An intermediate transfer member, which is used for a tandem color image forming device, is formed in an endless belt shape, and includes a polyimide resin as a main component. The planarity of the intermediate transfer member is less than or equal to 5 mm. Also, a method of fabricating the intermediate transfer member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer member which is used for an electro-photographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a combination of such machines or the like that is provided with a tandem type color image forming device having a photoreceptor for each of a plurality of colors, which photoreceptors are each provided with a developer unit and disposed at the intermediate transfer member, and to a method of fabricating the intermediate transfer member.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming device in which an electro-photographic system is applied, a latent image holding member which consists of an inorganic or organic photoconductive photosensitive material (which can be referred to simply as a xe2x80x9cphotoreceptorxe2x80x9d hereinafter), is charged uniformly. Subsequently, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the latent image holding member by light of a laser or light of a light emitting diode (LED) which light is obtained by modulation of image signals. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the charged toner to thereby form a visualized toner image. The toner image is electrostatically transferred, via an intermediate transfer member or directly, onto a transfer material such as paper so that a required image is obtained. Specifically, there has been known an intermediate transfer process comprising a first transfer process and a second transfer process. In the first transfer process, the toner image formed on the latent image holding member is first transferred onto an intermediate transfer member. In the second transfer process, the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member is then transferred onto paper.
Examples of raw materials used for forming an endless belt which is used in the image forming device employing the aforementioned intermediate transfer process include: a polycarbonate resin (PC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyalkylenephthalate (PAT), a blended material thereof and a thermoplastic resin such as an ethylenetetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), which raw materials can form a semiconductive endless belt.
Japanese Patent No. 2560727, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 5-77252, and the like disclose an intermediate transfer member in which ordinary carbon black is dispersed as electrically conductive powder in a polyimide resin.
Tandem type intermediate transfer process color image forming devices and the like have been investigated as novel image forming devices employing this kind of intermediate transfer member (see FIG. 1). For example, in the device shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of photoreceptors 9 each having a developer unit 15 for each color is disposed at the intermediate transfer member 16. Images which are separated for each color and respectively formed on each of the photoreceptors 9 are transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 16 so that a full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 16 with one cycle. The full color image is then transferred onto a member all at once onto a transfer-receiving member such as paper or the like.
Conventionally, as another method for transferring an image to a member to which transfer is to be made (e.g., paper), there has also been known a transfer drum method, in which a member to which transfer is to be made (e.g., paper) is wound onto a transfer drum and the image on the photoreceptors is transferred, for each color to the paper to which transfer is to be made. In this transfer drum method, as opposed to the tandem type intermediate transfer method, when the image is transferred from the photoreceptors to the paper that is wrapped around the transfer drum, it has been necessary to rotate the transfer drum several times (e.g. four times). However, with the tandem type intermediate transfer method, an image for all colors can be transferred from a plurality of photoreceptors with a single rotation of the intermediate transfer body, whereby it is possible to improve transfer speed. Furthermore, the tandem type intermediate transfer method has the advantage of not needing to specify the body to which the final transfer is made. Accordingly, the tandem type transfer method is being examined as a promising transfer method.
However, the intermediate transfer member used in this tandem type intermediate transfer process has a diameter that is larger than that of a conventional intermediate transfer belt, and is provided with plural, for example, from two to four, independent color developer units and photoreceptors. For this reason, when the tandem type intermediate transfer process is used, it is necessary to design an image forming device capable of preventing color unevenness such as color drift and color misregistration, for each color. Namely, the intermediate transfer member that is provided at such an image forming device needs to have extremely high accuracy and a high level in planarity. For example, when the planarity is low, adhesiveness between a drive roll 11 for driving a belt and the intermediate transfer member varies by portions, and the moving speed of the belt thereby changes irregularly, thus differentiating the moving speed of the intermediate transfer member with respect to each of the photoreceptors which are provided with a developer unit for each color. As a result, there arises a serious problem in that image matching with a high level of accuracy becomes impossible, thereby causing image faults such as color unevenness. With the miniaturization of image forming devices, internal components or members of recent image forming devices tend to be closer to one another. When the planarity of the intermediate transfer member is low and irregularities or float portions are formed, various difficulties occur. The float portions approach other members and electrical discharge occurs, preventing portions of the image from forming. Further, the end portions of the intermediate transfer member are damaged by contact with other members in the vicinity thereof. In the worst case situation, the intermediate transfer member is caught by other members and broken.
For the conventional intermediate transfer member which is used for the aforementioned tandem type color image forming device and which is formed from a thermoplastic resin of the conventional technology, resistance value, thickness, surface roughness, planarity, and the like were uneven and not accurate enough. In Japanese Patent No. 2560727 and JP-A No. 5-77252 is disclosed a tandem type color image forming device in which in-plane variation of resistance value of the intermediate transfer member is improved to some degree. However, surface roughness and planarity required for the tandem type color image forming device were not satisfactory.
To solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional technology, the following objects should be achieved.
An object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer member which is used for a tandem type intermediate transfer image forming device and which has high planarity and is thereby able to form a high quality transfer image, and a fabrication method thereof. Another object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer member in which electrical resistance thereof is uniform and planarity and thickness are accurate, and a fabrication method thereof.
First aspect of the present invention is an intermediate transfer member for use in a tandem type color image forming device. The intermediate transfer member comprises an endless belt shape and including as a main component a polyimide resin. The intermediate transfer member has a planarity of at most 5 mm, when the intermediate transfer member is wrapped around two substantially parallel shafts and a tension load of 4 kg is applied to one of the shafts to longitudinally stretch the intermediate transfer member,
Second aspect of the present invention is a fabricating method for an intermediate transfer. The method comprises the steps of preparing a solution of polyamide acid, supplying the solution to an inner surface of a cylindrical mold and forming a film of the solution thereat, and hardening the film by heating so as to form therefrom a belt capable of retaining a belt shape when unsupported. The method further comprises the steps of removing the belt from the cylindrical mold, disposing the belt at an outer surface of a metal cylinder, heating the belt to an elevated temperature and carrying out an imide conversion reaction by maintaining the belt at a temperature of from 220 to 280xc2x0 C. which is equal to or less than the temperature for at least 0.5 hours.
Third aspect of the present invention is a fabricating method for an intermediate transfer. The method comprises the steps of preparing a solution of polyamide acid, supplying the solution to an inner surface of a cylindrical mold and forming a film of the solution thereat, and hardening the film by heating so as to form therefrom a belt capable of retaining a belt shape when unsupported. The method further comprises the steps of removing the belt from the cylindrical mold, disposing the belt at an outer surface of a metal cylinder having surface roughness of from 1.2 to 2.0 xcexcm, and heating the belt for carrying out an imide conversion reaction.

Intermediate transfer member with high planarity and method of making the member


Methods and apparatus involve monitoring spin locks for guest devices. Fully virtualized guests have multiple virtual processors configured under the scheduling control of a hypervisor on a physical hardware platform. The hypervisor posts On CPU and CR3 load information to shared communications pages for each of the processors. A monitoring module in the guest device monitors the pages to ascertain forward progress of the processors. If forward progress is being made, the virtual processors continue to spin. If not, the CPU's control is variously relinquished. The monitoring module typifies a kernel driver so that the guest can maintain an unmodified operating system. Ticket spin locks, and their ordering, are also considered as are computations for lock owners. Other features contemplate computing systems and computer program products, to name a few.

