A dispensing assembly for a pressure dispense package includes a connector having separate and distinct liquid and extraction conduits, and having a pressurization gas conduit. A liner fitment adapter may include a longitudinal bore to receive a probe portion of a connector defining a liquid extraction conduit, and may include a lateral bore to enable removal of gas. Insertion of a connector into a dispensing assembly simultaneously makes fluidic connections between (a) a gas extraction conduit and a dispensing volume; (b) a liquid extraction conduit and the dispensing volume, and (c) a pressurization gas conduit and a space to be pressurized within a pressure dispense vessel.

In many industrial applications, chemical reagents and compositions are required to be supplied in a high purity state, and specialized packaging has been developed to ensure that the supplied material is maintained in a pure and suitable form, throughout the package fill, storage, transport, and ultimate dispensing operations.
In the field of microelectronic device manufacturing, the need for suitable packaging is particularly compelling for a wide variety of liquids and liquid-containing compositions, since any contaminants in the packaged material, and/or any ingress of environmental contaminants to the contained material in the package, can adversely affect the microelectronic device products that are manufactured with such liquids or liquid-containing compositions, rendering the microelectronic device products deficient or even useless for their intended use.
As a result of these considerations, many types of high-purity packaging have been developed for liquids and liquid-containing compositions used in microelectronic device manufacturing, such as photoresists, etchants, chemical vapor deposition reagents, solvents, wafer and tool cleaning formulations, chemical mechanical polishing compositions, color filtering chemistries, overcoats, liquid crystal materials, etc.
One type of high-purity packaging that has come into such usage includes a rigid, substantially rigid, or semi-rigid overpack containing a liquid or liquid-based composition in a flexible liner or bag that is secured in position in the overpack by retaining structure such as a lid or cover. Such packaging is commonly referred to as "bag-in-can" (BIC), "bag-in-bottle" (BIB) and "bag-in-drum" (BID) packaging. Packaging of such general type is commercially available under the trademark NOWPAK from Advanced Technology Materials, Inc. (Danbury, Conn., USA).
Preferably, a liner comprises a flexible material, and the overpack container comprises a wall material that is substantially more rigid than said flexible material. Rigid or semi-rigid overpack of the packaging may be formed (for example) of a high-density polyethylene or other polymer or metal, and the liner may be provided as a pre-cleaned, sterile collapsible bag of a polymeric film material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, PTFE-based laminates, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, or the like, selected to be inert to the material (e.g., liquid) to be contained in the liner. Multilayer laminates comprising any of the foregoing materials may be used. Exemplary materials of construction of a liner further include: metalized films, foils, polymers/copolymers, laminates, extrusions, co-extrusions, and blown and cast films. Liner-based packaging of such general type is commercially available under the trademark NOWPAK from Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
In use of liner-based packaging to dispense liquids and liquid-based compositions, the liquid or composition is dispensed from the liner by connecting a dispensing assembly including a dip tube or short probe to a port of the liner, with the dip tube being immersed in the contained liquid. Fluid (e.g., gas) pressure is applied to the exterior surface of the liner (i.e., in the space between the liner and a surrounding overpack container), to progressively collapse the liner and thereby force liquid through the dispensing assembly for discharge to associated flow circuitry to flow to an end-use tool or site. Such operation may be called liner-based pressure dispensing. Use of a liner to contain a liquid to be dispensed prevents direct contact with pressurized gas arranged to exert pressure against the liner.
A simplified schematic of a conventional liner-based package 60 is provided in FIG. 1A, showing a liner 62 having (surrounding) an interior volume containing a liquid 68, with the liner 62 disposed within an overpack container 61. An interstitial space 63 is provided between the liner 62 and the overpack container 61, and is in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source 65. Addition of pressurized gas to the interstitial space 63 compresses the liner 62 to cause liquid 68 to flow through a diptube 64 out of the container to a process tool or other point of use 66.
Headspace (extra air or gas at the top of a liner) and microbubbles present a significant process problem for liquid dispensing from liner-based packages, such as in flat panel display (FPD) and integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing facilities. Headspace gas may derive from the filling operation, in which the package is less than completely filled with the liquid. Less than complete filling of the package may be necessary in order to provide a headspace as an expansion volume to accommodate changes in the ambient environment of the package, such as temperature changes that cause the liquid to expand during transport of the package to a location where the package will be placed in dispensing operation.
While maintenance of headspace in a liner-based package may be desirable during package transport, such headspace may be detrimental to fluid dispensing and/or use. Gas from the headspace may become entrained in the liquid being dispensed from a liner-based pressure package and produce a heterogeneous, a multi-phase dispensed fluid stream that is deleterious to the process or product for which the dispensed liquid is being utilized. Further, the presence of gas from the headspace in the dispensed liquid can result in malfunction or error in operation of fluid flow sensors, flow controllers, and the like.
A related problem, incident to the use of packages containing liquid compositions, is permeation or in-leakage of gas into the contained liquid and solubilization and bubble formation in the liquid. In the case of liner-based packages, gases exterior to the liner may permeate through the liner (e.g., through slightly permeable film materials, seams between liner panels, and/or pinholes formed in liner panels) into the contained liquid. Where liner-based packages are utilized for pressure dispense operation, the pressurizing gas itself, e.g., air or nitrogen, may permeate through the liner material and become dissolved in the liquid in the liner. When the liquid subsequently is dispensed, pressure drop in the dispensing lines and downstream instrumentation and equipment may cause liberation of formerly dissolved gas, resulting in the formation of bubbles in the stream of dispensed liquid, with consequent adverse effect analogous to those resulting from entrained headspace gas. It would therefore be desirable to remove headspace gas prior to initial dispensation. It would also be desirable to permit continued removal of liberated gas after liquid dispensation has commenced. It would further be desirable to accomplish gas removal rapidly while reducing the potential for microbubble formation.
In the manufacture of semiconductor products and other microelectronic products, the presence of bubbles, even those of microscopic size (microbubbles), can result in an integrated circuit or flat-panel display being deficient or even useless for its intended purpose. It therefore is imperative for all extraneous gas to be removed from the liquid utilized for the manufacture of such products.
In use of a typical liner-based package, the package is pressurized and a venting valve is opened to allow headspace gas to flow out of the liner. After headspace gas is exhausted, liquid enters the headspace gas discharge line, a gas venting valve is closed, and another valve is opened to dispense only liquid in a liquid discharge line. When the package signals an empty detect condition, e.g., by monitoring of pressure of the dispensed fluid, and detection of a drop in the pressure as a function of time, the connector or other coupling device joined to the vessel containing the liner can be removed from the exhausted vessel, and placed on a fresh (e.g., full) container, to provide for continued dispensing operation. Due to presence of liquid in the headspace removal line, a timer may be used to bypass the liquid sensor until headspace gas arrives again. Thereafter, liquid reenters the vent line and the sensor is "re-activated" with the timer to close the vent valve. Such arrangement, however, is susceptible to failure modes involving occurrence of the following events: (i) the timer is not set correctly and transmits a false signal indicating that the headspace has been removed; (ii) headspace varies from one filled package to another, and settings that are selected for one package are not appropriate for another, so that the headspace gas is not correctly removed; (iii) bubbles present in the headspace gas vent line create a false indication of headspace gas removal; and (iv) remaining (previously present) liquid in the headspace vent line can give a false indication of headspace gas removal.
Additionally, in the storage and dispensing of liquids and liquid-based compositions from liner packages, it is desirable to manage the dispensing operation so that the depletion or approach to depletion of the dispensed material is detected so that termination of a downstream operation, or switchover to a fresh package of material, is able to be timely effected. Reliability in end-stage monitoring of the dispensing operation, and particularly in detection of an empty or approaching empty condition, therefore enables optimum utilization of liner packages, and is a desired objective for design and implementation of such packaging. It can be difficult to reliably and economically detect an empty condition or approach to empty condition indicative of exhaustion of liquid from a package or reservoir for dispensation to a downstream process. Upon completion of detection, a second source of liquid is preferred to be automatically switched over, thereby eliminating any additional downstream operational concerns. For example, a switchover reservoir adapted to supply fluid deriving from said pressure dispense package may be utilized for dispensing when a pressure dispense package is emptied or nearly emptied of said fluid.
