Disclosed herein is a process for forming an image on a base material, which comprises the steps of (1) ejecting a liquid ink containing a disperse dye as droplets according to predetermined information to form an image on an ink-absorbent sheet, thereby obtaining an image-printing sheet; (2) bringing the image-printing sheet into close contact with a base material having a dye-receiving layer capable of receiving the disperse dye on its surface and high heat resistance of at least 150.degree. C., heating the printing sheet to transfer and diffuse the disperse dye on the image-printing sheet to and into the dye-receiving layer, and then separating the image-printing sheet from the base material, thereby obtaining an intermediate printed article; and (3) applying an aqueous coating fluid containing a substantially transparent resin to the transferred image on the intermediate printed article to provide a first overcoat layer and then applying a substantially transparent resin to the first overcoat layer to provide a second overcoat layer having a pencil hardness of 2H or harder as determined by the pencil scratch test in accordance with JIS K 5400.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming process and a printed article, and particularly to a process for forming an image having excellent image properties on a surface of a base material which has a high heat resistance of at least 150.degree. C., but has no ink absorbency.
2. Related Background Art
As processes for forming images on base materials such as ceramics such as earthenware, porcelain and stoneware, glass, plastics, and metals, which are not absorbent of liquid ink components, there have heretofore been a direct printing process in which printing is performed directly on these base materials, and a process of bonding a synthetic resin film, on which an image has been printed in advance, to the surfaces of these base materials to form an image thereon.
The former printing process is generally performed by gravure printing or offset printing. However, printing presses used in these printing processes are expensive, and the processes are required to fabricate a plate according to the desired pattern. Therefore, it has been hard to say that this process is suitable for small-quantity printing. A process in which an image is directly formed on a base material by an ink-jet recording system without fabricating a plate is also performed in part. Under the circumstances, this process is however applied only to printing of lot numbers on products and simple characters up to the present, and the color is also limited to a single color. When it is intended to print a color image by an ink-jet recording system on the surface of a base material having no ink absorbency, overlapped inks remain as ink droplets on the base material because the base material has no ink absorbency, so that fine color mixing is prevented, and boundaries between different colors become indistinct. In addition, the scratch resistance and wear resistance of the formed image are insufficient because printing is conducted directly on the base material. Namely, it has been difficult to form any bright color image excellent in scratch resistance and wear resistance directly on the surface of a base material having no ink absorbency by the ink-jet recording system.
On the other hand, the latter process is a process of bonding an image-printed synthetic resin film to the surface of a base material having no ink absorbency to form an image thereon, but offers a problem of adhesion between the image-printed film and the base material. Troubles such as peeling of the film have been often caused.
As a process for solving these problems, Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-51734 discloses a process in which an ink-receiving layer composed of a synthetic resin film is formed on the surface of a base material having no ink absorbency in advance, an image-printing sheet, on which an image containing a sublimate dye (disperse dye) has been formed, is laid on the synthetic resin film, and the printing sheet is then heated to sublimate the dye so as to transfer only the dye to the synthetic resin film on the base material, thereby forming an image on the resin film. Besides, as a process for forming an image containing a sublimate dye on a printing sheet, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-8959 to use an ink-jet recording system.
Specific examples of such receiving layers for disperse dyes as described above are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 52-5843, 5-309956 and 6-143792. According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-5843, however, fiber is intended for a base material, and so the principal object in view is to keep the hand feeling of a finished textile good. Therefore, any receiving layer having high mechanical strength such as high scratch resistance cannot be obtained. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-309956 and 6-143792, it is described to use, as materials for the formation of receiving layers, polyester resin compositions having resistance to various stains which form the cause of irregularity of images formed. These resin compositions are believed to be excellent as materials for the formation of receiving layers for sublimate-transfer image-receiving paper. The sublimate-transfer image-receiving paper is generally used in recording systems such as a sublimate transfer system and a melt transfer system and attaches importance to recording speed. Therefore, as sublimate dyes used, those low in sublimation temperature are in use. On the other hand, when an image containing a disperse dye formed on an image-printing sheet is transferred to heat-resistant base materials such as pottery, glass, plastics and metals, it is desirable that the transfer be performed at a temperature as high as possible to effectively diffuse the disperse dye into the receiving layer. Namely, when the sublimate transfer is performed under such conditions, it is possible to form a bright and high-color density image, which conforms to the image on the image-printing sheet, on the surfaces of the base materials such as pottery and glass. When the transfer of the image is performed under such conditions, however, there has been problems that the receiving layer composed of the polyester resin composition as described above is softened, so that a situation that a mark of the image-printing sheet is left on the base materials in the form of irregularities, or that the image-printing sheet is not separated from the base materials in the worst case may be brought on.
When the use situation of image-printed articles obtained in the above described manner is considered, severe criteria as to properties of the images such as mechanical strength, light fastness, stain resistance and chemical resistance are not very required of displays and the like used indoors. When the printed articles are intended for building materials which are used outdoors, for example, external wall materials and floor covering materials, considerably severe criteria as to the properties of the images are required of them. Even when the printed articles are used indoors, it is necessary to take the prevention against the generation of mildew on the printed articles into consideration in the case where they are intended to use in places easy to generate dew condensation, such as bathroom and wall covering materials.
Further, there is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 51-116287 a process to add a new function to a printed article after conducting textile printing by sublimate transfer to a receiving layer. In this method, a flameproofing treatment is conducted by applying an overcoat layer to polyester fibers printed by the sublimate transfer. However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 51-116287 does not describe anything about the improvement in mechanical strength, light fastness, stains resistance and chemical resistance. As materials for the formation of the overcoat layer, those containing a non-aqueous solvent in plenty are generally often used because of their good properties. When the liquid overcoat materials containing such a solvent in plenty are used, however, a disperse dye penetrated into the receiving layer has slightly exuded in some cases. Although the amount of the dye exuded is slight, it is conspicuous at the contour part of an image when the background of the image is white. Therefore, there has been a problem that a clearness of the image has been impaired.

Image forming process and printed article


Disclosed is a method of measuring a position of at least one substantially reflective layer surface on a substrate in a lithographic apparatus, and associated level sensor and lithographic apparatuses. The method comprises performing at least two interferometrical measurements using a broadband light source. Between each measurement, the component wavelengths and/or intensity levels over the component wavelengths of the broadband source beam is varied such that, where it is only the intensity levels that are varied, the intensity variation is different for at least some of the beam's component wavelengths. Alternatively, a single measurement and subsequent processing of the measurement to obtain measurement data whereby the component wavelengths and/or intensity levels over the component wavelengths are different can be applied as well to obtain the position.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g., comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g., a silicon substrate). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Known lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at one time, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
European patent application EP-A-1 037 117 discloses an off-axis leveling arrangement in a lithographic projection apparatus. Using this arrangement a height map of a substrate in a lithographic apparatus is determined, by employing a level sensor using grating optics and polychromatic radiation in the wavelength range of 600-1050 nm.
European patent application EP-A-2 228 685 discloses a further level sensing arrangement wherein the light source is arranged to emit projection radiation in a wavelength range in which a resist to be used for processing the substrate in the lithographic apparatus is sensitive, for example radiation in the wavelength range of 200-400 nm.

Level sensor arrangement in a lithographic apparatus for measuring multi-layer surfaces


The present invention is directed to systems and methods of creating and deploying electronic forms for collecting information from a user using a browser, where the browser may be one of a plurality of browser platforms. Characteristics of forms are entered by a human designer using a form designer by using drag-and-drop operations, and stored in XML template files. The form may be previewed by the designer. When a user on the Internet (or an intranet) requests a form by a browser, the characteristics of the browser are sensed and a form appropriate for the browser is deployed to the browser by a form server. Information is then captured from the user. The form may also be saved or printed.