As is known, "spin locks" are computing locks where threads wait in a loop (e.g., "spin") until the locks become available. Computing operating systems use spin locks to serialize access to various critical sections when they are very short in duration. When a processor is executing in a critical section, other processors seeking to enter the critical section wait for their turn by implementing a "busy wait," thereby "spinning" on the lock until the lock is available. Since the wait time to acquire the lock is small compared to the time it takes to incur the cost of two context switches (e.g., one to switch out when the lock is not available and one to switch back in when the lock is available), it is more efficient for processors to simply wait for lock acquisition.
Spin locks are also used for serialization when a processor does not have the context to block, such as when the processor is executing in an interrupted context. When an operating system is hosted as a virtual machine on a hypervisor, spin locks present an even further unique performance problem. Consider, for instance, a symmetrical multiprocessing (SMP) guest that is allocated multiple virtual processors (VCPUs). To illustrate the problems being solved in this invention, assume that the number of VCPUs assigned to the guest exceeds the number of physical processors on the machine. In this scenario, when the hypervisor schedules a specific virtual processor of a specific guest, it is possible that the scheduled VCPU might spend the entire time quantum assigned to the VCPU in busy waiting for a spin lock whose holder may have been earlier descheduled by the same hypervisor. As the processor over-commitment increases, the performance problems become worse as multiple CPU cycles are wasted with little or no forward progress. While this problem has been addressed in the past by "para-virtualizing" guests with kernels variously modified to execute on the hypervisor, recent advances in hardware suggest considerable interest in hosting unmodified operating systems as virtual machines thereby obviating para-virtualization.
In another example, consider a fully virtualized (unmodified) guest assigned three VCPUs. It is hosted on a hardware platform having two physical CPUs and a hypervisor multiplexes all of the VCPUs over the two available physical CPUs. In addition, spin lock hold times include events scheduled by the hypervisor and such can become elongated with the occurrence of certain other events. If a first VCPU holding the spin lock gets preempted in lieu of the second and third VCPUs, the hold time for the lock held by the first VCPU will be extended by the time quantum allocated to all the VCPUs ahead of it. This is further exasperated in situations in which the guest implements a fairness policy when granting the spin locks, e.g., "Ticket Spin Locks." Broadly, ticket spin locks implement fairness by honoring the order in which VCPUs enter the waiting loop and implement a "first-in first-out" servicing strategy. However, since the hypervisor is unaware of this ticket ordering information, any scheduling decision taken by the hypervisor can result in a pathological situation whereby the lock is free but the VCPU that is scheduled cannot acquire the lock since it is not at the head of the list to acquire the lock.
Accordingly, a need exists for better monitoring spin locks. The need further extends to at least the following: detecting situations in which VCPUs may be burning CPU cycles unnecessarily while spinning on a lock whose holder has been preempted by a hypervisor; implementing virtualization-friendly spin locks in a manner transparent to the guest to allow fully virtualized guests; and addressing specialty situations involving ticketed spin locks. Appreciating "cloud" computing environments and more traditional data centers are not always consistent in their selection of computing platforms, the need should further contemplate spin locks in an agnostic fashion where operating systems and physical hardware vary from one box to the next. Any improvements along such lines should also contemplate good engineering practices, such as simplicity, ease of implementation, unobtrusiveness, stability, etc.

Monitoring spin locks in virtual machines in a computing system environment


An elastomeric roof coating and method of forming the roof coating are provided. The roof coating is formed from oil-based paint which is optionally treated to remove at least a portion of the solvents contained in the paint, and further includes emulsifying the oil-based paint, followed by the addition of varying amounts of water-based paint, a virgin latex polymer, and a plasticizer. Where white or light colored paints are used in the roof coating, the coating provides good reflective properties when applied to a roof surface.

The present invention relates to a roof coating containing paint, and more particularly, to a reflective roof coating which contains treated paint or paint waste.
Re-roofing an existing roof is an expensive operation, as such an operation typically includes tearing off the existing roof and replacing defective decking, sheathing, insulation, and the like. There is usually a period of time during the re-roofing process in which the inside structure is exposed to outside weather elements; rendering the inside structure vulnerable to water damage.
In order to avoid the expense of removing and replacing an entire roof, an increasing emphasis has been placed on products for extending the life of existing roof structures. Such products include asphalt and coal tar cements, as well as caulking, aluminized asphalt, elastomeric sealers, patching tapes, and the like. However, such systems may contain cold tar derivatives, which are known to contain carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic compounds (PNAs).
Moreover, both in restorative and new construction, there is an increasing demand for roofing systems which contain recycled content. For example, the U.S. Green Building Council has promoted recycling efforts in construction through its "Leadership in Energy and Environment" or LEED program.
In recent years, roofing products have been developed which utilize recycled automotive paint sludge as a polymeric component. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,455,598 and 5,880,218. However, while such products are environmentally friendly, the use of large amounts of paint sludge having an inconsistent composition results in a wide variation in the roofing product composition. For example, paint waste may be collected in a number of different ways and can include a variable mixture of several different components including primers, paints, and solvents. In addition, the paint sludge may include other automotive solid waste materials such as production-related trash, metal parts, and the like.
It has also become desirable in recent years for roof coatings which can be easily cold applied to the roof substrate or the existing roof. Additional benefits may be provided when these coatings are reflective in nature as a means of reducing air conditioning demands and energy costs. Some estimates indicate that 15% of a building's cooling cost can be saved through the proper use of a reflective roof surface.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a roof coating which provides good reflective properties.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a roof coating which will extend the life of an existing roof and which is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, provides effective sealing and adhesion characteristics, good reflective properties, and has low or no VOC content.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Roof coating containing paint and method of making


A guide lug 3, lateral side temporarily fixing claws 4a, and slit side temporarily fixing claws 4b are hooked on a flat-cable insertion opening opened in a sheet metal casing to thereby temporarily fix a lid 1 with the lid half-opened. When the lid 1 in a half-opened state is adapted as a guide, a flat cable is inserted into a slit 5 from the inside of the casing and pulled out to the outside of the casing. The pulled out flat cable is pinched between a flange 8 of the lid 1 and the peripheral face of the flat-cable insertion opening to be screwed.

When a flat cable is inserted into an insertion opening of a sheet metal casing of design, a component serving as a lid is needed to prevent the mixing of foreign matter and enhance the appearance thereof. Conventionally, after a flat cable is inserted into an insertion opening of a sheet metal casing, a resin component serving as a lid is mounted to the insertion opening to fill the opening (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Lid structure for flat-cable insertion opening


Provided is a comprehensive pipeline management system using an information recognition means, the system including an integrated management server configured to generate an information recognition code using a serial number of a product related to water and sewer pipelines, and process storage and transmission of information related to the product and mapped to the information recognition code, an information recognition code printing terminal configured to print the information recognition code in a form attachable to the product, a user terminal configured to recognize the information recognition code from the product to which the information recognition code is attached, receive the product-related information mapped to the information recognition code from the integrated management server, output the received product-related information, generate location information and time information on the product received through a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite, and transmit the generated location information and time information to the integrated management server, an authentication server configured to, when there is a request for information related to water and sewer pipelines from the user terminal to the integrated management server, authenticate authority of the user terminal, and a database (D/B) server configured to map and store the information recognition code and the product-related information, provide the stored information in response to the request for information on the product from the user terminal, and update and store the product-related information when the location information and the time information on the product is received from the integrated management server.

In general, a pipeline is separated into pipes and connectors (for connecting a pipe with another pipe), and its use varies according to a material used therein. When pipelines are used to transport materials, for example, clear water, sewage, gas, and oil, they can be referred to as water pipes, sewer pipes, gas pipes, and oil pipes, respectively.
Meanwhile, sewage denotes waste water, rainwater, industrial sewage, etc., and sewerage denotes the whole of pipes (sewer pipelines) and other structures and facilities (a pipeline, an additional facility, a sewage treatment facility, and a pump facility for supplementing them) installed to exclude or process waste water and rainwater. The sewerage consists of a collection and drainage facility in which waste water and rainwater flows and is collected, a sewage treatment facility in which the waste water and rainwater flows through the collection and drainage facility, a discharge and disposal facility in which the waste water and rainwater flows through the sewage treatment facility, and a sewer pipeline that connects these facilities to transport the waste water and rainwater.
Current management of most pipelines including water and sewer pipelines only maintains a design drawing after sales and installation, and confirmation and management of actual construction is not being performed well. In other words, it may be impossible to accurately check information on products related to pipelines such as production dates, manufacturers, and conditions, and also no one except a person who purchased the products may be able to know whether or not the products used in construction are recycled products or whether or not the products are used products.
In addition, there are not enough systems capable of accurately managing stocks, movement paths, and storage conditions of products, and it is not possible to know whether or not a design drawing corresponds to actual construction locations and specifications. Thus, without digging at the corresponding location, it is impossible to check this.
There is a great demand for systems in which such information can be readily input and checked, but thus far, no system has properly supported these functions. Also, when a system capable of managing such information is combined with Global Positioning System (GPS) information, etc., the accuracy and expansibility of the corresponding information can be remarkably improved, and thus there is an urgent need for a comprehensive management system for pipelines used to transport gas, oil, etc. as well as water and sewage.

Comprehensive pipeline management system and method using information recognition means


A universal expansion module interfaces a logic controller to a plurality of types of input/output expansion modules that communicate input/output data between the controller and automated devices. A communication interface establishes communication between the controller and at least one of the plurality of types of an input/output expansion module. An expansion module having a physical configuration accommodates signals from the plurality of types of input/output expansion modules.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to an expansion module and, more particularly, a universal expansion module system, method and apparatus for universally coupling a logic controller to a plurality of types of input/output expansion modules.
2. Related Information.
In the field of Logic Controllers, which include Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and Continuous Loop Controllers (CLC), for example, the Logic Controller is typically arranged in a rack configuration having a master controller coupled to one or more input/output (I/O) modules through a backplane that provides a common bus and a power source. The master controller is coupled through the I/O modules to various automation devices including, for example, motors, switches, turbines, boilers, etc. The entire composition of devices coupleable to the PLC is probably unlimited and those skilled in the art know well the various devices available for connection. In addition, the master controller is coupleable to other PLCs to form a master/slave arrangement whereby the master controller controls the slave controllers. Typically, the master controls the timing at which particular devices are to engage in operations and the slaves are responsible for carrying out the processing for driving the devices.
An object of the present invention is to provide a universal expansion module.
In accordance with the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides a universal expansion module apparatus for interfacing a logic controller to a plurality of types of input/output expansion modules that communicate input/output data between the controller and automated devices. A communication interface establishes communication between the controller and at least one of the plurality of types of an input/output expansion module. An expansion module having a physical configuration that accommodates signals from the plurality of types of input/output expansion modules.
The invention also provides a universal expansion module system. A logic controller has a configuration for driving an automated device. An input/output expansion module of a plurality of types couple the logic controller to the automated device. An expansion module has a physical configuration that accommodates signals from the plurality of types of input/output expansion.
The invention further provides a method for accommodating a logic controller to interface to a plurality of types of input/output expansion modules. In the novel method, there is the step of providing a common physical configuration for accommodating the plurality of types of input/output expansion modules. Next, there is provided establishing a first mode of operation to accommodate signals associated with a first type of input/output expansion module. Then, the step of establishing a second mode of operation is provided to accommodate signals associated with a second type of input/output expansion module.