Another problem associated with packages from which liquids are dispensed for industrial processes such as manufacture microelectronic device products, relates to the fact that the liquids in many cases are extraordinarily expensive, as specialty chemical reagents. It therefore is necessary from an economic perspective to achieve as complete a utilization of the liquid from a package as possible, so that no substantial residual amount of liquid remains in the package after the dispensing operation has been completed. For such reason, it is desirable to monitor the dispensing operation in a manner that permits determination of the endpoint of such operation. There is a continuing effort in the art to provide efficient endpoint detectors that minimize the amount of liquid residuum in the package.
Certain problems with liner-based dispensing packages have been addressed by systems and methods disclosed in International Patent Application Publication No. WO/2007/146892 ("the '892 publication"), which is assigned to Advanced Technology Materials, Inc., shares several common inventors with the present application, and is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The '892 publication discloses highly integrated connectors that provide the following utilities: liquid dispensing, headspace gas removal, pressure relief, pressure measurement, and reservoir gas/liquid level control (i.e., via sensing and valving). The accompanying FIG. 1 (which is adapted from FIG. 20A of the '892 publication) provides a cross-sectional view of at least a portion of such a connector 1 including an integrated reservoir 16 and a sensor 55 proximate to an interface between liquid 58 and gas (i.e., disposed above the liquid 58) within the reservoir 16, to sense a condition in which a gas pocket has accumulated along an upper portion of the reservoir 16, to permit gas to be periodically and automatically expelled from the reservoir 16 during dispensing operation. Although not fully illustrated in FIG. 1, the connector 1 includes a probe (in which a central conduit 6 is defined) arranged to extend downward into a liner. The central conduit 6 extends in the middle of a container and/or liner (not shown) and the reservoir 16 disposed within the body 24 of the connector 1. The central conduit 6 has a central bore accommodating upward gas/liquid flow, and an open upper end 10 allowing the upflowing gas/liquid during dispensing operation to overflow the upper end 10 and issue into the reservoir 16. A pressurized gas supply line 3 is used to supply pressurized gas to a space between a liner and an overpack container to promote dispensation of the liquid contents of the liner into the connector 1. A pressure sensing line 21 and pressure sensor 22 are arranged to sense pressure in the central conduit 6. A gas conduit 18, which is in fluid communication with the reservoir 16 at an upper portion thereof, is communicatively coupled to an actuatable gas outlet valve 34. A corresponding liquid outlet conduit 19 is in fluid communication with the reservoir 16 at a lower portion thereof and is communicatively coupled to an actuatable liquid outlet valve 30.
Although integrated reservoir systems disclosed in the '892 publication achieve their intended purpose, various considerations have demonstrated unmet needs for modifications or enhancements to such systems.
Liner-based pressure dispensing containers are often installed in dedicated material dispensing enclosures or cabinets with numerous other fluid lines and fluid control components. Presence of an integrated reservoir and other components requires presence of significant space (volume) above a pressure dispensing container, and also requires multiple electrical and fluid connections to be made within that space. It would be desirable to reduce volumetric requirements immediately proximate to pressure dispensing containers, and also reduce the number of electrical and fluid connections that need to be made immediately proximate to such containers.
In case a liner within a pressure dispense package according to the '892 publication should fail, it may be difficult or impossible to continue dispensation of a liquid composition with the liner due to flow of gas from a pressurized gas inlet through the central conduit (e.g., central conduit 6 as illustrated in the accompanying FIG. 1), to the exclusion of liquid flow through such central conduit. It would be desirable to provide for continued flow of liquid through a connector of a liner-based pressure dispense assembly even if the integrity of the liner should be compromised.
Sole reliance on gravimetric separation between liquid and gas within a reservoir such as disclosed in the '892 publication may not provide ample separation in case very high viscosity liquids and/or high liquid dispensing rates are used. That is, depending on the liquid viscosity and flow rate in a gravimetric reservoir separation system, upward motion of gas bubbles in a reservoir (i.e., toward a gas outlet arranged at an upper portion thereof) may not be sufficiently fast to overcome downward motion of liquid in the reservoir (i.e., toward a liquid outlet arranged at a bottom portion thereof), such that some bubbles may be undesirably entrained in flow of liquid through the liquid outlet associated with the reservoir. It would be desirable to ensure that gas bubbles are not entrained in liquid dispensed to a point of use over a wide range of liquid viscosities and liquid flow rates.
Prior methods of joining a diptube to a mating (e.g., recess-defining) structure have occasionally led to tube cracking. Certain joining methods have involved tube flaring and other techniques, which are also labor intensive. It would be desirable to accommodate mating of a diptube to a mating structure while avoiding the foregoing issues.
When dispensing highly opaque liquids (e.g., pigmented color filter materials and used for coating flat panels in the manufacture of display monitors, and similar fluids), conventional systems and methods for detecting presence or absence of liquid may be insufficient, since optical measurement techniques may be ineffective and capacitance measurement techniques may be insufficiently sensitive and/or reliable as applied to such liquids. It would be desirable to enhance reliability of detecting opaque fluids for dispensing of same to desired points of use, such as manufacturing process tools for flat panel displays.
When dispensing fluid from a liner-based pressure dispense package including an overpack container containing a thin film-based liner defining an interior volume arranged to contain source material (including liquid), gas trapped within folds of a liner may be released during dispensation and may be dissolved in the source material. That is, conventional liners may embody two-dimensional designs (e.g., including front and back panels, optionally including side and/or end panels) that are peripherally bonded to one another) that are not conformal to the shape of an associated overpack container, and gas may be trapped in folds of such a liner when the liner is inflated and filled. Release of such gas during pressure dispensing enables such gas to be dissolved in source material. When the source material is saturated with gas, the source material or container (containing source material) must be replaced to avoid dispensation of source material containing gas bubbles. Such replacement may be necessary long before source material is exhausted from the pressure dispense container, thereby wasting source material and potentially reducing utilization of a process tool while a pressure dispense container is changed. Based on testing and simulation, Applicants have been determined that the maximum amount of fold gas at the upper limit should not surpass 500 ml for a 200 liter liner.
FIG. 10 shows dissolved gas saturation pressure (in Pascals) versus time (in days) for simulations modeling gas released from folds during pressure dispense of fluid from seven different 200 liter collapsible film-based container liners (e.g., simulations including a liner with 0 cm radius fold containing 0 ml of fold gas, a 1 cm radius fold containing 17 ml of fold gas, 2 cm radius fold containing 133 ml of fold gas, a 3 cm radius fold containing 447 ml of fold gas, 4 cm radius fold containing 1061 ml of fold gas, a single Z-fold configuration, and a double Z-configuration, respectively). The volume of each bubble is calculated assuming the bubble is under atmospheric pressure, while the radius of each bubble is calculated assuming the bubble is subjected to 30 psi dispense pressure. As shown in FIG. 10, a double Z-fold liner configuration tends to trap more gas (resulting in higher gas saturation pressure) than a single Z-fold liner. Based on the simulation represented in FIG. 10, liquid source material becomes saturated (e.g., with 500 ml of) fold gas following dispensation of about 88% of the source material.
Applicants have determined that fold gas is not released from folds of a pressure dispensing liner until very late in the dispensation process. This means a liner with relatively high rigidity and poor conformance to an overpack container will have folds and be susceptible to the dissolved gas. FIG. 11 shows the release of fold gas with respect to time for a first liner with a single Z-fold configuration (lower curve) and for a second liner with a double Z-fold configuration (upper curve). Such figure shows that a larger amount of fold gas is trapped within a liner having a double Z-fold configuration than in a liner having a single Z-fold configuration. FIG. 11 shows that a substantial amount of fold gas remains within a liner during the last 25 percent of the dispense process. The issue is also exacerbated by the high ratio of gas to remaining source material within the liner near the end of the dispense process (when the majority of the liquid source material has been depleted from the liner).
Whether or not in conjunction with presence of fold gas, presence of any pin holes or larger opening (i.e., a breach) in a liner tend to allow ingress of pressurization gas into the liner and gas headspace, thereby hastening attainment of (undesirable) saturation of source material with gas.
It would be desirable to manage the effects of fold gas and the effects of a failed liner in pressure dispensing of source material. It would be desirable to increase the percentage of dispensed source material without reaching the gas saturation level (e.g., to enable dispensation of a very high percentage (e.g., >98% or >99%) of source material before a gas-saturated condition is reached) in order to reduce waste of source material and extend the time between replenishment of source material containers.
The art therefore continues to seek improvements in dispensing packages, dispensing systems, dispensing methods, and associated sensing apparatuses.

