Improved adhesion to a polyolefin, especially polypropylene, of substrates of acrylic-based or other protective polymers, in the form of a plastic film, sheet, or coating or a latex or solvent-based paint, ink, or coating is achieved by use of an intermediate layer, laminate, or veneer of a blend of segmented copolymer of a polyolefin and a poly(methacrylate) which is blended with a core/shell copolymer having a crosslinked rubber core.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is concerned with means for imparting improved adhesion to a polyolefin, especially polypropylene, of substrates of acrylic-based or other protective polymers, in the form of a plastic film, sheet, or coating or a latex or solvent-based paint, ink, or coating by use of an intermediate layer, laminate, or veneer of a blend of segmented copolymer of a polyolefin and a poly(methacrylate) combined with a core/shell copolymer having a crosslinked rubber core. The invention may be further applied to improve adherence or adhesion of pressure-sensitive adhesives, which adhesives may serve to bond cloth, carpet, non-woven fabrics, plastics, and the like to the improved substrate. The invention is further concerned with means to an improved substrate for adherence of inks and colorants.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Matrix polymers, such as ABS, may be used as substrates for acrylic plastic sheet, film, coatings, inks, or latices, where the latter impart weatherability, decorative effects, printability, and the like, are useful in the assemblage of automobiles and other vehicles, such as automotive interiors, trunks (boots), truck (lorry) cabs, railroad car interiors, van (caravan) trim, and the like, equipment housing, furniture, and the like, where they offer advantages in cost and formability over metal or wood. Unfortunately, when an inexpensive matrix polymer, a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, is used the acrylic polymers do not adhere well without special treatment, such as corona discharge or other oxidative treatments of the substrate. Acceptable adhesives or precoatings for the polyolefin prior to application of the acrylic polymer also are not readily available.
Acrylic polymers, more preferably polymers of methyl methacrylate, are useful for this purpose but are expensive and not as tough as certain plastic substrates used in the automotive and other industries. Such acrylic polymers are useful to achieve a combination of adhesion, toughness, and lower cost when combined with a cheaper, tougher polyolefin in a laminar structure (which structure may require a laminating adhesive in the case of polyolefins to prevent delamination), or when the surface of the polyolefin is altered to promote adhesion. This invention relates to improved methods for causing such lamination and/or adherence to occur. Solution of this problem allows combinations of inexpensive polyolefins to be protected, painted, printed, or adhered to in a manner to replace more expensive matrix polymers. Further, in many cases, no additional adhesive need be employed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,974 is disclosed the use of specific graft copolymers of polyolefins and polymethacrylates, when further blended with polypropylene, as useful for improving printability; the graft copolymers are disclosed as tie layers between otherwise incompatible polymers. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,933 is disclosed the use of such graft copolymers as tie layers between polyolefins and certain barrier polymers. These graft or segmented copolymers by themselves or blended with polyolefins, when based on a methyl methacrylate graft, have not been satisfactory in their ability to accept a paint with good adhesion against standard tests.
Thus the art has sought means for adherence of various forms of (meth)acrylic polymers to inexpensive polyolefin substrates as a means for protecting, coloring, or adhering to such polyolefins, without the use of expensive external physical treatment such as corona discharge. In the following text, "film" refers to a continuous plastic matrix less than about 10 mils (units) thick, whilst "sheet" refers to a continuous plastic matrix more than 10 mils (units) thick. "Predominately" has the meaning of at least about 50%.

Method for imparting improved adhesion to polyolefin substrates


A solid-state area illumination lighting apparatus, including a plurality of light sources, each light source having, a substrate; an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer deposited upon the substrate, the organic light emitting diode layer including first and second electrodes for providing electrical power to the OLED layer; an encapsulating cover covering the OLED layer; and first and second conductors located on the substrate and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and extending beyond the encapsulating cover for making electrical contact to the first and second electrodes by an external power source; and a lighting fixture for removably receiving and holding the plurality of light sources and having a plurality of first electrical contacts for making electrical connection to the first and second conductors of the light sources, and second electrical contacts for making electrical connection to an external power source.