Universal controller expansion module system, method and apparatus


A hand-operated printer includes a body, a printhead mounted to the body, a target sight mounted to the body, and a display device mounted to the body. The display device is configured to display an image and a representation of the target sight in relation to the image, and wherein the relation between the representation of the target sight and the image that are displayed on the display device corresponds to a relationship between the target sight and a print position for the image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand-operated printer, and, more particularly, to a hand-operated printer having a user interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hand-operated printer, also sometimes referred to as a hand held printer, is a printer that typically does not include a drive mechanism for positioning a printhead relative to the print medium, such as paper. An optical encoder typically is used to provide position feedback of relative motion between the hand-operated printer and the print medium. In such printers, it may be difficult for a user to accurately position the printed image at the desired position in relation to the print medium.

Hand-operated printer having a user interface


An aircraft based communication system (10) defining a wireless service area (20) is disclosed. The communication system (10) includes a communication gateway (30) connected to a terrestrial based communication network. A first aircraft (12) is located in proximity to the wireless service area (20). The first aircraft (12) communicates with the gateway (30) and communicates with at least one subscriber (24) located within the wireless service area (20). The first aircraft (12) transmits a first control signal (16) within the wireless service area (20). A second aircraft (14) is located in proximity to the wireless service area (20). The second aircraft (14) being operable for communicating with the gateway (30) and being operable for communicating with the subscriber (24) located within the wireless service area (20). The second aircraft (14) flies in proximity to the first aircraft (12) for transferring communication sessions (56, 58) from the first aircraft (12) to the second aircraft (14) and maintaining a constant communication link between the subscriber (24) and the terrestrial based communication network.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an aircraft based communication system. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a system and technique for implementing plane to plane switchover in an aircraft based wireless communication system.
2. Discussion
The increasing need for wireless networks and communication capabilities in outlying and geographically diverse locations has created great demand for wireless systems and wireless service carriers. Many of these new carriers have understandably focused their resources on building as many towers and installing and commissioning as many terrestrial base stations as possible. This strategy increases the coverage area for the communication services of the system and generates revenue for the wireless system operator at a rate limited by the amount of time necessary to construct and commission these base station facilities. However, the build-out rate for base stations is still slow and expensive.
There exist many geographic regions which do not have wireless communication services implemented through antenna towers and terrestrial base stations. Such areas are often referred to as green field areas. Several options exist for providing wireless communication services to subscribers within these green field areas including but not limited to, installing towers and terrestrial base stations, providing communication service from an aircraft flying overhead, and providing communication service from a satellite constellation.
Aircraft based wireless communication systems are being seriously considered due to their lower investment in capital equipment, and their reduced lead time for complete implementation. Aircraft based wireless communication systems have a significant advantage over antenna tower based terrestrial systems in that a single aircraft and base station can replace many antenna towers and still cover a large geographic area. Moreover, the aircraft can maintain a line of sight communication link with nearly every subscriber within its communication beam coverage area. However, one disadvantage with an aircraft based wireless communication system is that the aircraft can only provide coverage to the service area for a limited amount of time, as most aircraft must be refueled and the flight crew must be changed.
In view of the known challenges with terrestrial based wireless communication systems, it is desirable to provide an aircraft based wireless communication system which eliminates the need for additional and costly terrestrial based antenna systems. It is further desirable to provide an aircraft based wireless communication system which is compatible with existing wireless communication system base transceiver stations. To achieve the above goal, it is desirable to implement a system and technique for executing switchover of the real time communication sessions from one servicing aircraft to another replacement aircraft while both aircraft are in flight. Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to minimize any dropped calls or interruption in service experienced by the ground based system subscribers during execution of the plane to plane switchover protocol.

System and technique for plane switchover in an aircraft based wireless communication system


An AMF node (2) manages a UE context regarding a UE (1). The UE context includes a) a set of allowed network slice identifiers indicating one or more network slice identifiers currently allowed to the UE (1), and b) a set of pending network slice identifiers indicating one or more network slice identifiers for which a Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization (NSSAA) procedure is pending. If the AMF (2) triggers initiation of a re-authentication and re-authorization procedure for a first network slice identifier currently allowed to the UE (1), it removes the first network slice identifier from the allowed set and store the same in the pending set. This, for example, allows the AMF to manage the UE context appropriately.

The 5G system (5GS) supports network slicing (see, for example, Non-Patent Literature 1 to 3, especially Section 5.15 of Non-Patent Literature 1). Network slicing use Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking (SDN) technologies, thereby creating multiple virtualized logical networks on top of physical networks. Each virtualized logical network is called a network slice. A network slices provides specific network capabilities and network characteristics. In order to form a single network slice, a network slice instance (NSI) is defined as a set of network function (NF) instances, resources (e.g., computer processing resources, storage, and networking resources), and an access network (AN) (at least one of a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) and a Non-3GPP Interworking Function (N3IWF)).
A network slice is identified by an identifier known as Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI). The S-NSSAI consists of a Slice/Service type (SST) and a Slice Differentiator (SD). The SST refers to the expected network slice behavior in terms of features and services. The SD is optional information and complements the SST to differentiate amongst multiple network slices of the same Slice/Service type.
An S-NSSAI can have standard values or non-standard values. Currently, standard SST values 1, 2, 3, and 4 are associated respectively with enhanced Mobile Broad Band (eMBB), Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC), Massive Internet of Things (MIoT), and Vehicle to Everything (V2X) slice types. Anon-standard value of an S-NSSAI with identifies a single network slice within a specific Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). In other words, non-standard values are PLMN-specific values, and associated with the PLMN ID of a PLMN that has assigned them. Each S-NSSAI ensures network isolation by selecting a particular NSI. A NSI may be selected via different S-NSSAIs. An S-NSSAI may be associated with different NSIs. A network slice may be uniquely identified by an S-NSSAI.
There are two types of S-NSSAI, known as S-NSSAI and Mapped S-NSSAI. An S-NSSAI identifies a network slice served by a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) in which a UE is registered. A Mapped S-NSSAI may be an S-NSSAI of a Home PLMN (HPLMN) that is mapped to (associated with, or applicable to) an S-NSSAI that identifies a network slice of a roaming network when a UE is roaming, and also an S-NSSAI that is included in the subscription information of the UE. Thereafter, S-NSSAI and Mapped S-NSSAI may be collectively referred to as simply S-NSSAI in this specification.
Meanwhile, Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) means a set of S-NSSAIs. Accordingly, one or more S-NSSAIs can be included in one NSSAI. There are multiple types of NSSAI, known as Configured NSSAI, Requested NSSAI, Allowed NSSAI, Rejected NSSAI, and Pending NSSAI.
A Configured NSSAI includes one or more S-NNSAIs each applicable to one or more PLMNs. For example, The Configured NSSAI is configured by a Serving PLMN and is applied to the Serving PLMN. Alternatively, the Configured NSSAI may be a Default Configured NSSAI. The Default Configured NSSAI is configured by the Home PLMN (HPLMN) and applies to any PLMNs for which no specific Configured NSSAI has been provided. For example, a radio terminal (User Equipment (UE)) is provisioned with the Default Configured NSSAI from a Unified Data Management (UDM) of the HPLMN via an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).
A Requested NSSAI is signaled by a UE to a network in, for example, a registration procedure, allowing the network to determine a serving AMF, at least one network slice and at least one NSIs, for this UE.
An allowed NSSAI is provided to a UE by a Serving PLMN and indicates one or more S-NSSAIs that the UE can use in the current Registration Area of the Serving PLMN. The Allowed NSSAI is determined by an AMF of the Serving PLMN, for example, during a registration procedure. Accordingly, the Allowed NSSAI is signaled to the UE by the network (i.e., AMF) and stored in (non-volatile) memories of both the AMF and the UE.
A Rejected NSSAI includes one or more S-NSSAIs rejected by the current PLMN. The Rejected NSSAI may be referred to as rejected S-NSSAIs. A S-NSSAI is rejected throughout the current PLMN or rejected in the current registration area. If an AMF rejects any of one or more S-NSSAIs included in the Requested NSSAI, for example, in a registration procedure of a UE, it includes them in the Rejected NSSAI. The Rejected NSSAI is signaled to the UE by the network (i.e., AMF) and stored in (non-volatile) memories of both the AMF and the UE.
A Pending NSSAI is newly agreed upon in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) (see Non-Patent Literature 4). A Pending NSSAI indicates one or more S-NSSAIs for which Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization (NSSAA)) is pending. A Serving PLMN shall perform NSSAA for S-NSSAIs of the HPLMN which are subject to NSSAA based on subscription information. In order to perform NSSAA, an AMF invokes an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)-based authorization procedure. The EAP-based authentication procedure takes a relatively long time to obtain its outcome. Accordingly, whilst the AMF determines an Allowed NSSAI as described above during a registration procedure of a UE, it does not include S-NSSAIs subject to NSSAA in the Allowed NSSAI, but instead them in the Pending NSSAI. The Pending NSSAI is signaled to the UE by the network (i.e., AMF) and stored in (non-volatile) memories of both the AMF and the UE.
An AMF manages a UE context for a UE in Registration Management (RM)-REGISTERED state. The UE context may be referred to as, but is not limited to, a Mobility Management (MM) context. The UE context may include one or more of the Allowed NSSAI, Rejected NSSAI, and Pending NSSAI described above. On the other hand, the UE manages a UE NSSAI configuration, which includes the Configured NSSAI, Allowed NSSAI, Rejected NSSAI, and Pending NSSAI described above. The UE NSSAI configuration is stored in a non-volatile memory in the UE (Mobile Equipment (ME) except Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)). The memory or memory area where the UE NSSAI configuration is stored is referred to as NSSAI storage.
Section 5.15.10 of Non-Patent Literature 1 (3GPP TS 23.501) and Section 4.2.9 of Non-Patent Literature 2 (3GPP TS 23.502) specify the Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization (NSSAA). More specifically, section 5.15.10 of Non-Patent Literature 1 and section 188.8.131.52 of Non-Patent Literature 2 describe the NSSAA. Section 5.15.10 of Non-Patent Literature 1 and Section 18.104.22.168 of Non-Patent Literature 2 describe the re-authentication and re-authorization triggered by an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server (AAA-S). Section 5.15.10 of Non-Patent Literature 1 and Section 188.8.131.52 of Non-Patent Literature 2 describe the revocation of Slice-Specific Authorization triggered by an AAA server. In addition, Non-Patent Literature 5 describes a proposed amendment to the revocation of Slice-Specific Authorization as specified in section 18.104.22.168 of Non-Patent Literature 2.


