A gas fired burner is provided for use in applications such as chemical process furnaces for process heaters in refineries and chemical plants, and the like. The burner is provided with a plurality of fuel gas inlets for enabling manipulation of the flame shape and combustion characteristics of the burner, based upon variation in the distribution of fuel gas between the various fuel gas inlets.. A combination pilot and flame holder for a burner, such as may be used in process heaters and furnaces for refineries, chemical plants and the like, is also provided. The pilot is mounted atop a supply pipe for premixed fuel and air, which is positioned in the bore of a burner quarl. The pilot includes a radially outwardly extending flange which is upstream of a surface combustion flame holder for establishing a radially directed surface combustion flame.. The present invention also provides a low-emissions burner and pilot system for use in such process heaters and furnaces.

1. The Technical Field
The present invention relates to gas fired burners, of the type which may be used in industrial furnaces and the like, and specifically to burners of the partially premixed type.
2. The Prior Art
Burners which are used in chemical and manufacturing processes often suffer from the problem of matching the heat flux produced by the burner and placed into the space to be heated in the furnace or heat exchanger to the actual load required in order to maximize the amount of heat flux which is being efficiently used, to further maximize the actual rate of production or rate of the process and to reduce problems such as coking, in process heaters for refineries, for example.
Such burners may also occasionally suffer from operational drawbacks, such as instability of the flame relative to the flame holder, which may be evidenced in terms of lift off of the flame from the burner tile, or flame noise and pulsation. In addition, such burners may often produce undesirable levels of emissions, particularly oxides of nitrogen.
Many conventional gas-fired burners use a diffusion flame combustion process in which combustion occurs over a range of equivalence ratios, including high temperature, lean regions where thermal nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.X) form. One known method for reducing peak flame temperatures is to use a combustion process which creates a fuel-rich primary combustion region and subsequent air staging with corresponding heat loss, resulting in lowering the overall combustion equivalence ratio to achieve complete combustion.
Another known method for reducing peak flame temperatures relates to a combustion process that operates with a fuel-lean primary combustion region and fuel staging in order to raise the equivalence ratio. However, such known methods of staged fuel combustion rely upon a diffusion flame to produce the lean primary stage. External flue gas recirculation has been added to such known methods for further reducing NO.sub.X.
In the combustion of gaseous fuels, NO.sub.X is formed primarily through fixation of molecular nitrogen and oxygen in the combustion air. It is known that thermal NO.sub.X formation depends on the existence of flame regions with relatively high temperatures and excess oxygen. Many conventional combustion methods for reducing NO.sub.X are based upon avoiding such conditions.
It is necessary to consider the prompt NO.sub.X formation process in order to reach very low NO.sub.X levels. Reactions between hydrocarbon fragments and molecular nitrogen can lead to the formation of bound nitrogen species, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which can subsequently be oxidized to nitrogen monoxide. Such processes become significant relative to the thermal mechanism under moderately fuel-rich conditions at relatively low temperatures. Avoiding such conditions can reduce prompt NO.sub.X contributions.
Additionally, these prior art burners often employ pilot flames for establishing the primary flame region over the burner in a furnace. The pilot, even though small in heat release may substantially contribute to overall burner emissions, particularly of oxides of nitrogen, under ultra low NO.sub.X operation.
An object of the present invention is to provide a burner which has greatly reduced emissions, particularly of oxides of nitrogen.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a burner system which is capable of enabling active management and variation of the heat flux in order to allow for the optimization of the heating process and modify the heat flux of the burner to avoid process shutdowns, while maximizing furnace availability.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a pilot for a burner, such as may be used in chemical plant process heaters and the like, which provides the establishment of the primary flame region while contributing less to the heat released by the burner and contributing less to the emissions produced by the burner, particularly oxides of nitrogen.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a gaseous fuel burner system which provides a well organized flame with no significant regions of lean high temperature conditions, which are known to contribute to increased NO.sub.X emissions.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, including claims, and drawings.


A disk transfer device including a disk tray for holding a disk during the disk transfer action and a tray driving mechanism for driving the tray forward and backward between a first position which is the retracted location of the tray corresponding to a turntable in a disk drive and a second position which is the loading and unloading location of the disk outwardly of the disk drive. The disk tray is provided with a large diameter support region and a small diameter support region which is stepped down by a predetermined distance from the large diameter support region. A plurality of claws capable of engaging with the peripheral edge of the lower side of a small size disk are provided on the outer periphery of the small diameter support region. When the small size disk held and pinched between the clamper and the turntable is unloaded from the turntable, the peripheral edge climb over the claws, thereby, the disk is moved toward the turntable and released from its held state between the clamper and the turntable.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a disk transfer device to be used in a disk drive for recording a data signal and/or reproducing a data signal recorded to a disk used as a data storage medium such as so-called a CD (Compact Disk) or so-called a DVD (Digital Video Disk or Digital Versatile Disk).
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, as a disk transfer device to be used in the above-mentioned disk drive, a disk transfer device to be used in a disk loading equipment that has an opening on the front panel through which a disk tray is drawn out or retracted is well known. In this case, after the tray is drawn out from the disk loading equipment and a disk is loaded onto the tray, the tray is automatically retracted into a predetermined position (a mounted position onto the turntable) in the disk drive assembled in the loading equipment.
In such a type of disk drive, when a disk on the tray is retracted into the disk drive, it is held between the turntable and a clamper. And thereafter, the disk is driven at a specific rotational speed so that data signals recorded to the disk can be read by the disk drive that is recording or reproducing apparatus, during a read operation, for example. More specifically, signals are recorded to tracks within a specific area of the disk, and a pickup for signal reading is driven according to the track address of the desired signal so that the desired signal can be reproduced.
Incidentally, in the above-mentioned disk drive utilizing a tray in transferring a disk, as types sorted by the installation posture, what is called a horizontal installation type is generally used. In this type of the disk drive, the disk is loaded in a horizontal position. However, depending on the purpose of use or the installed place and the like, what is called a vertical installation type may be required. In this type of disk drive, the disk is loaded in an inclined position by a certain number of degrees from the horizontal position (in a substantially vertical position, for example).
When such a vertical installation type of disk drive is desired, a plurality of claws may be provided on an outer periphery in a disk supporting surface of the tray so as to receive an outer periphery of the disk in a substantially vertical position. In this case, the disk is transferred in a state where it is supported by the claws at the outer periphery thereof.
FIG. 44 is an overall perspective view of a vertical type of personal computer E12. As shown in this drawing, in a disk drive assembled into the personal computer E12, a plurality of engaging claws 102 are disposed in the vicinity of an outer periphery of a disk supporting area 101a of a disk tray 101. The engaging claws 102 are mounted on the tray so as to rotate about supporting axes 102s respectively.
Also, in a state that each claw 102 is turned outwardly, a disk (not shown) is placed in the disk supporting area 101a. Thereafter, each claw 102 is turned inwardly (as shown in FIG. 44), and the disk is engaged by the claws. Thereby, the disk can be held between the claws 102 and the disk supporting area 101a of the disk tray 101, and the disk is transferred in the held state.
However, in this construction of the disk transfer device, there is a problem in that disk setting/removal works in which a disk is set to or removed from the tray are very troublesome. That is, in loading a disk to the tray 101 and in unloading a disk from the tray, each engaging claw 102 must be turned always with very careful attention in order to avoid damage to the disk.
Further, in the above-described construction of the disk transfer device, it is very inconvenient to use one disk drive in both a horizontal installation and a vertical installation depending upon the purpose of use or the installed place and the like.
There are two different sizes of disks on the market. One is the large size disk of which the nominal diameter is 12 cm, and the other is the small size disk of which the nominal diameter is 8 cm. Therefore, usually, it is required for a disk drive to be capable of dealing with both types of disks having different sizes without trouble. Then, conventionally, in a horizontal type of disk drive, the disk tray has a large diameter support region thereof for supporting a large size disk and a small diameter support region thereof for supporting a small size disk. The small diameter support region is stepped down from the large diameter support region thus to come closer to the turntable. And, one of these two support regions is selected to be utilized in accordance with the size of the disk to be supported.
However, there are problems, as to the small size disk, when the disk drive is used in a vertical installation. That is, it is difficult to hold the small size disk on the tray in an inclined condition of which the angle of inclination is over a certain value from the horizontal direction. In addition, it is difficult to return the small size disk, which is held and pinched by magnetic force between a turntable and a clamper, to the small diameter support region.
When a disk drive is in the condition of recording/reproducing for recording a data signal or reproducing a data signal recorded on the disk (that is, when the disk is loaded on the turntable), the holding level between the turntable and the clamper is equal in both cases of the large size disk and the small size disk. After recording or reproducing is finished, when the turntable and the clamper disengage from each other (that is, when the disk is unloaded from the turntable), and the magnetic force for holding and pinching the small size disk is released, the small size disk drops due to its own weight and settles on the small diameter support region, in the case that the disk drive is in a horizontal installation. However, in the case where the disk drive is in a vertical installation, when the magnetic force for holding and pinching the small size disk is released, the small size disk drops into a space between the turntable and the clamper.
With regard to the large size disk, in the case that the disk tray is provided with engaging claws as stated previously, it may be possible to arrange the various components so that the disk holding and pinching action by the turntable and the clamper and the releasing action thereof are performed in a space between the engaging claws and the large diameter support region of the tray. However, if the disk tray is provided with engaging claws for the small size disk similar to those for the large size disk, the engaging claws for the small size disk will interfere with the large size disk when it is mounted onto the disk tray. Therefore, it is impossible, by employing such a construction, to deal with the small size disk in the vertical installation.
The basic object of the present invention is therefore to provide a disk transfer device whereby a small size disk can be transferred without trouble, as well as a large size disk, even in vertical installation usage, and the loading and unloading action of the disk on the turntable can be performed without trouble.