The present invention relates to the use of organic light emitting diode devices for area illumination.
Solid-state lighting devices made of light emitting diodes are increasingly useful for applications requiring robustness and long-life. For example, solid-state LEDs are found today in automotive applications. These devices are typically formed by combining multiple, small LED devices providing a point light source into a single module together with glass lenses suitably designed to control the light as is desired for a particular application (see, for example WO99/57945, published Nov. 11, 1999). These multiple devices are expensive and complex to manufacture and integrate into single area illumination devices. Moreover, LED devices provide point sources of light, a plurality of which are employed for area illumination.
Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are manufactured by depositing organic semiconductor materials between electrodes on a substrate. This process enables the creation of light sources having extended surface area on a single substrate. The prior art describes the use of electro-luminescent materials as adjuncts to conventional lighting (for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,282 issued Jan. 2, 2001 to Chien). In this case, because of the limited light output from the electro-luminescent material, it is not useful for primary lighting.
EP1120838A2, published Aug. 1, 2001, describes a method for mounting multiple organic light emitting devices on a mounting substrate to create a light source. However, this approach of mounting multiple light sources on a substrate increases the complexity and hence the manufacturing costs of the area illumination light source. Moreover, in this design the multiple substrates are not readily replaced by consumers if they should fail. In addition, each lighting device must be readily and safely replaced by consumers at minimal cost.
There is a need therefore for an improved, replaceable OLED area illumination device having a simple construction using a single substrate and compatibility with the existing lighting infrastructure.
The need is met according to the present invention by providing a solid-state area illumination lighting apparatus that includes a plurality of light sources, each light source having, a substrate; an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer deposited upon the substrate, the organic light emitting diode layer including first and second electrodes for providing electrical power to the OLED layer; an encapsulating cover covering the OLED layer; and first and second conductors located on the substrate and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and extending beyond the encapsulating cover for making electrical contact to the first and second electrodes by an external power source; and a lighting fixture for removably receiving and holding the plurality of light sources and having a plurality of first electrical contacts for making electrical connection to the first and second conductors of the light sources, and second electrical contacts for making electrical connection to an external power source.
The present invention has the advantage of providing a fixture together with inexpensive, long-lived, highly efficient light sources that are replaceable, and are compatible with the existing lighting infrastructure and requirements.

OLED area illumination lighting apparatus


A fabric or other suitable, flexible material is cut, sewn and furnished with joinable hook and loop fastener portions to become a re-sizable pouch which itself envelopes the rearward portion of a foot operated pedal, preventing the undesirable movement of the pedal from the desired location of operation during use. A base portion of the pouch is fitted with joinable hook type fasteners on the posterior section of the base. The re-sizable pouch is then affixed with joinable hook type fasteners, attached to the posterior section of the base, to a secured portion of loop type material.

Not applicable
Not applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the stabilization of an unsecured foot-operated pedal. More particularly, the present invention relates to securing the unsecured foot-operated pedal in such a manner as to prevent it from shifting from its desired location during the use of said pedal.
2. General Background of the Invention
Conventionally, foot pedals are used to control operational features and functions of many types of devices, including but not limited to musical keyboards, sewing machines, medical instruments, etc. For reasons of portability, flexibility of positioning, etc., these foot pedals may not permanently attach to the device or instrument that they control. Due to several factors including but not limited to lack of weight, mass, friction, etc., these foot pedals tend to shift from their optimal operating positions to awkward and sometimes inaccessible locations. This makes the operation of the pedal-controlled function of the particular instrument or device difficult to impossible depending on the degree of the pedal shift.
The xe2x80x9cPedal Stabilizing Devicexe2x80x9d was invented and designed to prevent foot pedals from this shifting and thus free the device operator to concentrate on the use of the instrument rather than chasing and finding its pedal.
Conventionally musicians use foot pedals for various musical effects. While playing their instruments and depressing their pedals, they find that the pedals slip from their original position. The pedal tends to shift from its original position when depressed. The musician, while playing, has to reach with his foot to return the pedal to its original position for ease of playing.
The following U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference:
Not applicable
The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is a material specifically patterned to the design of the foot pedal device that limits its mobility during operation without impeding the use of such foot pedal.
The following invention has been proven to solve the problem mentioned in the Background of the Invention.
The following idea is for a device that will prevent an instrument""s (keyboard etc.) floor pedal form shifting while a person is depressing the pedal with his foot. The original idea is for a keyboard sustain pedal but the application is not limited to a sustain pedal or even to a musical instrument. This device can be used to prevent many different objects depressed by the foot from slipping.
Device Design:
A pouch comprising of sturdy material with Velcro-like straps placed in strategic places. The straps wrap around the back and top of a pedal while the bottom of the pouch has Velcro-like hooks attached. The pedal is inserted on top of the pouch and the straps are adjusted to securely hold the pedal in place. The Velcro-like hooks on the bottom of the pouch, when placed on a material similar to Velcro-like loops or a sturdy loop-type carpet, holds the pouch/pedal in place during use.
Device Construction:
The pouch may be constructed by cutting out three pieces of sturdy material such as cotton duck canvas. Two pieces identical in shape make up the body of the device while one rectangular shape makes up the back strap. The strap is constructed by folding the rectangle lengthwise in half. One end of the fold and one side is tucked inside the folded material xc2xd inch and sewed together. One side of the folded material is left open. This side will be inserted in the back body of the device. The device is assembled by sewing the two identical pieces together along the front and sides with a xc2xd inch hem. The back is left open and after the inside and outside corners of the fabric are cut and trimmed the pouch is flipped from the back inside out. The edges of the back are then turned inside xc2xd inch and sewed together. The strap is added to the left side of the back during the process of sewing the back together and is placed on an angle tilting away from or to the left of the device. Velcro-like hooks and loops are then sewn to specific areas of the device to enable the device to wrap snugly around pedal.
This construction process represents one of several different manners in which this device may be constructed. Depending on the material used and the equipment used to construct this device, several different manners of construction may be employed.