A packaged multichip device includes a first IC die with an isolation capacitor utilizing a top metal layer as its top plate and a lower metal layer as its bottom plate. A second IC die has a second isolation capacitor utilizing its top metal layer as its top plate and a lower metal layer as its bottom plate. A first bondwire end is coupled to one top plate and a second bondwire end is coupled to the other top plate. The second bondwire end includes a stitch bond including a wire approach angle not normal to the top plate it is bonded to and is placed so that the stitch bond's center is positioned at least 5% further from an edge of this top plate on a bondwire crossover side compared to a distance of the stitch bond's center from the side opposite the bondwire crossover side.

In circuit designs where high voltage (HV) or high current is present, it is generally necessary to take steps to reduce the potential risk to users of the electrical system. These steps traditionally include insulation, grounding, and the isolation of dangerous voltages and currents by galvanic isolation, being the technique of isolating functional sections of electrical systems to prevent current flow between them.
An isolation device prevents the propagation of DC and unwanted AC currents between its input and output while allowing the transmission of the desired AC signal. The isolation device accomplishes this function using an isolation barrier that has a high breakdown voltage and low leakage. A high resistive path exists across the isolation barrier, but the device can still transfer information in the desired AC signal across the isolation barrier by capacitive, inductive, or optical techniques.
Basic isolation provides protection against HV as long as the isolation barrier is intact. Basic isolation thus needs to be coupled to another basic isolation barrier for safety if human access is possible. Reinforced isolation is equivalent to two basic isolation barriers in series and is thus by itself sufficient as a safety barrier against HV. Most reinforced-isolation devices ensure safety using capacitive isolation technology under the worldwide standard VDE 0884 for magnetic and capacitive isolation-based reinforced-isolation. Capacitive isolators primarily use high-voltage silicon-dioxide (SiO2) capacitors to provide the isolation. With a dielectric strength of about 300 to 1,400 V/μm, SiO2 has the highest dielectric strength among commonly used HV isolation materials. Silicon nitride may also be used as part or all of the capacitor's dielectric.
One common reinforced-isolation device arrangement is a packaged multichip module, where each integrated circuit (IC) die in the package includes at least one embedded HV isolation capacitor (ISO cap), such as using two thick SiO2 capacitors connected in series by a bondwire between the input and the output that together constitute a double isolation barrier. The wafer fab process can be a high-performance analog or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process having multilevel metal levels, where the HV capacitor is formed between certain metal layers, and there is active circuitry formed in the semiconductor substrate or semiconductor surface (e.g., silicon) below the ISO capacitor.
Each ISO cap generally utilizes the top metal layer (say layer n) as its top plate and a lower metal layer (e.g., n-3 or lower) as its bottom plate, where the dielectric for the ISO cap comprises the respective interlevel dielectric (ILD) layers stacked on one another between the bottom and the top plate. Each ISO cap also includes a bond pad opening on its top plate for the top plate connection, and an indirect connection to its bottom plate is generally provided by circuitry from which the HV is being isolated. The bottom plate connector is typically coming from a digital signal generator or leads to a digital to analog converter (depending on which way the signal is going through the ISO cap) on the IC which creates or reads the signals which propagate across the isolation barrier. The bottom plate on one of the ISO caps is sourcing the signal to be sent across the isolation barrier, and the bottom plate on the other ISO cap (in series) is receiving this signal.
For the capacitive reinforced-isolation of the packaged multichip module, bondwires can be directly bonded to the top plate of the ISO cap on one die and to the top plate of the ISO cap on the other die, where there is a ball bond on one top plate and a stitch bond on the other top plate. Stitch bonding generally uses impulse welding or heat and pressure while feeding the wire through a hole in the center of the welding electrode. The first bond made during the assembly process referred to as a ball bond is made at one end of the bondwire to the top plate bond pad of the first ISO cap on the first die and is essentially normal (90°) to the plane of surface of the top plate. The other end (second formed end) of the bondwire includes a stitch bond that has a wire approach angle that is not normal to the plane of surface of the top plate bond pad of the second ISO cap of the second die, such as at an angle of about 30° to 40° relative to the surface of the top plate.

Wire bonding between isolation capacitors for multichip modules


Apparatus and method for fabricating a backside illuminated photodiode array is described which does not use epoxy, and therefore has better transmission characteristics. The method uses indium or other coldweldable metal to fasten the detectors to the transmissive substrate. Because the indium is opaque in the waveband of detector sensitivity, it also forms an optical mask for each detector element.

The apparatus and process of the present invention relates generally to infrared detector elements, and more specifically to the fabrication techniques used to achieve closely packed one- or two-dimensional photoconductive mercury cadmium telluride infrared detector arrays.
Mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) detectors are commonly used in scanning infrared optical systems. These detectors are constructed in a variety of configurations, for example in front-side illuminated photoconductive arrays or in backside illuminated photodiode arrays. In the past, these system designs have typically required close spacing of the detector elements in only one dimension.
Close spacing has been accomplished in front-side illuminated photoconductive arrays by detector fabrication techniques which use photoresist to define the detector edges in combination with either acid etching or ion beam milling to remove the extraneous detector material. In some systems, close spacing is required in two directions. However, in these cases it is desirable to use approaches that are as similar to those used in one dimensional arrays as possible.
For example, in one well-known fabrication technique, i.e., the "Z" technology, individual detector elements are formed (usually with nearly standard processing) on the edges of thin substrates which are then placed side by side to achieve close packing. Prior to stacking the arrays side by side, the detector electrode material is selectively deposited over the detector, epoxy and substrate edges, thus providing a detector electrical contact and defining the detector active area.
However, close spacing as required by recent optical system designs (i.e., 0.001 to 0.002 inches between detector active areas) are difficult to achieve using the Z technology. First, the Z technology requires a certain minimum detector spacing in order to bring the detector electrode up over the etched or milled substrate/detector edge. Second, this requires cutting through the glue bond between detector and substrate which invariably results in erosion of the detector active area. Finally, the process of contacting the detector to the underlying circuit board conductive pad requires additional space between detectors. These three aspects of the Z technology (bringing the contact up over the detector edge, glue cutting and contacting) require so much space between detectors that linear packing densities greater than ninety percent (90%) are difficult to achieve using detector elements placed 0.010 inch center-to-center.
In photodiode backside illuminated HgCdTe arrays, two-dimensional packing of detectors has been more easily accomplished, but performance has suffered as a result of the fabrication technique used. In one fabrication technique, a window glass material, such as IRTRAN manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co., is etched or milled to form a checkerboard pattern of raised square plateaus, where each plateau is separated by an etched area on all four sides. A metalization is deposited in the etched areas such that transmission is limited to the raised areas.
This window is then epoxied to a HgCdTe detector substrate which is subsequently lapped, polished, masked and doped to form a photodiode array. The detector active areas are formed over the plateaus of the window in order to maximize optical transmission to the detectors through the epoxy. While both close packing and masking are achieved with this technique, transmission is reduced unpredictably by the thickness of epoxy between the raised plateaus and the HgCdTe substrate.
It is, accordingly, a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for fabricating a backside illuminated detector array which may be used to construct detector array assemblies which are closely packed in either one or both directions, and have better transmission and performance characteristics.

