiple device types and voltage or current ratings are known in the art, but do not place the tested device under load conditions simulating actual use of the device. Testers capable of testing a single device type of a single voltage or current rating under a load are known, but are not capable of testing multiple device types or devices of varying voltage or current ratings with a single tester. The present invention overcomes the limitation in the devices and methods known in the prior art and allows a single tester to be used to test multiple types of devices and devices of various voltage or current ratings under a load similar to typical operating conditions.


In a method facilitating connectivity between at least first and second persons contemplates utilizing one or more computer processors to instantiate a first augmented reality space that mimics a real world space physically in existence about a first person. The first augmented reality space includes at least an avatar of the first person, and a first virtual representation of at least one real world object within the first augmented reality space. Using one or more computer processors, the method provides an interface through which the second person, distal to the first person, can use a second avatar to contemporaneously occupy and enter the first augmented reality space, traverse the space, and interact with the object.

For many practical reasons, social media is relied upon as a way of quickly connecting with others without the inconveniences of physically traveling to the person. Although social networking connects people on many levels, social media users often feel increasingly isolated. One reason for this feeling of isolation is because of the lack of close physical interactions between linked social media users. The inventive concepts herein aim to integrate combinations of augmented reality spaces, interactive objects, and virtual reality spaces to increase the feeling of connectedness between users.
Specifically, the present invention enables individuals to enter into the augmented reality spaces of others and interact with others. By allowing individuals to portal into another person's augmented realities, and further allowing linking of additional augmented realities to the first augmented reality, individuals are able to traverse a personalized augmented reality environment and interact with one or more objects in the augmented reality space to increase a feeling of immersion.
The present invention further contemplates that users can also portal to a virtual reality space from the augmented reality space. For example, a user can portal into a multiplayer video game that the subject of the first augmented reality is participating in.
To further increase the feeling of connectedness to the subject of the augmented realities, the augmented realities herein can be curated spaces that reflect the personal tastes of the subject of the augmented reality space. Additionally, the curated space can mimic the actual physical space about the subject. For the purposes of this application, mimic can span a substantially identical copy of the space to a space with similar themes to a real-world space. In spaces with similar themes to a real-world space, for example, a user can include some personal art and similar color schemes in their augmented reality space to create a personal associated between the subject and the space.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,814,691 to Haddick teaches a social networking associated with augmented reality. Haddick, however, discloses a method that requires users to sign in through a separate website to then be inserted into an online game that is viewed through a head-mounted eyepiece. Haddick fails to allow users to enter customized augmented reality and virtual reality sub-spaces that are linked together, as contemplated by the present invention.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0221771 to Cramer teaches an augmented reality-enabled distribution network that requires smart markers for participants to engage with the augmented reality space together. As with Haddick, Cramer fails to disclose an augmented reality and virtual reality hybrid system that allows participants to socialize and engage with each other in gameplay in both augmented reality and virtual reality sub-spaces. Cramer also fails to describe a linked mixed reality system that is contemplated by the presented invention.
In gaming, it is generally known that players can move between virtual spaces by teleporting. However, these game worlds are largely tied to predetermined structures, limited customization specific to the game, and linked to other preselected areas. For example, a game such as The Sims™ allows users to engage with each other in a shared virtual space with each home built and accessorized using an in-game engine. Unlike The Sims™, the inventive concept herein contemplates a highly customizable mixed reality space that can link to any number of other customized mixed reality spaces. The present invention also contemplates enabling users to tie customizable functions to their mixed reality space, including, but not limited to, functions such as polling, media linking, game linking, linking to other realities, social media functions, and authentication functions.
Haddick, Cramer, and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual extrinsic material was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
Thus, there is still a need for mixed reality systems infrastructures allow users to travel between and visit each other's personal augmented reality spaces with user customizable appearance and functionalities.