Liquid dispensing systems with gas removal and sensing capabilities


A crystal of (S,E)-2-(2,6-dichlorobenzamido)-5-[4-(methyl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)phenyl-yl]pent-4-enoic acid has excellent chemical and physical stability, and a medical use thereof.

Pharmaceuticals are required to maintain the quality thereof for a long time during distribution, storage and the like, and high chemical and physical stability is demanded for compounds as effective components. Thus, for the effective components of pharmaceuticals, crystals which are expected to have high stability compared to amorphous products are commonly employed.
In screening the crystals of effective components of pharmaceuticals, it is difficult to find optimal conditions to obtain the crystals, and also even when the crystals can be obtained, the existence of crystalline polymorphs is problematic in many cases. This is because each crystal form has a different molecular packing arrangement in spite of the same chemical structure in the molecular unit, so that there are differences in chemical and physical stabilities between the crystal forms.
If the crystal form of a compound employed as an effective component of pharmaceuticals is selected incorrectly, the decrease in purity, change in hydration degree, change in crystal form and the like occur due to the external environment during storage, and it is difficult to maintain the quality of the compound, thereby resulting in unexpected situations such as the reduction in pharmacological effects and the occurrence of side effect depending on the crystal forms. Therefore, in cases where the crystals of the compound as an effective component of pharmaceuticals are successfully obtained, it is necessary to evaluate the crystalline polymorphs of the compound strictly.
On the other hand, (S,E)-2-(2,6-dichlorobenzamido)-5-[4-(methyl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)phenyl]pent-4-enoic acid represented by Formula (I) below has been known to exhibit therapeutic effects on inflammatory bowel disease, allergic dermatitis, multiple sclerosis and leukemia (WO 2006/068213, WO 2007/145282, WO 2007/148648 and WO 2007/148676):

However, since it is impossible to predict the existence of crystalline polymorphs or stable crystal form from the chemical structure of the compound and, further, there may be a compound which cannot form a crystal, it is necessary to study conditions of forming a crystal for each compound in various ways. Although excellent effectiveness as an effective component of pharmaceuticals is confirmed for (S,E)-2-(2,6-dichlorobenzamido)-5-[4-(methyl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)phenyl]pent-4-enoic acid, the existence of crystalline polymorphs or even the possibility of crystal formation have not been known at present, and to obtain the optimal crystal form was an important task for developing the compound as a pharmaceutical product.
It could therefore be helpful to provide a crystal of (S,E)-2-(2,6-dichlorobenzamido)-5-[4-(methyl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)phenyl]pent-4-enoic acid having excellent chemical and physical stability, and a medical use thereof.

Crystals of glycine derivative and pharmaceutical use thereof


A learning aid permitting the student to insert a worksheet into a rigid body having space between two planes. One of the plaens is clear permitting the instructor to mark on it, performing the work demanded by the underlying worksheet. The instructor's marking is erased and the student attempts the same task. The work sheet is secured in place either by (i) its natural mechanical tension with the two planes, or (ii) by an insert mechanism securing the paper either through electrical attraction or by a mechanical clip.

This invention relates to teaching and more particularly to aids for teaching.
Learning, especially at the lower grade levels, is through the repetitive performance of a task such as spelling, mathematics, geography, etc. The student is taught how the task is performed by observing the instructor perform the same or similar task and thereafter attempting the task themselves.
Traditionally, this teaching is accomplished via a blackboard or other such display on a wall. The instructor prints a problem and explains the steps of the solution. The students are supplied with paper worksheets that have similar problems.
Although the paper worksheets are inexpensive to print, for young students many mistakes are made before the task is correctly performed. These mistakes must be erased; on paper this causes rips, tears, and smudges which inhibits the student in the learning process.
The blackboard itself creates problems. Whereas, the traditional classroom had the entire classroom working on the same problem; the modern classroom recognizes that students are individuals and perform their tasks and learn new ones at varying speeds. In the modern classroom, many subjects permit the student to "self-pace" or learn the subject at a speed with which the student feels comfortable.
This improved approach to teaching means that the instructor is faced with the situation that multiple lessons are being performed simultaneously within the class. Explaining a particular task on the blackboard is not only cumbersome but is disruptive. Students who are either behind the task being performed or ahead of it find the black-board work confusing and interruptive.
Recognizing that it is desirable to be able to use the worksheet itself as a visual reference, several devices have been made permitting the worksheet to be secured under a clear plate. By writing on the clear plate, the worksheet can be repeatedly completed without actually marking on the worksheet.
One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,757,287, entitled "Perpetual Pad" issued May 6, 1930, to Bildstein. In the Bildstein device, the worksheet is mechanically squeezed between two plates and locked into position. This arrangement requires the use of heavy materials and hinges. The plates, when opened and shut, are disruptive in the classroom and are difficult for small children to utilize.
To reduce the weight and complexity of these types of devices, a group of binders were developed which mechanically clasp the worksheets along one edge. Such devices are described in: U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,864, entitled "Map Holder" issued Jan. 12, 1971, to Karlyn et. al; U.S. Pat. No. 2,791,040, entitled "Map Folio" issued May 7, 1957, to Santorelli; U.S. Pat. No. 3,092,400, entitled "Loose Leaf Binder" issued June 4, 1963, to Smith; and, U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,462, entitled "Binder for Magazines and the Like" issued May 24, 1966, to Quarton et. al.
In all of these devices, the worksheet or map is clasped along one edge. Removing the worksheet is difficult and cumbersome in a classroom situation.
Another attempted solution to the problem is to place the paper worksheet between two flexible sheets of clear plastic. The sheets sandwich the paper worksheet therebetween. This secures the worksheet in place permitting the student/user to work out the problem without marking the paper.
This type of arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,206,225, entitled "Self-Hinging Laminated Plastic Folders" issued Sept. 14, 1965, to Oleson; and, U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,771, entitled "Writing Pad" issued Sept. 2, 1952, to Sparks.
Although this approach does provide ease in use, the flexible plastic is not conducive to repeated writing and erasure. Repeated use smudges the thin plastic.
Additionally, the ink from the underlying paper is transferred to the plastic. This creates smudges on the plastic, diminishing the transparency of the plastic.
It is clear from the foregoing that an effective solution does not exist.


A method and apparatus for allowing for field size calculation and color coding display options usable in an emulated integrated development environment (IDE). A user may be able to quickly and accurately calculate the field size of variables in a code structure, irrespective of the length of the structure or the number of variables selected. The user may also be able to match the variables with their redefinitions accurately and easily when required. A user may also be able to easily identify the names of sections, paragraphs, referenced variables, and unreferenced variables visually in a code editor. The users may also be able to assign colors of his choice to the sections, paragraphs, referenced variables, and unreferenced variables.

In conventional emulated environments, such as OS 2200 or other suitable environments, a user/developer may view and edit data files and elements in program files using a variety of editors provided by one or more hosts. In some instances, the user has to calculate a memory field size that program variables would occupy during the program's execution. This may become tedious if done manually due to large variable sizes and redefinitions. Further, it becomes more difficult and erroneous to calculate the size of group variables and determine if a variable-size matches the size of its redefinition. Additionally, when editing code, if the user keys in the name of a variable, section, or paragraph, there is no visual clue for whether that name is correct. The only way for a user to verify the name is to search for that variable in the Data Division of the program code. This can be frustrating at times, especially for programs with large number of variables. Similarly, the only way to locate unreferenced variables in the code is to search all the variables, one at a time, in the Procedure Division of the program. There is no visual clue enabling the user to identify unreferenced variables declared in the Data Division of the program code. Thus, there is a desire to provide functionality in an emulated IDE that would enable a user to quickly and efficiently determine the field size and display element names in a code editor.

Field size calculation and color coding display options usable in an emulated integrated development environment (IDE)


A multi or single cutter reaming tool has a shaft and a shaped head with at least one cutter. The shaped head is produced from a blank having a base body of a base material on its envelope surface with at least one rectilinear or helical groove-shaped recess running around it, into which high hardness cutting material is sintered. The high hardness cutting material includes at least one cutter having cutting surfaces formed by the introduction of a chip groove by a grinding wheel into the base body and movement of the grinding wheel toward the high hardness cutting material.