Organizations are looking to the Internet to help them cut costs and improve service, two typically opposing objectives. In this document, the term Internet is used generically to refer to any network which supports http protocol for browsing, such as an intranet or extranet. By electronically connecting departments and offering customers convenient online access to electronic forms, organizations can, however, cut overhead and deliver the service improvements that their constituents and clients desire.
In this document leveraging the Internet in this way is referred to as e-business, a revolution driven by both customer expectation and government legislation. In fact, the U.S. federal government has mandated that, by 2003, all agencies offer their forms electronically as well as in paper. Known as the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), this legislation responds to the public's demands for more efficient and cost-conscious government.
The Internet allows businesses that are using the Web as a tool to reap its rewards. There is little reason to make a user stand in line for 45 minutes to complete a transaction that the person could perform in two minutes online. Service-oriented firms are capitalizing on the Web to cater to time-pressed customers, serving them when and where they want—at home, at a grocery store kiosk, in the office or even on their mobile devices. Companies are building customer loyalty as the leading e-businesses raise the bar against their competition offering improved access and service.
The Internet is also generating an explosion in B2B (business-to-business) transactions. Forrester Research Inc. predicts that by 2004, U.S. B2B activity will be worth $2.7 trillion, growth fueled by tremendous expansion in the e-marketplace and e-processes. Companies that learn to operate efficiently in this new digital economy will gain a substantial edge.
This invention, by making it easy for people to access and submit forms online using the Internet, solves the issue of reaching all customers and citizens via their Web browsers—on a large variety of platforms and devices—without requiring them to download any proprietary software or plug-ins.
Organizations have typically dealt with this incompatibility in one of three ways, each of which has pronounced drawbacks.
A common approach is to create a single HTML form that operates with early versions of different browsers. Two problems exist with this "lowest common denominator" solution. First, anyone with an even earlier browser version will not be able to read the form. For example, if an organization creates an HTML form that can be read by, say, version 2.0 of different browsers, people running version 1.0 will not be able to access the form. Governments and businesses want to avoid this type of technological discrimination.
The second shortcoming of this single HTML form solution is that people will not be able to take advantage of the increased intelligence and capabilities of advanced browser versions. Consider this hypothetical example: someone applies to renew a driver's license online six months after her license expired. But, because the license has expired, she needs to submit additional information with her renewal. An advanced browser would potentially allow the license-issuing organization to automatically present the applicant with another online form required to capture the extra data. A basic HTML form may not have the intelligence to accommodate this type of interactivity, thereby causing delays in renewing the license and effectively discriminating against those without the new browser.
A second solution—and an awkward one at that—is to design and maintain separate versions of HTML forms to ensure that the Web form appears properly regardless of the user's platform or browser. But this approach involves keeping three or four different versions of the same electronic form current, a costly, risky and inconvenient restriction. Should a form change, a Web programmer has to re-design all underlying versions and make sure that the change appears uniformly in each one. The more balls in the air, however, the more likely that one will drop, and citizens or customers could easily wind up with two substantially different versions of what should be the same form.
In such a situation, two customers may well pay two different prices for the same merchandise or two hunting license applicants might pay different fees. Making the change once and knowing that it will appear properly regardless of the users' computer types or browsers would be much simpler, less costly and potentially less discriminatory.
The third traditional solution requires that citizens and customers first download a proprietary plug-in onto their computers. Once they complete this step, they can download and read forms that require this proprietary plug-in.
The problem with this approach, aside from having to find and wait for the plug-in to download and install, is that citizens and customers must also download the forms, a process that can burden them with lengthy waits. People do not appreciate waiting several minutes—or longer—for forms to finally appear.
The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of these traditional solutions. Not only does it avoid the pitfalls of conventional approaches, it introduces a host of value-added conveniences that make designing and distributing e-forms on the Web easier.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for cross-platform form creation and deployment


A wireless charger for an electronic device. The charger includes a base having a base opening and an interior cavity defined by an upper shell, a lower shell and an inner sidewall extending between the upper and lower shells to define the base opening. An aperture is formed through the inner sidewall between the interior cavity and the base opening and a hinge is connected to the base within the interior cavity and extends through the aperture. The charger further includes a wireless charging assembly that is pivotably attached to the base by the hinge and moveable between a down position in which the wireless charging assembly is disposed within the base opening and an up position in which the wireless charging assembly extends outside the base. The charging assembly has a charging surface and a power transmitting unit disposed adjacent to the charging surface where the power transmitting unit is configured to wirelessly transmit power across the charging surface to a power receiving unit of a portable electronic device.

Many portable electronic devices include one or more rechargeable batteries that require external power to recharge from time to time. These devices may include cell phones, smart telephones, wearable devices, navigation devices, sports devices, health devices, accessory devices, and so on.
Some portable electronic devices with rechargeable batteries, including some wrist-worn wearable electronic devices include an inductive charging system or other type of wireless charging system. In an inductive charging system, a user may place the electronic device on an inductive charging surface to replenish the internal battery without the need for plugging the device into a charging cable. The inductive charging surface, and the associated electrical components that enable inductive charging, may be incorporated into a docking station or similar charging device that can be placed in a location (e.g. on night stand, an office desk, or similar location) where a user will regularly charge the portable electronic device. Accordingly, aesthetically pleasing, well-designed docking stations and wireless charging devices are desirable.


A system, method, and article of manufacture for generating a digital pass is disclosed. The method may comprise retrieving a plurality of identity attributes, and grouping a subset of identity attributes in the plurality of identity attributes to generate at least one digital pass. The method may further comprise grouping a subset of static identity attributes and a subset of dynamic identity attributes to generate a digital pass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure generally relates to a digital pass.
2. Related Art
Although online (or web-based) purchasing has gained popularity in recent years, certain shortcomings have hampered the growth of the web-based economy from its inception. For example, consumers are currently required to provide a variety of personal information to any merchant from which they wish to purchase a good or service. However, consumers are frequently reluctant to share personal information with unknown or vaguely known merchants. Further, consumers must trust that the merchant's website sufficiently encrypts the required personal information before passing it over the internet to the merchant's payment processing system. Further still, assuming a consumer is willing to accept these risks, the consumer is required (each time the consumer makes a purchase) to enter his personal information. Thus, a consumer's risk of fraud and identity theft increases in proportion to the number of online transactions in which a consumer participates. By some estimates, these factors encourage 25% (Forrester Research) to 75% (shop.org) of consumers to drop out of the purchasing process at the point of checkout.
In addition to these problems, a great wealth of information is lost each day. For instance, the large variety of merchant websites makes it difficult, if not impossible, to aggregate data about which products and services a consumer likes. Indeed, merchants often regard such data as proprietary. Although consumers might benefit from insights based upon their purchasing habits, currently these insights are isolated between merchants.
Several prior art systems have attempted to solve one or more of these problems. For example, Google has developed Google checkout, a tool with which an individual completing a purchase online may trust Google to process a transaction. Google may transfer payment to the appropriate merchant. Similarly, Amazon has developed a 1-click ordering tool that permits an Amazon customer to make purchases online with a single button click. Amazon 1-click ordering is limited to Amazon customers. With respect to the loss of data resulting from disparate merchant systems, certain data aggregators (e.g., RapLeaf) have attempted to target marketing to consumers based upon social networking information associated with each consumer. Likewise, Facebook offers a variety of social plugins (e.g., a login button) which merchant developers may add to their websites, and which consumers having Facebook accounts may use to login from a merchant's website.
Although a variety of solutions or partial solutions have been developed in response to some of the problems described above, consumers are still unable to make purchases online in a relaxed and effortless manner. Further, many merchants are reluctant to hand over data about their customers' purchasing habits and interests to a third party (e.g., Google), as doing so may hamper their ability to target marketing and offer discounts to their loyal customers. Thus, what is needed is a system with which consumers may safely and quickly conduct online transactions and which merchants are encouraged to adopt and support.

Systems and methods for generating and using a digital pass


A system for protecting a stent from contact during loading comprises a stent, a protective sleeve disposed about the stent and a loading tool. The inner diameter of the protective sleeve is greater than the outer diameter of the stent. The protective sleeve has a length longer than that of the stent. The portion of the sleeve extending beyond the length of the stent defines a sleeve extension. The loading tool is positioned about at the stent retaining sleeve of a catheter. The tip region of the loading tool separates the protective sleeve and the stent from one another when the protective sleeve is pulled over the tip region of the loading tool. When the protective sleeve is pulled over the tip region of the loading tool the stent is advanced into a lumen defined by the stent retaining sleeve of the catheter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to stents, stent loading stent contracting and stent delivery systems and their respective methods of use. Some embodiments of the invention are more specifically directed to a removable protective sheath which protects the stent from direct contact with a stent loading and/or stent contracting system. Some embodiments are more specifically directed to stent loading, contracting and/or delivery systems which are configured to accommodate such a protective sleeve and stent.
2. Description of Related Art
A stent is a generally tubular device that is used to support a bodily lumen. A stent is typically delivered to a desired bodily location via a catheter. Often the stent is loaded onto a portion of the catheter, such as a balloon or other region of the catheter shaft. In some stent delivery systems the stent is crimped to the catheter in order to minimize the profile of the stent on the catheter and to prevent undesired movement of the stent relative to the catheter shaft.
A number of techniques for loading and contracting a stent to a catheter shaft or balloon are used. One such technique that is commonly used in the radiological suite involves hand crimping the stent to the balloon. A stent is placed over an uninflated balloon and then squeezed with the fingers until the stent is in intimate contact with the uninflated balloon. The technique is highly operator dependent and can affect stent profile and stent placement with respect to the balloon and radiopaque markers. It can also affect the dilatation length of the stent and lead to pinching of the balloon.
Other techniques for crimping stents involve the use of mechanical devices for crimping stents. Mechanical stent crimpers have been disclosed in a number of patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,387,118; 6,108,886; 6,092,273; 6,082,990; 6,074,381; 6,063,102 and 5,992,000. Mechanical stent crimpers have also been disclosed in a number of copending, commonly assigned patent applications including U.S. application Ser. No. 09/401,467 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,547, Ser. No. 09/401,213 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,117, Ser. No. 09/404,986 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,161, and Ser. No. 09/401,218 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,577.
When assembling a catheter for delivery of a stent and for insertion into a body vessel, the stent is loaded onto the catheter. During the loading process the catheter and in some cases the stent is manipulated, often by hand. The manipulation of the catheter may cause the stent to be contacted and potentially damaged. Where the stent includes or is coated with a drug or other material, such contact may disturb the coating and impair the proper delivery thereof. In addition, contacting the stent during the loading and/or crimping process may result in the drug coating of the stent being contaminated with the residue of previous stent coatings that have been previously contacted by the loading and/or crimping system.
Thus, there remains a need to provide a device or mechanism for preventing direct contact between a stent, particularly a drug coated stent, and the tool or system used to load and/or crimp the stent onto the catheter shaft or balloon.
All US patents, applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.