Glue-free backside illuminated photodiode apparatus and fabrication process


A two-joint arrangement is presented for the articulated connection of guide elements, preferably of a motor vehicle linkage with a common articulated part. Each of the two joints has a joint housing that is connected to a guide element each and a bearing shell that is accommodated within the joint housing, in which a pivot part which is rigidly connected to the common articulated part is accommodated in a rotatable and pivotable manner. In a first embodiment variant, a pivot part (26) of a joint (4) has an opening (24) running in the pivot part longitudinal axis, which the pivot part (17) of the other joint (5) having a screw bolt area (23) located thereon penetrates whereby a clamping nut is arranged on the free end of the screw bolt area (23) facing away from the pivot part (17) of the other joint (5). Another solution variant provides that both pivot parts (26) of each joint (4, 5) have each an opening (24) running in the pivot part longitudinal axis, which a screw bolt (31) provided with a widened head area penetrates jointly, which, on its free end facing away from the head area (32), has a detachable clamping nut (29) connected thereto. The solution variants disclosed offer the advantage that the individual joints of the two-joint arrangement can be mounted in a simple manner and can be separately replaced.

The present invention pertains to a two-joint arrangement for the articulated connection of guide elements, preferably of a motor vehicle steering linkage with a common articulated part.
Such two-joint arrangements have become known, e.g., in the steering linkages for motor vehicles. The guide elements in this case are, on the one hand, the steering rod connected to a steering gear, and, on the other hand, the steering tie rod that is used for connecting two pivotable wheel carriers. The steering tie rod and the steering rod are each fastened to one of the wheel carriers to be pivoted synchronously in an articulated part designated as a drag bearing via a ball-and-socket joint. Such two-joint arrangements are very compact, but often form an inseparable connection of the joints, so that in case of the wear of one joint, the entire two-joint arrangement must be replaced.
In order to remedy this drawback, a joint connection with two ball-and-socket joints is disclosed in DE 40 11 179 A1, for example, from the state of the art, in which, to obtain a separable embodiment requiring little space for components, the joint arrangement is designed such that the first joint with a joint pivot is inserted into a continuous recess of the articulated part, whereby the joint pivot has a threaded section. A joint part of the second joint having a corresponding threaded section is then screw-connected to the joint pivot from the opposite direction, so that a rigid connection is brought about between the joint pivot of both joints and the articulated part arranged in the middle between these joints. A drawback of this other design known from the state of the art that must be stressed is especially the special shape of the joint pivot, which is related to a not inconsiderable production cost and thus must be considered to be cost-intensive.
The object of the present invention is to provide a two-joint arrangement of the generic type, which requires less work in terms of its production cost, can be easily mounted, and has an advantageous design in terms of the power flow within the two-joint arrangement. The objects are accomplished, in conjunction with the characterizing part of claims 1 and 5, by the technical teaching disclosed in these subordinate claims.
First of all, each of the two-joints of the two-joint arrangement has a joint housing each connected to a guide element and a bearing shell accommodated within the joint housing, in which a pivot part which is rigidly connected to the common articulated part is accommodated in a rotatable and pivotable manner.
According to the present invention, one pivot part of a joint is designed such that it has an opening running in the longitudinal axis of the pivot part, through which the pivot part of the other second joint penetrates with a screw bolt located on it, whereby a clamping nut is arranged on the free end opposite the pivot part of the other joint. The pivot part of the other joint is, as is already known from the state of the art, guided through an opening of the articulated part of the axle carrier arranged in the middle between the two joints.
A ball sleeve joint, which is available from the state of the art, may be used for that joint of the two-joint arrangement, in whose pivot part an opening is provided. Thus, for the two-joint arrangement containing special components, it is now only necessary to produce the specially designed pivot part of the other second joint. The mounting of the two-joint arrangement is extremely simple by means of simply putting together the joints used with the guide elements arranged thereon in the form of a steering rod and a steering tie rod, as well as the securing in position by means of a commercially available nut, such that another cost savings compared to the solutions known from the state of the art can be brought about.
It has proven to be especially advantageous if the pivot part of the other joint has an intermediate area of a cone-shaped design between the bearing area contained in the bearing shell and the screw bolt, which is contained in a corresponding, cone-shaped opening of the articulated part.
By means of the said cone connection between the pivot part and the articulated part, a highly rigid connection of both components can be brought about, whereby the rigidity primarily depends on the starting torque of the clamping nut placed on the screw bolt of the pivot part.
In addition, according to an advantageous improvement, the pivot part of the other joint has a tool mount for blocking the rotary movement of the pivot part about its longitudinal axis on its free end facing towards the bearing area. In this case, the tool mount may be designed as a screw slot recess or as a hexagon socket. By means of the measure described, a simple holding up for the tightening moment of the clamping nut is especially possible when screwing the components together.
The other way to accomplish the object according to the present invention provides for the two-joint arrangement for the articulated connection of guide elements, preferably of a motor vehicle steering linkage with a common articulated part, that both pivot parts of each joint have each an opening running in the longitudinal axis of the said pivot part, through which a screw bolt provided with a widened head area penetrates jointly, which screw bolt has, on its free end opposite the head area, a clamping nut detachably connected thereto.
Similar to the above-described solution variant 1, a ball sleeve joint known from the state of the art may be used for the ball-and-socket joints belonging to the two-joint arrangement, in the pivot parts of which are provided openings. Such joints are commercially available in different designs. For the embodiment of the two-joint arrangement according to the present invention, according to the second solution variant, only the special production of the screw bolt connecting the two ball-and-socket joints and the articulated part is necessary. This screw bolt has a simple design and thus is produced in a cost-favorable manner. The mounting of the two-joint arrangement according to the second solution variant can likewise be carried out in a simple manner, as was already explained in the description of the first solution example, by putting the components used, together, and screwing them together.
It may be especially advantageous that the screw bolt has, in the area of the pivot part openings, a thread-free partial area which has a slightly smaller external diameter than the respective pivot part openings. By means of this measure a sliding bearing is created between the pivot part of each ball-and-socket joint and the screw bolt, which has mounting-related advantages.
The openings in each pivot part of the ball-and-socket joints used are designed as through holes.
In addition, it has proven to be advantageous that the screw bolt has a cone-shaped design between the bolt areas contained in the openings of the pivot parts, whereby the cone-shaped intermediate area is contained in a corresponding, cone-shaped recess of the articulated part. By means of this measure, the screw bolt is secured in position without problems within the articulated part arranged in the middle between the ball-and-socket joints during the mounting, but may, during repairs, again be removed for replacing the ball-and-socket joints. Moreover, both possibilities for accomplishing the object described offer the guarantee that, in case of the wear of one of the two ball-and-socket joints used, the same may be replaced without the still intact, other ball-and-socket joint having to be additionally replaced as well.
In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention in accordance with claim 5, it may be expedient to pass the screw bolt through a cylindrical hole of the articulated part. A cavity designed in diameter as being larger than the actual hole, with which the pivot part of each ball-and-socket joint meshes after putting together the two-joint arrangement, may be arranged on both openings of the through hole. By means of this technical measure, a lateral shifting of the ball-and-socket joints onto the articulated part is prevented. A lateral shifting of the ball-and-socket joints may also be brought about by a bonding of the pivot parts on the corresponding surface of the said articulated part, whereby, within the framework of the structural design, the above-mentioned cavities in the articulated part may be omitted.


The backbone which is a load carrying support member of the aft end of the compressor of a gas turbine engine is fabricated from an annular disk-like element that is generally straight in cross section. The points of attachment permit circumferential thermal growth with radial restraint and snugness at judicious locations for minimizing scrubbing of the case-tied segmented inner stator case.