Distally shared, augmented reality space


The present invention provides a method of forming, in semiconductor substrates, contact openings having low contact resistance. The method involves, in particular, the introduction of a xe2x80x9csoft etchxe2x80x9d cleaning step that is used to clean the bottom of the contact openings. The xe2x80x9csoft etchxe2x80x9d cleaning step uses fluorocarbon chemistry. It is shown that the resulting resistance of the contact openings is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to a method of forming a contact hole to an active or electrically functional region of a semiconductor device.
2. Discussion of the Background
During the semiconductor fabrication process, multiple conductive layers such as metal and/or polysilicon layers are often deposited on a semiconductor wafer or substrate, which is typically made of silicon. Conductive layers are sometimes separated from each other by an insulating dielectric layer including one or more materials such as silicon dioxide and/or silicon nitride. These conductive layers are selectively connected or xe2x80x9cwiredxe2x80x9d together to allow for conduction of electricity in a desired pattern.
Semiconductor devices perform their functions only after they have been interconnected in a prescribed manner. To accomplish this, typically contact openings or holes are opened (e.g., etched) in the dielectric layers. Electrically conductive materials (e.g., metals) later deposited into these holes form xe2x80x9ccontacts,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cplugsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cviasxe2x80x9d (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9ccontactsxe2x80x9d) that contact the source, drain and gate regions of transistors to overlying conductors, for example.
The formation of contact holes in the oxide that covers the substrate surface is a key step in the fabrication of interconnect structures. The process typically starts by etching the oxide through the openings that are patterned on a mask that is formed on the oxide layer. Usually, a photoresist serves as a mask, as is well known in the art. Subsequently, the photoresist is removed.
Oxide materials are principally used for electrically insulating layers. xe2x80x9cOxidexe2x80x9d is a somewhat generic term used for silica, particularly silicon dioxide (SiO2). Because of the limits set by dielectric breakdown, the thickness of the oxide layers cannot be reduced to much below 0.5 to 1.0 micrometers. The minimum feature size of contact holes penetrating the oxide layer, however, is being pushed to below 0.1 micrometers. The result is that the holes etched in the oxide must be highly vertical and must have a high aspect ratio (i.e., ratio of the depth of the hole to the minimum width of the hole).
During formation of the contact openings, contaminants and impurities often form on the silicon surface of the wafer. Sometimes, because of the increasingly small size of the holes and/or the high aspect ratio of the holes, it is difficult to clean the bottoms of the holes subsequent to etching. The presence of contaminants and impurities contributes significantly to high contact resistance because the contaminants and impurities act as insulators between the substrate surface and the metal that is to be later deposited into the hole. Moreover, for a given substrate and a given material contacting the substrate, the contact resistance increases as a function of the contact area. The area available for forming self-aligned contacts is generally limited by the distance between adjacent transistor gates, which is minimized in order to minimize chip size and maximize transistor density. Therefore, maximizing the cleanliness (and thus the area) of the substrate surface available for formation of self-aligned contacts is particularly critical to maximizing performance of devices containing such contacts. High contact resistance, in turn, adversely affects the performance of the semiconductor device. The surface of a semiconductor substrate, therefore, must be cleaned in order to manufacture a highly reliable, high performance semiconductor device.
Sputtering is a process that may result in the physical removal of surface material. Conventional technology relies on a sputtering step to clean the contact openings after the contact holes are etched. In a typical sputter etch, chemically inert ions such as argon (Ar+) or xenon (Xe+) are accelerated toward the wafer or substrate and physically eject the contaminants and impurities from the surface at the bottom of the contact openings.
Conventional sputter etching processes for cleaning contact openings have several disadvantages. First, sputtering is generally non-selective, and high-energy sputtering may seriously degrade the silicon exposed at the bottom of the etched contact opening. Moreover, sputter etching is not always effective in cleaning the contact openings, and the contact surface of the opening may be compromised because of insufficient cleaning of the bottom of the opening. In addition, the increasingly small sizes and high aspect ratios of the contact openings make it difficult for the Ar+ or Xe+ ions to get into the opening and even more difficult for the contaminants and impurities to be physically ejected from the bottom thereof.
In view of the aforementioned deficiencies attendant with the prior art methods, it is clear that a need exists for a method of forming contact openings that overcomes such deficiencies.
One object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming contact openings.
Another object of the invention is to reduce the contact resistance in contact openings in semiconductor devices.
Yet another object of the present invention is to improve the cleanliness of the surface to be contacted.