Not applicable.
1. Technical Field
This is a Divisional of U S. patent application Ser. 09/253,308 filed Feb. 19, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,438, of the same inventor.
The invention relates to a reaming tool and a process for its production.
Reaming tools are used for the fine machining of boreholes and therefore require a precise arrangement and design of chip removal elements and guide elements. In particular, a high degree of dimensional accuracy is desired.
2. Background Art
Reaming tools have already been known in which the chip removal elements or guide elements are set into a base body, for example by brazing or by adhesion. It has become known from German Patent DE 196 21 813 A1 to form a corresponding seating for the positioning of guide strips in order to make the seating of the inset chip removal elements and guide elements precise, so that these can be exactly positioned with respect to the base body. A considerable improvement was attained by this design.
However, the increasing quality requirements require a further improvement in the quality of reaming tools: for example, in the bonding between the chip removal elements and guide elements and the base body, and also with regard to the dimensional stability and to their production, in particular to cost-favorable production with consistent high quality.
For example, it is known, for milling tools or shaft milling tools, to use blanks with groove-shaped recesses which run along the envelope surface, and into which very hard cutting materials, such as, for example, PCD or CBN material, are sintered. Such blanks are processed by a spark erosion grinding process in order to produce shaft milling tools. Multi-cutter millers are concerned here for high performance machining.
The invention has as its object to provide a reaming tool and a process for its production, which tool can be produced cost-effectively, satisfies the high quality requirements, is flexible in design and construction, and reliably takes up the forces acting on it.
This object is attained according to the invention by a reaming tool with a shaft and a head on which at least one cutter is provided. The head is produced from a blank that comprises a base body of a base material with an envelope surface with at least one rectilinear or helical groove-shaped recess running around it, into which at least one high hardness cutting material is sintered. The high hardness cutting material comprises at least one cutter having cutting surfaces formed by the introduction of a chip groove by a grinding wheel into the base body, and movement of the grinding wheel toward the high hardness cutting material.
By the use of a blank which has on its envelope surface substantially rectilinear or helical groove-shaped recesses, into which high hardness cutting materials are sintered, a cost-favorable production and manufacture of a reaming tool can be provided. An expensive preparation for the introduction of seatings for chip removal elements and/or guide elements is dispensed with by the hard cutting material already present in the blank, since the sintered-in hard material layers can be used as chip removal strips and/or guide strips specifically according to the application, and can be machined to dimension. Furthermore, this advantageous embodiment makes it possible for the shaft of the reaming tool to be made of a cost-favorable material which can be positively connected, but however preferably non-positively connected, to the shaped head.
The use of blanks with high hardness cutting materials provided in groove-shaped recesses and running around the envelope surface at first appears to be erroneous. End milling tools in which the use of blanks is known are used for machining workpieces in the X-Y plane. The end miller then has, along its rotation axis, peripheral cutters constituted as a main cutter and coming into use in milling machining. The cutters arranged to the end of the milling tool play no, or only a very subsidiary, part. Furthermore, end millers operate at relatively high cutting speeds and depths of cut, so that quite other forces act on a head of an end miller.
In reaming tools, on the contrary, the machining and the chip formation are determined by completely different parameters and dimensions. In milling machining, the borehole is machined exclusively in the Z-direction, and in contrast machining in the X- and Y-directions is neither provided nor possible. Furthermore, at least one main cutter is arranged to the end of a reaming tool, and in contrast at least one auxiliary cutter is provided along the rotation axis and has essentially the task of guiding. The use of such blanks with high hardness cutting materials arranged in grooves and extending substantially coaxial to the rotation axis therefore would appear to be unsuitable, particularly when costs are taken into account. The same holds for the use of reaming tools because of the forces, parameters and requirements which deviate from milling technology, and which at first sight make the use appear to be erroneous to form the reaming tool by means of a blank which has on its envelope surface substantially rectilinear or helical groove-shaped recesses, into which high hardness cutting material is sintered.
However, by the constitution of a reaming tool according to the invention, the constitution of a reaming tool with twisted chip formation elements and/or guide elements is attained, which heretofore has not been possible. This can be made possible, for example, for a multi-cutter reamer which has cutters of high hardness cutting materials. A single cutter reaming tool with guide strips can likewise be provided, in which both the chip removal element and also the guide elements, or one of the two, is twisted. A considerable improvement can thereby be attained as regards the processing quality, the speed, and also the life of the tool. This is based on the fact that the chip removal elements and guide elements are sintered into the base body of the shaped head, so that a material joint of higher quality than the usual brazed joint can thereby result. Furthermore, the labor-consuming brazed joints and the production of seatings for plates or guide strips are dispensed with, together with the associated risks of defective brazed places which can arise because of negligent cleaning of the contact surfaces.
According to a further embodiment of the invention a PCD material is used as the high hardness cutting materials. This can be used specifically for the application, corresponding to the material to be machined, such as for example the machining of nonferrous metals.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a CBN material is used as the high hardness cutting material. This suitable material can be used corresponding to the further materials to be machined.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the high hardness cutting materials are constituted as the chip removal element and/or guide element. Both elements have, due to the sintering process, a chemical connection to the base body of the blank, and because of the diffusion process which then takes place and which can, for example, give rise to a cobalt or nickel compound, has a substantially higher strength than a brazed or adhesive joint.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the chip removal elements and the guide elements can be constituted as either right-twisted or left-twisted. The corresponding design of the reaming tool can thus be made possible according to the application.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, chip grooves can be made in the blank by grinding. Depending on the respective application, the high hardness cutting materials are ground to dimension for one or more cutters and guide strips, or solely for chip removal elements or guide elements. In both of the last alternatives, the guide elements or cutter elements can be supplemented by corresponding inserted elements.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the length, or else only the forward portion, of the blank can be determined by the length of the auxiliary cutter, or by the length of the guide strip. It can then be provided that one or more blanks are arrayed, corresponding to the application: for example, in the case of stepped boreholes.
The object of the production of a reaming tool is attained by a process for production of a reaming tool with a shaft and a head with at least one cutter comprising positively connecting a shaft to a blank that has at least one groove-shaped recess arranged on its envelope surface into which high hardness cutting materials are sintered, bringing the external diameter of the blank to the exact dimension of the flight circle diameter of the at least one cutter, producing at least one chip groove in the blank, bringing to said exact dimension the at least one cutter, producing at least one chip groove in the blank with a grinding wheel, and bringing the at least one cutter to said dimension.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the grinding wheel is moved toward the recess receiving the high hardness cutting material, and a chip surface of the at least one cutter is brought to said dimension.
A reaming tool can be constituted according to the invention, which is substantially determined by the reduction of the individual working steps. By the employment of a blank with high hardness cutting materials provided in groove-shaped recesses on a shaft, the costly preparation of a base body in order to seat chip removal elements and guide elements, and the subsequent brazing of these, can be dispensed with. By the grinding of the blank to dimension, a rapid shaping of a reaming tool can be given by means of a single clamping. At the same time, a high constancy of dimensions can be given, since repeated resetting of the workpiece is not required. A reaming tool can thus be produced by the process according to the invention, in which both the at least one chip removal element and also the at least one guide element are constituted by the high hardness cutting material arranged on the blank.
Further alternative processes, of equal value, for the production of such reaming tools are given herein. Thereby, according to the application, chip removal elements or guide elements which are different from the chip removal elements or the guide elements arranged on the blank can be used, in order to fulfill the specific requirements. Furthermore, a reaming tool can be produced by an alternative according to the invention which, as a multi-cutter tool, consists exclusively of cutters which consist of the high hardness cutting materials provided on the blank.

Reaming tool and process for its production


A manual sheet feeding apparatus for manually feeding a cut sheet into a printer, including a paper pan for supporting the cut sheet manually inserted to a predetermined position, a sheet guide provided on the paper pan, for guiding the cut sheet along one edge thereof, a sheet advancing device for advancing the manually inserted cut sheet in a sheet advancing direction parallel to the one edge, in contact with the cut sheet, and an operator-controlled switch for starting an operation of the sheet advancing means to advance the cut sheet. The operator-controlled switch is disposed near the sheet guide, so that the switch can be easily operated with the operator's hand used to manually insert and hold the sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manually feeding a cut sheet into a printer, which apparatus has a sheet guide for guiding the sheet when the sheet is manually inserted, and an operator-controlled switch to start feeding the manually inserted sheet.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In a printer capable of printing on a manually inserted cut sheet, a manual sheet feeding apparatus is provided in a rear upper portion or a front lower portion of the printer. On the other hand, an operator-controlled key switch for starting a drive system for advancing the manually inserted sheet toward and past the printing station is provided on an operator's control panel which is disposed in an upper part of the front surface of the printer, for example. When the cut sheet is first manually inserted to a predetermined position in the printer, the sheet is moved with one lateral edge thereof being guided by a sheet guide such that the sheet is held by a hand of the operator. Usually, the key switch to start the sheet advancing operation is disposed a considerable distance away from the sheet guide. Hence, the operator's hand engaged in holding the sheet for guiding along the sheet guide cannot be used for almost concurrently operating the key switch. Therefore, the other hand of the operator is used to operate the key switch on the operator's control panel after the sheet has been manually inserted by the above-indicated one hand. Alternatively, the operator's hand once used for inserting and positioning the sheet along the sheet guide is released from the sheet, and the key switch is then operated by the same hand.
In the former case in which the two hands of the operator are used to manually insert the sheet and operate the key switch, the operator has to move the point of view a considerable distance from the sheet (sheet guide) to the key switch on the operator's control panel, which is considerably spaced apart from the sheet guide. Accordingly, it is difficult to operate the key switch as soon as the sheet has been manually inserted in position. Therefore, the manual sheet inserting operation is cumbersome and is not efficient, particularly when the cut sheets are successively manually fed.
In the latter case in which the same hand is used to first manually position and insert the sheet and then operate the key switch, the operator has to move that hand and the point of view from the sheet to the key switch. Accordingly, a relatively long time is required after the sheet has been manually inserted, and before the key switch is operated.

Manual sheet feeding apparatus having manual sheet feeding switch near sheet guide


An electron-optical lens arrangement for electron beam apparatus having a static and a dynamic focussing lens system, in which the dynamic focussing lens system is situated inside the static focussing lens system.