A self-inflating support device or cushion (10) consists of an envelope (11) defining a closed space, a compressible material contained within the envelope (11) and valve means (15) adapted to allow air into the envelope (11) so that the compressed material can expand to enlarge the support device (10) and to allow air out of the envelope (11) so that the material may be compressed and the support device (10) reduced in size. The valve means (15) comprises a valve member (21) and a valve seat (22) adapted to form a seal therebetween when the valve (15) is closed, an actuator (20) which whilst actuated separates the valve member (21) and valve seat (22) to permit air flow into and out of the device (10) for adjustment of the volume of air within the device (10) and locking means (26, 47) for maintaining the valve (15) fully open when it is desired to fill or empty the device (10) with air.

This invention relates to self-inflating devices and to valves which allow air to enter or escape from enclosures such as self-inflating devices.
Self-inflating cushions have many uses including lumbar support, neck support, hip protection, seat cushions and the like. For the sake of convenience, the invention will be described in relation to a self-inflating cushion for supporting a body part but the invention is not limited thereto.
Many people suffer from back or neck pain and require some form of support to help alleviate the discomfort they endure. Present day lifestyles can result in weak or underdeveloped back muscles. Many people sit in uncomfortable or poorly designed seating which accentuates or exacerbates the problem. For example, sitting for long periods in an office or other work place, travelling in automobiles or on aircraft, or even sitting on a chair watching television, can result in an individual suffering discomfort from back pain if, for example, the seating is poorly designed, or if the individual does not practise correct posture positions, or if the individual already has some anatomical deterioration of the spine.
Discomfort from spinal pain can often be avoided or reduced by the use of cushions or other lumbar support means. However, the problem with most support cushions is that they are often of a shape which provides inadequate or improper support of the spine and/or they are of a shape which makes them inconvenient or difficult to carry or to store.
Inflatable back, head and neck support cushions are known, but these tend to rely entirely on air pressure or on a soft or expandable substance, such as wool or foam, respectively, for their shape and support. In many cases this means that use and adjustment is inadequate or inconvenient.
Known self-inflating cushions suffer from a number of disadvantages arising from the operation of the valve which allows air to enter or escape from the cushion. This is the case in respect of the self-inflating cushion disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/AU96/00761. The object of this invention is to provide an improved self-inflating cushion and an improved valve for such cushions and other enclosures.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a self-inflating device comprising an envelope defining a closed space, a compressible material contained within the envelope and valve means adapted to allow air into the envelope so that the compressed material can expand to enlarge the support device and to allow air out of the envelope so that the material may be compressed and the support device reduced in size, said valve means comprising a valve member and a valve seat adapted to form a seal therebetween when the valve is closed, an actuator which whilst actuated separates the valve member and valve seat to permit air flow into and out of the device for adjustment of the volume of air within the device and locking means for maintaining the valve fully open when it is desired to fill or empty the device with air.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a valve for controlling the flow of air into and out of an enclosure such as a self-inflating cushion comprising a valve member and a valve seat adapted to form a seal therebetween when the valve is closed, an actuator which whilst actuated separates the valve member and valve seat to permit air to flow into and out of the enclosure for adjustment of the volume of air within the enclosure and locking means for maintaining the valve fully open when it is desired to fill or empty the enclosure with air.
In one form of the invention, the actuator is connected to the valve member and spring biased so as to retain the valve member and valve seat in their closed position. The actuator is arranged so that upon an initial movement it separates the valve member and valve seat to allow adjustment of the volume of air in the enclosure and upon further movement is locked into a position which maintains the valve fully open.
In another form of the invention, the locking means includes a release tab having a catch adapted to engage a tab on the actuator to hold the valve open. The release tab is mounted on an arm which is movable between a first position in which the catch engages the actuator tab so that the valve is locked open and a second position in which the catch is disengaged from the actuator tab so that the valve can close.
In a one embodiment of the invention the valve member is connected to the actuator, the arrangement being such that the actuator opens the valve by moving the valve member away from the valve seat and that the locking means is engaged only when the valve is fully open.

Self-inflating cushion and valve therefor


The invention relates to a cutting insert (20) with at least one chip guiding groove (25) in which there are longitudinal ribs (27) running substantially perpendicularly to the cutting edge (22) and bridging at least partially the chip guide groove(s) with additional chip guide components (28-42) transversely to the longitudinal rib axis.