The invention relates to a process for preparing alkali metal salts of malonic monoalkyl esters by selective saponification of malonic dialkyl esters using a basic alkali metal compound which comprises preparing from the malonic dialkyl ester and an alkali metal alkoxide, in a first stage, a CH-acid alkali metal salt of the malonic dialkyl ester and hydrolyzing this in a second stage by the action of water.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for preparing alkali metal salts of malonic monoalkyl esters by selective (or partial) saponification of malonic dialkyl esters via the intermediate of a CH-acid alkali metal salt.
2. Background of the Invention
Alkali metal salts of malonic monoalkyl esters and, in particular, potassium monoethyl malonate (abbreviated as KEM hereafter) are used as precursors for synthesizing pharmaceuticals having a quinolone structure. The use for syntheses in the pharmaceutical sector makes high demands on product purity.
A synthesis of potassium monoethyl malonate which was described as early as in the last century by van't Hoff (Ber. Dtsch. Chem. Ges., 7, 1572) and which is still currently practiced starts from diethyl malonate (abbreviated as DEM hereafter) which is selectively saponified with potassium hydroxide. According to EP 0 720 981 Al, this is performed using equimolar amounts of starting materials in an alcoholic medium, i.e. using alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution. However, the sought-after selective saponification is achieved only to an inadequate extent, so that only a target product which is considerably contaminated with dipotassium malonate (abbreviated as DKM below) is obtained. The DKM content is usually in the order of magnitude of several % by weight. Removal of the DKM from the KEM, which is necessary for use of the latter as a pharmaceutical precursor, is difficult and includes extensive purification operations.
Another disadvantage with said process is that alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution is not a customary commercial product, but must be prepared from alcohol and solid potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) with dissipation of the heat of solution. The handling and storage of caustic solids, such as caustic potash and caustic soda, in industrial amounts is associated with considerable costs for reasons of health and safety at work. In addition, alcoholic alkali metal hydroxide solutions, in particular those containing alcohols having a chain carbon number >1, generally cannot be stored without the initiation of aging processes which readily lead to product discoloration.
A further disadvantage of the known process is the relatively high dilution at which the process must be carried out. The alcohol is used at 19 to 28 times the amount by weight of potassium hydroxide. This large amount of alcohol has an adverse effect on the space-time yield and increases the expense for recovery of the solvent. The amount of alcohol is further increased by the DEM being used in alcoholic solution.
Box et al., Heterocycles, Vol. 32, No. 2, 1991, 245 ff., mention a synthesis of .beta.-lactones and .beta.-lactams, in which KEM acts as intermediate. In the experimental part, the preparation of KEM from DEM and alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution is described on page 247. The two starting materials are, as in the process of EP 0 720 981 Al already cited, used in equimolar amounts, that is to say each at 100 mmol. The molar ratios of DEM to KOH were calculated wrongly, however, since 20.225 g of DEM are 126 mmol and are equivalent to 1.26 times the molar amount of KOH. If it is further assumed that the potassium hydroxide used had, as is commercially usual, a KOH content of approximately 90% by weight (remainder water), 20.225 g of DEM are actually equivalent to 1.38 times the molar amount of KOH (calculated as 100%). Repeating the work using molar ratios of 1.26:1 and 1.38:1 showed that, although pure KEM containing less than 0.5% by weight of DKM is obtainable by this process, the precipitated KEM was very difficult to filter. In the case of laboratory batches, the filtering time was more than two hours. Such times are prohibitive for production on an industrial scale. In addition, according to Box et al., similarly to the case of the process of said EP 0 720 981 Al, considerable amounts of alcohol are required, and finally the yields of KEM are also not satisfactory.
German patent application 19817101.3 (O.Z. 5297) relates to a process for preparing KEM by selective saponification of DEM with potassium hydroxide, in which the potassium hydroxide is added to the DEM, DEM and potassium hydroxide are used in a molar ratio of at least 1.5 and the potassium hydroxide is distributed effectively in the DEM.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a process for preparing alkali metal salts of malonic monoalkyl esters which avoids said disadvantages of the prior art, i.e. without associated use of large amounts of alcohol and without using alcoholic alkali metal hydroxide solution, give high yields of pure low-DKM and readily filterable alkali metal salts of malonic monoalkyl esters. A further object of the invention is to provide a process which is similarly as advantageous as the process of said prior German patent application.

Process for preparing alkali metal salts of malonic monoalkyl esters


An improved deer hauling device (10) is described. The hauling device includes a handle (12) preferably in the form of an elongated ellipse, secured to one end of an intermediate shank (11), and a spaced apart hook (13) formed from the other end of the shank. The shank is positioned offset from the short axis (a--a) of the handle which bisects the sides (12c, 12d) of the handle so that the apex of the V-shaped hook is centered on the short axis of the handle. This construction helps to distribute the dragging weight evenly across the hunter's palm by preventing the game from sliding along the hook.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a deer hauling device for dragging large game from the field after the game has been killed by a hunter. In particular, the present invention relates to a device which has a handle that can be in the form of a straight rod, but which preferably is an oval in the form of an elongated ellipse defined by a long axis and a short axis and with spaced apart straight sides on opposite sides of the long axis, one side of which is gripped by the hunter with fingers in an opening of the oval. A shank is provided on an opposite side of the handle, offset from the short axis of the oval. The distal end of the shank forms a V-shaped hook, the apex of which is centered on the short axis of the oval. The hook is used to engage the lower jaw of the game from underneath the chin so that the chin is secured in the apex of the V-shaped hook. This prevents the game from sliding on the hook as the game is being hauled from the field. Also, the centering of the handle and hook along the short axis helps to evenly distribute the dragging weight across the hunter's palm.
(2) Prior Art
The prior art has described various types of hauling devices. These devices enable a hunter to hook the fallen game so that it can be moved or transported from the field without the hunter having to actually carry the game. The prior art has also described hand held hook devices that are used for moving or hauling bags or bales of a commodity. Illustrative of the prior art hauling devices are U.S. Pat. No. 555,681 to Dalton; U.S. Pat. No. 931,339 to Penington & Chilton; U.S. Pat. No. 2,482,314 to Beckwell; U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,312 to Millican et al; U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,331 to Michaud; U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,844 to Roberts; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,875 to Ziegler.
Beckwell describes a gaff hook device, which has a straight rod-like shank section with an inner circular hook formed at its lower end. The upper end of the shank is bent at a right angle to form a straight traverse handle. The handle extends across the palm of the hand and has a loop that slides over the thumb for steadying the gaff hook in the hand.
Roberts describes a large game carrier that normally requires two people to operate. The carrier includes a rectangular cross-sectional pivot block having a game-engaging hook rigidly extending from the front side of the block. The opposed ends of the block provide for arcuate folding and unfolding movement of opposed handles, from a closed position adjacent to and on opposed sides of the hook, to an open position wherein the handles are in-line with each other and at a right angle to the hook. The carrier also provides for an eye bolt rigidly attached to the back side of the block opposite the hook. The eye bolt allows for a rope to be secured to the carrier.
Ziegler describes a hand held hook device which comprises a hand guard with spaced apart side walls extending rearwardly from a front wall. The front wall supports a rigidly mounted hook extending forward from the front wall. A handle extends between the side walls in rearwardly spaced relationship to the front wall. The hook device is completed by a flexible strap which extends between the sidewalls in rearwardly spaced relationship to the handle. In use, the straps are secured around the operator's wrist for stability while the operator grips the handle.
Millican et al is illustrative of those devices that are used to move baled or bagged commodities. The Millican et al device has a cylindrical metal handle with the proximal end of a shank formed of a metal rod attached to one of the ends of the handle. The shank is bent so that the majority of its length is coplanar with and aligned at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The distal end of the shank forms a hook which is in a plane perpendicular to the plane formed by the proximal end of the shank and the handle. This construction provides operator access to the handle from the open end of the handle opposite the attached shank.
Michaud shows a very similar construction to that taught by Millican et al except that the proximal end of the shank extends forward from the apex of a U-shaped stirrup. A wooden handle in the form of an oval cylinder is provided between the outer extremities of the opposed legs of the stirrup rearwardly from the apex of the stirrup. The handle is secured to the stirrup by means of a bolt extending between holes provided in each leg of the stirrup and through a bore along the longitudinal axis of the handle. The hook is formed from the distal end of the shank and is in a plane perpendicular to the plane formed by the proximal end of the shank, the stirrup and the handle, in a manner similar to the Millican et al device.
Penington et al shows another type of hay hook device.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 166,408 to Oake teaches a combined hook and axe device with the shank at an angle from the centerline of the handle.
The problem with the prior art devices is that the weight distribution across the handle relative to the hook is poor. This makes it difficult to haul a heavy fluid weight such as a recently killed animal. In general, the hooks of the prior art devices are rounded so that the game tends to slide on the hook as the game is being hauled.