An advanced video compression coding system which employs variable block size transforms to improve the compression efficiency for transmission of video pictures. A picture block segmentation map is transmitted as a one-dimensional series of block-size codes by scanning the segmentation map in accordance with a predetermined scanning pattern and on the basis of block size. A block-size code is skipped when the scanning pattern intersects a block which has already been scanned earlier. The series of block-size codes is then run-length and Huffman-coded before being transmitted.

Advanced video compression systems are based on variable-size transforms to improve the compression factor. Each picture is segmented into picture blocks, the size of which is adapted to local picture contents. The segmentation must be transmitted to the receiver to allow it to apply a backward transform to the same blocks as those used by the encoder.
A known method of transmitting a segmentation map is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,395. Herein, the segmentation map is quadtree-encoded. A logic bit value `1` or `0` is assigned to each node of the quadtree-depending on whether or not the block which is associated with said node is further divided into smaller blocks. Small blocks have a plurality of higher level nodes and thus require many bits. Moreover, quadtree coding is limited to square blocks only.
An alternative method of transmitting video pictures based on a variable block-size segmentation is disclosed in European Patent application EP-A 0 220 706. Herein, the segmentation map is not separately transmitted. A special picture data codeword (ESC) identifies blocks which are divided into smaller blocks. The coded picture data for the smaller blocks are transmitted at a lower level.

Method and apparatus for transmission of video pictures which are segmented to form maps of picture blocks of variable block sizes


A method of controlling a data transmission from a sending terminal to a receiving terminal through a plurality of data channels in an integrated services digital network. The method includes steps of sending a procedural message from the first terminal to the second terminal via the network, sending, in response to the procedural message, a connection message from the second terminal back to the first terminal via the network, the connection message including user-user data in which a request data is set to a second value, determining the number of the data channels used simultaneously for the data transmission in response to the connection message, received by the first terminal, in which the second value of the request data is equal to a predetermined value, and performing the data transmission from the first terminal to the second terminal by using the determined number of the data channels simultaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a data transmission control method, and more particularly to a method of controlling data transmission, from a terminal to another terminal, through a plurality of data channels in an integrated-services digital network.
2. Discussion of the Background
A basic user-network interface in an integrated-services digital network (ISDN) includes several bearer capabilities that are allocated to users. One of the bearer capabilities is that an ISDN terminal connected to the network, via the basic user-network interface, designates a setting of the data transmission describing how the data is transmitted from the terminal to an ISDN receiving terminal. The setting of the data transmission is, for example, that the data is transmitted by using one of two data channels multiplexed to the basic user-network interface. In accordance with the setting inputted at a sending terminal, the ISDN performs a calling procedure for calling the receiving terminal to which the data is transmitted. When an ISDN terminal has two transmission control parts connected to the two data channels in the ISDN interface, and has a two-channel simultaneous transmission capability, which is achieved by operating the two transmission control parts simultaneously and independently, the data transmission can be performed, between the sending terminal and two other ISDN terminals, by using respectively the two data channels in the basic user-network interface, or between the ISDN terminal and a receiving ISDN terminal having the same capability by using simultaneously the two data channels.
As described above, the ISDN terminal which is connected to the ISDN via the basic user-network interface can freely designate a setting of the data transmission describing how the two data channels are used for the data transmission. Therefore, there is a demand for realization of the effective use of the network resources such as the two data channels in the basic user-network interface of the ISDN, and a desire for achieving various data transmission capabilities.

Method for controlling data transmission of an integrated services digital network terminal having a multi-channel data transmission capability


Disclosed is a compound of Formula I, including N-oxides, and salts thereof, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are defined as set forth in the disclosure. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a compound of Formula I. A compound of Formula I can also be used as a synthetic intermediate to prepare pyridazinone-based herbicides.

The present disclosure provides pyridazinones and a process for preparing pyridazinones. The pyridazinones disclosed herein can be used as synthetic intermediates to prepare pyridazinone-based herbicides. WO 2015/168010 and WO 2017/074988 disclose herbicidal pyridazinones and synthetic intermediates used to prepare herbicidal pyridazinones. There exists a need for improved methods of preparing herbicidal pyridazinones.

Intermediates for preparing herbicidal pyridazinones


The present invention pertains to lightweight, hard and leakproof prismatic packaging structures for electrochemical devices and economical method of assembly and hermetic sealing of said structures by plastic layers attached to their metal walls. Metal welding is avoided and superior protection of lithium polymer cells and other cells is thus provided at lesser cost.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to construction of lightweight, leakproof, and moisture-proof packaging enclosures for various electrochemical devices, such as lithium-ion-polymer batteries, ultracapacitors and other kinds of batteries and devices, in which said enclosures, have hard metal walls joined and sealed by heat welding of plastic layers attached to them. This invention also describes the method of assembly of said enclosures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art lithium polymer prismatic cells are usually heat sealed in a soft and thin aluminum, plastic coated foil pouches or bags, which may be later inserted into a hard box to create a multi-celled battery with the cells in series, as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,385 (claim 1), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,647 of Hope at al. The polymer cells do not require hard casings to hold them together because they are laminated, (welded or glued). The aluminum foil protects the cells from moisture, and the plastic layer is used for heat weld seal. Major problem is with the sealing of the cell terminals existing from the pouch, due to the steps in the thickness of the seal, caused by the flat foil terminals presence. The plastic layers during welding do not always flow into the gaps created by the terminals, which creates openings and leaks of the electrolyte, or a moisture entry into the pouch, and thus spoilage of the cell. The aluminum pouch is also a poor protector of the cell, since it can be easily punched through by a sharp object, also bends easily or cracks at the corners when the seal is folded, which again creates leaks and/or spoilage of the cell. Sometimes the terminals during the seal welding cut through the plastic layer and touch the aluminum foil, which causes electronic shorts and damage to the cells and thus a low production yield.
The prismatic, liquid electrolyte lithium based cells, nickel metal hydride cells, or prismatic capacitors, ultracapacitors or other electrochemical devices are usually inserted into a rectangular hard metal vessel having a metal lid with insulated terminals welded to the vessel which seals the devices therein. The hard casing is necessary to hold the cells or devices tightly together, and to create a pressure on the stack of the cells for proper functioning.
The described prior art hard casings are expensive, heavy, slow to weld, and have size limitations, due to the limited stiffness of the casings and their ability to maintain pressure on the stack. The heavy casings decrease the energy density of the devices.
Prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices of this invention does not suffer from prior art problems and provides superior cell protection, energy density improvements, reduced cost, and many other positive advantages.

Lightweight prismatic packaging structure for electrochemical devices and assembly method of the same


This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for removing a file from an extended recycle bin. In some embodiments, this includes receiving a deletion request of the file from the extended recycle bin, determining a prevent delete setting of the extended recycle bin, deleting the file from the extended recycle bin if the prevent delete setting is enabled, prevent deletion of a corresponding file from a secondary storage, deleting the file from the extended recycle bin if the prevent delete setting is not enabled, and deleting the corresponding file from the secondary storage.

Businesses often juggle the need of retaining data while keeping their computer systems efficient. Data must be kept for a period of time to comply with regulatory requirements. And as an optimal business practice, businesses need to retain backup data so that they are readily available for disaster recovery. However, keeping every bit of data is impractical and may clutter computer systems. Further, some data including backup data may be accessed very rarely. In extreme cases, the access rate may be once in a few years. Thus, businesses may desire to remove these rarely accessed files so that valuable storage space may be freed up to store more recent data and unnecessary clutter may be reduced.
Archiving is often used in conjunction with backup techniques to free up valuable storage space while maintaining valuable data for regulatory compliance and/or disaster recovery. During archiving, files may be migrated from a primary storage to a secondary storage and replaced with stubs containing file attributes. The stubs are relatively small in size and may be used to redirect an access request to a new file location in the secondary storage. When a user needs to access the files at a later time, applications may seamlessly recall the files from the secondary storage. Thus, in view of the user, the files still appear to reside on the primary storage, even though stubs may have taken place of the actual files. By storing smaller sized stubs on high cost storage during archiving, and backing up stubs generated during archiving, businesses may realize cost saving and improve the efficiency of computer systems.
Even though archiving frees up valuable storage space, a large number of stubs corresponding to a large number of rarely accessed files may present the same clutter to businesses. Thus, users may want to clean up these rarely accessed stubs, but be able to access them when needed, such as when complying with regulatory requirements and/or in case of disaster recovery.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved method or system that leverages on backup and archiving techniques to provide extended deletion and restoration function.