Disk transfer device including disk support member provided with a first and second disk support members for supporting different size disks

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The invention discloses a squaraine-polymer-based ammonium/nitrogen monoxide two-component sensor, as well as a preparation method and application thereof. A preparation manner and condition for the sensor are optimized. The squaraine polymer containing azo functional group based ammonium/nitrogen monoxide two-component sensor comprises an interdigital electrode and a coating material with which the interdigital electrode is coated. The coating material is a squaraine polymer containing azo functional group and has high sensing selectivity for ammonium and nitrogen monoxide, the minimum limit of detection thereof is 1 ppb and the response/reversion time is 82s/185s. The sensing performance of the sensor for nitrogen monoxide is also tested, the minimum limit of detection can reach 40 ppb and the response/reversion time is 112s/921s.

Ammonia has a corrosive and irritating effect on the skin tissue. It can absorb the water in the skin tissue to make the tissue protein denatured, and make the tissue fat saponified, and destroy the cell membrane structure. Ammonia has a high solubility, so it is mainly irritating and corrosive to the upper respiratory tract of animals or human bodies, and is often adsorbed on the skin mucosa and conjunctiva to cause irritation and inflammation. Ammonia can also paralyze respiratory cilia and damage the mucosal tissue, making pathogenic microorganisms easy to invade and reducing the body's resistance to disease. Ammonia is usually inhaled into the human body in the form of gas; after being inhaled into the lungs, ammonia easily enters the bloodstream through the alveoli and combines with hemoglobin to destroy the function of oxygen transport. Therefore ammonia is a highly toxic and highly polluting gas.
Ammonia is a gas widely used in the industry, whether it is refrigeration, steel production or feed and fertilizer production, ammonia is used in all aspect of the industry; therefore, with the growth of global industrial production, the amount of ammonia used is increasing year by year. Due to the high toxicity and high pollution property of ammonia gas, the devices for ammonia leakage detection are widely demanded.
Nitric oxide is unstable, and easily combines with oxygen to form acid gas such as nitrogen dioxide, which is one of the main gases causing acid rain. High level of nitric oxide can cause methemoglobinemia. There are certain chronic hazards mainly manifested as neurasthenia syndrome and chronic respiratory inflammation, in individual cases pulmonary fibrosis may occur, which can cause dental erosion.

Squaraine-polymer-based ammonium/nitrogen monoxide two-component sensor, as well as preparation method and application thereof


A damper for a torque converter, including: a cover plate for a damper; a turbine hub with a surface; and a pilot element rotationally connected to the cover plate and having a surface slidingly engaged with the surface for the turbine hub. The respective surfaces for the turbine hub and the pilot element are at least partially radially aligned and the pilot element is arranged to center the damper with respect to a longitudinal axis for the torque converter. In some aspects, the pilot element includes at least one axial protrusion engaged with the cover plate. In some aspects, the pilot element is formed of stamped metal. In some aspects, the pilot element is axially stabilized with respect to the turbine hub and the cover plate. In some aspects, the pilot element includes at least one radial protrusion slidingly engaged with a radial surface for the turbine hub.

It is known to radially center a series damper in a torque converter by securing a cover plate for one of the dampers in the series damper directly to a turbine hub in the torque converter, for example, by riveting the cover to the hub such that radial surfaces for the cover and the hub are in contact. Unfortunately, the above configuration limits the options available for providing hysteresis forces for the series damper while using a maximum number of components in all the configurations.
Thus, there is a long-felt need for a means of radially centering a series damper in a torque converter while optimizing the modularity of the series damper and the options for providing hysteresis in the series damper.


A mortise lock mechanism that includes a lock housing adapted for secure positioning within a mortise, first and second locking members positioned within the housing, each having a first end and a hooked second end, an actuator mounted for rotational movement within the housing and adapted for user directed rotational movement, and a motion translating linkage having a first end pivotally interconnected to the first end of the first locking member, a second end pivotally interconnected to the first end of the second locking member. The motion translating linkage is interconnected to the actuating member and adapted for corresponding movement when the actuator is moved. A first bias member interconnects the translating linkage to the housing, whereby the bias member retains the actuator and the translating linkage in a first position absent user force directed to the actuator.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to mortise locks, and more particularly to two-point mortise locks used in connection with sliding doors.
2. Description of Art
Mortise locks are well known in the art. A mortise is cut into the edge of a sliding door and a lock devise is securely mounted therein. A keeper is then secured at a corresponding position on a door jamb. Typically, the mortise lock includes a single hook that is rotated between locked and unlocked positions by a snib (locking lever) which engages a cam located within the housing. In some applications a locking cylinder is used on the outside of the housing to actuate the lock mechanism. When the door is closed and the actuator is rotated, the hook rotates out of the lock housing and engages a ledge or other retention structure formed in the keeper, thereby fastening the door in locked relation to the jamb.
To unlock the door, the actuator is again rotated to disengage the hook from the ledge formed in the keeper. The door is then free to be moved relative to the jamb. When in the unlocked position, the hook is generally stowed within the lock housing that is fully positioned within the mortise formed in the edge of the door, thereby protecting the hook and preventing it from inadvertent damage or breakage by being slammed against the keeper or snagged by a person walking through the unlocked, open door.
In the patio door/sliding glass door manufacturing industry, the most commonly used mortise lock is the single point. There are many manufacturers of single point locks and they are all virtually the same. These single point locks are of a standard size, namely, 3¼ inches long (represented by "L" in FIGS. 2A and 2B), by ½ inch wide (represented as "W" in FIGS. 2A and 2C), by 1⅛ inches deep (represented by "D" in FIG. 2B). The cam location (where the snib enters the lock) has a backset (represented by distance "D1" in FIG. 2B) (defined as the distance from the backside of the face plate to the center of the cam) of ¾ inch and is located ⅞ inch from the end of the housing. Therefore, the locks that are manufactured for incorporation into these mortises are correspondingly sized. Because of this size constraint, generally a single lock (or hook) is incorporated into the mortise lock device. Due to the numerous moving parts involved in mortise locks, quality manufacture of single hook locks has been cost effective. Single point locks suffer the drawback, however, of being somewhat easily broken or disengaged by a fairly insignificant force, thus defeating the purpose for which the lock is used.
Multi-point mortise locks are commonly used in Europe and are larger than the single point mortise locks used in the U.S. Accordingly, the mortise locks in Europe are generally of larger dimensions than the single point mortise locks commonly used in the United States. Due to the larger mortise dimensions in Europe, it is an easier task to design a cost effective two-point locking device than in the United States, but the increased security achieved with a two-point lock versus the single point lock is significant.
3. Objects and Advantages
It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a two-point mortise lock that is of the same dimensions as standard sized single point mortise locks in patio doors.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a two-point mortise lock that can be retrofit into existing mortises.
It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a two-point mortise lock that is durable and can withstand repeated usage.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.


A disk drive is disclosed comprising a first head actuated over a first disk surface and a second head actuated over a second disk surface. A first servo sector of the first disk surface is read to generate a read signal which is processed to generate a first phase error. A first clock is generated at a frequency proximate a servo data rate of the first data sector. Read signal samples are synchronized in response to the first phase error and the first clock to generate synchronous samples, and servo data in the first servo sector is detected in response to the synchronous samples. The read signal is processed to generate a second phase error, a second clock is generated in response to the second phase error, and a spiral servo track is written to the second disk surface using the second clock.

When manufacturing a disk drive, concentric servo sectors 20-2N are written to a disk 4 which define a plurality of radially-spaced, concentric servo tracks 6 as shown in the prior art disk format of FIG. 1. Concentric data tracks defined relative to the servo tracks 6 are partitioned into a plurality of data sectors, wherein the concentric servo sectors 20-2N are considered "embedded" in the data sectors. Each servo sector (e.g., servo sector 24) comprises a preamble 8 for synchronizing gain control and timing recovery, a sync mark 10 for synchronizing to a data field 12 comprising coarse head positioning information such as a track number, and servo bursts 14 which provide fine head positioning information. The coarse head position information is processed to position a head over a target track during a seek operation, and the servo bursts 14 are processed to maintain the head over a centerline of the target track while writing or reading data during a tracking operation.
In the past, external servo writers have been used to write the concentric servo sectors 20-2N to the disk surface during manufacturing. External servo writers employ extremely accurate head positioning mechanics, such as a laser interferometer, to ensure the concentric servo sectors 20-2N are written at the proper radial location from the outer diameter of the disk to the inner diameter of the disk. However, external servo writers are expensive and require a clean room environment so that a head positioning pin can be inserted into the head disk assembly (HDA) without contaminating the disk. Thus, external servo writers have become an expensive bottleneck in the disk drive manufacturing process.
The prior art has suggested various "self-servo" writing methods wherein the internal electronics of the disk drive are used to write the concentric servo sectors independent of an external servo writer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,843,662 teaches a disk drive which performs a self-servo writing operation by writing a plurality of spiral servo tracks to the disk which are then processed to write the concentric servo sectors along a circular path. Each spiral servo track is written to the disk as a high frequency signal (with missing bits), wherein the position error signal (PES) for tracking is generated relative to time shifts in the detected location of the spiral servo tracks.