An information processing apparatus includes a first storage unit that stores first information regarding a first unit, a second storage unit that stores second information regarding a second unit, and a reading unit disposed so as to face the first unit and the second unit. The reading unit reads the first information stored in the first storage unit and the second information stored in the second storage unit.

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus.
There are various kinds of image processing apparatuses to which replaceable units are detachably mounted. For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-199457 discloses an image forming apparatus having a replaceable toner cartridge. The toner cartridge is provided with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) tag storing information on the toner cartridge. Information stored in the RFID tag is read by a communication unit of the image forming apparatus.
However, in the conventional art, a single communication unit only reads information from a single RFID tag.

Information processing apparatus and image forming apparatus having a first and second storage unit


A buffer and control circuit for a synchronous memory controller includes first and second differential comparators and control logic. The first differential comparator is provided with positive and negative differential input signals and the second differential comparator is provided with offset positive and negative differential input signals. The first and second differential comparators generate output signals based on magnitudes of the positive and negative differential input signals and the offset positive and negative differential input signals. The control logic generates a reference strobe signal based on the output signals.

The present invention relates generally to synchronous memory controllers, and, more particularly, to a buffer and control circuit for a synchronous memory controller.
Synchronous memory controllers facilitate communication between microprocessors and synchronous memories, viz., double-data rate synchronous random dynamic access memories (DDR-SDRAMs). Due to the synchronous nature of storage, a bi-directional reference signal (commonly referred to as a DQS signal) is used to synchronize the states of the memory controller and the memory during data transfer. Buffer and control circuits are used as interfaces between the memory controller and the memory; each of the two devices has an integrated buffer and control circuit. Communication signals between the two devices pass through respective buffer and control circuits.
Communication between the memory controller and the memory primarily involves read/write operations. During a read operation, data is transmitted from the memory and captured by the memory controller. The read operation is preceded by transmission of the DQS signal from the memory buffer and control circuit to the controller buffer and control circuit. The memory uses the DQS signal to apprise the memory controller of an impending read operation. Thereafter, the controller buffer and control circuit generates a reference strobe signal based on the DQS signal and used by the memory controller to determine exact time instants of beginning and ending of various stages of the read operation.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional buffer and control circuit 100. The buffer and control circuit 100 includes first and second differential comparators 102a and 102b, control logic 104, and first and second offset circuits 106a and 106b.
The DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals are transmitted by a synchronous memory (not shown) to communicate the start and end of various stages of a read operation to a synchronous memory controller. Industry standards define multiple states of the DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals to indicate the start and end of various stages during the read operation. For example, before the read operation begins, the DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals are in a high impedance state and voltages of the DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals remain at undefined levels between logic high and low states. To signal a beginning of the read operation, the DQS+ signal is driven from the high impedance state to logic low state. Simultaneously, the DQS− signal is driven from the high impedance state to logic high state. The DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals are transmitted to the positive and negative input terminals of the first differential comparator 102a, respectively. The first differential comparator 102a receives first and second supply voltages V1 and V2. The first differential comparator 102a generates a DQS_IN signal that is high when difference between the DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals is above a predetermined threshold. Similarly, the DQS_IN signal is low when this difference is less than the predetermined threshold. Thus, the DQS_IN signal indicates the beginning and ending of the read operation.
The DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals also are provided to the first and second offset circuits 106a and 106b. The first offset circuit 106a provides a negative offset to the DQS− signal and the second offset circuit 106b provides a positive offset to the DQS+ signal. The offset DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals are provided to positive and negative input terminals of the second differential comparator 102b, respectively. The second differential comparator 102b receives the first and second supply voltages V1 and V2. The second differential comparator 102b compares the offset DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals and generates a logic high signal when the difference is above the predetermined threshold and generates a logic low signal when the difference is less than the predetermined threshold. Thus, offsetting the DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals enables detection of divergence and convergence in the magnitudes of the DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals only when the DQS(+) and DQS(−) signals have been driven substantially apart (to signal start of data transfer) or substantially close (to signal end of data transfer). Therefore, the output of the second differential comparator 102b is referred to as a separation signal, DQS_SEP_IN.
The DQS_IN and DQS_SEP_IN signals are provided to the control logic 104. The control logic 104 gates and enables the DQS_IN signal based on the DQS_SEP_IN signal to generate a reference strobe signal, DQS_Digital_In. Thus, the DQS_Digital_In is driven high upon indication of a valid transmission of the data by the memory. The DQS_Digital_In signal is transmitted to the memory controller, which is then set ready to capture data transmitted from the memory.
The DQS_Digital_In signal must accurately represent the detected stage of the read operation (by the first and second differential comparators 102a and 102b). A corrupt DQS_Digital_In signal will lead to capturing inaccurate data. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a robust buffer and control circuit that eliminates data capture faults and allows seamless transmission of data in to a memory controller, and that overcomes the above-mentioned limitations of conventional buffer and control circuits.