This invention relates to quick-acting electron-optical lenses.
There are many items of electron-beam equipment which employ electron guns of small diameter for technical and scientific purposes, examples being cathode-ray tubes for television or other reproducing purposes, electron microscopes, and materials-processing equipment.
To enable the electron beam emitted by the cathode to be focussed, complicated electron-optical lenses and diaphragm systems are provided in some cases. There are applications in which the focus has to be re-adjusted after the electron beam has been deflected, e.g. in cathode ray tubes, and there are cases in materials processing in which, with the electron beam stationary or in course of deflection, the focus is deliberately altered to produce a desired processing effect.
To enable this alteration in focus to be performed, a further focussing lens, also known as a dynamic focussing lens, is often provided in addition to the main lens, also termed the static lens, the static main lens being responsible for the overall foscussing and the re-adjustment or control of the position of the focus being being performed dynamically via the auxiliary lens. The lenses in question are generally in the form of magnetic coils.
In known electron-beam apparatus which employs an auxiliary lens for the dynamic focussing of the beam, the said lens is normally positioned between the beam generating system and the main lens. In materials processing using electron beams it has been found that there are instances where the focus has to be adjusted by a specific amount in a very short space of time. This of course is also a problem which occurs in types of reproduction apparatus which employ an electron beam, in cases where a high picture repetition frequency is required and the electron beam must therefore be deflected quickly and thus re-focussed quickly. To achieve the fast change in magnetic field which is required to produce a given change in the position of the focus, the dynamic auxiliary coil generally requires very high levels of energising power. In materials processing there are instances where the focus of the electron beam has to be adjusted in a time so short that the energising power required for the focussing coil is 1 kw or more. Since there are problems is handling such power levels, that is to say in changing the magnetic induction within the coil at the speed required, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dynamic focussing coil for electron-beam apparatus which requires a substantially lower power level.


A servo control system which comprises an original cam pattern generator 11 for generating a first pattern of a cam shape relative to a phase corresponding to one revolution of a cam mechanism; a corrector 14 for differentiating the original pattern of the original pattern generator 11 with respect to time, multiplying the differentiation value by a constant to find a multiplication value, and subtracting a predetermined phase from the multiplication value to generate a correction cam pattern; and a position command device 14 for adding the above-mentioned correction pattern to the above-mentioned original pattern to generate a second pattern and generating a position command of the above-mentioned servomotor based on the phase corresponding to one revolution of the above-mentioned cam mechanism using the second pattern.

Hitherto, as for cam operation, a mechanical cam for providing output in conjunction with motion of a cam attached to a shaft has been used. In a method using the mechanical cam, it is difficult to adjust a cam pattern. Thus, an electronic cam has been used for which the relationship between rotation of a shaft and cam shape data is previously registered, the rotation position of the shaft is detected, and based on the detection value, a servomotor is controlled for performing cam operation.
In such electronic cam control, a servo control system disclosed in JP-A-7-104855 is available for the purpose of decreasing the difference between a position command and position feedback. In an electronic cam phase control method for controlling a servo system in accordance with a position command having a predefined position pattern relative to the transition of a phase command θ, the servo control system generates a phase delay amount Δθ caused by a follow-up delay of the servo system relative to the position command as a function of phase transition speed ω, inputs a signal with the phase delay amount Δθ added to the phase command to a position pattern generation circuit, and adopts an output signal therefrom as a position command of the servo system.
Such a servo control system can compensate for the phase delay of the electronic cam.
However, the above-described servo control system outputs the position command in advance almost proportional to the phase delay amount and thus compensates only for the phase delay amount. That is, it does not compensate for the follow-up delay of the servo system and thus particularly if the control speed is high, the follow-up delay of the servo system becomes noticeable as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the locus of the actual positions of the servomotor differs largely from the locus of the position command prepared from a cam pattern and the actual position difference between the position command and the servomotor becomes ΔL at time ta; this is a problem.

Servo control system and method of setting


A laser beam scanning system which utilizes all reflective optics. The scanning system has a variable scan angle and focal length. The variable focal length in the reflecting optical system is achieved by simultaneously moving two perpendicular mirrors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to laser equipment which can both scan a laser beam and adjust the optical path to achieve a variable focal length of the laser beam.
2. Description of Prior Art
Laser scanning systems typically utilize galvanometer motors to change the angle of scanning mirrors. Usually the X and Y direction is scanned by separate motors. In many applications a laser beam is scanned on a work piece. To achieve a high power density, the laser beam is usually focused on this work piece. Specialized lens have been developed to achieve a good focus on a flat surface work piece even at a high transmission angle. However, some applications require that the laser beam can be independently focused to accommodate a contoured surface. Normally this focusing is accomplished by translating one or more lenses in an optical system to achieve a variable focal length. Unfortunately, high powered CO2 lasers can cause a thermal distortion in lenses which degrades the quality of the laser beam. Furthermore, lenses are not as durable as metal mirrors for high power laser beam applications. Therefore, it is desirable to utilize all reflective optic components for high power CO2 laser applications. Here a problem arises when making a scanning system with a variable focal length. A change in the focal length requires a change in the optical path length. With reflective optics, a path length change usually also produces an undesirable steering of the beam. The invention presented here is an all reflective laser scanning system where a focus adjustment can be made with a minimum of translationable motion and also without introducing any steering or translation of the laser beam.
The present invention is a laser scanning system with reflective optics. To achieve an adjustable focal length on the scanned laser beam it is necessary to produce an optical path length change between two mirrors which exhibit optical power (curved mirror surfaces). To achieve this, two additional flat mirrors oriented perpendicular to each other, are placed in the optical path between the curved mirrors. A displacement of the two perpendicular mirrors in a predetermined direction will change the optical path length between the curved mirrors and in turn produce an adjustable force in the scanned beam without producing additional deviation to the scanned beam.

Laser scanning system with reflecting optics


A circuit for reducing standby leakage in a memory unit contains a capacitive divider coupled to the memory unit so as to generate a voltage across the memory unit, which is adequate to retain memory values during one of a sleep state and a standby state. An inductive circuit for reducing standby leakage in a memory unit includes an inductive divider coupled to the memory unit so as to generate a voltage across the memory unit, which is adequate to retain memory values during one of a sleep state and a standby state.

Many electronic devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are operated by battery power supplies and use SRAMs for data memory.
Recently, it has become important to place circuitry into a deep-sleep mode to minimize circuit leakage. Some circuitry may be switched-off completely using series switches, but volatile memory devices, such as SRAM, that need to retain their contents cannot use that technique, since they lose their data if power is completely removed.
Therefore, to reduce the leakage of memory devices during the standby state, it has been proposed to reduce the voltage across the memory cell, as shown in FIG. 1. The problem encountered when doing this is that the reduced voltage across the SRAM cell has to be generated by a low drop-out (LDO) voltage supply, which requires operating current, and dissipated power equivalent to the leakage multiplied by the voltage between the supply voltage and standby voltage.
Alternatively, a passive series regulator can be used which dissipates dissipated power equivalent to the leakage multiplied by the voltage between the supply voltage and standby voltage, and may not produce a very consistent low voltage supply.
Therefore, a need exists to provide a solution, that minimizes power dissipation in SRAMs and other memory types during the sleep state, that eliminates the need for a LDO in sleep mode.
Accordingly, what is needed is an on-chip solution that requires lowest power and permits the entire memory to retain the same voltage supplies.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Circuit for reducing standby leakage in a memory unit


A device is provided for controlling fluid flow over a window of a movable optical instrument housing. The device includes a generally annular body having an inner peripheral edge configured to correspond to a peripheral edge of the window of the housing and an outer peripheral edge, an arcuate outer surface disposed between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, and a reduced width portion between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge. The reduced width portion is configured to lower elevation torque. Other embodiments of the device and methods for controlling fluid flow are further disclosed.

Modern tactical aircraft use a number of imaging aids to assist the crew in viewing a scene, selecting targets in the scene, and directing weapons against the selected targets. Visible, infrared, and/or specific spectral bands imaging devices are used in various applications to form an image of the scene. The type of imaging spectrum detected by electromagnetic instruments depends upon the mission, weather conditions, the nature of the scene, as well as other factors.
Issues associated with airflow over electromagnetic instruments are well known. In a particular example, electro-optical and infrared turrets having viewing window diameters of nine inches or greater suffer electro-optical resolution losses over most of the turret's field of regard due to flow turbulence immediately in front of the window at speeds greater than 120 knots. Reference can be made to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0251745 A1, which discloses a device secured to a housing of an optical instrument to improve airflow over the optical instrument.
FIG. 1 illustrates an annular air foil 60 mounted on the spherical cover 30 of the housing 10 in a position that the air foil surrounds a window 12 to control fluid flow over the window. The air foil 60 includes an annular body having an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge. The body of the air foil 60 further includes an arcuate outer surface disposed between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge. The air foil 60 shown in FIG. 1 embodies a complete air foil. Airborne electro-optical/infrared turrets have been fitted with air foils in order to improve optical performance. However, these air foils generate excessive aerodynamic torque when the turret is looking aft. Aerodynamic torque limits the operational airspeed. The trend is to place these turrets on faster and faster platforms.

Device and method for controlling fluid flow over an optical instrument


Apparatus and method for receiving burst data signal without using external detection signal are disclosed. The apparatus can include a clock data recovery (CDR) circuit to generate a clock signal, and a detection circuit to detect an initial portion in the data recovered from the input signal. The CDR circuit can have a first mode that attempts to synchronize the clock signal with a reference data signal, and a second mode that attempts to synchronize the clock signal with the burst data signal and to recover data based on the clock signal. The apparatus can include a controller to conduct a process including, in sequence, setting the CDR circuit in the first mode, setting the CDR circuit in the second mode, and keeping the CDR circuit in the second mode when the detection circuit detects the initial portion in the recovered data.