An apparatus for releasable attachment to a fishing rod, said apparatus including:                a barrel having a first end and a releasably sealed first region;        wherein the first region of the barrel includes a space within the barrel substantially bounded by a second end of the barrel and a protrusion disposed inside the barrel; and        a means of selectably adjusting the volume of the first region        including adjusting the position of the protrusion along a length of the barrel; and wherein when the protrusion is disposed inside the barrel, it extends radially-inwardly of the barrel in a substantially transverse orientation to an elongate axis of the barrel; and        a means of controllably feeding a propellant into the releasably sealed first region; and        a means of expanding the propellant whereby the said expansion of the propellant causes a projectile disposed within the barrel to be propelled outwardly of the barrel via the first end.

Fishing is a popular recreational activity which typically involves the use of a fishing rod to cast a baited hook, line and sinker into a body of water in order to catch a fish. More specifically, the conventional technique of casting out a fishing line involves swinging the fishing rod through an arc and allowing the momentum of the sinker to carry an attached hook, line and bait out into the body of water.
However, difficulties tend to arise in relation to the prior art in that certain individuals may often lack the physical strength and/or coordination to swing the rod in such a way as to enable the hook, line and sinker to be sufficiently propelled in to the water.
Also, in a cramped environment where numerous individuals may be fishing within a confined space (e.g. on a fishing boat) it may be impracticable to swing the fishing rod as the line may become entangled with other nearby fishing lines or adjacent obstructions. Moreover, it may be dangerous to swing the rod in a cramped environment as there is a risk that a bystander might be struck and injured.
A further problem with the prior art is that it may often be difficult to control the direction and distance to which a line is cast by swinging a fishing rod. This problem is particularly evident where an individual is inexperienced in the sport of fishing and is unable to properly control the distance and direction in which the line is cast.
Fishing can occasionally be a dangerous recreation particularly when fishing in close proximity to a dangerous body of water. For instance, activities such as rock-fishing are responsible for a number of deaths each year throughout the world. However, it tends to be difficult to cast out the fishing line in to the body of water using conventional means and methods without being at the water's edge.
There are other problems also associated with the sport of fishing. One area of difficulty relates to the use of burly in a body of water in order to attract fish. In particular, it is desirable for a fisherman to be able to disperse the burley within proximity of the fishing hook and bait so as to increase the chances of catching a fish. However, this is often difficult to achieve given the effects of the tides and other environmental conditions which may disperse the burley in a random manner.


The present invention provides methods and systems for efficiently computing optimal optical launch powers for meshed optical networks. The present invention can be utilized to find optimal launch powers for multiple wavelengths in a meshed dense-wave division multiplexed (DWDM) system. Generally, the present invention ensures Q exceeds a threshold for OSNR, and then the launch powers are optimized based on nonlinear penalties. If Q is below the threshold, DWDM equipment changes/additions are incorporated to provide adequate OSNR. The present invention provides a computationally efficient mechanism to optimize launch powers in 10 Gb/s, 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s, etc. highly-meshed optical networks.

Regional optical networks combine long reach with complicated mesh designs and a variety of fiber types, such as Non-dispersion Shifted Fiber (NDSF), Lambda Shifted (LS), Truewave (TW), Truewave Classic (TWC), Truewave Reduced Slope (TWRS), Large Effective Area Fiber (LEAF), Enhanced LEAF (eLEAF), Dispersion Shifted Fiber (DSF), Teralight, and the like. Traffic demands can have variable lengths and can overlap along portions of the network. Optimizing network performance while minimizing network cost under these circumstances in meshed designs is a challenge.
Most equipment manufacturers have computer tools to assist the network designer in the process of choosing and configuring telecommunication equipment. In the simplest designs, equipment configuration is preset and the tool attempts to place the equipment to create the most efficient network. More sophisticated tools both choose the equipment and recommend the most appropriate parameter settings (hardware and/or software) in order to achieve the desired network cost points and performance. For example, these tools can provide amplifier and regenerator locations based upon an input of traffic demands A-Z, sites, and network parameters (e.g., fiber type, site distances, etc.).
Choosing the optimal launch powers for demands on a network has a direct bearing on the efficiency and cost to build and maintain that network. If launch power is not optimized, individual traffic demands are more likely to require regeneration. Regeneration increases initial network equipment cost at deployment, since at a minimum more transceivers and more filters are required. More equipment is also likely to increase lifetime operating cost. Thus choosing the optimal launch power decreases equipment count and cost. In addition, consider the impact of launch power optimization on demands which do not require regeneration, even with non-optimized launch power. These demands will have less operating margin than demands with optimized launch power. Increased operating margin is reasonably expected to lead to improved traffic performance and greater network reliability over the equipment lifetime.
Finding the optimal launch power for any given demand on a network is a balancing act between optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) and nonlinear penalties, such as Four Wave Mixing (FWM), Self Phase Modulation (SPM), Cross Phase Modulation (XPM), and the like. If the launch power is too low, the OSNR is insufficient for a good signal; launching a traffic demand with higher power increases the OSNR at the receiver. However, increasing signal launch power increases the nonlinear penalties. If the launch power is too high, the nonlinear penalties are excessive and performance suffers. To further complicate matters, nonlinear penalties are a function not only of launch power and fiber type, but also of span and link characteristics (i.e., dispersion, number of spans, individual span length, and the like).
In a simple linear, point-to-point network without overlapping lightpaths, it is fairly straightforward to calculate the optimum launch power for best receiver performance. In linear networks with partially overlapping lightpaths, the optimal launch power for each of the demands can be computed independently. The designer is then likely to discover that the optimal launch powers on some spans and links may be different for different demands. If the network is not too large and the number of overlapping demands is not too high, the network designer may be able to find launch powers that satisfy all demands.
In meshed networks, the problem continues to grow more complex with the increasing possibilities for partially overlapping demands with otherwise diverse routing. Some equipment providers solve the problem by simply choosing a default span launch power which may be allowed to vary by fiber type, but is otherwise constant through the network. This power is generally chosen to be low enough so that the nonlinear penalties of the longest guaranteed demands remain below a maximum, pre-determined threshold.
There are a number of problems with this solution, since this approach is not at all customized to the nature of the particular network in question. For example, if the network has few (or no) long demands, nonlinear penalties are minimal and this approach forces the launch power to be artificially low. Better performance might be achieved with higher powers, particularly if the network has a significant number of high loss spans. Conversely, if the network has many long demands and typical spans are relatively short and low loss, better network performance is likely to be achieved with relatively low launch powers that avoid triggering nonlinear penalties.
A brute force method to optimize network launch power by trying out all possible launch power permutations is theoretically possible, but is not a reasonable solution for all but the smallest, simplest networks.

Methods and systems for optimal launch power computation in meshed optical networks


A method for forming a continuous, conformal non-particulate coating of boron oxide on individual phosphor particles is provided. The method involves reacting a boron-containing precursor with an oxidizing gas in a fluidized bed of phosphor particles. The boron oxide coated phosphor exhibits an increased quantum efficiency under ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation.

In recent years, it has become increasingly important to reduce the use of mercury in lighting applications because of environmental concerns related to the disposal of the mercury containing lamps. Light sources using mercury-free rare gas discharges could provide a potential solution to the disposal problem if these light sources could be adapted to meet the performance of traditional light sources such as fluorescent lighting. However, conventional fluorescent lamp phosphors which are optimized for use with low pressure mercury discharges exhibit disappointingly low levels of performance when used with rare gas discharges which emit in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, europium activated yttrium oxide (YOE) phosphor, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 :Eu, has a quantum efficiency of about 95% when excited with the 254 nm UV radiation from a mercury discharge (QE.sub.Hg .apprxeq.95%). The quantum efficiency of the same phosphor drops precipitously as the excitation source enters the vacuum ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Specifically, the quantum efficiency is only about 65% when excited by the 172 nm VUV radiation emitted by a xenon excimer discharge (QE.sub.Xe .apprxeq.65%). Thus, it would be an advantage to improve the performance of conventional phosphors under VUV excitation for use with rare gas discharges.