As is well known, the compressor case of a gas turbine engine powering aircraft is subjected to severe pressure and temperature loadings throughout the engine operating envelope and care must be taken to assure that the components remain concentric while maintaining relatively close running clearances so as to avoid inadvertent rubs. Inasmuch as the engine case is thin relative to the rotor and stator components in the compressor section, it responds more rapidly to temperature changes than do other components. This is particularly true during periods of transient engine performance. Typical of these transients are throttle chops, throttle bursts, and the like. Obviously it is customary to provide sufficient clearances during these transients to assure that the rotating parts do not interfere with the stationary parts.
The problem becomes even more aggravated when the engine case is fabricated in two halves (split case) which is necessitated for certain maintenance and construction reasons. Typically, the halves are joined at flanges by a series of bolts and the flanges compared to the remaining portion of the circumference of the case is relatively thick and hence does not respond to thermal and pressure changes as quickly as the thinner portion of the case. The consequence of this type of construction is that the case has a tendency to grow eccentrically or out of round.
In certain instances, in order to attain adequate roundness and concentricity and to achieve desired clearance between the rotating and non-rotating parts, it was necessary to utilize a full hoop case for the highest stages of a multiple stage compressor. Since the stator components, i.e., stator vanes and outer air seals, are segmented the problem was to assure that the compressor maintained its surge margin notwithstanding the fact that the outer case would undergo large deflection at acceleration and deceleration modes of operation. The cavity that exists between the outer case and the inner case formed by the segmented stator components, being subjected to pressures occasioned by the flow of engine air through the various leakage paths, presented a unique problem. In the event of a surge, which is a non-designed condition, the pressure in the gas path would be reduced significantly. Because the air in the cavity is captured and cannot be immediately relieved, it would create an enormous pressure difference across the stator components, cause them to distort, with a consequential rubbing of the compressor blades, and a possible breakage.
In order to withstand this pressure loading and yet achieve the roundness and clearance control of the stationary and rotating components, it was necessary to incorporate a mechanism that would tie the outer case to the segmented stator components. While it became important to assure that this rubbing did not occur, particularly where severe rubbing could permanently damage the blades and/or rotor/stator during surge, the mechanism that is utilized must be capable of withstanding this enormous load, yet be insensitive to fatigue.
Moreover, in order to achieve roundness and maintain close tolerance between the tips of the blades and outer air seal, it is abundantly important that the components subjected to high thermal and load differentials do not allow the outer and inner cases to grow eccentrically. Conventionally, the inner segmented case at the last stage of the compressor is supported to the outer case by an annular, wish-bone shaped bulkhead. Applicable flanges formed on both cases are suitably bolted to cooperating flanges on the wish-bone element. This construction is shown in FIG. 1, which exemplifies a prior art construction showing a typical axially split outer case carrying flange 6 bolted to wish-bone support member 7. Each of the circumferential segments 8 (only one shown) carries flange 9 which is likewise bolted to the wish-bone support member 7. The wish-bone configuration provides relative flexibility between the outer case 5 which is relatively cool and the inner case 8 which is relatively hot since the outer case sees cooler fan air and the inner case sees engine gas path air. It is apparent from the foregoing that this construction allows for any distortion to be taken up by the flexibility provided by the wish-bone configuration.
In the circumferential direction, the segments 8 are bolted to the wish-bone element 7 to form a rigid, almost unitary assembly and the growth, due to loads and thermals, is taken up by the characteristics inherent in the wish-bone shape of element 7. In heretofore designs, each segment included at least three circumferentially equispaced bolts.
By those considered experts in this field of technology, this type of bulkhead construction, sometimes referred to as the backbone, was the only suitable way to compensate for the high loads and temperature ranges at this location of the engine and yet meet acceptable low cycle fatigue (LCF) specifications.
We have found that we can achieve acceptable LCF life, obtain a less complicated and lower weight backbone construction and eliminate the costly wish-bone shaped element. To this end, a relatively straight shaped annular backbone supports the inner segmented case to the outer case. This arrangement enhances the control of the clearances between the tips of the blades and outer air seal.

Backbone support structure for compressor


An improved food slice stacker is coupled to a meat slicer to automatically stack the slices from the slicer. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a sprocket roller with axially spaced sets of sprocket teeth and a pulley roller with a plurality of axially spaced pulley members. The pulley members are aligned with the sets of sprocket teeth. A plurality of slice transport chains respectively engage the sets of sprocket teeth and the pulley members. The sprocket roller is motorized to enable the chains to transport food slices. The pulley roller is monolithically formed of a friction-free material to provide smooth surfaces that reduce retention of food particles thereon during washing.

The present invention relates to improvements in a stacker apparatus for a food slicing machine, such as a meat slicer or meat slicing station.
Food slicing machines are well known in the art and can be found in meat processors, sandwich shops, delicatessens or "delis", grocery stores, and the like. Such slicing machines are often used to slice cheese and meats into individual slices of a predetermined thicknesses. As is known in the art, such slicing machines generally include a motorized slicing blade that receives and cuts the food, an input structure for supporting and feeding the food into the blade, a thickness control mechanism for determining the thickness of the food slices, and a discharge mechanism for expelling the food slices from the slicer.
In high throughput settings, such as a meat processing setting, the food slicer may be functionally engaged with or coupled to a food slice stacking device, so that food slices expelled from the slicer are received by the stacker and then transferred to a stacking station, where the slices can be stacked into a food slice stack. Such coupled slicers and stackers are often automated and synchronized, so that the coupled slicer and stacker cooperate to cut and stack a pre-determined number of food slice stacks, wherein each stack includes a pre-determined number of food slices of a defined thickness.
Prior art stackers include a frame supporting several adjacent and vertically aligned downstream spring-loaded pulleys and an equal number of adjacent and vertically aligned upstream sprockets. Each spring-loaded pulley includes an individual pulley engaged with tensioning springs located within an adjacent stainless steel housing. Each of the spring-loaded pulleys is horizontally aligned with one of the sprockets, thereby providing several pulley-sprocket pairs. Each pulley-sprocket pair supports and engages an endless transport loop, such as a chain loop, that includes a plurality of food slice-receiving members, such as sharpened prongs, hooks or teeth. The sprockets are driven by a motor to rotate so that the engaged transport loops move across the front of the stacker, from an upstream end, which includes the sprockets, toward a downstream end, which includes the pulleys. Thus, a food slice pressed onto the front of the stacker is transported or conveyed in a downstream direction to a stacking station, where a transfer fork detaches the slice from the engaged slice-receiving members and then transfers it to a stacking surface, such as a platform, a scale, a conveyor belt, or the like.
To wash and sanitize the stacker, the spring-loaded pulleys and chains must be completely disassembled. After washing, the stacker parts must be reassembled. Disassembling and reassembling the stacker is time consuming and difficult, due to the large number of complex parts. Due to this time consumption and difficulty, users tend to avoid disassembling and reassembling the stacker, and instead wash the assembled stacker. Unfortunately, this practice leads to food particles remaining in the pulleys after cleaning. As is well known in the art, food particles remaining on such food handling equipment can lead to food-born illness. Consequently, practices often associated with prior art stackers may be unsuitable in sanitary food processing.

Washable stacker apparatus with self-tensioning feature for use with a food slicing machine


A strap for removably attaching a snorkel to a diving mask having a ring and a T-shaped strap defined by a pair of arms and a leg perpendicular to the arms with the outer end of the leg coupled to the ring. A coupling device mounted upon the arms is used to removably couple the arms together at the outer ends thereof so as to form an additional ring.

The present invention relates to diving equipment. More specifically the present invention relates to a novel and improved strap for removably attaching a snorkel to a diving mask.
In the sport of diving or snorkeling a strap is commonly used to attach the snorkel to the mask. The snorkel strap prevents loss of the snorkel from the mask when not in use during the dive. Snorkel straps also serve the function of maintaining the snorkel in a position for use during the dive.
The conventional snorkel strap consists of a pair of rings joined by a strap at the peripheral edges thereof. Both rings fit over the snorkel tube with the mask strap fitting between the snorkel and the strap as coupled to the snorkel by the rings. The mask strap and snorkel strap are typically formed of flexible and elastic like materials such as rubber. There are various other well-known configurations for the snorkel strap although the just described strap is most common.
The conventional snorkel strap does not readily facilitate separation of the snorkel from the mask for purposes such as cleaning, storing or transporting. Using the conventional snorkel strap, the strap must be slid on the tube toward an end of the snorkel opposite the mouthpiece. One ring is removed so as to free the mask from the tube. In the alternative, the mask strap may be decoupled from the dive mask at one end thereof so as to separate the mask from the snorkel. However, this removal technique typically causes loss of the mask strap adjustment.
Due to the inconvenience in the just described separation techniques, it is desirable to have a snorkel strap which facilitates quick and easy detachment of the snorkel from the mask. Various schemes have been implemented to facilitate such separation but have involved elaborate and complex designs. One such design requires the use of a VELCRO coupling arrangement for attaching the snorkel to the mask. However, such designs are rather cumbersome and quite detracting from using.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved snorkel strap for facilitating removable coupling of a snorkel to a mask.