Buffer and control circuit for synchronous memory controller


A target board for use in a bag pitching game which includes a relatively thin, substantially rigid panel having a generally planar upper surface provided with a plurality of upwardly extending, arcuately curved projections extending upwardly from the planar surface to form a plurality of target areas toward which the bag is pitched with the target areas being of different configurations thus introducing different degrees of difficulty with game point scoring values being assigned to the target area depending upon their degree of difficulty. Some of the target areas are assigned positive point values and other of the target areas are assigned negative point values. The target board includes structure which enables the target board to be anchored to a supporting surface and drain holes are provided when used outdoors and a hand hold structure to facilitate the target board being carried or hung vertically from a supporting structure when stored.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a target board used when playing a game and more specifically a target board for use in a bag pitching game which utilizes and develops manual dexterity and understanding of various physical laws which determine the trajectory of movement of a pitched bag which is pitched toward the target board mounted on a horizontal supporting surface from a predetermined distance by individual game players. The target board includes a relatively thin, substantially rigid panel having a generally planar upper surface provided with a plurality of upwardly extending, arcuately curved projections or ridges extending upwardly from the planar surface to form a plurality of target areas toward which the bag is pitched with the target areas being of different configurations and at different locations thus introducing different degrees of difficulty with game point scoring values being assigned to the target areas depending upon their degree of difficulty. Some of the target areas are assigned positive point values and other of the target areas are assigned negative point values. The target board includes structure which enables the target board to be anchored to a supporting surface and drain holes are provided when used outdoors and a hand hold structure is provided to facilitate the target board being carried or hung vertically from a supporting structure when stored.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of target boards are known for receiving tossed game pieces by game players in which points are scored by players depending upon the final location of game pieces on the target board as a result of a game player tossing a game piece toward the target board. The following U.S. patents relate to this subject matter.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. No. D,220,349 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 1,315,927 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 1,983,044 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,401 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,050
The above patents disclose various types of target boards but do not include target boards with raised arcuate projections having different dimensional characteristics and different locations with respect to the target board to provide a plurality of target areas having different point values associated therewith in accordance with the degree of difficulty encountered in a game player tossing a bag so that it lands in a particular relationship to a target area.


Fluid control apparatus having flow restrictors are described herein. An example actuator includes an actuator housing having an actuator to define a first chamber of the actuator housing and a second chamber of the actuator housing. A loading fluid pathway is formed in the actuator housing to fluidly couple a loading fluid and the first chamber. A restrictor is positioned within the loading fluid pathway to regulate a flow rate of the loading fluid that is to flow from an inlet port of the loading fluid pathway to the first chamber.

Many process control systems use pressure regulators to control a pressure of a fluid. Pressure reducing regulators are commonly used to receive a relatively high pressure fluid and output a relatively lower regulated output fluid pressure. In this manner, despite the pressure drop across the regulator, a pressure reducing regulator can provide a relatively constant fluid pressure output for a wide range of output loads (i.e., flow requirements, capacity, etc.). For example, a regulator associated with a piece of equipment (e.g., a boiler or burner) may receive a fluid (e.g., fuel or gas) having a relatively high and somewhat variable pressure from a fluid distribution source and may regulate the fluid to have a lower, substantially constant pressure suitable for safe, efficient use by the equipment (e.g., a burner) downstream from the fluid regulator.

Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.