Boron oxide coated phosphor and method of making same


A malfunction detection apparatus for detecting a malfunction in an evaporated fuel purge system in which fuel vapor from a fuel tank is adsorbed in an adsorbent in a canister and the adsorbed fuel vapor in the adsorbent is purged into an intake passage of an engine. The apparatus includes a detection part for detecting a concentration of fuel in the fuel vapor purged into the intake passage so that a change in the detected fuel concentration from a time when a purge cutting is performed to a time when a purging is performed after the purge cutting has been performed is detected, and a discrimination part for determining whether there is a malfunction in the system on the basis of the change in the detected fuel concentration by the detection part. The apparatus also includes a fuel vapor detection part for detecting a condition of fuel vapor in the fuel tank, and a purge cut time varying part for varying a purge cut time period for which the purge cutting is continuously performed, the purge cut time being varied by the purge cut time varying part in response to the detected fuel vapor condition by the fuel vapor detection part.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a malfunction detection apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for detecting a malfunction in an evaporated fuel purge system provided in an internal combustion engine, in which fuel vapor evaporated in a fuel tank is adsorbed in an adsorbent in a canister and the adsorbed fuel vapor is purged into an intake passage in given operating conditions.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in an internal combustion engine, an evaporated fuel purge system is provided for storing fuel vapor, which is evaporated in a fuel tank, temporarily in an adsorbent in a canister, and for purging the stored fuel vapor in the adsorbent into an intake passage of the engine under given operating conditions. In order to prevent the evaporated fuel vapor in the fuel tank from escaping to the atmosphere, the component parts, the connecting pipes and the passages in the evaporated fuel purge system are all sealed. However, in a case in which a connecting pipe in the system is separated, or a purge supply passage is damaged due to a trouble in the evaporated fuel purge system, the fuel vapor from the fuel tank may escape to the atmosphere. In a case where the purge passage leading to the intake passage of the engine is clogged with foreign matter, too much fuel vapor is stored in the canister and the excessive fuel vapor may leak from an air inlet of the canister to the atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to detect a malfunction which may take place in the evaporated fuel purge system.
In the meantime, in an internal combustion engine equipped with an electronic control type fuel injection control unit, an air-fuel ratio (A/F) feedback control device is provided for maintaining the air-fuel mixture, supplied to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, at a predetermined target air-fuel ratio. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.63-186954 discloses such an A/F feedback control device, and a description of A/F feedback correction factor included therein is hereby incorporated into the present specification. In this A/F feedback control device, a basic fuel injection time during which fuel is injected to the combustion chamber is calculated on the basis of an intake passage vacuum pressure (or a manifold absolute pressure) and an engine speed, and the calculated basic fuel injection time is adjusted suitably in response to an output signal of an oxygen sensor mounted in an exhaust passage of the engine. Conventionally, the A/F feedback control system uses an air-fuel ratio (A/F) feedback correction factor FAF for correcting the basic fuel injection time, the basic fuel injection time being multiplied by the factor FAF, which is determined in response to the output signal of the oxygen sensor, and several other factors in order to obtain a suitably adjusted fuel injection time. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2-136558 discloses a conventional malfunction detecting device for use in the internal combustion engine with the A/F feedback control system. In this malfunction detecting device, a purge control valve is switched on and off in response to the internal pressure of the fuel tank which is higher than a predetermined level, and the change in the A/F feedback correction factor FAF between the times when the purge control valve is switched on and off is detected. And, if the change in the FAF is not greater than a predetermined value, then it is determined by the malfunction detecting device that there is a malfunction in the evaporated fuel purge system. The reasons why the malfunction discrimination is made when the internal pressure is higher than a predetermined level is to prevent the malfunction detection from being erroneously performed due to excessively small amount of fuel vapor which is adsorbed in the canister.
However, in a case of the above described conventional malfunction detecting device, the amount of the adsorbed fuel vapor in the canister is relatively small immediately after the internal pressure of the fuel tank reaches the predetermined level. The change in the FAF in such cases is too small, and it is difficult to accurately detect a malfunction in the evaporated fuel purge system, and an erroneous malfunction detection may be made in some cases.
One conceivable method for storing the amount of fuel vapor in the canister, required for accurate malfunction detection, is to stop the purging of fuel vapor into the intake passage for a relatively long time period. However, during the purging stop time period, the temperature of fuel in the fuel tank becomes very high. Also, in a case in which a fuel of the kind including much evaporative components is supplied, unnecessarily abundant fuel vapor is adsorbed in the canister. For these reasons, the above mentioned purge stopping method also has a problem in that the adsorbing capacity of the canister is lowered from its normal level, and a part of the fuel vapor evaporated in the fuel tank would leak from the canister if such undesired phenomenon takes place repeatedly.

Apparatus for detecting malfunction in fuel evaporative prurge system


An energy audit tool for a wind turbine power system includes a data collector module configured for temporary connection to an existing turbine controller of the existing wind turbine power system. The data collector module is configured to collect operating data of the existing wind turbine power system. The energy audit tool also includes a model simulator module configured for analyzing the collected operating data, generating a model of the existing wind turbine power system based on the collected operating data, and determining an energy loss of the existing wind turbine power system from the model of the existing wind turbine power system.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles. For example, rotor blades typically have the cross-sectional profile of an airfoil such that, during operation, air flows over the blade producing a pressure difference between the sides. Consequently, a lift force, which is directed from a pressure side towards a suction side, acts on the blade. The lift force generates torque on the main rotor shaft, which is geared to a generator for producing electricity.
Operation of conventional wind turbines may result in unknown or hidden energy losses. Further, conventional wind turbines fail to acquire details relating to such losses. Example energy loss areas of the wind turbine may include incorrect transformer tap location, non-optimized torque table, non-optimized pitch table, excessive yawing, excessive cooling, excessive heating, common faults that are often reset without further investigation regarding cause, type, etc., and/or poorly mounted sensors.
Thus, a system and method that addresses the aforementioned issues would be advantageous. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to an energy audit tool for a wind turbine power system that is capable of monitoring certain inputs/outputs (I/O) of the power system to ascertain energy loss.

Energy audit tool for a wind turbine power system


Disclosed is an electromagnetic ultrasonic probe for coupling-media-free generation and reception of ultrasonic waves in the form of linearly polarized transverse waves in a workpiece (5), and from a workpiece (5), having a unit which generates the ultrasonic waves inside the workpiece (5) and which is provided with a transmission coil arrangement (7), to which a high-frequency voltage can be applied to generate a high-frequency magnetic field, and a premagnetizing unit (V) to generate a quasi-static magnetic field superimposed on the high-frequency magnetic field in the workpiece (5), and an ultrasonic waves reception unit providing a reception coil arrangement (8), with the transmission coil arrangement (7) and the reception coil arrangement (8) being disposed torus-shaped at least on one partially toroidally designed magnetic core (6), which is provided with two front ends (11) which can be turned to face the workpiece (5) and via which the high-frequency magnetic fields can be coupled into, respectively coupled out of, the workpiece (5). The premagnetizing unit (V) is contactable directly or indirectly with the workpiece (5) through a contact area (9) and by the at least one partially toroidally-shaped magnetic core (6) is disposed laterally next to the contact area (9) of the premagnetizing unit (V) so that the premagnetizing unit (V) can project over the partially toroidally designed magnetic core (6) perpendicular to the contact area (9).

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic ultrasonic probe for coupling media-free generation and reception of ultrasonic waves in the form of linearly polarized transverse waves in a workpiece, and therefrom. Such a type ultrasonic probe provides a unit which generates ultrasonic waves inside the workpiece having a transmission coil arrangement to which a high-frequency voltage can be applied to generate a high-frequency field. A premagnetizing unit ensures generation of a quasi-static magnetic field superimposed on the high-frequency magnetic field in the workpiece. Furthermore, to detect ultrasonic waves, a unit is provided to receive the ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic reception unit is provided with a reception coil arrangement which can be connected to an evaluation unit.
In order to prevent the filigree transmission coil and reception coil arrangements from suffering mechanical damage due to direct contact with the surface of the workpiece, the arrangements are torus-shaped on at least one partially toroidally magnetic core, which is provided with at least two front ends that can be turned to face the workpiece. The high-frequency magnetic fields can be coupled into, and out of, the workpiece via these two front ends, permitting in this manner the coil arrangements to be disposed on the surface of the workpiece at a distance from each other. Nonetheless the high-frequency magnetic fields required for the generation and detection of ultrasonic waves inside the workpiece are effectively coupled into, and out of, the workpiece via a partially toroidal-shaped magnetic core.
Such ultrasonic probes permit generation and reception of linear polarized transverse waves which are irradiated perpendicularly under the probe into the workpiece, and are received from this direction and oscillate perpendicular to their propagation direction in a plane. Technical fields of application of such ultrasonic probes are, for example, nondestructive examination of electrically conductive workpieces for material flaws, such as cracks, in particular perpendicular to the polarization direction of the ultrasonic waves and crack-like flaws that are oriented parallel to the propagation direction, including other processes based on ultrasonic velocity and polarization, such as for example measuring voltage or, in particular, measuring thickness.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.


The present invention is directed to a device for dispensing a straightened length of coiled wire through an "O" ring portion of the frame of the dispenser. The dispenser includes coupling mechanisms which permits multiple dispensers to be joined and used together.