German patent document 1,602,864 suggests for better guiding and breaking of the moving chip over a greater machining region to form the cutting edge between the cutting corners as a concave arc and to leave the inner flanks of the chip-breaking groove steep to the respective overlying surface (plateau) of the cutting insert.
German patent document 2,544,991 describes a cutting insert that has more than two terraced chip-breaking steps along the cutting edge with each step edge having a longitudinally wavy edge. With this embodiment it is possible in another way to avoid a long helical chip with the last cutting insert in that optimally many and differently directed chip-deforming pressures are effective over the entire chip width so that same is deformed crosswise and transversely. In this above-cited embodiment the stated goal of making short chips is only unsatisfactorily obtained. From European patent documents 0,168,556 and 0,222,317 cutting inserts are known having a chamfer along the cutting edge and parallel to the cutting edge and chamfer a chip-guiding groove and a raised central part substantially above the chamfer and with ball-segment projections provided on the ascending flank to the raised central part. German patent document 3,431,601 describes a cutting insert with a first cylindrical chip-guiding groove of uniform width and a second cylindrical chip-guiding groove which is of greater width but lesser depth than the first groove.
The cutting insert according to European patent document 0,414,241 has recesses not only on the free surface but also on the cutting surface and which merge with one another in the region of the cutting edge so that the cutting edge is set back in the region of the recesses relative to the remaining parts of the cutting edge. The respective trapezoidal shape is made with sharp edges so that one cannot count on a long service life. In addition as always friction is very great on the cutting surface during chip removal. Disadvantageously the cutting insert in the named publication is only usable in specialized applications.
In order to ensure good chip formation even with widely varying rates of advance, cut depths, or advance speeds it has been suggested further in European patent publication 0,278,083 to provide a cutting angle of more than 30.degree. in the region extending on the chamfer at a right angle to the cutting edge so that the cutting angle is smaller with increased spacing from the chamfer and there is provided in the cutting surface region of the cutter body between the cutting-corner regions cutting ridges projecting out of the cutting surface and extending in the cutting direction and between which further bumps with run-on ramps are provided. The corners have three adjacent burred bumps which flank and extend parallel to the ridges.
European patent document 0,143,758 has longitudinally extending ridges which are trapezoidal in section and which run parallel to the cutting edge. These ridges are interrupted by recesses.

Cutting insert with perpendicular ridges having transverse ribs for chip guiding


A buried channel and a method of fabricating a buried channel in a substrate including depositing a layer of masking material onto a surface of a substrate, etching a groove in the masking layer, etching a channel into the substrate through the groove, and depositing a cover layer over the masking layer and groove such that the covering layer at least substantially closes over the groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to micro-machining, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a buried channel in a substrate and a low temperature, low-cost method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many different technologies have benefited from advances in micro-machining, and as micro-machining becomes less expensive and more commonplace, more applications will come about. One common structural feature in a device made by micro-machining is a buried channel. Buried channels are used throughout the electrical, chemical, and biochemical fields, for instance in microfluidic and gas applications. In many instances it is desirable that the buried channel be monolithically integrated with other devices, such as electronics, sensors, and micro plumbing, for example micro-machined valves and pumps. Also, in many applications the device incorporating the buried channel is better suited for its application if it is a consumable. Thus, efforts are taken to minimize the overall cost of fabricating the device, and using low-cost methods of fabricating its features, such as a buried channel, help minimize the cost.
Most methods for fabricating buried channels require many steps, and thus are not low-cost. Those that are low-cost may not be suited for monolithic integration with other devices. One low-cost method for fabricating a buried channel is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,286 by Levine et al. This method involves depositing a film into an open trench. The film lines the sidewalls and bottom of the trench, and builds up covering over the top. With this method it is necessary that the trench have a depth that is much greater than its width, for example a 2:1 aspect ratio, so that the filler material will close off the trench. However, it is difficult to control the shape of the resulting buried channel, and fabricating a buried channel with this method may result in a channel that is not an optimum shape. Also, this method requires a substantial thickness in the layer of material covering the trench, and thus the method is limited by the ultimate attainable thickness of the covering material.
Therefore, there remains a continued need for a method of fabricating a buried channel that is low-cost. It is desirable that the method enable fabrication of large channels, maximizing the channel size attainable for a given thickness of material. It is also desirable that the method be suitable for low temperature fabrication techniques to enable the use of a broader range of materials, including inexpensive polymers. Further, the method should allow monolithic integration of the buried channel with other devices.
The invention is a low-cost method of fabricating a buried channel in a substrate. The method includes depositing a layer of masking material onto the surface of a substrate. A groove is etched through the masking material to expose the substrate. A channel is etched into the substrate through the groove. A covering layer is deposited over the masking layer and groove such that the covering layer, at least substantially, covers over the groove.
Etching a channel can comprise using an isotropic etchant to etch an undercut into the substrate beneath the masking layer. Etching can comprise etching with an anisotropic etchant chosen to etch primarily downward into the substrate, and etching with an isotropic etchant to etch undercuts beneath the masking layer. Etching with an anisotropic etchant can be performed before the step of etching with an isotropic etchant. Etching of a channel can further comprise etching with an anisotropic etchant chosen to etch primarily along a crystal plane of the substrate which is not perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The cover layer can be deposited such that the layer is conformal so that a portion of the cover layer material deposits in the channel and forms a passivating layer in the channel. The groove can further be etched with sidewalls which slope inward and downward. The method can further comprise applying a second cover layer over the first cover layer and groove to completely close off the groove. The second cover layer can be spun-on. Depositing the cover layer can further comprise controlling the thickness of the cover layer to leave an opening of a pre-determined width above the groove to create a sieve. The method can further comprise etching a portion of the cover layer over the groove to create an opening of a pre-determined width to create a sieve. The method can also comprise etching a portion of the cover layer into the channel to create a via. Etching a groove can further comprise etching the groove up to a point of access of a monolithically integrated device. The method can further include etching an access point for a monolithically integrated device through the cover layer and into the channel.
The method of the invention can utilize low temperature processing techniques in fabricating the buried channel, and also allows monolithically integrating the channel with other devices. The method of invention enables fabrication of larger buried channels than would otherwise be possible with a given covering material thickness
The invention is also drawn to a buried channel in a substrate. The substrate includes a channel open to the surface of the substrate. A first layer is located on the surface of the substrate and over the channel. The first layer has a groove therein that follows at least a portion of the channel. A second layer is located on top of the first layer and at least substantially covers over the groove.