Servoing on zoned concentric servo sectors of a first disk surface to write a spiral servo track to a second disk surface


The headlight has a light source (12) which is mounted in a main reflector (10) by which a convergent light beam is reflected, which passes through a lens (16). An additional reflector (22) is arranged surrounding the main reflector (10) between the main reflector (10) and the lens (16), by which light not captured by the main reflector (10) is reflected as an additional light beam with horizontal scattering. The light beam passing through the lens (16) forms a low beam, by which a predetermined low beam light distribution is provided with an upper light-dark boundary. The additional light beam produces an additional uniform light distribution, which overlaps the low-beam light distribution. The headlight illuminates a larger surface than the surface of the lens (16) because of the additional reflector (22) surrounding the main reflector (10) and the lens (16) so that it causes no glare or blinding. The headlight can have a cover disk with a smooth surface without optical elements and thus a uniform appearance.

The present invention relates to a headlight for a vehicle and especially to a headlight for a motor vehicle.
A known headlight of a type, on which the present invention is based, is described in German Patent Application DE 195 19 872 A1. This headlight has a light source and a reflector, by which light from the light source is reflected as a convergent light beam. The headlight also has an additional reflector, which is arranged between the reflector and the lens, and light issuing from the light source is reflected also by the additional reflector as an additional light beam. The additional reflector is assembled laterally beside the reflector and has a parabolic shape, so that the additional light beam reflected by it extends approximately parallel to its optic axis, which at least approximately coincides with the optic axis of the main reflector. The additional light beam passes through a light permeable disk or pane, on which a lens is mounted, and is scattered horizontally by optical elements of the disk. The additional light beam produces a light intensity distribution which overlaps the light intensity distribution produced by the light beam passing through the lens. When the headlight is observed with the light source turned on not only its lens is illuminated through which the light beam passes, but also the additional reflector, so that in as much as a larger surface is illuminated than the surface of the lens, the headlight is not perceived to be subjectively as blinding. It is disadvantageous in this headlight that the disk is required to have optical elements to produce the horizontally scattered additional light beam and this increases the manufacture and assembly costs for the headlight. Furthermore the disk is not completely transparent in the vicinity of the headlight, so that the headlight has no uniform appearance with the light source turned off.

Headlight for a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle


A method of servicing an electro-dynamic apparatus (10) such as a traction motor of a locomotive wherein a degraded surface (52) of electrical insulation (50) in the interior of the apparatus is spray coated with a layer of a sealing material (56). The service is provide without the necessity for removing or disassembling the apparatus by inserting a nozzle (64) of a spraying device (60) through an access opening (42) in the frame head (20) of the apparatus. The sealing material is delivered to the nozzle through a flexible delivery tube (66) having an inner tube (80) defining a passageway (82) for the sealing material and a concentric outer tube (84) defining an annular passageway (86) for compressed air for propelling the sealing material from the nozzle.

Locomotives supplied by the assignee of the present invention include a diesel engine that drives an alternator for producing electrical power. The electrical power from the alternator is conducted to traction motors located beneath a platform of the locomotive. The traction motors drive wheels through a gearbox for propelling the locomotive along the tracks. A similar drive system is used for other off-highway vehicle applications such as for mining vehicles.
FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of the under-platform equipment used in a locomotive including a traction motor 10, gearbox 12 and axle 14. The motor 10 includes a frame 16 assembled from several separate members including a stator housing 18, a connector end plate or frame head 20, and a drive end plate 22. Axially extending through the motor frame 16 is a motor shaft 24 that is connected to a pinion gear 26 within the gearbox 12. The pinion gear 26 drives an axle gear 28 connected to the main axle 14 for powering the drive wheels 30 of the locomotive.
Motor 10 includes a stator portion 32 and a rotor portion 34. The motor 10 is cooled by a flow of cooling air 36 (indicated by arrows) received into the motor 10 through a duct 38. The cooling air 36 is directed through cooling passages 40 formed in the stator portion 32 and the rotor portion 34 and exits the motor 10 through a plurality of windows or access openings 42 formed in the frame head 20. It will be appreciated that other arrangements of the above-described components may be found on various models of locomotives.
The stator portion 32 includes conducting elements 44 such as stator coils for conducting electricity to generate the magnetic field for powering the motor 10. Other types of electro-dynamic apparatus may include other types of conducting elements, such as the bus rings and associated connectors found on an alternator. The conducting elements 44 include a conductor of electricity encased in insulating material for isolating the electricity from the electrical ground of the motor frame 16. The insulating material may take any of several forms known in the art, such as tape/varnish systems or powder coat systems. Portions 46 of the conducting elements 44 are located within the motor frame 16 proximate the access openings 42 and are thus subject to damage from the impact of debris that is propelled by the wheels 30 and passes through the access openings 42. These portions 46 of the conducting elements 44 are also exposed to the accumulation of moisture and occasionally grease that may escape from the gearbox 12. These accumulations of dirt and moisture on the insulation provide a pathway for electricity causing a phenomenon referred to as "tracking". Small openings may develop through the insulating material to the underlying conductor as a result of the stress of operation, the impact of debris, or the presence of small pinholes produced during the application of a powder coat insulation system. As the insulating material degrades through continued exposure to the elements through the access openings 42, the amount and intensity of tracking will increase, eventually leading to a short circuit between the conducting element 44 and the motor frame 16 and the failure of the motor 10. Such failures are very costly because they degrade or prevent the operation of the locomotive and they necessitate the complete disassembly of the motor 10 for repair.
A similar concern exists for any electro-dynamic apparatus wherein insulated conducting elements are exposed to an environment where dirt and moisture may accumulate on electrical insulation. For example, the alternator of a locomotive is air-cooled and includes conducting elements that are exposed to the flow of cooling air that may be carrying dirt and moisture. Manufacturing porosity and/or surface flaws induced by operating stresses and particle impact may combine with the accumulated dirt and moisture and lead to an increase in tracking and eventual failure of the apparatus.

Method of servicing an electro-dynamic apparatus


An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus coupled to the network. The image forming apparatus stores, in a memory device, an information processing apparatus identifier that is assigned to a button of the image forming apparatus and transmits, to the information processing apparatus, press-down information of the button that includes the information processing apparatus identifier. The image forming apparatus additionally reads, if, in the information processing apparatus, it is determined the information processing apparatus identifier in the press-down information matches an information processing apparatus identifier stored within the information processing apparatus, a document image set in a scanner, in response to a scan execution request that is received from the information processing apparatus via the network. The image forming apparatus further transmits image data of the document image to the information processing apparatus via the network, and resets the press-down information.

In response to the operation of a user, a typical image forming apparatus causes a scanner to read a document image, and stores image data from the scanned document image in a hard disk (HDD) serving as an auxiliary storage device. The typical image forming apparatus notifies a personal computer (PC) of preparation completion, and reads out the image data from the hard disk to a memory buffer and transmits the image data to the PC, in response to an image data request from the PC. Owing to this configuration, a scanner-driven push operation is performed.
The image data read by the scanner-driven push operation is stored in a box (folder) within the HDD, and the image data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the PC.
However, it may be difficult for an inexpensive image forming apparatus to realize the scanner-driven push operation if the image forming apparatus has no HDD and a small memory capacity.

Scanner-driven push operation realized by image forming apparatus having no auxiliary storage device


An inhaler for dispensing volatile ingredients including a one piece tube pinch closed and sealed at the ends. The tube may include reservoirs formed therein and noncircular cross sections. A volatile or volatiles such as nicotine and/or flavoring and/or medication are loaded in the tube with or without other ingredients and the ends closed. Absorbent material may be used to retain more volatiles within the tube or better wick the volatile vapors when air is drawn through the tube. A cutter including a body, a blade slidable in a longitudinal path within the body and a slot access receiving the pinch closed and sealed ends of the tube allow the ends of the tube to be cut off. Drawing air through the tube transfers vapors of the volatile or volatile including other ingredients from the interior of the tube to the user.