An engine control system to calculate the intake air quantity comprises engine revolution speed detecting means for producing an output signal of engine revolution data, intake air temperature detecting means for producing an output signal of intake air temperature data of the intake manifold, cylinder operation condition determining means for producing an output signal of the cylinder operating condition data for each engine cylinder, intake air pressure detecting means for producing an output signal of air pressure data of the intake manifold, intake air ratio compensation value calculating means for calculating, on the basis of the cylinder operation data of each cylinder an intake air ratio compensation value derived from the air pressure data of air in the intake manifold and the engine revolution speed data of the engine, and intake air quantity calculating means for calculating an intake air quantity on the basis of the intake air ratio compensation value. An engine control method to calculate the intake air quantity comprises the steps of detecting engine revolution data and intake air temperature data of the intake manifold, determining cylinder operation data of the engine, detecting intake air pressure of air in the intake manifold, calculating on the basis of the cylinder operation data an intake air ratio compensation value derived from the air pressure data of the manifold and the engine revolution speed data, and calculating an intake air quantity of air to be introduced into each engine cylinder on the basis of the intake air ratio compensation value.

The present invention relates to engine control system and method which are designed to utilize a speed density system for calculating the quantity of intake air in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine on the basis of pressure data in the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine.
The control system of the conventional internal combustion engine is so constructed that many operation data of the engine are gathered by many sensors for calculating predetermined control values in response to the operation data with a suitable calculating means so that many actuators are driven by output signals responsive to the calculated control values to enable many mechanisms to be controllably driven in response to the predetermined control values.
In the conventional internal combustion engine, the quantity of intake air (A/N) to be supplied to the combustion chamber is adjusted in response to the opening of a throttle valve, and the quantity of fuel corresponding to the quantity of intake air in response to the opening of the throttle valve and the revolution of the engine is supplied to the combustion chamber of the engine.
There has been well known in the art a typical engine which employs "a speed density system" for calculating intake air quantity data for use in a fuel supply mechanism and advanced angle quantity data for use in ignition timing control on the basis of pressure levels of air in the intake manifold. The speed density system is advantageous in that a pressure sensor is provided in an air duct held in communication with the intake manifold to sense pressure levels of air in the intake manifold by way of the air duct instead of an airflow sensor provided in the intake manifold to directly sense the quantity of intake air in the intake manifold, resulting in reducing the intake air resistance of the intake manifold and, thus, in decreasing costs of the sensors.
On the other hand, the internal combustion engine having such a speed density system is operated in such a manner that the intake air quantity is calculated in response to the vacuum pressure of air to be introduced into the intake manifold. In such an internal combustion engine wherein intake-exhaust mechanisms such as, for example, timing cams are exchanged while the cylinder operation modes are varied with the cylinders fully and partially operated, the relationship between the intake air pressure and the intake air quantity is fluctuated, thereby making it impossible to ensure desirable and adequate intake air quantity to be introduced into the cylinders of the engine.

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


A method and transmitter for transmitting an On-Off Keying, OOK, signal which comprises an ON waveform and an OFF waveform forming a pattern representing transmitted binary information as a Manchester code. For one binary value of information to be transmitted, a first set of complex-valued frequency domain symbols is provided to an inverse fast Fourier transformer, or for the other binary value of information to be transmitted, a second set of complex-valued frequency domain symbols is provided to the inverse fast Fourier transformer. The inverse fast Fourier transform is performed to form an orthogonal frequency division multiplex, OFDM representation, including a cyclic prefix, of the OOK signal of information to be transmitted. The OFDM representation is then transmitted.