Buried channel in a substrate and method of making same


A self aligned, index-guided, buried heterostructure AlGalnN laser diode provides improved mode stability and low threshold current when compared to conventional ridge waveguide structures. A short period superlattice is used to allow adequate cladding layer thickness for confinement without cracking. The intensity of the light lost due to leakage is reduced by about 2 orders of magnitude with an accompanying improvement in the far-field radiation pattern when compared to conventional structures. The comparatively large p-contact area allowed by the self-aligned architecture contributes to a lower diode voltage and less heat during continuous wave operation of the laser diode.

This invention relates to nitride based blue laser diodes.
Nitride based blue laser diodes are being developed for printing and optical data storage applications. The first AlGalnN blue laser diodes were broad area lasers providing no control over the laser diode""s various spatial modes. Most applications, however, require the laser diode to operate in a single spatial mode. One way of achieving single spatial mode operation for AlGalN blue laser diodes is to use a ridge waveguide structure to define a lateral waveguide as described in xe2x80x9cRidge-geometry lNGaN multi-quantum-well-structure laser diodesxe2x80x9d by S. Nakamura et al., in Applied Physics Letters 69 (10), pp. 1477-1479 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. While a ridge waveguide provides for single spatial mode emission in blue lasers, the waveguiding provided is relatively weak. The lateral refractive index step is small and is influenced by heating and carrier injection. Additionally, there are fabrication difficulties because the ridge must be etched to extend sufficiently close to the laser active region without the ability to use an etch stop to prevent material damage to the laser active region since chemical etching is not applicable to GaN materials.
To provide stronger mode stability and low threshold current operation, more strongly index-guided diode lasers are required such as those having buried heterostructures that are typically used for lNGaAsP fiber optic-communication lasers, or the impurity-induced-layer-disordered waveguide structures used for high-power single-mode AlGaAs laser diodes. Additionally, the use of a buried heterostructure avoids certain fabrication difficulties.
Both index-guided buried heterostructure AlGalnN laser diodes and self-aligned index guided buried heterostructure AlGalnN laser diodes provide improved mode stability and low threshold current when compared to conventional ridge waveguide structures. A structure for the index-guided buried heterostructure AlGalnN laser diode in accordance with the invention typically uses insulating AlN, AlGaN or p-doped AlGaN:Mg for lateral confinement and has a narrow (typically about 1-5 xcexcm in width) ridge which is the location of the narrow active stripe of the laser diode which is defined atop the ridge. The narrow ridge is surrounded by an epitaxially deposited film having a window on top of the ridge for the p-electrode contact. The ridge is etched completely through the active region of the laser diode structure to the short period superlattice n-cladding layer. The short period superlattice is used to allow adequate cladding layer thickness for confinement without cracking. Typically, use of a short period superlattice allows doubling of the cladding layer thickness without cracking. This reduces the intensity of the light lost due to leakage by about 2 orders of magnitude with an accompanying improvement in the far-field radiation pattern in comparison with conventional structures. Junction surfaces are exposed by the ridge etch and these junction surfaces contribute surface states which prevent injected carriers from filling conduction or valence band states needed for a population inversion. However, the epitaxial regrowth of a high bandgap material passivates the surface states because the interface between the overgrown material and the ridge structure is perfectly coherent.
The structure for the self-aligned, index guided, buried heterostructure AlGalnN laser diode uses the p-cladding layer to also function as the burying layer to provide strong lateral optical confinement and strong lateral carrier confinement. The p-cladding layer/burying layer is typically AlGaN:Mg. The structure for the self-aligned, index guided, buried heterostructure laser diode is simpler than for the index-guided, buried heterostructure AlGalnN laser diode. The laser structure is grown through the active quantum well and waveguide region followed by etching a narrow laser ridge down to the n-bulk cladding layer. The p-type cladding/burying layer is then overgrown around the ridge along with the p-contact layer. Subsequent laser processing is simple since the two-step growth process results in a lateral waveguide and carrier confinement structure which does not require the creation of contact windows. Hence, the laser processing required is basically a broad area laser fabrication sequence. Additionally, the comparatively large p-contact area allowed by the self-aligned architecture contributes to a lower diode voltage and less heat during continuous wave operation of the laser diode.