Electrical wire used in the construction of residential and commercial buildings is generally provided either wound on reels or in an annular coiled configuration. Coiled wire is commonly referred to as Romex or boxed coils. Coiled wire is provided, as the name suggests, in a coiled annular configuration where one free end of the wire is paid out from the center of the coil. Because coiled wire is generally provided in shorter lengths than those found on wound reels, coiled wire is less bulky, weighs less and is generally less expensive to use than wound reels. As a result, electricians generally prefer to use coiled wire. However, despite being the preferred choice for electricians, coiled wire does have drawbacks.
One major drawback is that the coiled wire is not immediately useable when withdrawn from the coil. When an electrician pulls a length of wire from the center of the coil it creates a twisting effect when the wire is dispensed. For example, if an electrician simply reaches into the center of the coil and pulls out a length of coil, the wire will remain in its coiled configuration and not become straight. In order to use the wire, the wire must be twisted and formed into straight sections. To eliminate the twist in most situations requires two people, one to do the pulling while the other untwists the product as it comes out of the coil. Because it is undesirable to use coiled wire when it is in its spiral form when first withdrawn from the coil, the above described straightening task must be undertaken. As can be appreciated, this process is cumbersome and extremely time consuming.
The necessity to straighten coiled wire highlights another problem associated with the use of coiled wire. Electricians and other individuals frequently will use more than one gauge or size of wire together where both sizes are required to be of the same length. Consequently, a person who needed to use two different gauges of wire was previously required to pull one length of wire and straighten it out and then pull a second length of wire of a different gauge and then straighten it out before both wires could be used together in the desired task. Attempts to simultaneously pull two different gauges or colors of the same gauge wire often resulted in undesirable entanglement of the two wires.
Therefore, a need exists for a coiled wire dispenser which does not require two individuals to straighten the desired length of wire that is being dispensed.
Furthermore, there is a need for a coiled wire dispenser which permits more than one gauge of wire to be dispensed simultaneously as well as to be straightened simultaneously.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser that permits an individual to get a desired length of coiled wire that is straightened during the dispensing process.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which permits an electrician or individual to draw lengths of different gauges of coiled wire simultaneously and also straighten each of the simultaneously drawn wires without the assistance of another individual.
It is still another object of the present inventor to provide a device that permits the display of multiple gauges of wire.


A method for preparation of iodizing agent for the use in the formulation of iodized salt that offers excellent stability of iodine in iodized salt is developed and the unrefined salt iodized with this compound was tested for its stability in presence of moisture, temperature and metal salts at higher temperature. The hydrotalcite type layered compound was used to prepare such compound and part of carbonate was substituted with iodate anion. The iodizing agent exhibited excellent stability of iodine in iodized salt.

Iodine is a very important trace element necessary in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine is required for developing and maintaining healthy body. There are well known Iodine Deficiency Disorders like Goiter and Cretinism. The edible salt is chosen as a vehicle in the provision of iodine because of its uniform consumption and availability to all segments of population independent of social or economic status. During the past twenty years, there has been a strong effort, lead by the United Nations, to iodize all salt for human consumption. Potassium iodate and potassium iodide are most often used in iodizing the edible salt. The Food and Nutrition Board of National Research Council of the USA placed the optimum requirement of iodine at 150-300 μg per day, and considering 10 gm of salt consumption per day, the iodisation level of salt could be around 15-30 mg per kg of salt. The impurities present in edible salt, moisture and temperature are some of the main factors that induce loss of iodine from iodized salt. In order to deliver adequate amount of iodine to the consumer while avoiding the unnecessary excess addition of iodizing agent in salt that is normally done to compensate for losses, it is of paramount importance that an ultrastable iodizing agent should be developed. This would allow a simultaneous benefit in as much as it may not be necessary to purify salt excessively as is the practice at present to minimize iodine loss apart from imparting a superior aesthetic effect such as free flow nature. The latter is especially important, as it is well known that impurities such as magnesium are required as micronutrient and can also enhance the saltiness of salt.
Reference may be made to a paper entitled "Stability of iodine in iodized salt" by L. L. Diosady and Venkatesh Mannar, published in The Proceedings of 8th World Salt Symposium, 2000, Volume 2, pp 977-982, wherein it is stated in the abstract that, "since iodine readily sublimes at ambient temperature, the effectiveness of salt iodisation programs depends on the stability of the iodine carrier, typically potassium iodate." The authors further state that they examined the stability of iodine in typical salts available in 12 countries in a controlled laboratory setting, at 40° C. and controlled humidity (60 or 100%) for periods up to 12 months. Iodine was rapidly lost in most unrefined salt samples. Further, the presence of moisture due to hygroscopic impurities, and metal ion impurities, such as iron accelerated the loss of iodine.
Reference may be made to a paper entitled "Stability of iodized salt with respect to iodine content" by S. A. Chauhan et al. in Research and industry, March 1992, Vol 37, pp 38-41 wherein stability of iodine in iodized salt prepared by submersion method using solution of potassium iodate was studied for iodized salt packed in HDPE bags, for iodized salt exposed to atmosphere, iodized salt solution on boiling and iodized salt under heating up to 120° C. The draw back associated with this work evinces that there is considerable loss of iodine during storage in bags or in open atmosphere. Moreover, significant loss of iodine is observed on boiling the salt solution or heating the iodised salt.
Reference may be made to a paper entitled "The stability of potassium iodate in crude table salt", by Arroyave, G. et. al., in Bull. World Health Organisation, 1956, 14, pp 183-155, wherein potassium iodate was stabilized by calcium carbonate in crude sea salt stored in hemp fiber sacks for up to eight months at ambient temperatures and relative humidity between 70 and 84%. Only some 3.5% of added iodine was reported to be lost. The main draw back is that the stability of iodine under exposure to atmosphere and under variable temperature has not been studied. However, as is well known to practitioners in this field, this is not the approach followed in practice for stabilization, presumably because the results are not as encouraging as that indicated in the above report.
Reference may be made to a paper entitled "Micro encapsulation for iodine stability in salt fortified with ferrous fumarate and potassium iodide" by Diosady L. L. et. al., in Food Research International, 2002, Volume 35, Issue 7, pp 635-642 wherein potassium iodide and potassium iodate were encapsulated in modified starches, gelatin, sodium hexametaphosphate and purified sodium chloride by spray drying and fluidized bed drying to produce microcapsules containing 0.3 to 2% iodine. The most stable combination, containing 50 mg iodine and 1000 mg iron per kg salt, retained more than 75% of the added iodine for a year at 40° C., 100% RH. The authors have not given data on stability of iodine for singly fortified salt but even if it were very stable, the process of micro encapsulation is expensive.
Reference may be made to the paper entitled "Synthesis, thermal investigations and solubility of a new double salt K2Mg(IO3)4.2H2O" by D. Rabadjieva and M. Maneva in Thermochimica Acta, 1997, Vol 293, pp 117-123, which describe the thermal properties of the new IO3-containing double salt. There is no mention of its suitability, if any, as an iodizing agent. Moreover, the high local concentration of iodine would make it difficult to guarantee uniform distribution in the product while ensuring a total iodine not exceeding 30 ppm.
Reference may be made to the paper entitled "The properties of salt-filled sodalites. Part 4. Synthesis and heterogeneous reactions of iodate-enclathrated sodalite." By Joseph Christian Buhl, in "Thermochimica Acta, 1996, Vol 286, pp 251-262, where in sodalite solid solution Na8[AlSiO4]6(IO3)2-x(OH.H2O)x; (0.7<x<1.3) is produced from the system Na2O—2SiO2—Al2O3—NaIO3—H2O under hydrothermal conditions. The main disadvantage of this kind of compound for its use as iodising agent in the preparation of iodised salt is its high alkalinity that would make it unsuitable in pharmaceutical or food application. Further, the concentration of iodate in this compound is too high for even distribution in edible salt.
Reference may be made to the paper entitled "Anionic clay minerals" by W. T. Reichle, in Chemtech, January 1986, pp 58-63 which describes the structure and properties of hydrotalcites which are layered anionic clays bearing the chemical composition [Mg6Al2(OH)16CO3.4H2O]. These materials are used widely in antacid formulations as well as other applications such as halogen scavenger, adsorbent for wastewater treatment, stabilizer in poly-vinyl chloride and fire-retardant. There is no report however of the use of such materials for the preparation of iodizing agent.
Reference may be made to the paper entitled "Adsorption behavior of IO3− by CO32− and NO32−—hydrotalcite" by Takashi Toraishi et. al. in Applied Clay Science, 2002, 22, pp 17-23, wherein the adsorption behavior of iodate by hydrotalcite type compounds with CO3 (HTCO3) and NO3 (HTNO3) was studied for their application in removal of iodate from radioactive waste for disposal. The authors found that HTNO3 can adsorb iodate but no mention is made of the possible use of such methodology for preparation of iodizing agent. Moreover, HTNO3 is not recommended for edible purpose.
Reference may be made to P.M.Oza et. al. in Indian patent application No. 1053/DEL/2000, where in an improved process for the preparation of Hydrotalcite from bittern-mother liquor left after separation of salt has been disclosed. The hydrotalcite contains carbonate anion and no attempt was made to substitute the carbonate with other anions.
Reference may be made to the paper entitled "The use of Hydrotalcite as an anion adsorbent" by Linda M. Parker et. al. in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1995, 34, pp 1196-1202 where in use of fired and non fired HTCO3 for adsorption of anions like Cl−, Br−, NO3−, HPO4−, SO4− and borate was studied carried out. However, there is no mention of any study with iodate anion.