A high-speed network may use burst data communication. For example, a passive optical network (PON) may use burst data communication to register optical network unit (ONU) apparatuses with an optic line terminal (OLT) apparatus. In the PON, the OLT apparatus can be configured as a station apparatus and the ONU apparatuses can be configured as subscriber apparatuses. The OLT apparatuses may need to receive burst data communications from the OLT apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,519,750 describes a burst clock data recovery circuit for receiving burst data communications, and US Patent Publication No. 2009-052894 describes a discovery process of an unregistered ONU, both of which are hereby incorporated by references in their entireties.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for receiving burst data without using external detection signal


An adapter for receiving a medical technical device and a position detecting system, wherein the adapter may comprise a first holding element, a second holding element, a spring exerting a restoring force on the second holding element, and a fixing element for fixing the position detecting system. The second holding element may be supported by the first holding element such that it can move and can be moved in a direction counter to the restoring force of the spring placing the adapter in a receiving state allowing the medical technical device to be inserted into the adapter. In the absence of the force acting counter to the restoring force of the spring, the spring may move the second holding element in the direction of the restoring force, placing the adapter in a clamping state and securing the adapter to the medical technical device.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an adapter for receiving a medical technical device as well as a position detecting system.
Brief Description of the Related Art
In medical technology, clinical navigation systems are known, with the help of which, e.g. during an operation, the spatial position of an instrument (e.g. an endoscope) can be determined, in order to enable their display in the correct position in imaging representations (e. g. in the form of a CT image) of an operating field. The display in the correct position requires a transformation of the spatial position, determined by the position detecting system, of the instrument into the coordinate system of the representation of the operating field. Especially optical measuring systems are used as position detecting systems, which by means of several cameras sense the position of trackers, which consist of several fixedly connected, predominantly spherically shaped marker elements. Alternatively, also electromagnetic measuring systems are employed, in the case of which the position of sensor coils is measured in an electromagnetic field generated by a field generator.

Adapter for receiving a medical technical device and a position detecting system


The present invention provides a double-sided tape for a touch screen panel which comprises a shock resistant filler layer to exhibit excellent viscosity while being thin and have excellent shock resistance and an excellent waterproof property, and a manufacturing method.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a double-sided tape for a touch screen panel and a manufacturing method, and more particularly to a double-sided tape for a touch screen panel which is located between a panel module and a liquid crystal module of a touch screen, exhibits excellent viscosity while being thin and has excellent shock resistance and an excellent waterproof property, and a manufacturing method.
Description of the Related Art
In portable electronic devices such as an electronic note, a cellular phone, PHS, a camera, a music player and the like, double-sided tapes are being used to fix various members and modules, including an attachment of a protection panel of an information display part and a case. The double-sided tapes have required a lot of useful functions in order to gain competitive advantage in the market, and one of the functions requires giving a waterproof property.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-187531 provides a double-sided tape used to fix parts of an electronic device. For example, there is disclosed a double-sided adhesive sheet which has a maximum value of a loss tangent (tanδ) at a temperature region of −40to −15° C., and has an adhesive layer having side adhesive strength to a specific adhered object of 19N/cm2 or more arranged on double sides of a supporter. The double-sided adhesive sheet comprises a specific adhesive layer to provide excellent adhesion and to exhibit excellent shock resistance which makes it difficult to detach parts due to shock in falling of objects.
However, in attaching rigid bodies as in the attachment of the protection panel and the case, since double-sided adhesive sheet finds difficulty in obtaining complete adhesion between the adhered object and an attachment surface, the parts flooded when there were a few gaps.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-281360 provides a double-sided adhesive tape with excellent adhesion. There is disclosed a double-sided adhesive tape which refers to a foaming body as a base, and has an acrylic-based adhesive layer having a maintenance time of 24 hours or more in a maintenance test at a temperature of −25° C. or less and 0° C., wherein the temperature indicates a maximum value of a loss tangent (tanδ). The double-sided adhesive tape has excellent adhesion to an adhered object, from which members can be very properly connected in the attachment between the members.
However, although the foaming body is used as the base, it is difficult to restrain even a few gaps from occurring on an interface between the member and the adhesive layer. Hence, when a gap or a crack through which water can permeate is present on part of the interface, a permeation path is enlarged therefrom. As a result, it is difficult to implement an excellent waterproof property.
Specifically, portable electronic devices are required to become narrow and thinner according to recent large screens thereof, and as a result, when a narrow tape or a thin tape is required, it is difficult to give a sufficient waterproof property to the tape.

Double-sided tape for touch screen panel and manufacturing method thereof


Apparatus for measuring the amount of previously applied torque to a fastener. A transducer is utilized to sense the amount of a subsequently applied torque to the fastener and provides an output signal representative of the applied torque. The torque is applied until further motion or breakaway of the fastener is obtained. Typically, the signal from the transducer increases until breakaway of the fastener is obtained and then the signal decreases momentarily to a valley before it again increases with further applied torque. A positive peak detector senses the maximum positive output of the transducer before the signal begins to decrease. A negative peak detector senses the minimum negative output of the transducer before the signal again increases. The negative peak detector is energized by a switching network upon detection of a negatively sloped signal from the transducer. A display coupled to the output of the negative peak detector provides a visual indication of the valley torque which is closely associated with the amount of torque originally applied to the fastener.

This invention relates to apparatus for measuring torque. More particularly, it involves apparatus for sensing the amount of previously applied torque to a fastener.
In a variety of manufacturing applications, it is imperative that the correct amount of torque be applied to a fastener. For example, in automotive applications, it is necessary to make sure that bolts have been tightened within a certain prescribed range of torque in order to properly fasten two parts together. It has been common procedure for a member of the quality control department to use a hand torque wrench to approximate the prior torque level by viewing the movement of the torque indicator just prior to the "give" or breakaway of the fastener. Later improvements of such a test included the use of a wrench which would maintain the position of the indicator at the maximum torque experienced.
Unfortunately, these prior art methods of sensing the applied torque were not very precise and not capable of being accurately reproduced from operator to operator. Even under ideal conditions the torque sensed was the "breakaway" torque which caused further relative movement of the fastener and not the torque delivered to the fastener in the first instance. Under true operating conditions even this breakaway torque could not be accurately sensed because the operator was not capable of instantaneously stopping the level of applied torque as soon as he noticed the fastener motion.


A method and apparatus are shown for lining a tubular member with an elastomeric liner having an outside diameter which is initially greater than the inside diameter of the tubular member. A series of downsizing rollers reduce the outside diameter of the liner a preselected amount. A series of shaping rollers form the downsized liner into an ellipse, thereby allowing the downsized liner to be guided around bends and turns into the interior of the tubular member. After insertion, the liner is allowed to expand to substantially its original outside diameter to secure the liner within the tubular member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method for lining a tubular member, such as a chemical pipeline, with a synthetic liner, the liner being fed along a variable angular path to the interior of the pipe to be lined and being secured within the pipe interior without the necessity of heat, vacuum or chemical bonding agents.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fluid carrying pipes are often subject to deterioration, corrosion and other conditions which are detrimental to the life of the pipe or to the fluids moving through the pipe. This problem is particularly acute in many chemical process industries where caustic chemicals are being transported through pipelines. Modern chemical plants often include miles of pipeline subject to corrosion and deterioration. The pipelines needing lining may be buried below ground, elevated above ground, or be in storage racks.
Other chemical pipelines which are encompassed by the present invention include sewer pipes, water mains or gas mains, where foreign agents such as plant roots often break through the pipe wall and intrude into the pipe interior, thereby destroying the integrity of the pipe. Other factors such as differential pressures internally and externally of the pipe, erosion or earth movements can form leaks in the pipework which must be repaired. If excavating, uncoupling, replacing and backfilling of the pipework is required, the process is usually time consuming and expensive. An alternative solution is to provide an internal lining to the pipework to remedy leakage problems.
Although plastic inserts have been used in the past for protective purposes, their use has generally involved cumbersome and difficult procedures for effectively installing such liners, and particularly in sealing them to the wall of the pipe.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,813, to Lawrence et al., issued Feb. 10, 1970, shows a method for installing a plastic liner in a pipe by using vacuum to draw the liner into the pipe and to assure tight sealing engagement between the liner and the pipe wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,708,141, to Kepler, issued Apr. 9, 1929, shows a method of lining a pipe with an elastomeric lining in which the lining is pushed through a reducing die and coated with cement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,825, to Pope et al., issued Aug. 26, 1969, shows a method for lining a tubular member with a fluorocarbon liner having an initial outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the tubular member. The liner is placed in the tubular member by gripping one end of the liner and pulling it through a reducing die and into the tubular member. The liner is then released, allowing it to expand into engagement with the inner wall of the tubular member.
British application, GB 2084686, filed Sep. 25, 1990, shows a method for lining sewer pipes in which a liner is pushed through downsizing rollers and fed into the pipe with heat being used to cause reverse expansion of the liner. Since the liner is fed approximately linearly into the underground pipe, it was necessary to excavate a sizeable opening in the surface of the ground for feeding the liner into the pipe interior.
None of the above methods succeed in providing an improved method for lining a tubular member with a synthetic liner in which the primary mechanism for securing the liner within the tubular member is the radial pressure exerted on the tubular member by the synthetic liner, the liner being in a state of circumferential compression within the surrounding tubular member when installed.
None of the above methods provides a convenient method for installing a liner in a tubular member wherein the liner is fed in a variable angular path toward the tubular member to be lined to thereby facilitate the lining of tubular members which are located below ground, or at various elevations above ground.
A need exists, therefore for a method for lining chemical or other pipelines in which the liner is installed without the use of chemical bonding agents and without the use of heat or vacuum pressure.
A need also exists for a method for lining an underground pipe which requires minimum excavation of the ground surface surrounding the point of liner insertion into the interior of the pipe.
A need also exists for a method for lining chemical or other pipelines which allows the liner to be guided through a variety of angular orientations toward the interior of the pipeline to be lined.