The field of the present invention is inhaler delivery systems for volatiles.
Tobacco smoking is blamed for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Further, second hand smoke inhaled by others is also blamed for serious health problems. Tobacco smoke also contains many known carcinogens, gasses and particulates that are harmful to ones health. There have been many products attempting to help people quit smoking. However, millions are unable to break the habit. One of the main reasons for this is that tobacco smoke contains nicotine which is believed to be highly addictive.
An object of many smoking cessation aids and nicotine therapy products is to deliver to the user a dose of nicotine without the many deleterious effects of smoke found in burning tobacco. Nicotine inhalers are growing in popularity as a device to deliver nicotine vapor or gasses through inhalation to the user without damaging smoke.
One advantage to inhalers is that it more closely resembles the act of smoking. Such inhalers deliver a dose of nicotine directly to the mucous membrane of the mouth and or lungs where it is absorbed quickly and transferred to the brain to satisfy the craving for nicotine. Another advantage to nicotine inhalers is that they can be made in a similar shape and size to that of a cigarette to more closely resemble the act of smoking a lit cigarette. Additionally, inhalers can provide the xe2x80x9chitxe2x80x9d upon demand of a sudden dose of delivered nicotine to the user that is similar to a lit cigarette.
An estimate recently made by a major cigarette filter manufacturer concluded that the global consumption of cigarettes in 1999 was 5.7 trillion. A modern cigarette manufacturing line produces 14,000 cigarettes each minute. Not only do ignitable cigarettes efficiently deliver nicotine, they can be manufactured at a rate and cost sufficient to satisfy the demand. Available nicotine inhalers have not matched the efficiency and low cost production of modern cigarette manufacturing.
Of the many different nicotine inhaler designs known, all have something in common. The outer container that houses the nicotine delivery system or nicotine content is sealed from the atmosphere by an independent means, action or system that is additional to the primary nicotine container itself. Whether it is an additional package wrapping, internal valve sealer, removable cap or heat sealed nicotine impermeable tabs that are designed to be punctured or removed; all have an additional step or series of components designed to keep the primary nicotine impermeable container sealed from the atmosphere. The reason for this is that nicotine is a volatile substance and will degrade rapidly when exposed to the atmosphere unless the container of the inhaler is properly sealed.
The present invention is directed to an inhaler of volatiles. The inhaler includes a one piece tube containing a volatile substance. The tube is pinch closed at the ends to form a sealed chamber. Access to the volatiles is accomplished by removing the pinched ends so that the user may draw through the tube to inhale the volatile. The volatile may include, inter alia, nicotine and/or a flavoring or medicant. Depending on need, an absorbent element may provide a storage matrix for the volatile.
The tube typically has a cylindrical cross section but may deviate therefrom to increase the ratio of tube surface area to cross-sectional area for increased delivery. Reservoirs may be incorporated into the body of the tubing for added storage of volatiles. The ends are most conveniently sealed by heat and may be torn with scoring or cut to access the volatile.
The invention may also contemplate a cutter. The cutter includes a body having a longitudinal path. A blade is mounted to slide along the path within the body. There is a slot access in the body to the path which is sized to closely receive one of the pinch closed and sealed ends. The body may have a passage open at one end and extending to the slot.
The invention includes a method for dispensing volatile nicotine by cutting the ends of a sealed one piece tube and drawing air through the tube.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved volatile inhaler. Further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.


The present invention relates to a new crisphead Lactuca sativa cultivar, designated Sharp Shooter, which exhibits resistance to downy mildew pathotypes I, IIA, III, and IV and corky root rot pathotype CA1, a color of 146A according to The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by the Royal Horticultural Society of London, England, and mature heads of which weigh about 10% to about 40% more than comparable varieties of crisphead lettuce.

Lettuce is unique among the major vegetables in its nearly exclusive use as a fresh, raw product. It is rarely found far from a salad or sandwich. It is occasionally used as a cooked vegetable and has even been used as a substitute for tobacco in cigarettes. Ryder, E. J., Leafy Salad Vegetables, AVI Publishing Company, pgs. 15-16 (1979).
Lettuce is in the Cichoreae tribe of the Asteraceae (Compositae). Id. at 22. Its Latin name is Lactuca sativa L. Lettuce is related to chicory, sunflower, aster, dandelion, artichoke, and chrysanthemum. Id. at 22-23. It is one of about 300 species in the genus Lactuca (milk-forming). Id. at 23. Cultivated lettuce is closely related to common wild lettuce, L. serriola Torner. Id.
There are six morphological types of lettuce: crisphead (iceberg), butterhead, cos (romaine), leaf, stem, and Latin. Id. at 47. The crisphead type is the most common in the United States, while butterhead and romaine types are popular in northern and southern Europe. Id. In the United States, California is the leading producer of lettuce. California produces crisphead, leaf and romaine lettuce. In 1995, California's cash receipts for crisphead lettuce amounted to about $987 million dollars. 1996 California Agricultural Resource Directory. Furthermore, also in 1995, California exported about $154 million dollars of crisphead lettuce to other countries such as Japan, Canada, the European Union, and Korea. Id.
Lettuce cultivars are susceptible to a number of diseases such as downy mildew, sclerotinia rot, botrytis, powdery mildew, anthracnose, bottom rot, corky root rot, lettuce mosaic virus, big vein, beet western yellows, and aster yellows, just to name a few. This diseases result in millions of dollars of lost lettuce crop throughout the world every year.
Downy mildew is a highly destructive diseases of lettuce grown at relatively low temperature and high humidity. Ryder, E. J., Leafy Salad Vegetables, AVI Publishing Company, p. 52 (1979). Downy mildew is caused by a fungus, Bremia lactacae Reg. Pale angular yellow areas bounded by veins appear on the upper leaf surfaces. Id. Sporulation occurs on the opposite surface. Id. The lesions eventually turn brown, and they may enlarge and coalesce. Id. The symptoms occur first on the lower leaves, but under ideal conditions may move into the upper leaves of the head. Id. When this happens, the head cannot be harvested. Id. Less severe damage requires the removal of more leaves than usual, especially at the destination. Id. In California, seven pathotypes of Bremia lactucae have been identified: Pathotype I, IIA, IIB, IIC, III, IV and V. (Michelmore, R. W., et al. 1996. Variation in California Populations of Downy Mildew in 1995. In Iceberg Lettuce Advisory Board Annual Report. California Iceberg Lettuce Research Advisory Board, Salinas, Calif. p.44-57). In addition to these major groupings of Bremia strains, many other novel isolates have been found throughout the State.
Corky root rot is believed to be caused by a species of Rhizomonas. One species of Rhizomonas that is commonly found to cause corky root rot is Rhizomonas suberifaciens.
Corky root rot symptoms include yellow bands on tap and lateral roots of lettuce seedlings. Guide to Leafy Vegetable Production In the Far West, Ron Smith, ed., California-Arizona Farm Press (1997). Yellow areas gradually expand and develop a green-brown color and develop cracks and rough areas on the surface area of the root. Id. The entire tap root may become brown, severely cracked and may cease to function. Id. Feeder root systems are reduced and damaged. Id. Roots become very brittle and break off easily. Id. Internal discoloration of the root may occur. Id. When the root is severely discolored, above-ground symptoms show up as wilting during warm temperatures, stunting and general poor, uneven growth. Id. In California, several strains of Rhizomonas suberifaciens have been identified. However, only strain CA1 has been shown to cause damage to roots of plants grown in commercial lettuce production areas.
There is a need in the art for improved lettuce varieties that exhibit resistance to both downy mildew and corky root rot, and exhibit vigorous growth, and increased weight and yield.

Lactuca sativa cultivar exhibiting resistance to downy mildew and corky root rot


A display device wherein a decorative ornament is mounted on a drive plate that is driven by a windup music box drive mechanism through a transmission assembly so that rotation of the drive plate in a first direction winds up the drive mechanism which, during unwinding and the production of music, causes the drive plate and ornament to rotate in a second opposite direction.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention generally involves the field of technology pertaining to devices for displaying ornamental objects, and more particularly to an improved liquid filled ball device for displaying objects immersed within the liquid.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
A decorative device in the form of a paper weight or similar novelty item wherein a transparent housing is sealed with decorative objects immersed in liquid and supported on a display base is well known. For example, the housing may contain a figure of a snowman and particles of white material simulating snow immersed within the liquid, so that manual agitation of the device by the user will cause a temporary suspending of the particles in the liquid. When the device is then placed on a support surface, the particles slowly settle on the figure and to the bottom of the housing, thereby simulating snow fall.
More sophisticated versions of these devices are also known wherein a drive motor is provided within the base of the device to create agitation of the liquid for imparting movement to objects immersed or suspended therein. These versions generally utilize an indirect magnetic drive for agitation of the liquid by disposing a first magnetic member in the liquid and positioning a second corresponding magnetic member out of the housing for rotation by the drive motor. Other forms of these devices may also include lighting means associated with the housing for illuminating the immersed objects and enhancing the ornamental display effect.
Display devices of the aforementioned types generally include a spherical housing formed of glass or transparent plastic material having a bottom opening defined by an outwardly extending neck portion which permits the housing to be filled with the required liquid and decorative objects. The bottom opening is sealed with a liquidtight gasket which may be frictionally or threadedly engaged around the neck portion. The sealed neck portion is then inserted within a base which supports the housing in a manner to permit viewing the decorative objects through the liquid from substantially all sides of the housing.