In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an electric toothbrush. The toothbrush includes a housing, an electric motor, a first transmission and a second transmission. The electric motor is connected to the housing has a motor output member for rotation about a motor output axis. The first transmission is connected to the housing, and converts rotational movement from the motor output member into rotational reciprocating movement at a first average angular speed. The second transmission is linked to the first transmission, and converts rotational reciprocating movement from the first transmission into rotational reciprocating movement at a second average angular speed about a second transmission output axis that is parallel to the motor output axis. The second transmission drives an output member to reciprocate at the second average angular speed about the second transmission output axis. A brush head is removably connectable to the output member.

The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush.
Electric toothbrushes utilize an electric motor to drive a brush head to provide a brushing action for cleaning teeth. One such toothbrush is disclosed by Sham in U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,821. Sham discloses an electric toothbrush having a motor, which drives a driven gear. The driven gear drives a crank member. The crank member, in turn drives a reciprocating rocker arm. The rocker arm, in turn, drives a brush head. The rate of rotation of the driven gear in the device determines the frequency of reciprocation of the brush head, while the length and shape of the crank member determine the angular sweep and the average angular speed of the brush head.
The present invention is directed to an electric toothbrush, comprising a housing, an electric motor, a first transmission and a second transmission. The electric motor is linked to the housing, and drives a motor output member for rotation about a motor output axis. The first transmission is linked to the motor output member and converts rotational movement from the motor output member into rotational reciprocating movement at a first average angular speed and along a first angular sweep. The second transmission is linked to the first transmission and converts rotational reciprocating movement from the first transmission into rotational reciprocating movement at a second average angular speed about a second transmission output axis that is parallel to the first axis, and along a second angular sweep. The second transmission drives an output member to reciprocate at the second average angular speed about the second transmission output axis, and along the second angular sweep. The second transmission can include first and second gear members. The first gear member can include a section of an internal gear connected to the first transmission. The second gear member is drivenly connected to the first gear member and comprises a spur gear. The output member can include a removably attachable brush head.


The present invention is directed to a non-gelled, curable composition including at least one compound having a plurality of imide functional groups. The compound in particular contains a reaction product of at least one secondary monoamine and at least one maleimide, and is suitable for use in coatings and castings.

In microelectronic circuit packages, circuits and units are prepared in packaging levels of increasing scale. Generally, the smallest scale packaging levels are semiconductor chips housing multiple microcircuits and/or other components. Such chips are usually made from ceramics, silicon, and the like. Intermediate package levels (i.e., "chip carriers") comprising multi-layer substrates may have attached thereto a plurality of small-scale chips housing many microelectronic circuits. Likewise, these intermediate package levels themselves can be attached to larger scale circuit cards, motherboards, and the like. The intermediate package levels serve several purposes in the overall circuit assembly including structural support, transitional integration of the smaller scale microcircuits and circuits to larger scale boards, and the dissipation of heat from the circuit assembly. Substrates used in conventional intermediate package levels have included a variety of materials, for example, ceramic, fiberglass reinforced polyepoxides, and polyimides.
Dielectric materials used as coatings on the substrates must meet several requirements, including conformality, flame resistance, and compatible thermal expansion properties. Conventional dielectric materials include, for example, polyimides, polyepoxides, phenolics, and fluorocarbons. A common method of applying conformal coatings is by vapor deposition. Electrophoretic deposition has also been explored; however, polyimide resins such as bismaleimide resins, while desired for their superior dielectric and thermal stability properties, are intractable in most solvents, let alone aqueous dispersions, making electrophoretic deposition of such resins virtually impossible. Reactivity of the resins with amines increases the difficulty of formulation in both solvent based and aqueous dispersed coatings.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a composition that provides the dielectric and thermal stability properties necessary for electronic circuit applications, while allowing for convenient electrophoretic deposition thereof.

Non-gelled curable compositions containing imide functional compounds


An electric power steering device for a vehicle includes an estimation mechanism estimating if there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in a booster circuit toward a vehicle battery device, and a boosting controller stopping the boosting operation of the booster circuit to prevent a backward electric current from flowing in the booster circuit when it is estimated that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows by the estimation mechanism. The estimation mechanism estimates that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in the booster circuit when the steering condition of a steering wheel is a returning condition or a steering-held condition. Otherwise, the estimation mechanism estimates if a backward electric current flows on the basis of input and output voltages of the booster circuit and information on the switching of a first boosting switching element. Thereby, overheat of the booster circuit can be prevented.

Conventionally, for example, in an electric power steering device, an electric motor is provided for applying a steering assist torque to a steering mechanism, and a steering operation by a driver is assisted by controlling energization of the electric motor. Such an electric power steering device is powered by a vehicle battery for supplying an electric power to general vehicle electric loads, and the consumption of the electric power is large. Accordingly, for example, in a device proposed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-91122, a sub battery device is provided for assisting the vehicle battery. The sub battery device is constituted such that it is connected to a power supply line in parallel thereto from the vehicle battery to a motor drive circuit and is charged by the vehicle battery, and can supply an electric power to the motor drive circuit by using the charged electric energy. Further, in this electric power steering device, a booster circuit is provided for boosting a voltage of an electric power output from the vehicle battery to supply the boosted electric power to the motor drive circuit.


According to some embodiments of the invention, transistors have channel regions between channel-portion holes. Methods of forming the same include at least two channel-portion holes disposed in a semiconductor substrate. Line patterns are formed in parallel to be spaced apart from each other on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate to fill the channel-portion holes. A channel region is disposed in the semiconductor substrate below the line patterns. At this time, the channel region is formed between the channel-portion holes and also covers lower portions of the channel-portion holes. Driving current capability and refresh characteristics of DRAMs utilizing the inventive transistors are improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same and, more specifically, to transistors having a channel region between channel-portion holes and methods of forming the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, semiconductor devices include discrete elements to place data input by a user in a desired place. The discrete elements include a capacitor for storing data and a transistor for transmitting the data to the capacitor through a line.
The transistor includes a gate pattern disposed on a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions formed in the semiconductor substrate to overlap the gate pattern, and a channel region disposed in the semiconductor substrate under the gate pattern to transmit user's data. When a voltage is applied to the gate pattern, and the source and drain regions to drive the transistor, the channel region serves as a data transmission route between the source region and the drain region.
However, as a design rule of the semiconductor device is reduced, the channel region and the gate pattern become smaller areas in the transistor. To cope with this change, the channel region is formed by at least one ion implantation process, which is performed in the semiconductor substrate. The channel-portion hole is disposed to extend from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate to a lower region thereof by a predetermined depth, and to contact the channel region. There is provided a gate pattern that fills the channel-portion hole with the trench shape. The gate pattern provides a data transmission route along the semiconductor substrate that defines the channel-portion hole. As such, if a voltage is applied to both the channel-portion hole and the channel region during the operation of the transistor, a body effect is increased due to the channel region around the channel-portion hole, thereby decreasing current driving capability.
On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,558 to Shye Lin Wu et al (the '558 patent) discloses a method of forming a t-gate lightly-doped drain semiconductor device. According to the '558 patent, this method includes forming a pad oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate. A lightly doped layer is formed around the pad oxide layer by implanting impurity ions into the semiconductor substrate, and a first insulating layer is formed on the pad oxide layer. An aperture is formed in the first insulating layer, and a sidewall spacer is formed on the sidewall of the aperture.
The method includes performing an etching process in the semiconductor substrate by using the first insulating layer and the sidewall spacers as an etch mask to form a groove in the substrate. At this time, the sidewall spacers are also removed. A gate oxide layer is formed in and around the groove, and a gate material layer, which fills the aperture and the groove, is formed on the first insulating layer.
Further, the method includes partially performing an etching process in the gate material layer to form a T-shaped gate in the aperture and the groove. Subsequently, the first insulating layer is removed. Heavily doped source and drain layers are formed on the lightly doped layer so that they are arranged at both sides of the T-shaped gate.
However, the method further includes forming an anti-punch-through layer to prevent a contact between the source and the drain in the semiconductor substrate having the groove. The anti-punch-through layer is arranged along the groove to reduce an impurity concentration of the lightly doped layer adjacent to the groove, thereby causing a current leakage while driving the semiconductor device. This is because the lightly doped layer and the anti-punch-through layer have different conductivity types from each other. Furthermore, since the gate oxide layer is partially etched, characteristics of the semiconductor device may be degraded due to the etching damage of the oxide layer.

Transistors having a channel region between channel-portion holes and methods of forming the same


An application generating website building system (AGWBS) converts a website to an application which operates on a mobile device. The system includes a website building system (WBS) to enable a user to build a website, and to host the website, a database to store website data that includes at least a structure of the website, an application generator repository to store at least several per-vertical base apps, where each per-vertical base app is a template app for one type of business, and an application generator to determine the website type of business, to generate an initial extended application content file (XACF) at least from an associated per-vertical base app for the type of business, to analyze the structure of the website to generate a graph of elements of the website and to use the graph to modify the associated per-vertical base app into an XACF defining the mobile application.