Iodizing agent and process for preparation thereof

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research


A suitable drive control of a lens unit for correcting image shake of a captured image is realized. An imaging device includes a lens unit supported rotatably in at least one of a yawing direction or a pitching direction within a casing, and this lens unit is driven by a driving section in at least one of the yawing direction or the pitching direction on a basis of a shake correction driving signal. In this case, the shake correction driving signal is generated by using detection information regarding rotation applied to the casing and detection information regarding rotation occurring on the lens unit in the casing.

In imaging devices, such as a video camera and a still camera, various technologies for correcting the image shake of a captured image caused by hand shake etc. at the time of imaging, have been proposed. As one of methods for correcting image shake, a method for cancelling shake by moving rotationally an imaging optical system physically relative to shake having been applied to an imaging device has been known.
For example, in a hand shake correction device described in Patent Literature 1, a lens unit including a lens and an image sensor is made rotatable in a pitching direction and a yawing direction. The pitching direction is a direction around a first fulcrum axis orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens, and the second direction is a direction around a second fulcrum axis orthogonal to both the optical axis and the first fulcrum axis. The lens unit is rotated in the yawing direction around the first fulcrum axis as a fulcrum, and, in addition, is rotated in the pitching direction around the second fulcrum axis as a fulcrum, whereby the image shake is corrected.

Imaging device and image shake correcting method


It is intended to provide compositions to be used in resists and the like for forming fine patterns with a high sensitivity and a high resolution by increasing the difference in the solubilities between exposed parts and unexposed parts. Acid-degradable compositions contain a polymer having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (I):

A chemical amplification type resist including an alkali soluble resin, an acid generator, and a solubility controlling agent having an acid unstable group is conventionally known as a resist composition used for production of a semiconductor element and so forth. In this type of composition, acid is generated from the acid forming agent when irradiated by ultraviolet rays, electron beam, or X-ray, and the acid thus generated makes chain reaction with the acid unstable groups to change the solubility of the alkali soluble resin so as to form a pattern. As the alkali soluble resin, a novolak resin, a phenol resin, an acryl resin, or copolymers thereof may be used, and there are cases in which an alkali soluble resin also serves as a solubility controlling agent having an acid unstable group, or a resin having an acid unstable group reacts with an acid to become alkali soluble.
However, since the difference in solubility in exposed parts and unexposed parts is generated by the presence or absence of acid unstable groups in a conventional chemical amplification type resist, it is considered that there is a limitation of some degree in performing a fine process.
An object of the present invention includes to provide a high sensitivity and high resolution resist composition which may be used for forming fine patterns by increasing the difference in solubility between exposed parts and unexposed parts.

Acid-degradable resin compositions containing ketene-aldehyde copolymer

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 independently represent hydrogen atom, halogen atom, C1-20 hydrocarbon group, a heterocyclic group, a cyano group, a nitro group, C(═O)R4 group, S(O)nR4 group, P(═O)(R4)2 group or M(R4)3 group; R3 represents C1-20 hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group: R4 represents C1-20 hydrocarbonoxy group, C1-20 hydrocarbon group, C1-20 hydrocarbonthio group or mono- or di-C1-20 hydrocarbonamino group; M represents a silicon, germanium, tin or lead atom; and n is 0, 1 or 2, and an acid or a compound capable of generating an acid in response to an external stimulus.


Techniques for monitoring optical power, dispersion and mode distribution in high speed multimode fiber are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, a multimode optical tap filter is described. In one aspect of the present invention, an optical tap filter is a dispersionless optical tap filter in bi-directional multimode fiber optic link. The optical tap filter includes at least two parts optically engaged with a broadband thin film filter and taps out a monitoring signal from a communication signal according to a ratio set by the broadband thin film filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is generally related to the area of optical communications. In particular, the invention is related to dispersionless multimode optical tap filters.
2. The Background of Related Art
To meet the ever-increasing demands for high bandwidth and more flexibility in modern communication networks, utilizing optical fiber networks capable of transmitting multiplexed channel signals is becoming increasingly popular. Many optical devices have been designed to meet the demands. Practically, these demands are arising from three areas: 1) video traffic over the Internet, such as Netflix and Youtube etc., 2) mobile access via smart phones including voice over IP (VoIP), 3) cloud storage and rich media files migrating via the Internet. All these demands seem to boost considerably the requirements on the service provider and the booming of various data centers. To meet the higher speed requirement, service providers and data centers also need more flexible network devices or equipment to support debugging and monitoring of the signals originated from them.
The availability of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) technology facilitates high speed parallel data links that can transmit 12 to 24 parallel channels, each channel supporting more than 10 gigabit/sec (Gbps). VCSEL has recently been demonstrated for bandwidth even higher than 25 Gbps and promises to provide low cost parallel data links among computers, storage devices and servers to form an aggregated data center. As networked computers and storage devices grow larger and larger in functions and complexities, monitoring the network becomes an essential task to ensure the communication quality and data integrity.
In the past, a data center used a conventional fuse coupler for tap monitoring function. An optical tap is essentially a 1×2 device, where a portion of the input signal is branched out to a photo-detector that converts the tapped signal to serve as a monitored signal. FIG. 1 shows one of the simplest optical links, a 1×2 coupler enables traffic access port (tap) to monitor the network.
By employing signals at two different wavelengths respectively, bi-directional signals can be conveniently carried on the duplex fibers as shown in FIG. 2 Two wavelengths λ1 and λ2 travel in the two opposite directions, respectively, and the 2×2 coupler allows tap monitoring for both channels.
A typical coupler splits the power of the input signal to different ports in a desired power ratio. It is originally a 3-port device where a portion of the input signal is branched out to a photo-detector that converts the tapped signal to a monitored signal. Depending on the applications, the power splitting ratio (tap-ratio) for the two wavelengths λ1 and λ2 should be either the same or different for the two wavelengths λ1 and λ2. For example, a bi-directional link may have λ1=850 nm and λ2=910 nm with same tap-ratio as 70% power on signal and 30% on tap, or different tap-ratios for the two channels as 7:3 for 850 nm but 8:2 for 910 nm.
FIG. 3 duplicates FIG. 2 of US Pat. Pub. No.: 2005/0201677 to show the structure of an exemplary multimode optical fiber coupler. Although the fiber can be either single mode or multimode for a fused coupler tap filter, the rapid growth of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) technology, which allows high speed parallel data links that can transmit 12 to 24 parallel channels, makes the multimode tap filter more important because the multimode oxide VCSEL offers modulation and reliability improvement comparing to that of single mode and has become the promising technology for high speed communication. However, the multimode fused optical coupler shows its fundamental limitation in high speed networks. As the data rate goes higher, the multimode fused optical coupler would have mode oriented insertion loss degradation, especially for coupler with non-symmetry tapping/splitting ratio. The degradation could be several dB in bit-error-rate (BER) testing. This is known as the modal dispersion due to the different group velocities for the higher and lower order modes propagating in multimode fiber. Since the dispersion also depends on the tap ratio, the outputs of express ports of a non-50/50 fused coupler have different dispersion. It limits the data bandwidth in a communication link especially in high speed (e.g., 10 Gbps and more).
The main cause for mode dispersion can be explained by the coupled-mode theory ("Simplified theory of the multimode fiber coupler", The Bell System Technical Journal, Vol. 56 No. 5, Page 729). In addition, the mode coupling in waveguide results in mode dependent loss. These effects are the fundamental limitation of fused optical coupler and therefore new design based on thin film filter was developed to fulfill the high speed application.
Fused fiber based coupler may have another difficulty in the 2×2 configuration for bi-directional link because the tap-ratio for each wavelength is not fully controllable independently. When the two wavelengths are relatively far away (e.g., about tens of nm), the wavelength dependent coupling results in uneven tap-ratios for the two channels. And it is extremely difficult to tune the tap-ratios for the two wavelength channels to the desire (7:3 and 8:2 for each, for instance) separately in fused coupler.
The present invention disclosure teaches a solution for monitoring optical power, dispersion and mode distribution in high speed multimode fiber communication. One embodiment of the present invention is a multimode optical tap filter that is dispersionless and tap ratio independent.