Wake-up receivers (WUR), sometimes also referred to as wake-up radios, provide a means to significantly reduce the power consumption in receivers used in wireless communication. The idea with a WUR is that it can be based on a very relaxed architecture, as it only needs to be able to detect the presence of a wake-up signal, but will not be used for any data reception.
A commonly used modulation for the wake-up packet (WUP), i.e., the signal sent to the WUR, is on-off keying (OOK). OOK is a binary modulation, where a logical one is represented with sending a signal (ON) whereas a logical zero is represented by not sending a signal (OFF). In the 802.11 draft specification IEEE 802.11-18/0152r5 of Jan. 17, 2018, with title "Proposed Draft WUR PHY Specification", the WUP is called WUR PPDU (Physical Protocol Data Unit).
There are currently activities ongoing in the IEEE 802.11 task group (TG) named IEEE 802.11ba to standardize the PHY and MAC layer for a Wake-Up Radio to be used as a companion radio to the 802.11 primary communications radio (PCR) with the mere purpose to significantly reduce the power consumption.
OOK is a binary modulation, where a logical one is represented with sending a signal (ON) whereas a logical zero is represented by not sending a signal (OFF). Here, one of the states may represent one binary symbol value and the other state will then represent the other binary symbol. Patterns of the states may represent a binary symbol, e.g. as provided through Manchester coding.
FIG. 1 illustrates the WUR and PCR, e.g. for IEEE 802.11 communication, share the same antenna. When the WUR is turned on and waiting for the wake-up message, the IEEE 802.11 chipset can be switched off to preserve energy. Once the wake-up message is received by the WUR, the WUR wakes up the PCR and starts e.g. Wi-Fi communication with an access point (AP).
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a traditional structure for OOK generation. The signal to be transmitted, e.g. the bits for the WUP, is for example Manchester coded in a Manchester-based encoder 200. The encoded signal controls which output signal to provide during a next symbol time, Tsym, e.g. by a switch arrangement 202. Tsym may for example be 2 μs for a high data rate or it may be 4 μs for a low data rate. The switching is made between a signal provided by an ON signal waveform generator 204, which in the present approach provides a multicarrier signal mimicking the desired ON signal, and a signal provided by an OFF signal waveform generator 206, which in the present approach provides a zero signal. The switching arrangement 202 outputs a signal sequence to be transmitted, which is traditionally processed and wirelessly transmitted.
The multicarrier signal referred to above is normally generated by means of an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT), as this block may already be available in some transmitters such as for example Wi-Fi transmitters supporting e.g. IEEE 802.11a/g/n/ac. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a structure for generating a basic baseband waveform using IFFT. An example approach for generating the multicarrier signal to represent a WUP is to use 13 sub-carriers in the centre of an OFDM multicarrier signal, and populating these 13 sub-carriers with a signal to represent ON and to not transmit anything at all to represent OFF. This may be referred to as multicarrier OOK (MC-OOK).
In one example, the IFFT has 64 points and is operating at a sampling rate of 20 MHz, and just as for ordinary orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) a cyclic prefix (CP) is added after the IFFT operation in order to have the OFDM symbol duration as being used in IEEE 802.11a/g/n/ac. In some examples of MC-OOK for a WUP, the same OFDM symbol is used. In other words, the same frequency domain symbols are used to populate the non-zero subcarriers for all data symbols.
In IEEE 802.11-18/0152r5 with the title "Proposed Draft WUR PHY Specification" mentioned above, it is proposed to apply Manchester coding to the information bits of the WUP. That is, for example a logical "0" is encoded as "10" and a logical "1" as "01". Therefore, every data symbol comprises an "ON" part (where there is energy) and an "OFF" part, where there is no energy. An important feature of MC-OOK is that the same OFDM symbol is used to generate MC-OOK. In other words, the same frequency domain symbols are used to populate the non-zero subcarriers for all data symbols. Using the same OFDM symbol to generate the "ON" part of every Manchester coded data symbol has some advantages. For example, it allows coherent reception of the MC-OOK. Moreover, the generation of ON waveform can be inclined to have low peak to average power ratio and/or can be inclined for performance.
The PHY proposed in IEEE 802.11-18/0152r5 defines two data rates, called Low Data Rate (LDR) and High Data Rate (HDR). Manchester coding is applied to the data part of the WUP for both data rates. That is, a logical "0" is encoded as "10" and a logical "1" as "01". Therefore, every data symbol comprises an "ON" part (where there is energy) and an "OFF" part, where there is no energy. Furthermore, the low data rate employs a repetition code. Specifically, an approach discussed for generating the OOK is to use the 13 sub-carriers in the centre, and then populating these with some signal to represent ON and to not transmit anything at all to represent OFF. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a transmitter enabling the approach discussed above, where a 64 point IFFT provides an inverse-transformed signal to which a CP is added to form an OFDM symbol which is converted into analog domain, mixed to desired frequency, power amplified (PA) and transmitted through an antenna.
This approach differs slightly from traditional OOK in that multiple carriers are used to generate the ON part. Therefore, the OOK scheme being standardized in 802.11ba is referred to as multicarrier OOK (MC-OOK). The duration of an ON/OFF part differs between the data rates, being 4 μs for the low data rate and 2 μs for the high data rate. The LDR ON/OFF duration of 4 μs is ideally suited for MC-OOK since the duration of an OFDM symbol in 802.11 a/g/n/ac is also 4 μs. On the other hand, the 2 μs duration used in HDR does require some minor modifications to the 802.11 transmitter.
The present disclosure aims for providing improvements on generation of the ON part, in particular in view of lean implementation. MC-OOK has been designed for ease of implementation in 802.11 access points (APs). However, the HDR employs 2 ON or OFF waveforms, which requires the transmitter to change the FFT size (e.g. 32 FFT), or to employ time masking of signals generated using a 64 point FFT. Even though the modifications needed in an 802.11 AP in order to support the 802.11ba HDR are slight, it may not be possible to implement it in legacy chipsets.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method, transmitter, structure, transceiver and access point for provision of multi-carrier on-off keying signal


Genes and proteins involved in the biosynthesis of benzodiazepines by microorganisms, including the genes and proteins forming the biosynthetic loci for the benzodiazepine anthramycin from Streptomyces refuineus subsp. thermotolerans. The genes and proteins allow direct manipulation of benzodiazepines and related chemical structures via chemical engineering of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of anthramycin.

Anthramycin is a member of a class of natural compounds named pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepines (PDBs) or, more simply, the benzodiazepine antibiotics. Members of the benzodiazepine antibiotics include the compounds sibiromycin, tomaymycin, neothramycin, porothramycin, sibanomycin, mazethramycin, DC-81, chicamycin and abbeymycin. Naturally occurring benzodiazepine antibiotics are structurally related tricyclic compounds, consisting of an aromatic-ring, a 1,4-diazepin-5-one-ring bearing a N10-C11 imine-carbinolamine moiety, and a pyrrol-ring, as shown below. Different patterns of substitution of the three rings distinguish the different members of this antibiotic class.