A system and method of generating a link between a note of a digital score and a realization of the score are provided. To do so, a digital score is processed to generate an onset curve. The onset curve is then filtered to generate a first series of first time intervals, which each have a significant number of onsets. A realization of the digital score is also processed to generate a second series of second time intervals, which each have a significant dynamic change of the realization. The first and the second series of time intervals are then correlated to produce the link.

The present invention relates to the field of digital representation of music and to techniques for allowing a user to enter a selection of a realization of the music.
Most of today""s audio data, at the professional as well as at the consumer level, is distributed and stored in digital format. This has greatly improved the general handling of recorded audio material, such as transmission of audio files and modification of audio files.
Techniques for navigating among audio data files have been developed. For example a track number and time is used as a navigation means for compact discs (CDs). A variety of more sophisticated techniques for navigating among the program segments and to otherwise process audio files is known from the prior art:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,076 shows an audio program player including a dynamic program selection controller. This includes a playback unit at the subscriber location to reproduce the program segments received from a host and a mechanism for interactively navigating among the program segments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,926, is a virtual music system. There is included a multi-element actuator that generates a plurality of signals in response to being played by a user. The system also has an audio synthesizer that generates audio tones in response to control signals. There is a memory storing a musical score for the multi-element actuator, the stored musical score including a sequence of lead notes and an associated sequence of harmony note arrays. Each harmony note array of the sequence corresponding to a different one of the lead notes and contain zero, one or more harmony notes. The instrument also includes a digital processor receiving the plurality of signals from the multi-element actuator and generating a first set of control signals therefrom. The digital processor is programmed to identify from among the sequence of lead notes in the stored musical score a lead note which corresponds to a first one of the plurality of signals. The digital processor is also programmed to map a set of the remainder of the plurality of signals to whatever harmony notes are associated with the selected lead note, if any. Moreover, the digital processor is programmed to produce the first set of control signals from the identified lead note and the harmony notes to which the signals of the plurality of signals are mapped. The first set of control signals causes the synthesizer to generate sounds representing the identified lead note and the mapped harmony notes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,138, is a system for connecting an audio object to various multimedia objects to enable an object-oriented simulation of a multimedia presentation using a computer with a storage and a display. A plurality of multimedia objects are created on the display including at least one connection object and at least one audio object. Multimedia objects are displayed, including at least one audio object. The multimedia object and the audio object create a multimedia presentation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,264, is a system for connecting a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) object to various multimedia objects to enable an object-oriented simulation of a multimedia presentation using a computer with a storage and a display. A plurality of multimedia objects are created on the display including at least one connection object and at least one MIDI object in the storage. The multimedia object and the MIDI object are connected, and information is routed there between to create a multimedia presentation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,732 is a process performed in a data processing system that includes receiving an input selecting one of a plurality of multimedia presentations to be relocated from a first memory to a second memory, scanning the linked data structures of the selected multimedia presentation to recognize a plurality of resources corresponding to the selected multimedia presentation, and generating a list of names and locations within the selected multimedia presentation corresponding to the identified plurality of resources. The process also includes renaming the names on the generated list, changing the names of the identified plurality of resources in the selected multimedia presentation to the new names on the generated list, and moving the selected multimedia presentation and the resources identified on the generated list to the second memory.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,940 is a portable audio/audio-visual media tracking device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,126, is an image reproducing apparatus, image information recording medium, and musical accompaniment playing apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,421, is a method and apparatus for audio editing of MIDI files. The invention may be utilized to ensure the integrity of a source MIDI file, a copied or lifted section or a target file by automatically inserting matching note on or note off messages into a file or file section to correct inconsistencies created by such editing. Additionally, program status messages are automatically inserted into source files, copied or lifted sections, or target files to yield results that are consistent with the results that may be obtained by editing digital audio data. Timing information is selectively added or maintained such that MIDI files may be selectively edited without requiring a user to learn a complex MIDI sequencer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,829, is an information processing apparatus. The invention has a unit for displaying on a screen a musical score, keyboard, and tone time information to be inputted. There is also a unit for designating the position of the keyboard, and tone time information, respectively displayed on the display unit. Moreover, the invention includes a unit for storing musical information produced through designation by the designating unit of the position of the keyboard and tone time information displayed on the display unit. Additionally, there is a unit for controlling the display of the musical score, keyboard, and tone time information on the screen of the display unit. The unit also is for controlling the display of a pattern of musical tone or rest on the musical score on the display unit in accordance with the position of the keyboard and tome time information respectively designated by the designating unit. Finally, there is a unit for generating a musical tone by reading the musical information stored in the storage unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,961, is a method for storage, transcription, manipulation and reproduction of music on system-controlled musical instruments which faithfully reproduces the characteristics of acoustic musical instruments. The system comprises a music source, a central processing unit (CPU) and a CPU-controlled plurality of instrument transducers in the form of any number of acoustic or acoustic hybrid instruments. In one embodiment, performance information is sent from a music source MIDI controller to the CPU, edited in the CPU, converted into an electrical signal, and sent to instrument transducers via transducer drivers. In another embodiment, individual performances stored in a digital or sound tape medium are reproduced at will through the instrument transducers, or converted into MIDI data by a pitch/frequency detection device for storage, editing or performance in the CPU. In still another embodiment, performance information is extracted from an electronic recording medium or live performance by a pitch/frequency detection device, edited in the CPU, converted into an electrical signal, and sent to any number of instrument transducers. The device also eliminates typical acoustic musical instrument delay problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,491, is a method and apparatus for re-creating expression effects on solenoid actuated music producing instruments contained in musical renditions recorded in MIDI format for reproduction on solenoid actuated player piano systems. Detected strike velocity information contained in the MIDI recording is decoded and correlated to strike maps stored in a controlling microprocessor. The strike maps contain data corresponding to desired musical expression effects. Time differentiated pulses of fixed width and amplitude are directed to the actuating solenoids in accordance with the data in the strike maps, and the actuating solenoids in turn strike the piano strings. Thereafter, pulses of uniform amplitude and frequency are directed to the actuating solenoids to sustain the strike until the end of the musical note. The strike maps dynamically control the position of the solenoid during the entire duration of the strike to compensate for non-linear characteristics of solenoid operation and piano key movement, thus providing true reproduction of the original musical performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,004 is a system using a computer and keyboard for reproducing music and displaying words to the music. Data for reproducing music and displaying words are composed of binary-coded digital signals. Such signals are downloaded via a public communication line, or data corresponding to a plurality of musical pieces or songs are previously stored in an apparatus, and the stored data are selectively processed by a central processing unit of a computer. In the instrumental music data, trigger signals are existent for progression of processing the words data, whereby the reproduction of music and the display of words are linked to each other. The music thus reproduced is utilized as background music or for enabling the user to sing to the accompaniment thereof while watching the words displayed synchronously with such music reproduction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,281, is an automatic music player system having an ensemble playback mode of operation using a memory disk having recorded thereon a piece of music composed of at least two combined parts to be reproduced separately of each other. The parts being recorded in the form of at least two data subblocks, comprising a first sound generator to mechanically generate sounds when mechanically or electrically actuated, at least one second sound generator to electronically generate sounds when electronically actuated and a control unit connected to the first and second sound generators. One of the two or more subblocks of the data read from the disk is discriminated from another, whereupon the discriminated one of the data subblocks is transmitted to the first sound generator and another data subblock transmitted to the second sound generator. Additionally, the transmission of data to the second sound generator is continuously delayed by a predetermined period of time from the transmission of data to the first sound generator so that the two sound generators are enabled to produce sounds concurrently and in concert with each other.
It is a common disadvantage of the prior art that navigating among audio data is cumbersome and seriously lacks precision.
Accordingly it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an improved method of generating a link between a note of a digital score and a realization of the score as well as a corresponding computer program product. Further the invention provides an electronic audio device with improved navigation capabilities.
The invention enables to create a link between a representation of a piece of music and a recorded realization of the music. This allows to select a note of a digital score in order to automatically begin a playback of the realization starting with the selected note.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the digital score is visualized on a computer monitor. By means of a graphical user interface a user can select a note of the digital score. For example, this can be done by xe2x80x9cclickingxe2x80x9d on a note by means of a computer mouse. This way a link which is associated with the note is selected. The link points to a location of a recorded realization of the music which corresponds to the user selected note. Further a signal is generated automatically by selecting the note which starts playback of the realization at the location indicated by the link which is associated with the selected note.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention the digital score is analyzed to determine significant audio events in the music. This is done by selecting a time unit that allows to express all notes of the score as integer multiples of this time unit. This way the time axis is divided into logical time intervals.
The number of onsets of the score in each of the time intervals is determined. This results in the number of onsets over time. This onset curve is filtered. One way of filtering the onset curve is to apply a threshold to the onset curve. This means that the accumulated onsets of time intervals which do not surpass the predefined threshold are removed from the onset curve. This way insignificant audio events are filtered out.
The filtered onset curve determines a series of time intervals with accumulated onsets above the threshold. This series of time intervals is to be aligned with a corresponding series of time intervals being representative of the same audio events in the recorded realization of the music.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the series of time intervals for the recorded realization is determined by comparing the intensity of the realization with a threshold. When the intensity drops below the threshold the corresponding time interval is selected for the series of time intervals.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention the mapping of the series of time intervals of the representation and of the realization are mapped by means of minimizing a Hausdorff distance between the two series.
Felix Hausdorff (1868-1942) devised a metric function between subsets of a metric space. By definition, two sets are within Hausdorff distance d from each other if any point of one set is within distance d from some point of the other set.
Given two sets of points A={a1, . . . , am} and B=(b1, . . . , bn): the Hausdorff distance is defined as
H(A, B)=max(h(A, B), h(B, A))xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where                               h                                (                          A              ,              B                        )                          =                              max                          a              ∈              A                                                                    min                              b                ∈                B                                                                                "LeftDoubleBracketingBar"                                  a                  -                  b                                "RightDoubleBracketingBar"                            .                                                          (        2        )
The function h(A, B) is called the directed Hausdorff xe2x80x98distancexe2x80x99 from A to B (this function is not symmetric and thus is not a true distance). It identifies the point axcex5A that is farthest from any point of B, and measures the distance from a to its nearest neighbor in B. Thus the Hausdorff distance, H(A, B), measures the degree of mismatch between two sets, as it reflects the distance of the point of A that is farthest from any point of B and vice versa. Intuitively, if the Hausdorff distance is d, then every point of A must be within a distance d of some point of B and vice versa.
The two series of time intervals provided by the analysis of the score and the analysis of the realization are shifted with respect to each other until the Hausdorff distance between the two sets of time intervals reaches a minimum. This way pairs of time intervals of the two series are determined. Hence, for each pair a note belonging to a specific time interval is mapped onto a point of time of a realization and a link is formed between the note and the corresponding location of the recording of the realization.
An alternative way to perform the mapping operation is to shift the two series of time intervals with respect to each other until a cross correlation function reaches a maximum value. Other mathematical methods for finding a best matching position between the two series can be utilized.