Structure and method for self-aligned, index-guided, buried heterostructure AlGalnN laser diodes


Ganglioside lactam analogue derivatives of general formula (I) in which A is a sialic acid residue of formula (II) which is bound via the dashed line in the 2-position; and in which Z.sup.1 is --OH or a group --NHX.sup.1, and Y.sup.30 is --CH.sub.3 or --CH.sub.2 OH; X.sup.1 and Y.sup.1 together form a bond and Y.sup.2 is --OH or a group OR.sup.20, or X.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 together form a bond and Y.sup.1 is --OH or --NHAc; Y.sup.3 is --OH or a group --OR.sup.20 ; R.sup.1 is H or a sialic acid residue of formula (III) which is bound via the dashed line in the 2-position; and in which Z.sup.2 is --OH or a group --NHX.sup.2, and Y.sup.30 is as defined above; X.sup.2 and Y.sup.10 together form a bond and Y.sup.20 is --OH, or X.sup.2 and Y.sup.20 together form a bond and Y.sup.10 is --OH; with the provisos that when R.sup.1 is H, then Z.sup.1 is --NHX.sup.1, and that when R.sup.1 is a sialic acid residue of formula (III), then at least one of Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 is different from --OH; R.sup.10 is H, a carrier CA, or a group -(Sugar).sub.n. The compounds are hydrolytically stable lactam analogs which spatially closely resemble the naturally occurring ganglioside lactones and are antigenic and able to induce the production of antibodies that cross-react with the corresponding ganglioside lactone.

Gangliosides, i.e. sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, are well-known components of the mammalian cell surfaces. Furthermore, gangliosides have been found to occur in equilibrium with the corresponding lactones. Thus, GM.sub.3 - and GD.sub.3 -ganglioside [NeuAc.alpha.(2-3)Gal.beta.(1-4)Glc.beta.O-Ceramide and NeuAc.alpha.(2-8)NeuAc.alpha.(2-3)Gal.beta.(1-4)Glc.beta.O-Ceramide] have been demonstrated to form lactones where the sialic acid-derived carbonyl group enters into lactone formation with various hydroxyl groups of the NeuAc and Gal residues. Furthermore, it has been shown that such lactones exist in vivo, e.g. in brain tissue and in the membranes of tumour cells, and are not just artifacts of the isolation procedures (Gross, S. K.; Williams, M. A.; McCluer, R. H. J. Neurochem. 1980, 34, 1351-1361). It has also been shown that GM.sub.3 -lactone is much more immunogenic than is the open form of GM.sub.3 -ganglioside (Nores, G. A.; Dohi, T.; Taniguchi, M.; Hakomori, S.-I. J. Immun. 1987, 139, 3171-3176).
It has also been suggested that GM.sub.3 -lactone is a highly rigid structure with the lactone ring in a chair-like conformation (see scheme 1 below) which would mean that its ability to serve as a recognition site or membrane antigen could be enhanced, compared to its parent structure, which is flexible (Yu, R. K.; Koerner, T. A. W.; Ando, S.; Yohe, H. C.; Prestegaard, J. H. J. Biochem. 1985, 98, 1367-1373). Furthermore, the lactone of GM.sub.3 -ganglioside ("GM.sub.3 -lactone") has been suggested to be a tumour-associated antigen on the cells of an experimental mouse melanoma (Nores, G. et al. cited above). In a comparative immunization with GM.sub.3 -ganglioside and the corresponding lactone, the same authors showed that the lactone is the stronger immunogen, and it was suggested that this compound could be the real immunogen despite being a minor membrane component. Furthermore, the activity of a monoclonal anti-melanoma antibody (M2590) with various cells and liposomes was shown to depend in a threshold, all-or-none, fashion on the concentration of GM.sub.3 -ganglioside in the cell membrane or liposome. Also, the antibody was found to cross-react with GM.sub.3 -lactone.
The ganglioside lactones are unstable at neutral pH while acidic conditions favour the lactone in the equilibrium between GM.sub.3 -ganglioside and GM.sub.3 -lactone. However, since GM.sub.3 -ganglioside is itself acidic since it is an acid-containing glycolipid, the ganglioside might possibly induce its own lactonization when the concentration is sufficiently high in a cell membrane or liposome. This might help to explain the threshold effect described above and might have similar implications for other sialic acid-containing saccharides.
Thus, although a ganglioside lactone has been shown to be far more immunogenic than the open-form ganglioside, the low equilibrium concentration of the lactone at pH-values close to neutral will probably render the lactone to be a rather inefficient immunogen. Thus, it is clear that it would be desirable to have a non-labile immunogenic compound resembling the lactone form of a ganglioside and which is capable of raising antibodies (and other entities of the immune system) capable of at least partial cross-reaction with the ganglioside lactone.


An apparatus for assisting and improving baseball hitting is described. The apparatus includes a spherical object having an interior anchor and a cord extending therefrom. An adjustable mass body is disposed within the spherical object along the cord. The interior anchor allows the spherical object to rotate about the cord.