Precursor feeding studies have established the biosynthetic building blocks for anthramycin (Hurley et al., 1975, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 97(15), 4372-4378). The anthranilate moieties of these antibiotics are derived from tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway, with the three antibiotics differing in the pattern of substitution at the aromatic ring (Hurley & Gariola, 1979 Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 15:42-45). The 2-carbon and 3-carbon proline units of the antibiotics are derived from catabolism of L-tyrosine. The additional carbon atom found in the 3-carbon proline unit of anthramycin and sibiromycin is derived from methionine and is absent in the 2-carbon proline unit of tomaymycin. Despite the precursor feeding studies, the genes and proteins forming the biosynthetic locus for producing anthramycin have remained unidentified.
Benzodiazepine antibiotics have been shown to possess potent biological activitities, including antibiotic, antitumor and antiviral activities (Hurley, 1977, J. Antibiot. 30:349). However, clinical use of benzodiazepine has been compromised primarily because of dose-limiting cardiotoxicity. Consequently, considerable effort has been devoted to creating heterocyclic analogs of the benzodiazepine antibiotics that would retain the desired antitumor activities while avoiding the formation of cardiotoxic quinone-amine products. Elucidation of gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of benzodiazepines expands the repertoire of genes and proteins useful to produce benzodiazepines via combinatorial biosynthesis.
There is great interest in discovering and developing small molecules capable of binding to DNA in a sequence-selective manner. Anthramycin binds the minor groove of DNA and generates covalent adducts at the 2-amino group of guanine bases. Anthramycin minor groove binding exhibits G-C base specificity. The sequence A-G-A is most favored of all, perhaps because it allows drug binding in either orientation (the acrylamide tail binds at the 5′ position of the binding site and prefers the deep minor groove of an AT pair; G-G-G is disfavored because it makes no accommodation for the acrylamide tail in either direction). Compounds having the potential to target and down-regulate individual genes would be useful in the therapy of genetic-based diseases such as cancer. Such compounds would also be useful in diagnostics, functional genomics and target validation (Thurston et al. 1999, J. Med. Chem. 42:1951-1964). Elucidation of the genes and proteins forming the biosynthetic locus for anthramycin provides a means of generating small molecules capable of binding to DNA in a sequence selective manner.
Existing screening methods for identifying benzodiazepine-producing microbes are laborious, time consuming and have not provided sufficient discrimination to date to detect organisms producing benzodiazepine natural products at low levels. There is a need for tools capable of detecting organisms that produce benzodiazepines at levels that are not detected by traditional culture tests.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nucleic acid fragment encoding an NRPS for the biosynthesis of anthramycin


An electric vehicle includes a power receiver and a controller. The power receiver is configured to wirelessly receive electric power from power transmission equipment disposed outside the vehicle. The controller is configured to control power transmission from the power transmission equipment to the power receiver. The controller includes a determination processor and a frequency control unit. The determination processor is configured to make a determination, in a case where the power transmission is stopped due to a foreign object present between the power transmission equipment and the vehicle, as to whether the power transmission is restartable with a predetermined frequency after the power transmission is stopped. The frequency control unit is configured to change the frequency with which the determination processor makes the determination.

The disclosure relates to an electric vehicle and a charge control apparatus for an electric vehicle.
There is a technique of wirelessly transmitting electric power from a power transmitter of ground equipment to a power receiver of an electric vehicle, to charge a battery provided in the electric vehicle with the received electric power. Such a charging mode is referred to as "wireless charging". Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-223397 discloses a technique of stopping the wireless charging in a case where a foreign object is present near the electric power transmitter during the wireless charging, and thereafter restarting the wireless charging in a case where the foreign object is removed.

Electric vehicle and charge control apparatus for electric vehicle


A battery includes: a casing that houses a cell inside; and a terminal part that has connection terminals connected to electrode terminals of a connection apparatus, in which the casing includes a top face and a bottom face positioned on opposite sides in a height direction and two side faces positioned between the top face and the bottom face on opposite sides in a widthwise direction, a notch is formed by a level difference face that is continuous from the side face and a groove forming face that is continuous from the bottom face, and a guided groove that is open to the groove forming face is formed in the casing, and the guided groove is positioned on a further bottom face side than the level difference face.

Among electronic apparatuses including various imaging apparatuses such as a still camera and a camcorder, there are electronic apparatuses that can be operated by the power of a battery. A battery is charged, for example, by being mounted in a charger and is mounted in a battery mounting unit of an electronic apparatus in a charged state. Such a charger or an electronic apparatus functions as a connection apparatus so as to be connected to the battery.
In the battery described as above, a connector including connection terminals is arranged, and electrode terminals of a charger or electrode terminals arranged in a battery mounting unit are connected to the connection terminals, and charging of the battery or the supply of power from the battery to an electronic apparatus is performed (for example, see PTL 1).
A battery disclosed in PTL 1 includes a casing having an approximately rectangular parallepiped shape, cells housed inside the casing, and a connector electrically connected to the cells, and guided grooves are formed on both left and right side portions of the casing.
The battery is slid into a connection apparatus such as a charger, and the guided grooves are guided into guide protruding portions or guide rails of the connection apparatus, thereby being mounted in the connection apparatus, and the connector is connected to the electrode terminals.