Method of generating a link between a note of a digital score and a realization of the score

International Business Machines Corporation


An exemplary method, apparatus and system of crushing a bottle may include a barrel for surrounding a bottle. The barrel may have a main body with a threaded outer surface. A plate may be slidably engaged with an inner surface of the barrel at a first end of the barrel. A nut may be operably engaged with the threads on the outer surface of the barrel. A tab portion may be integral with the plate and the tab portion engaged the nut. A cap may be repeatably attachable to an end of the barrel opposite the plate. Movement of the nut may facilitate movement of the plate and moving the plate in the direction of the lid may crush a bottle within the barrel.

Carbonated beverages are produced and sold in various flavors and are marketed in various sized bottles and containers. Generally, larger quantities of carbonated beverages are sold in plastic 2 or 3-liter bottles. These bottles are meant to store and distribute multiple servings of a carbonated beverage over time: hours, days or even weeks. It is often less expensive for a consumer to purchase these larger beverage bottles than the smaller bottles or cans.
In a carbonated beverage, CO2 molecules are constantly coming out of solution and evaporating into the atmosphere above, and vice versa, impinging upon the surface and re-entering solution. The rate at which molecules leave solution is governed by the fluid temperature, and the rate at which molecules enter solution is a function of the partial pressure of the dissolved gas above the fluid, which in this case is CO2. At a certain partial pressure, CO2 molecules in the atmosphere may enter at a rate equivalent to the rate of evaporation, leaving the net concentration in stasis.
The presence of other gas molecules, specifically those that principally comprise air (N2 and O2) may have no effect on the CO2 evaporation rate. N2 and O2 molecules may not intercept escaping CO2 molecules and deflect them back into the liquid. The Ideal Gas Law teaches that the space between individual gas molecules (at other than extreme pressures) is so vast, relatively speaking, that intra-gas interactions can be ignored, which is the underlying principle of Dalton's Law of partial pressures. Dalton's Law states that the total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each constituent gas.
Two other laws that govern dissolved gases are Le Chatlier's principle and Henry's Law. Le Chatlier's principle teaches that for a given partial pressure, lowering the temperature of the liquid will tend to increase the percentage of dissolved gas therein, and Henry's Law instructs that the solubility of a gas in a liquid is a linear function of the partial pressure of that gas above that fluid.
Typically, carbonated beverage bottlers may add about 3.7 volumes of CO2 per volume of beverage. At a temperature of about 72° F., a CO2 partial pressure of approximately 52 psig may be required to maintain 3.7 volumes of CO2 in equilibrium. At the typical refrigerator temperature of 40° F., a much lower pressure of about 24 psig may be required to maintain equilibrium, demonstrating the degree to which temperature governs CO2 solubility. It can be derived that it may require approximately 148,571 psig of air to develop a CO2 partial pressure of about 52 psig.


There is provided a magnetic tape, to be used at a running speed of at least 4,000 mm/sec., wherein servo signals for controlling tracking are recorded on the magnetic layer or the backcoat layer, and wherein the difference between the recording track width and the reproducing track width is 16 μm or less, characterized in that the value of [α/(Tw−Tr)] is 0.2 or less, wherein a [μm] is an amount of a weave occurring on one of both edges of the magnetic tape and on the side of reference for the running of the tape; Tw [μm] is a recording track width; and Tr [μm] is a reproducing track width; and that a coefficient of humidity expansion in the tape widthwise direction is (0 to 14)×10−6/% RH; and a coefficient of thermal expansion in the tape widthwise direction is (0 to 10)×10−6/° C. This magnetic tape has a recording track width of 28 μm or less, and is excellent in servo performance, since a decrease in reproduction output due to off-track hardly occurs even when the difference between the recording track width and the reproducing track width is 16 μm or less.