Diameter reduction insertion method for lining tubular members


Method and system for zone based detection of vehicles passing into and out from a geographical zone using polygons to define the border of said zone, wherein a first polygon (32) defines a virtual border against which vehicles passing into the zone is compared by use of a GNSS system (10) comprising an OBU (2) in every vehicle to be surveyed by the method. A second polygon (31) larger than the first polygon (32) and completely enveloping said first polygon is defined as a virtual border against which objects passing out from the zone is compared by use of the GNSS system.

The disclosure concerns, according to a first aspect, a method for zone based detection of vehicles and a system for performing said method.
Systems and methods for automatic controlling passages of objects, typically vehicles, into and/or out from certain geographic areas have been developed during the recent decades, and systems and methods based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) technology are prevailing.
Satellite based road tolling systems are rapidly growing in number due to their versatility and flexibility. It allows for an advanced time/distance/place concept where policy makers can adjust price and tolling zones to best fit their objectives. Non-repudiation of the tolling statement is a very important aspect of the toll system. This includes both proving that the toll statement is genuine and proving that the system correctly identifies vehicles travelling in and out of tolling zones.
Even if the average performance and availability of GNSS systems today are very good, there will still be situations where the tolling system may be mislead by erroneous position estimates from the GNSS system. In particular in geographical areas where parts of the sky are obstructed by natural or man-made objects, this may be of great concern.
GNSS based tolling and the system model in FIG. 1 is described by international standards. Of most relevance to the disclosed method and system is ISO 17573 Electronic Fee Collection—Systems architecture for vehicle-related tolling and ISO 12855 Electronic Fee Collection—Information exchange between service provision and toll charging. The European Union is working towards a common European interoperable system for tolling where road users have On Board Units (OBU) and a contract with one home toll operator enabling pan-European roaming where foreign toll charges are invoiced through the home toll operator. This is known as the EETS directive, Directive (2004/52/EC) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 Apr. 2004 on the interoperability of electronic road toll systems in the Community. Furthermore, the European Commission Decision (2009/750/EC) of 6 Oct. 2009 on the definition of the European Electronic Toll Service and its technical elements puts this into effect.
A satellite based road tolling system comprises three main physical elements. 1) The satellites 2) vehicles equipped with OBUs observing signals from the satellites and 3) a so-called back office.
The most typical use of such systems is for tolling, where each vehicle owner pays a certain fee for use of the road at passage of a zone border in a so-called cordon based tolling scheme. In general there are two kinds of errors encountered with the use of such systems, one being a false registration of a passage, the other being missed recognition of a passage that actually occurred. Additionally the detection may erroneously be attributed to a wrong location or a wrong time. All errors may result in lower user confidence in the system and increased operational costs.
EP2230644A1 teaches a method and system which involves maintaining global positioning systems (GPS) of vehicles in standby. Positioning functions of the global positioning systems are stimulated at the proximity of geographical positioning points e.g. taxation points, where the stimulation of the positioning function of each global positioning system is calculated from an origin positioning instant, near geographical positioning point and maximum speed of the vehicles.
WO2010098128A1 describes a road passage charging system which charges a toll for vehicles which run a road in a predetermined segment and are equipped with a position detection section which detects the position of a vehicle, a number of vehicles calculation section which calculates the number of vehicles present on a road in a predetermined segment from the positional information of vehicles detected by the position detection section, a traffic jam decision section which decides whether the road in the predetermined segment is congested or not by comparing the number of vehicles calculated by the number of vehicles calculation section with the predetermined threshold, a charging segment setting section which sets the predetermined segment as a charging segment when a decision is made that the predetermined segment is congested by the traffic jam decision section, a charging segment information delivery section which delivers information indicating that the predetermined segment set by the charging segment setting section is the charging segment, and a charging section which charges a toll for vehicles which run the road set as the charging segment.
EP1708143A2 describes a system including an onboard unit mounted in a vehicle to acquire position-related data of the vehicle. A central and stationary back office processes the position-related data to generate normalized position data. A service unit processes the normalized position data. The onboard unit and back office have interfaces to enable data exchange.
EP1657683A2 teaches a method by which a received position signal is transferred to a receiver system with a computer unit which has a digital map stored in a memory. At least one area (e.g. country) is defined in relation to the map in the computer unit, and is bounded by at least one polygon curve. The region of the area is selected so that the types of recognition used within the area are the same, and are different from the types of recognition used in further, adjacent areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,324,017B2 describes a process for determining travel through at least one toll road section by at least one vehicle by means of a position determination system which is set up to determine the current position of at least one vehicle, whereby positions of the at least one vehicle are compared with the position of at least one reference point characteristic for an entrance to a toll road section, whereby the orientation of the vehicle is determined within a specifiable region about the entrance, whereby it is determined whether the orientation determined agrees within a specifiable tolerance range with the orientation characteristic of entry onto the toll road section.
US patent application No. 2011/0153267 A1 describes a tracking unit for use with a location based service system. The location tracking unit comprises a navigation receiver adapted to implement a location tracking function, data processing means adapted to determine an occupied location according to a first location matching process. The first location matching process uses navigation data from the navigation receiver and a first set of geographical data, and data processing means adapted to verify the integrity of the first location matching process based on a second location matching process using navigation data and a second set of geographical data.
DE 1015 5501 A1 teaches a method for satellite based vehicle passage detection by use of mathematically defined polygons. The reliability of the detections is assumed to be increased by assessing the duration of each vehicle in a tolerance zone surrounding the zone to be monitored.
US 2009157566 A1 teaches a method addressing the problems of: a) generating a tollpath of consistent length by determining one of a possible set of paths which are all the same length in cell-count every time the same journey is taken, b) determining a consistent price for each tollpath by setting pre-determined values on those cells such that every possible path variant of a specific journey produces the same toll, and c) determine the correct price for each tollpath by adjusting prices in each cell to account for the exact distance actually represented, so that the toll calculated exactly matches the toll that would be calculated had the exact linear distance been measured on the actual road.
In spite of the teachings mentioned above there is still a need for improved methods and systems for zone based detection of objects, such as vehicles, passing into and out from a geographical zone, providing improved reliability and reduced risk of false crossing assessments.


A method for processing an imagewise exposed color photographic material using fast developing time while maintaining stable processing conditions, reduced developer replenishing, and light fastness of developed color images. The method comprises developing a color photographic material containing silver halide grains comprising (i) substantially no silver iodide and (ii) at least about 80 mol % silver chloride with a developer comprising (i) substantially no benzyl alcohol and (ii) a p-phenylenediamine derivative represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 represents a straight chain or branched alkylene group having 3 or 4 carbon atoms and wherein the developing is for a period of time of less than 30 seconds.