Baseball is a popular sport in the United States and people of all ages enjoy varying degrees of participation. Players and participants enjoy various elements of baseball, including throwing, pitching, hitting, and fielding. For hitting, one should typically have the hand-eye coordination required to strike a moving ball. Participants, of course thus practice to develop these skills. Because of the nature of the sport, batting practice machines, which can eliminate the need for a human pitcher, have been developed to simulate the pitching of ball. These devices however have a disadvantage in that they require an adequate supply of balls which also must be retrieved after hitting. Other tools include tethered baseball devices where the baseball for hitting is attached to a cord allowing ready retrieval of the hit baseball. These tethered baseball devices are useful for practice, especially where space for gameplay is limited. The type of ball used in these tethered ball devices may vary. A number of balls and practice systems, including the tethered ball devices, have been developed to facilitate skill improvement. Among these conventional balls and systems however, there remains a need for an apparatus that allows users to assess and then improve their baseball hitting skills.


An active OLED display, comprising a plurality of OLED pixels, each of the OLED pixels comprising an anode, a cathode, and a stack of organic layers, wherein the stack of organic layers is provided between and in contact with the cathode and the anode and comprises an electron transport layer, a hole transport layer, and a light emitting layer provided between the hole transport layer and the electron transport layer, and a driving circuit configured to separately driving the pixels of the plurality of OLED pixels, wherein, for the plurality of OLED pixels, a common hole transport layer is formed by the hole transport layers provided in the stack of organic layers of the plurality of OLED pixels, the common hole transport layer comprising a hole transport matrix material and at least one electrical p-dopant, and the electrical conductivity of the hole transport material being lower than 1×10−3 S·m−1 and higher than 1×10−8 S·m−1.

Since 1987, when low operating voltages have been demonstrated by Tang et al. (C. W. Tang et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 51 (12) 913 (1987)), organic light-emitting diodes have been promising candidates for the realization of large-area displays. They consist of a sequence of thin (typically 1 nm to 1 μm) layers of organic materials, which can be deposited, for example, by thermal vacuum evaporation or solution processing, followed by formation of the electrical contacts through metallic layers. Organic electrical devices offer a great variety of electronic or optoelectronic components, such as diodes, light-emitting diodes, photodiodes and thin film transistors (TFT), which, in terms of properties, compete with established components based on inorganic materials.
In the case of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), light is produced and emitted by the light-emitting diode through the injection of charge carriers (electrons from one side, holes from another side) from the contacts into adjacent organic layers as a result of an externally applied voltage, subsequent formation of excitons (electron-hole pairs) in an active zone, and radiative recombination of these excitons.
The advantage of such organic components over conventional inorganic components (based on inorganic semiconductors such as silicon or gallium arsenide) is the option to produce large-area elements, e.g. large display elements (visual displays, screens) or lamps (for lighting applications). Organic materials, compared to inorganic materials, are relatively inexpensive (less expenditure of material and energy). Moreover, these materials, because of their low processing temperature compared to inorganic materials, can be deposited on flexible substrates, thereby opening up a whole series of new applications in display and illuminating engineering.
The basic construction of such a component includes an arrangement of one or more of the following layers: Carrier substrate; hole-injecting (positive contact) base electrode which is usually transparent; hole-injecting layer (HIL); hole-transporting layer (HTL); light-emitting layer (EL); electron-transporting layer (ETL); electron-injecting layer (EIL); electron-injecting (negative contact) cover electrode, usually a metal with low work function; and encapsulation, to exclude ambient influences.
While the foregoing represents the most typical case, often several layers may be (with the exception of HTL and ETL) omitted, or else one layer may combine several properties.
The use of doped charge-carrier transport layers (p-doping of the HTL by admixture of acceptor-like molecules, n-doping of the ETL by admixture of donor-like molecules) is described in document U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,698. Doping in this sense means that the admixture of doping substances into the layer increases the equilibrium charge-carrier concentration in this layer, compared to the pure layers of one of the two substances concerned, which results in improved electrical conductivity and better charge-carrier injection from the adjacent contact layers into this mixed layer. The transport of charge carriers still takes place on the matrix molecules. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,698, the doped layers are used as injection layers at the interface to the contact materials, the light-emitting layer being found in between (or, when only one doped layer is used, next to the other contact). Equilibrium charge-carrier density, increased by doping, and associated band bending, facilitate charge-carrier injection. The energy levels of the organic layers (HOMO=highest occupied molecular orbital or highest energetic valence band energy; LUMO=lowest unoccupied molecular orbital or lowest energetic conduction band energy), according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,698, should be obtained so that electrons in the ETL as well as holes in the HTL can be injected into the EL (emitting layer) without further barriers, which requires very high ionization energy of the HTL material and very low electron affinity of the ETL material.
With respect to active OLED displays, so-called crosstalk between pixels of the display has been a major problem. Pixel or colour crosstalk refers to photons of one colour generated by a pixel falsely mixing with photons of another colour scattered from a close pixel. For example, documents GB 2 492 400 A and WO 2002/015292 A2 provide measures for reducing colour crosstalk in OLED devices. In addition, or as an alternative aspect, electrical crosstalk may occur. In this case, for example, a driving current applied to one of the pixels may cause light emission from another pixel close to the pixel for which the driving current is provided. Both will have a negative impact on the performance of the display device. (see Yamazaki et al., A. (2013), 33.2: Spatial Resolution Characteristics of Organic Light-emitting Diode Displays: A comparative Analysis of MTF for Handheld and Workstation Formats. SID Symposium Digest of Technical Papers, 44: 419-422. doi: 10.1002/j.2168-0159.2013.tb06236.x).
In a typical commercial active matrix OLED display, electrical pixel cross talk may be caused by the application of redox p-doping in a hole transport layer (HTL) which is shared by more OLED pixels (in the sense that the shared HTL is electrically connected to anodes of a plurality of pixels present in the display). The use of redox p-dopants which increase charge carrier density by creation of new charge carriers (holes) by transfer of an electron from a molecule of the doped matrix to a dopant molecule is beneficial for low-operating voltage, high operational stability and high production yield. On the other hand, redox p-doping increases electrical conductivity of hole transport layers from less than 10−8 S/cm without p-dopant, usually from less than 10−10 S/cm, to more than10−6 S/cm (typically, with concentrations of the p-dopant in the range between 1 and 5 wt. %). Therefore, redox-doped HTL is usually responsible for any electrical pixel cross talk in active matrix displays comprising a HTL shared by plurality of pixels. The ETL, if n-doped with redox n-dopants, might also show similarly high conductivity as the redox-doped HTL, however, due to display layout with a common cathode, the ETL does not cause electrical pixel cross talk.