Magnetic tapes have found various applications in audio tapes, videotapes, computer tapes, etc. In particular, in the field of magnetic tapes for data-backup (or backup tapes), tapes having memory capacities of 100 GB or more per reel are commercialized in association with increased capacities of hard discs for back-up. Therefore, it is inevitable to increase the capacity of this type of tape for data-backup. It is also necessary to increase the feeding speed of tape and a relative speed between the tape and heads in order to quicken the access speed and the transfer speed.
To increase the capacity of tape for data-backup per one reel, it is necessary to increase the length of tape per reel by decreasing the total thickness of the tape, to reduce the thickness demagnetization so as to shorten the recording wavelength by forming a magnetic layer with a thickness as very thin as 0.3 μm or less, and to increase the recording density in the tape-widthwise direction by narrowing the widths of the recording tracks.
When the thickness of the magnetic layer is reduced to 0.3 μm or less, the durability of the tape tend to lower. Therefore, at least one primer layer is provided between a non-magnetic support and the magnetic layer. When the recording wavelength is shortened, the influence of spacing between the magnetic layer and the magnetic heads becomes serious. Thus, if the magnetic layer has large projections or dents, the output decreases due to the spacing loss, so that the error rate increases.
When the recording density in the tape-widthwise direction is increased by narrowing the width of the recording tracks, magnetic flux leaking from the magnetic tape is decreased. Therefore, it is needed to use, for reproducing heads, MR heads which make use of magneto-resistance elements capable of achieving high output even when the magnetic fluxes are very small.
Examples of the magnetic recording media which can correspond to MR heads are disclosed in JP-A-11-238225, JP-A-2000-40217 and JP-A-2000-40218. In these magnetic recording media, skewness of output from the MR heads is prevented by controlling the magnetic fluxes from the magnetic recording medium (a product of a residual magnetic flux density and the thickness of the medium) to a specific value or less, or the thermal asperity of the MR heads is reduced by lessening the dents on the surface of the magnetic layer to a specific value or less.
When the width of the recording tracks is decreased, the reproduction output lowers due to off-track. To avoid such a problem, track servo is needed. As types of such track servo, there are an optical servo type (JP-A-11-213384, JP-A-11-339254 and JP-A-2000-293836) and a magnetic servo type. In either of these types, it is necessary that track servo is performed on a magnetic tape which is drawn out from a magnetic tape cartridge (which may be also called a cassette tape) of single reel type which houses only one reel for winding the magnetic tape, in a box-shaped casing body. The reason for using a single reel type cartridge is that a tape cannot be stably run in a two-reel type cartridge which has two reels for drawing out the tape and for winding the same, when the tape-running speed is increased (for example, 2.5 m/second or higher). The two-reel type cartridge has other problems in that the dimensions of the cartridge become larger and that the memory capacity per volume becomes smaller.
As mentioned above, there are two types of track servo systems, i.e., the magnetic servo type and the optical servo type. In the former track servo type, servo bands as shown in FIG. 10 are formed on a magnetic layer by magnetic recording, and servo tracking is performed by magnetically reading such servo bands. In the latter optical servo type, servo bands each consisting of an array of pits are formed on a backcoat layer by laser irradiation or the like, and servo tracking is performed by optically reading such servo bands. Other than these types, there is such magnetic serve type in which magnetic servo signals are also recorded on a magnetized backcoat layer (for example, JP-A-11-126327). Further, in other optical servo type, optical servo signals are recorded on a backcoat layer, using a material capable of absorbing light or the like (for example, JP-A-11-126328).
Then, the principle of the track servo system is simply described by way of the former magnetic servo type.
As shown in FIG. 10, in the magnetic tape (3) for the magnetic servo type, servo bands (200) for track serve which extend along the lengthwise direction of the tape and are spaced from one another at about 2.8 mm intervals, and data tracks (300) for recording data thereon are formed on the magnetic layer. Each servo band (200) consists of a plurality of servo signal-recording sections (201) on which the respective servo track numbers are magnetically recorded. A magnetic head array (not shown), which records and reproduces data on a magnetic tape, consists of a pair of MR heads for servo track (forward running and backward running) at both ends, and for example, 8×1 pairs of recording-reproducing heads (in which the recording heads are magnetic induction type heads and the reproducing heads are MR heads) which are arranged between both the MR heads for servo tracking. In response to a signal from the MR head for servo track which has read a servo signal, the entire magnetic head array moves interlocking with each other, so that the recording-reproducing heads move in the widthwise direction of the tape to reach the data tracks (for example, in case of the magnetic head array on which 8×1 pairs of recording-reproducing heads are arranged, eight data tracks are formed corresponding to a pair of serve tracks).
In this stage, the magnetic tape runs in such a state that one of both tape edges extending along the lengthwise direction is regulated in its tape widthwise position by the inner surface of a flange of a guide roller provided in a magnetically recording-reproducing unit (a tape-driving unit) (see FIG. 8). As seen in FIG. 4, the edge (3a) of the magnetic tape (3) generally has corrugated unevenness called edge weave or edge wave (unevenness formed by the waving of the widthwise edge of the tape alongside the tape lengthwise direction). Therefore, the magnetic tape (3), even though running alongside the inner surface of the flange as the reference for the tape running, very slightly fluctuates in its position in the widthwise direction. However, this problem is solved by employing the above-mentioned servo system: that is, even if the position of the magnetic tape very slightly fluctuates in the widthwise direction, the entire magnetic head array moves in the tape widthwise direction in association with such a fluctuation, so that the recording-reproducing head can always reach the correct data tracks.
In this case, if the tape has a high edge weave α having a frequency [(V/f): s−1=Hz] of 80 Hz or more (particularly 200 Hz or more), wherein V is a tape-running speed and f is a cycle of the edge weave, the magnetic head array cannot follow the tracks. Thus, dislocation from the tracks occurs. However, such dislocation from the tracks is not so serious, in case where the recording track width is as wide as 30 μm or more, and where the difference between the recording track width and the reproducing track width [(recording track width)−(reproducing track width)] exceeds 16 μm (for example, the recording track width is about 80 μm, and the reproducing track width, about 50 μm). This is because, when the recording track width is as wide as 30 μm or more and when the above difference exceeds 16 μm, the recording track width is sufficiently wider than the reproducing track width, so that the magnetic head array can run on the recording tracks, even if dislocation of several μm from the track occurs. Thus, such dislocation does not leads to a decrease in output.
In another case, when a temperature or a humidity changes, dislocation from the tracks tends to occur, because the magnetic tape expands or contracts in the tape-widthwise direction in association with such a change. The methods of solving this problem by lessening the coefficients of temperature and/or humidity expansion of a magnetic tape are disclosed in JP-A-04-106723, JP-A-09-219016, JP-A-04-106723, JP-A-11-096545 and JP-A-11-250449. However, such dislocation from tracks in association with a change in temperature and/or humidity is not so serious for the same reason as above, in case where the recording track width is as wide as 30 μm or more, and where the above difference exceeds 16 μm. In this regard, although the expansion of a magnetic tape in the lengthwise direction due to a change in temperature and/or humidity may change the recording wavelength or the like, correction with circuits is possible for such a change.
As a result of further investigation, it is found that such a change in temperature and/or humidity does not induce a serious problem under specified conditions, even though the recording track width is 30 μm or less, and the above difference is 16 μm or less. That is, a decrease in reproduction output due to off-track hardly causes a problem under the following conditions (a) or (b): (a) dislocation from the tracks due to a change in temperature and/or humidity is small, although dislocation from the tracks due to the edge weave is large; and (b) dislocation from the tracks due to the edge weave is small, although dislocation from the tracks due to a change in temperature and/or humidity is large.
However, as a result of more intensive investigation, it was revealed that a decrease in reproduction output due to off-track tends to occur, even though the amount of the edge weave and the coefficient of thermal and/or humidity expansion are each singly negligibly small, in case where the recording track width is so narrow as 28 μm or less and the above difference of [(recording track width)−(reproducing track width)] is 16 μm or less. While there is a fluctuation of several micrometers in position between the recording heads and the reproducing heads in the apparatus, this fluctuation becomes at least two times larger under the worst combination of the conditions. The dislocation from the tracks due to the edge weave and a change in temperature/humidity further gives adverse influence, which results in a decrease in reproduction output. This phenomenon is remarkable when the difference of [(recording track width)−(reproducing track width)] is 10 μm or less.
When the width of the recording track is further reduced to 21 μm or less, a decrease in reproduction output due to off-track appears in spite of about 2 μm of edge weave, which has raised no problem in the conventional recording tracks. This is because, when the reproducing track width should be equal to a conventional one in order to ensure a reproduction output, the off-track margin becomes narrower. Further, when the recording track width is as narrow as 21 μm or less, it is confirmed that not only the absolute value of edge weave but also the cycle of the edge weave and the tape running speed have a complicated relationship with the off-track. To apply the servo system to a magnetic tape having recording tracks with a width as narrow as 21 μm or less, a relationship among the cycle and the amount of edge weave, the recording track width, the reproducing track width and the tape running speed with respect to the head followability is carefully examined. As a result, the following are revealed: a position error signal (or PES, i.e. a value indicating a fluctuation in positional dislocation; the value of a standard deviation 1) becomes higher, resulting in a tracking error, if the values of [α/(Tw−Tr)] and [α/(Tw−Tr)]×(V/f) exceed specific values, wherein α is an amount of the edge weave (in the tape widthwise direction of the tape edge (the direction Y–Y′ on FIG. 4)) having a cycle of f; V [mm/second] is a tape running speed; Tw [μm] is a recording track width; and Tr [μm] is a reproducing track width. This problem is considered to arise as follows. Since the magnetic head array as a whole has large mass, the magnetic head array cannot move following the motion of the magnetic tape in the widthwise direction, when the values of [α/(Tw−Tr)] and [α/(Tw−Tr)×(V/f)] exceed specific values. As a result, a position error signal or PES becomes higher. In case where the off-track margin is small, the off-track becomes larger to cause a such a tracking error.

Magnetic tape and magnetic tape cartridge


A method for hierarchically block coding a packet stream includes the steps of appending a packet error correction code to each packet in the packet stream and appending a block error correction code to successive blocks of packets in the packet stream to form a hierarchically error correction coded packet stream. This packet stream is then transmitted through a communications channel. Errors are corrected in each block of packets in response to each block error correction code and errors are corrected in each packet in each block in response to each packet error correction code.

Packet-based communications systems have been developed for transmitting digital signals. In some communications systems, the communications channel is noisy and can introduce errors into the packets, decreasing the reliability of the communications. In others, such as the internet, the communications channel can lose packets altogether. Systems have been developed to increase the reliability of such communications systems.
These systems include some kind of error detection and correction mechanism. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,918, entitled "METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EFFICIENT ERROR CORRECTION IN A PACKET-SWITCHED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM" and issued Oct. 14, 1997 to Tran et al., a packet switched communication system is disclosed in which packets of data are divided into segments. A first error detection code is generated over each segment, and a second over the packet as a whole. The segments making up the packet are then transmitted over the communications channel. A receiver receives the segments and checks the error detection codes in each segment and the packet. If an error is detected in a segment or the packet as a whole, the receiver sends a negative acknowledgement to the transmitter, which, in response, retransmits the erroneous segment, or the entire packet, until it has been successfully received.
This system depends on negative acknowledgements and retransmission to correct erroneous packets. This requires additional communications, reducing the overall throughput, and requires a back channel from the receiver to the transmitter to communicate the negative acknowledgements. Such a back channel is not always available. For example, broadcast systems such as terrestrial, cable and satellite television transmission system are one-way systems only.
In European patent publication EP 1 014 730 A1, entitled "FORWARD ERROR CORRECTION AT MPEG-2 TRANSPORT STREAM LAYER" and published Dec. 22, 1999 for Wan et al., an MPEG packet system is disclosed in which a plurality of packets, termed a supergroup, is accumulated, and an error correction code is generated over the data in the supergroup. The error correction code data is then packetized and appended to the packet stream as optional packets. Appropriately equipped receivers may receive the MPEG packets and the optional appended error correction code packets and perform error correction on the received supergroup of MPEG packets.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,875, entitled "AN HDTV COMPRESSION SYSTEM" issued Jun. 16, 1992 to Raychaudhuri et al., discloses a packet communications system in which high priority and low priority MPEG data are transmitted in respective packet streams on separate modulated carriers. Each packet in both packet streams includes an error detection code. In addition respective forward error correction codes are calculated over successive blocks of packets in both packet streams then appended to the packet streams. At the receiver, the forward error correction code is used to correct for errors in the respective received packet streams. Then the error detection code in each packet in both packet streams is analyzed to determine if an error remains in that packet. If such as error is detected, then some form of error concealment is performed. For example, for video MPEG data, should an erroneous packet be detected, the image area represented by that packet is not updated to prevent the erroneous data from distorting the image.
It is known that every error correction code can correct a maximum number of errors. The number of errors correctable by the code is related to the number of code bits relative to the number of data bits protected, i.e. to correct more errors requires more code bits, which, in turn, increases the overhead and lowers the throughput of the communications system. While it is possible to select an error correction code which is strong enough to correct for the loss of one or more packets (e.g. in EP 1 014 730 A1 up to nine lost packets and up to 4½ 'errored' packets may be corrected), there is always a limit to the number of lost packets which may be corrected. If any more than that number is lost, then all of the packets in the block of packets over which the error correction code was originally calculated are compromised. In such a case, in order to minimize potential image degradation, none of the packets in the group are used in generating an image. However, it is desirable that, even if more than the predetermined number of packets is lost, the data in the remaining packets be made available for use.