Processing for silver halide color photographic materials comprises three basic steps including developing (in the case of the development for color reversal materials, a black-and-white (or first) development is employed before color development), desilvering, and washing. The desilvering step is composed of a bleach step and a fixing step or a monobath bleach-fixing ("blix") step which includes both bleaching and fixing.
In addition to the aforesaid steps, additional processing steps can be used, such as a stabilizing step, a prebath processing step before each processing step and a stop-bath processing step can be employed as is determined to be most suitable.
During color development, exposed silver halides present in imagewise exposed photographic material are reduced by a color developing agent to form silver and halide ions, and the resulting oxidized color developing agent simultaneously reacts with color couplers to form dyes. Accordingly, when many silver halide color photographic materials are continuously processed using an automatic processor or other continuous processing equipment, halide ions accumulate in the developer, thus rendering the developer unsuitable for further use.
Recently, in order to save natural resources and to help reduce environmental pollution, attempts have been made to reduce the amount of replenishers used with developers and other photographic processing solutions. However, an attempted resolution to this problem, e.g., by simply reducing the amount of replenisher used in a developer, encounters problems such as reduction in the developing activity of the developer due to the accumulation of other materials that dissolve out of photographic light-sensitive materials during processing. Such materials can include accumulated iodide and bromide ions, which are particularly strong development inhibitors, whose presence results in longer and unpredictable development times.
As another possible solution to the problem of excessive use of replenisher, there is a method of using less developer replenisher by increasing the pH and the processing temperature of the developer. However, such a method suffers from the problem that the photographic performance is highly variable during continuous processing and, additionally, the stability of the developer is reduced.
Also, another method for decreasing development times by reducing the accumulation of iodide ions or bromide ions utilizes a silver halide photographic material having a high silver chloride content, e.g., as disclosed in JP-A-58-95345, JP-A-59-232342 and JP-A-61-70552 (the term "JP-A" as used herein refers to a "published unexamined Japanese patent application") and WO 87-04534, and this method is considered to be an effective means of enabling fast processing with low amounts of replenisher used with the developer.
However, the aforesaid method suffers from the problem of difficulty in attaining very fast processing times (e.g., within 30 seconds) while maintaining stable color development and ensuring stable photographic developing during continuous processing using conventional color developing agents, such as, e.g., 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline salt. In particular, it has been found that when silver halide photographic materials (e.g., having a high silver chloride content) are processed at high pH or a high processing temperature, the processing speed can be increased, but the resulting stability of both the processing solution and that of the developed photographic material are so reduced as to render this method of processing unsuitable for any practical or commercial use.
Additionally, JP-A-61-261740 and JP-A-61-275837 disclose the use of N-hydroxyalkyl-substituted p-phenylenediamine derivatives as a color developing agent, in order to inhibit undesirable variation in the photographic performance, due to the presence of accumulated bromide ion, when silver halide photographic materials are developed that comprise silver halides having mostly silver chlorobromide. The specifications cited above describe improvement of storage stability of formed color images by carrying out the color development in a short time in order to reduce the amount of the color developing agent remaining in the silver halide photographic materials.
Also, it is said that in the case of using a hydroxyalkyl-substituted p-phenylenediamine derivative, used as a color developing agent for developing color photographic papers, the storage stability, and in particular, the fastness to light of the color images obtained is greatly reduced. But it has been found that when a color photographic light-sensitive material (paper) having a silver halide emulsion layers containing at least 80 mol % silver chloride is processed by a color developer containing a 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-hydroxyethylaniline salt, which is used as a color developing agent for conventional color photographic negative films and not containing benzyl alcohol, color images are formed fast (within 30 seconds) and the processing stability is excellent.
However, this method suffers from the problem that the fastness of the color images is greatly inferior to the case of using a 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline salt in spite of processing in a short period of time. British Patent 807,899 discloses that the use of certain N-hydroxyalkyl substituted p-phenylenediamine derivatives provides excellent storage stability of cyan color images. However, with a conventional processing time containing a long color developing time, the storage stability of yellow color images and magenta color images are poor and the stored images greatly deteriorated the color balance and could not be worthy of appreciation.
The storage stability of color images is generally an important factor for print materials such as color paper, and hence 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline salts have been used as the best compound.
At present, it has been a long-standing problem in this art to provide a commercially or practically suitable process that can reduce the amount of replenishers needed and, at the same time, reduce the processing and/or development time. However, as described above, previous attempts to provide such a process have failed, due to the occurrence of undesirable additional problems, including, e.g., reduced storage stability and reduced light fastness of color images formed on a developed photographic material.
For example, since the color images of developed photographic materials formed, using the aforesaid 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-hydroxyethylaniline salt (which is a color developing agent for developing color photographic negative films), at present are greatly reduced, the aforesaid color developing agent is practically unsuitable for developing color photographic papers.
In general, the rate of color development varies according to which type p-phenylenediamine derivative is used as a component of the developing agent. For example, a color developing agent having a hydrophobic group at the N-substituted position, such as a 4-amino-3-methyl-N,N-diethylaniline salt and a 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-methoxyethylaniline salt, is readily distributed with a coupler or other developer components into an oil drop phase of a photographic material, in order to increase the rate of developing reactions. Thus, such a color developing agent has been used for faster development. Examples of such developing agents and how they are made are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,656,905, 3,656,925 and 4,035,188.
Alternatively, a fast method of color development has been employed using a color developing agent having a hydrophilic group at the N-substituted position, such as a 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline salt and a 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-.beta.-hydroxyethylaniline salt. Such a developer additionally contains benzyl alcohol, in order to accelerate the distribution of the color developing agent in the oil drop phases of a color photographic light-sensitive material.
However, such a method (using a hydrophobic group-containing agent, as described above) has the problem that when a color photographic material is color developed for a period of time of about 30 seconds or less, an insufficient contact of the developing agent with the lower emulsion layers of the color photographic material is effected, thereby producing developed color images having inferior color balance. Additionally, the presence of benzyl alcohol in the color developer may increase the coloring density in the uppermost emulsion layer but have little or no effect on the coloring density of the lowermost emulsion layer, thereby additionally causing poor or nonuniform color images on the developed photographic material and, hence, the addition of benzyl alcohol is not desired.

Method for processing silver halide color photographic materials


A speed reducer has an input member, an output member provided coaxially with the input member and a cage disposed between opposite surfaces of the input member and the output member. The cage is formed with a plurality of pockets arranged circumferentially at equal intervals. A rolling element is received in each pocket. The output member is formed with recesses arranged circumferentially at equal intervals, the number of which is unequal to the number of the rolling elements. The input member is provided with a contact surface for pressing the rolling elements against the bottoms of the recesses when the input member rotates. In another arrangement, a cylindrical output member is provided around a disk-shaped input member. Disks are rotatably mounted in the input member and having part of their outer periphery protruding from the outer periphery of the input member. Each disk is provided along the outer periphery thereof with recesses arranged at intervals corresponding to the pitch of said rolling elements and engageable with the rolling elements.

This invention relates to a speed reducer for reducing the rotation of an input member and transmitting the reduced rotation to an output member.
As a speed reducer of the type in which an input member and an output member are arranged coaxially to transmit the rotation of the input member to the output member at a relatively high reduction rate, there is known a differential gear device having planet gears.
Such a differential gear type speed reducer is made up of a large number of parts including a plurality of gears. Thus, it tends to be large in size and costly.


Shallow trench isolation in which trenches having varying dimensions have been formed in a hard surface such as silicon nitride can lead to dishing inside the larger trenches. To overcome this, the trenches were first over-filled with a layer of HDPCVD oxide followed by the deposition of a relatively soft dielectric layer, using a conformal deposition method. CMP was then used to remove both the added layer and most of the original HDPCVD oxide, a small thickness of the latter being left in place. Because of the earlier influence of the added layer the resulting surface was planar and a conventional wet or dry etch could be used to remove the remaining oxide, thereby exposing the top surface and fully filling the trenches without any dishing.

As the devices used in integrated circuits continue to shrink in size, the method of shallow trench isolation (STI) has been widely used in preference to the earlier method known as local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS). In practice, the dimensions of trenches that are to be filled can vary significantly. In particular, it is possible that some of the trenches may have very small widths, as low as about 3,000 Angstroms. Special deposition methods need to be used to fill such narrow trenches. An example of this is the method known as HDPCVD. (High density plasma chemical vapor deposition) wherein conventional CVD is combined with bias sputtering. In this manner, atoms or molecules that are not tightly bound are re-sputtered before they get incorporated into the growing film. The result is a very dense material comparable, in the case of deposited oxide, to an oxide layer grown by thermal oxidation.
In practice, it is always necessary to over-fill the trenches and to then etch back until the trenches have just been filled. This is not of itself a problem unless the surface between the trenches has been coated with a hard material such as, for example, silicon nitride. FIG. 1 shows an example of such a situation. Silicon body 10 has an upper surface of silicon nitride 12 (underlaid by a thin layer of pad oxide for the purpose of stress reduction). Trenches 13 and 14 of different sizes have been etched into the surface of 10. FIG. 2 shows the result of covering silicon body 10 with a layer of HDPCVD oxide. All trenches have been over-filled so that there is an excess amount of layer 15 above the the silicon nitride.
The practice of the prior art would now be to use CMP to planarize the surface. Because of the hardness of the material directly above the silicon nitride as compared to material over the trenches, the appearance of the structure after CMP is as shown in FIG. 3. As can be seen, considerable dishing 34 has occurred over the wider trench. Little or no dishing has occurred over the narrower trench 33 because the advance of the etch front will be dominated by the silicon nitride surface on each side. Thus, the problem which the present invention seeks to solve is how to combine the HDPCVD deposition method with the CMP material removal method.
In our search for prior art we came across a number of references to HDPCVD oxide, to CMP, and to etch-back but none of these describe the process of the present invention. Several of these references were of interest, however. For example Jain in two patents of a divisional (U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,854 February 1996 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,241 April 1997) describes using HDPCVD together with CMP in connection with planarizing dielectric deposited over metal wiring. Yano et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,173 February 1998) shows methods of planarizing shallow trenches by means of a selective etch back process. Wang et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,122 December 1992) show a process involving planarization and etch back as do Peschke et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,107 September 1997).

Integration of CMP and wet or dry etching for STI

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company