Dispersionless optical tap filter in bi-directional multimode fiber optic link


A semiconductor device capable of preventing defective embedding of an insulator and improving the withstand voltage (dielectric strength) of an element isolation region is obtained. This semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate having a main surface and an element isolation trench formed on the main surface of the semiconductor device, while the trench width of an upper end of the element isolation trench is larger than the trench width of a bottom surface and the length of a side surface located between the upper end and an end of the bottom surface is larger than the length of a straight line connecting the upper end and the end of the bottom surface. Thus, the element isolation trench is so formed that the trench width of the upper end is larger than the trench width of the bottom surface, whereby an insulator can be readily embedded in the element isolation trench. Thus, the insulator can be prevented from defective embedding. Further, the element isolation trench is so formed that the length of the side surface located between the upper end and the end of the bottom surface is larger than the length of the straight line connecting the upper end and the end of the bottom surface, thereby improving the withstand voltage of the element isolation region as compared with a case of forming the side surface located between the upper end and the end of the bottom surface in a tapered manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, and more specifically, it relates to a semiconductor device having an element isolation trench and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the degree of integration of a semiconductor device is improved, a technique of finely working the semiconductor device is recently becoming increasingly important. Such fine working includes element isolation for isolating semiconductor elements forming the semiconductor device from each other. Following the improvement of the degree of integration of the semiconductor device, a technique referred to as trench isolation is increasingly employed for the element isolation.
This trench isolation is performed by forming an element isolation trench in a semiconductor device and embedding an insulator or the like in the formed trench. The insulator or the like embedded in the trench isolates element regions located on both sides of the trench from each other.
When a conventional trench is formed to have side surfaces perpendicular to the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, however, it is difficult to excellently embed an insulator in the trench. Therefore, the insulator may be defectively embedded in the trench. Consequently, the element isolation region cannot be properly formed.
In order to avoid the aforementioned problem of defective embedding, a technique of forming the trench in a tapered manner is proposed. When the trench formed in a tapered manner is provided with the same opening width as a perpendicularly formed trench, however, the withstand voltage (dielectric strength) of the trench is disadvantageously reduced. In order to increase the withstand voltage of the trench, the depth of the trench may be increased. When the trench is formed in a tapered manner, however, the depth of the trench is limited.
When the opening width of the trench is increased for overcoming the problem of limitation of the depth resulting from the tapered shape, refinement (improvement of the degree of integration) of the semiconductor device is disadvantageously hindered.

Semiconductor device having element isolation trench and method of fabricating the same


A bowling ball handling apparatus comprises a handle for a bowler to grip. A vacuum mechanism is attached to a first end of the handle for providing a vacuum to hold the bowling ball. A release mechanism is associated with a second end of the handle for releasing the vacuum when it is desired to release the bowling ball.

The present invention relates to bowling and, more particularly, to an apparatus for allowing persons with limited dexterity to manipulate a bowling ball.
Bowling is a very popular sport, enjoyed by persons of all ages and abilities. Unfortunately, the joint flexibility required to grip and control a bowling ball prevents certain persons from participating in this sport. For example, wheelchair users who must lean sideways from a sitting position, and persons suffering from arthritis and cumulative trauma disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, cannot properly grip and control the ball, either due to their seated position or due to the nerve damage in their hands.
For wheelchair users, it is known in the art to provide ramps which are attachable to the chair for rolling the ball down. Unfortunately, such ramps are bulky, and do not allow the bowler much control over the speed or direction of the ball. Additionally, such ramps do not address the difficulty of gripping the ball, that wheelchair users and others often encounter.
Several attempts were made to solve the problem of allowing a person of limited dexterity to comfortably grip and control the bowling ball. One proposed system included a suction cup attached to a handle. The suction cup gripped the ball while the bowler held the handle. The bowler was required to use one finger of his gripping hand to plug a hole in the suction cup, and when the bowler was ready to release the ball, he removed his finger from the cup to break the vacuum. However, using one's finger to create the vacuum requires a certain amount of joint flexibility, which an arthritis or cumulative trauma sufferer tends not to have. Also, it is difficult to create a vacuum sufficient to lift the bowling ball by merely plugging the suction cup hole with a finger, since fingers vary so greatly in size and thickness.
A similar mechanism was proposed in an attempt to solve the problem of allowing comfortable gripping and control of a bowling ball, which eliminated the need to create a vacuum using one's finger. However, in this apparatus, the handle included interior valves, lever mechanisms, and machined holes which cooperated to create the vacuum. The vacuum and, thus, the ball, was then released when the interior valves were shifted, by using the thumb to depress a switch downward. Unfortunately, this apparatus is very complex and, therefore, expensive. Furthermore, with this design, the fingers are used to support the weight of the ball, while the thumb is only used to depress the switch upon release of the ball. Consequently, the thumb is prevented from providing any weight support for the ball, and the hand cannot comfortably curl around the handle, because the thumb must be suspended in air until the switch is ready to be depressed.
It is seen then that there exists a need for an improved means for allowing persons with limited hand dexterity to use a bowling ball which overcomes the problems associated with existing means, particularly a means which is ergonomically feasible, and is inexpensive to manufacture and produce.


In order to improve the resolution of a LED printing head by a comparatively simple method, optical shutters (28) are provided between two rows of rod lens arrays (26) and LED arrays (18) correspondingly to the rod lens arrays (26). The central optical axes of rod lenses (24) in the rod lens arrays (26) are inclined by an angle of inclination 0 in the opposite directions with respect to the direction of perpendicular lines passing the centers of the light-emitting surfaces of LED's (14), and signal light sent out from the LED's (14) is condensed on a photosensitive surface (20) alternately via predetermined rod lens arrays (26) so that one line is formed on the photosensitive surface (20).

LED printers and laser printers using light emitting diode (LED) heads, semi-conductor laser heads, etc., to generate light signals which are irradiated onto the surface of light-sensitive materials to form static latent images from which printed graphic images are formed on printing materials are already well known. LED printers, particularly, have recently been the object of widespread attention because they offer advantages such as the possibility of smaller device designs and lower manufacturing costs than laser printers.
Such LED printers, as shown in FIG. 21, consist of: a charging device 102 which electrifies the surface of a revolving light-sensitive drum 100; an LED print head 104 which irradiates light to form static latent images in accordance with the input signals, i.e., the electric signals on the charged light-sensitive sensitive drum 100; a processing device 106 to process the static latent Images; a transcriber 110 to transfer toner, the image formation medium, onto the printing material 108, which is moved in accordance with the revolution of the light sensitive drum 100; a fixing device (not shown in drawing) to fix the toner that is transferred onto the printing material 108 by heating, etc.; and a cleaner 112 to clean the surface of the light-sensitive drum 100.
An LED print head 104 used in such LED printers consists of a substrate 114 on which is formed an electrical circuit, an LED array 116 consisting of LED's which are formed on the substrate and which generate light in accordance with the applied electric signals, and a rod-lens array 118 consisting of cylindrical lenses which condense light generated from the LED array 116 onto the light-sensitive drum 100. These components are assembled in such a way that light generated from the LED array 116 is condensed onto the surface of the electrified light-sensitive drum 100 by means of the rod-lens array 118, such that latent images for graphic images to be formed on the printing material 108 are formed on the light-sensitive drum 100.
The LED array 116 on the LED print head 104, as shown in FIG. 22, consists of LED array chips 16a, 16b, etc., set apart by a certain distance 1, each chip having a certain number of LED's arranged at a certain pitch P. The LED array chips 16a, 16b, etc., consist of a chip substrate 122 and a number of light-emitting elements, LED's 124, which are formed on the surface of the chip substrate 122. An electrode 126 made of a conducting metal is connected to the surface of each LED 124. At the other end of the electrode 126 is formed a pad electrode 128, which is electrically connected via a wire (not shown in drawing) to a driver IC (not shown in drawing) mounted on the substrate 114.
Along with recent developments in office automation products, the demand for LED print heads with improved performance, particularly with regard to resolution, has also increased. Resolution is determined by the density of pixels (dpi) forming the image printed on the printing material, and is thus a function of the density of the LED's used as light-emitting elements. However, attaining resolutions above a certain level, such as 480 dpi, using LED print heads is extremely difficult in practice due to limitations in manufacturing precision, as is explained below.
In other words, in order to obtain a resolution or pixel density of 600 dpi, for instance, a pitch P of approximately 42 .mu.um for the LED's 124 on LED array chips 16a, 16b, etc. , is necessary, 20 .mu.m being the columnwise width W of an LED 124 of conventional size. Assuming that the distance d from the columnwise edge of the chip to that of the neighboring LED 124 is 8 .mu.m, practically the limit of manufacturing precision, the clearance between LED array chips 16a, 16b, etc. would be approximately 6.mu.m.
Furthermore, the cutting of the stick-shaped chip substrate on which LED 124 is formed into individual LED array chips would generally call for a cutting precision in the order of .+-.5 .mu.m. Moreover, a margin of error of at least .+-.10 .mu.m when die bonding the cut individual LED array chips 16a, 16b, etc., onto the circuit substrate must also be considered. In view of the above limitations in manufacturing precision, it can be seen that realizing a resolution of 600 dpi would be extremely difficult if not altogether impossible.
Thus, in attempting to manufacture LED print heads 104 with above a certain level of resolution, since dimensional errors in cutting a chip substrate stick into LED array chips 16a, 16b, etc. and errors in die bonding onto circuit substrates inevitably occur during the manufacturing process, and particularly since it is extremely difficult to set the LED's 124 on the end of neighboring LED array chips 16a, 16b, etc. such that the distance or pitch between them is identical to that between the other LED's 124, that is, since it is extremely difficult to manufacture LED array chips 16a, 16b, etc. such that all the LED's 124 are formed at a fixed pitch at high density, it has not been possible to satisfy the demand for affordable high resolution LED print heads.
Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide an LED print head with improved resolution using relatively simple methods.