Hierarchical block coding for a packet-based communications system


Pastes are disclosed that are configured to coat a passage of a substrate. When the paste is sintered, the paste becomes electrically conductive so as to transmit electrical signals from a first end of the passage to a second end of the passage that is opposite the first end of the passage. The metallized paste contains a lead-free glass frit, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion sufficiently matched to the substrate so as to avoid cracking of the sintered paste, the substrate, or both, during sintering.

Semiconductor devices are constantly responding to the market demand for faster, smaller, higher data and less expensive devices. Devices are expected to deliver more functionality at greater speeds in smaller dimensions and with capabilities of electrical and optical signals. This requires a new packaging scheme that can integrate heterogeneous devices such as logic, memory, power, graphics, sensors and other integrated circuits and components in a single package where improved electrical performance is also achieved by having these devices in close proximity.
Microscopic through-holes in a glass substrate are filled with materials that are usually metallized, and can act as electrical connectors between the top and bottom surface of the glass substrate to transfer electronic signals and currents to semiconductor or other devices. Glass and glassy substrates include borosilicate, quartz, sapphire, and other substrates with, toughness, pressure sensitivity, thermal expansion, dielectric properties and transparency designed for specific applications.
One system for metallized glass substrate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,374,892, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein. Another system for metallizing glass substrates is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,691,634, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.

Filling materials and methods of filling through holes of a substrate


A method for etching a selected area of a conductive metal oxide layer deposited on a support is provided. The method comprises removing the area via electrochemical route in the presence of a polarized microelectrode and an electrochemical solution. In addition, an etched layer obtained with the foregoing method is provided.

ITO is a degenerate semiconductor of n type whose transparency in particular in the visible range is due to the large band gap of more than 3.5 eV. The electric conductivity of ITO results from the supply of charge carriers such as electrons on levels close to the bottom of the conduction band firstly through the creation of oxygen vacancies and secondly by substitution, in the crystalline lattice, of indium ions by tin ions.
Therefore thin ITO layers are electrically conductive and optically transparent in the visible range. Through these characteristics, they have found a broad field of applications as electrode material in all technologies requiring transparent and conductive electrodes. Among the applications in which ITO layers can be used, mention may be made of optically transparent sensors or detectors [1], bioelectronic sensors or detectors [2], the micro/nano-structuring of optical devices but also screen technology for touch screens, solar cells, liquid crystal displays, light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, heating devices for glass panes, mirrors or lenses etc. . . .
These applications mostly require the etching of layers (or films) of ITO with the selective removal of part of these layers. For this purpose, it is possible to use either wet etching or dry etching processes.
Wet etching is widely used since it offers a rapid, low-cost process. This technique is based on photolithography to achieve removal of the surface of the substrate. It can be applied to large surfaces with good reproducibility. However, there are a certain number of disadvantages such as problems of selective etching at grain boundaries and isotropic etching i.e. etching produced in all spatial directions. Small variations in the layer generate ITO residues after etching and also cause lateral attack of the ITO layers. This may deteriorate the electrical properties of the ITO electrode and lead to non-controllable forms with respect to the edges of the etched ITO layer. In addition, wet etching requires the use of strong acid solutions such as halogenated acids or aqua regia which may damage the film or substrate on which the ITO layer was deposited [3]. Wet etching also requires the use of a mask to protect the regions of the ITO layer which are not to be removed. The use of a mask not only makes the process more cumbersome with the need for additional steps such as the preparation, placing in position and removal of the mask, but also increases the cost of the process.
Dry etching particularly uses the deposit of the ITO layer by sputtering over the mask, and serigraphy. Another simple and efficient dry etching method is laser etching which does not require the use of masks. The laser photoenergy causes vaporization of the ITO layer and hence clean patterning of the ITO layer. However, even if the ITO layer can be completely removed with a single laser pulse, the ITO vapour may redeposit, after etching, on the etched surface [4]. Also, the energy of the laser may damage the substrate (or support) on which the ITO layer was deposited.
Finally, whether wet or dry etching is used, the final resolution obtained is of the order of 1 μm. In other words, these methods allow etching (or relief features) of the ITO layer to be obtained having a minimum width of 1 μm.
Having regard to the current potential of ITO layers and the applications thereof, there is a true need for a method with which it is possible to etch ITO layers in reproducible, precise manner without damaging the substrate on which the ITO layer was deposited.

Method for etching conductive metal oxide layer using microelectrode

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES


A partial block polyimide-polysiloxane copolymer is provided comprising repeat unit structures having structural formulae (1) and (2) wherein X is an aromatic or aliphatic ring-containing tetravalent organic radical, Y1 is a diamine residue, Y2 is a diaminosiloxane residue, Y1 and Y2 are contained in the copolymer in amounts of 99-20 mol % and 1-80 mol %, respectively, L and m each are an integer of 2-50. The copolymer has good adhesion to substrates, moisture-proof reliability and a low modulus of elasticity.

Due to heat resistance, polyimide-based materials are widely used in adhesives, sheet materials, sealants and the like. In general, polyimide is dissolved in a solvent to form a varnish, which is applied to a semiconductor device or the like directly or via an insulating film and cured to form a protective film of polyimide resin. This is followed by encapsulation with a molding material, typically epoxy resin. The resulting package, in which components including the chip, substrate and encapsulant have different coefficients of expansion, suffer thermal stresses during subsequent steps such as thermal cycling and solder reflow, inducing chip cracks or thermal degradation. It is thus required to endow a polyimide resin protective film with a sufficiently low modulus of elasticity to absorb such stresses. One approach for reducing the modulus of elasticity is by incorporating siloxane linkages into the polyimide resin structure. The problems of this approach are that the cured film has a lower glass transition temperature (Tg) and the resin has degraded heat resistance. For example, JP-A 5-009254 and JP-A 6-116517 disclose siloxane-modified polyamide-imides, which resins have insufficient bond strength to copper foil and still suffer from the problems including lower Tg of cured film and the degraded heat resistance of resin.
In JP-A 2004-051794 or U.S. Ser. No. 10/621,527, the inventors proposed a polyimide silicone having phenolic hydroxyl radicals having high reactivity with epoxy resins, intended for the advanced die bonding or lead frame bonding. It would be desirable to endow the polyimide silicone with more heat resistance and a lower modulus of elasticity.
With respect to the synthesis of polyimide-siloxane copolymer, it is known that if the conventional two-stage synthesis process proceeds by way of polyamic acid of multiple components, the polyamic acid readily undergoes exchange reaction between amide radicals in a solvent, leading to a random copolymer. In the random copolymer, the properties of respective components are averaged. Thus a block copolymer is more effective than a random copolymer in imparting properties of the other component while maintaining the inherent properties of the polyimide resin. There is a need for efficient synthesis of the block copolymer.

Partial block polyimide-polysiloxane copolymer, making method, and resin composition comprising the copolymer


A communication device including an antenna element, a ground element and a battery element is provided. The ground element has a short edge as a first edge and a long edge as a second edge. The antenna element is close to the first edge or at a dented section of the first edge. There is a notch in the ground element, and an open edge of the notch is at the second edge. The length of the notch is at least 0.3 times the maximum length of the ground element, and the width of the notch is at least 0.4 times the maximum width of the ground element.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure generally relates to a communication device, and more particularly, relates to a communication device with a ground element to increase the bandwidth of an antenna element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays, the most popular mobile communication devices are smart phones, which have a variety of functions to satisfy demands of users. Consumers usually select different brands and types of smart phones by considering the weight and thickness thereof. To decrease the thickness, a traditional method is to integrate a system circuit board with a battery element, wherein the system circuit board and the battery element are both disposed on a same plane. Accordingly, the system circuit board does not have a whole rectangular shape. It is a critical challenge for an antenna designer to make a wideband antenna by using a non-rectangular ground element.
To sum up, there is a need to design a novel communication device and a ground element therein, wherein the ground element not only effectively decreases the thickness of the communication device but also increases the bandwidth of an antenna element.

Communication device and antenna element therein