Website building systems (WBS) have become very popular and allow website builders to build professional looking and functioning websites. Many of these systems provide both the novice and experienced user with ways of building websites from scratch.
A website building system may be a standalone system or may be embedded inside a larger editing system. It may be operated on-line, i.e. websites may be edited and stored on a server, off-line or partially on-line where the web sites are being edited locally and uploaded later to a central server.
Websites are typically made up of one or more visually designed applications. For example, a single website may consist of a blog, an e-shop and a support forum. Each such application, typically consisting of pages, contains components.
Components may be shape components, picture components, text components, single- and multi-page containers containing mini-pages, etc. Components may be content-less such as a star-shape which does not have any internal content (through it has color, size, position and some other parameters) or may have internal content, such as a text paragraph component, whose internal content includes the displayed text, as well as font, formatting and layout information. This content may, of course, vary from one instance of the text paragraph component to another.
Components are typically arranged in a hierarchy of containers, (each of which may be a single page or multi-page) inside the page containing atomic components. A multi-page container may display multiple mini-pages. Pages may also include third party applications (TPAs)—components provided by a (non WBS vendor) third party. Pages may also use templates—full website templates, general page templates or component templates. Specific cases for templates include the use of a master page containing components replicated in some or all other regular pages, and the use of a page header and/or footer (which are repeated on some or all of the pages). The arrangement of components inside a page is called a layout.
A WBS is typically offered by a WBS vendor and is used by users, known as designers, who design the websites using the WBS. The created websites themselves are hosted on the WBS and are accessed and used by end-users.
The same WBS may offer a set of different solutions for different markets. Such solutions are called vertical solutions, also known as "verticals", each aimed at different markets, such as photography, music, e-commerce, generic small and medium-sized business (SMBs), loyalty club, client support, messaging etc. Such vertical solutions may typically include customizable templates for the whole website (or for specific pages, page sections or components) as noted above. The system may also support sub-verticals, i.e. specific sub-classes of main verticals. For example, photography vertical may include sub-verticals specializing in fashion photography, food photography, wedding photography and so on. A vertical solution may include vertical specialized elements (VSEs) which are elements that are embedded into the vertical solution in addition to the regular components and TPA's provided by the WBS. Such VSEs may, for example, implement display functionality, underlying business logic, communication etc. Such VSEs may also include, for example, vertical specific code inside the WBS client code, which is the part of the WBS that runs on the user's client machine, which is activated through hooks available to the components, client-side pre-installed native code elements, such as those supported by the ActiveX technology of Microsoft Corp., or any other browser extension technologies. Moreover, some server-side logic may be implemented by the WBS in order to support functionality of a specific vertical application. This may include logic implemented on the WBS itself or on 3rd party servers.

System integrating a mobile device application creation, editing and distribution system with a website design system


The present invention relates to a method of treating and preventing a papillomavirus infection in an individual, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a condensation polymer of an aromatic sulfonic acid and an aldehyde, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Many condensation polymers of formaldehyde and aromatic sulfonic acids have been previously described. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,404 discloses the use of such polymers as antiviral agents against the Herpes Simplex virus and HIV infection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,559 discloses that condensation polymers of an aldehyde and aromatic sulfonic acids, such as formaldehyde naphthalene-sulfonic acid condensation polymers, can abrogate HIV gp120 binding to CD4, as demonstrated in CD4/gp120 binding assays. The use of this compound has been shown to be non-cytotoxic and non-inhibitory to antigen induced T lymphocyte proliferation. Based on these findings, these compounds were reported to be useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as AIDS-related complex (ARC), AIDS-related dementia and non-symptomatic HIV infection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,399 discloses that condensation polymers of aromatic sulfonic acids and an aldehyde, such as naphthalene-sulfonic acid formaldehyde condensation polymers can inhibit or prevent pregnancy. However, none of these references teach or suggest the use of such condensation polymers in preventing or treating papillomavirus (PV) infection and related diseases or conditions.
The papillomaviruses (PVs) are a diverse group of non-enveloped DNA viruses that infect the skin and mucosal tissues of a range of vertebrate species, including humans. Animal PVs occur in a large number of species. Studies have developed bovine PV (BPV) and the Shope cottontail rabbit PV (RCPV) into model systems. Howett et al, A Broad-Spectrum Microbicide with Virucidal Activity Against Sexually Transmitted Viruses, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 1999, p. 314-321.
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are double-stranded DNA viruses, which induce hyperproliferative lesions in epithelial tissues. HPVs cause warts in epithelial target tissues. Common warts of the hands, feet, and genital condylomata all represent common clinical infections of humans. See, Howett et al, supra. A group of genital mucosotropic HPV types are etiologic agents responsible for virtually all cases of cancer of the uterine cervix, as well as a substantial fraction of other ano-genital and head-and-neck cancers. Cancer associated genital HPV types, as well as another set of HPV types associated with the development of benign genital warts, are generally transmitted through sexual contact. Infection with genital HPV types is very common, with an estimated lifetime risk of infection of about 75%. Although most genital HPV infections are subclinical and self-limiting, a subset of persistently infected individuals have lesions that progress to premalignancy or cancer. Buck et al, Carrageenan Is a potent Inhibitor of Papillomavirus Infection, PloS Pathogens, July 2006, Volume 2, Issue 7, e. 69. A portion of persistent HPV infections can progress to invasive cervical cancer. Cervical cancer represents the second most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths in women, accounting for more than 200,000 deaths per year worldwide as of 2001. Christensen et al, Papillomavirus Microbicidal Activities of High-Molecular-Weight Cellulose Sulfate, Dextran Sulfate, and Polysteyrene Sulfonate, Antimicrobial and Chemotherapy, December 2001, p. 3427-3432.
Recent studies have suggested that condoms are, at best, only marginally effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HPV. Although highly effective prophylactic HPV vaccines are expected to become publicly available, they have possible drawbacks. The vaccines are relatively expensive and are likely to be PV type-restricted in their protection. Therefore the vaccines may not initially be available to women in all parts of the world and may not offer protection against all types of cancer-related HPV. See, Buck et al., supra. Compounds with microbicidal activity against papillomaviruses, therefore, may reduce incident infections and decrease the rates of cervical cancer. Thus there is a great need to develop such microbicides.

Sulfonic acid and aldehyde condensation polymers for the treatment and prevention of HPV


An insulating insert is disclosed, that fits into the cores of concrete building blocks. The insert is collapsible widthwise, near its ends, and lengthwise to fit both standard and odd-dimensioned cores. In the preferred embodiment, the invention basically comprises: a generally rectangular body with flat top, bottom, front and rear panels; two segmented endwalls; and opposing slots (T-shaped in cross section) that start at the endwalls and extend from the insert's top to bottom. The horizontal portion of each T-slot permits the insert's end portions to be collapsible widthwise to easily accommodate different-shaped cores, even sash blocks; and each vertical portion permits the overall length of the insert to be reduced to fit smaller cores.

This invention relates to preformed inserts that fit into hollow cavities or cores of concrete building blocks to provide insulation.
Various attempts have been made to insulate masonry building blocks. Included among these is the manufacture of STYROFOAM.RTM. inserts that can be slid into masonry block cavities of various sizes and shapes. These foam inserts are intended to prevent the transfer of heat or cold from inexpensively constructed buildings (e.g., factories), where the buildings' inner walls are actually the "inside" faces of the masonry blocks. In these buildings, there is no inside paneling or sheet metal, so the blocks must be well insulated to prevent large "heat" transfers.
These inserts are made specifically for three common-sized concrete blocks. These common-sized concrete blocks comprise approximately seventy percent of the market. There is, however, another thirty percent of the market that is comprised of "odd-sized" or "odd-shaped" concrete blocks (e.g., they can have different lengths or non-rectangular cross sections). When dealing with these varied concrete blocks, it is nearly impossible to fit prior inserts (like that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,244 to Ducharme) into all the differently dimensioned cavities. Yet, workmen typically try to "make" the insert fit, rather than waste time obtaining a different-sized version than the one on hand. If too large of an insert is then forced inside a smaller cavity, it is usually damaged or destroyed and, thus, rendered useless. On the other hand, if a user tries to use a smaller insert in a larger cavity, the insert is typically too small to be of any use.
Manufacturers of these common-sized inserts have nonetheless attempted to make and sell multiple odd-sized inserts. This is often times economically frustrating, however, because the insert manufacturers must undergo expensive retooling. This retooling is not only costly, it is also time consuming.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a block insert that is sufficiently collapsible both widthwise and lengthwise to fit even odd-sized cavities in concrete building blocks.
It is another object to provide a block insert with unique T-slots at both ends that collapse to allow the insert to be wedged into different-shaped cavities.
It is a more specific object to provide a block insert with a T-slot at each end, whereby the vertical portion of the "T" permits widthwise collapsing, and cooperates with the horizontal portion of the "T" to allow substantial lengthwise reduction, when desired.
The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.