Active OLED display, method of operating an active OLED display and compound


The bearing has a movable ring and a fixed ring, separated from the movable ring by rolling elements, and is axially restrained by an axial stop member. A support member adapted for mounting of the sensor is positioned between the fixed ring and the axial stop member. Elastic means on the support member biases the support member away from the axial stop member to maintain a constant gap between the coding element and the sensor.

This invention relates generally to bearings with encoders and, more particularly, to a device for fixing a data sensor opposite a rolling-element bearing equipped with a coding element that can be read by the sensor.
Publication FR-2,667,947 describes a rotational speed sensing device that is pinched between a shoulder and a fixed ring of a bearing, and mounted by a hoop in its housing. In such a mounting, axial displacement or creep of the bearing may occur as a result of mechanical stresses or of differential expansion. Although the operation of the bearing may be unaffected, because an axial stop using "circlips" is often provided, the operation of the sensor may be affected since the relative position of the sensor with respect to the coding element is modified. In addition, the sensor is no longer firmly maintained, and instead has some play, making it sensitive to vibrations. This can result in oxidation of the contacts and micro short circuits, reducing reliability of the signal. And, in the case of a rotating internal ring, centrifugation of pollutants may occur, causing friction, heat, and wear. Finally, such a mounting requires modification of the housing and does not allow independent replacement of sensor and bearing elements.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,143,458 and 5,451,869 describe supports for sensors that are elastically fixed to a fixed ring of a bearing, thus eliminating some of the disadvantages described above. However, the engagement between the resilient support member and the fixed ring of the bearing with such configurations requires specific arrangements on the fixed ring. These arrangements can lead to the reconsideration of the mounting conditions of the bearing because of a reduction in the size of the rolling-elements or in the space dedicated to the integrated seal of the bearing. In addition, the resulting diversity of bearings can generate large cost increases, either with regard to the bearing components themselves, or with regard to the inventory requirements at the user's site.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Device for fixing a sensor to a rolling-element bearing


A method and apparatus for forming an insulator 62 on one major surface of a uniaxial tension focus mask 25 includes the steps of: positioning a mask sheet 27, having a multiplicity of openings 42 that extend from a first major surface of the mask sheet through a main body portion thereof to an oppositely disposed second major surface, at a distance from a charging gun 72, 172 having a source 74, 174 of a dry-powdered insulative material; charging and directing the dry-powdered insulative material toward the first major surface of the mask to provide a coating of the charged, dry-powdered insulative material thereon, and providing means 70, 272 for preventing the charged, dry-powdered insulative material from extending into the openings 42 and being deposited onto the main body portion of the mask surrounding the openings and the second major surface. The mask sheet 27, with the charged, dry-powdered insulative material on the first major surface thereof, is then heated to a temperature sufficient to sinter the insulative material. An apparatus for practicing this method also is described.

One type of uniaxial tension focus mask has a plurality of spaced-apart first metal strands located adjacent to an effective picture area of the screen of the CRT. The spacing between the first metal strands defines a plurality of slots substantially parallel to the phosphor lines of the screen. Each of the first metal strands, across the effective picture area of the screen, has a substantially continuous first insulator layer on a screen-facing side thereof. A second insulator layer overlies the first insulator layer. A plurality of second metal strands are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first metal strands and are bonded thereto by the second insulator layer. During operation of the uniaxial tension focus mask two different potentials are applied to the first and second metal strands to focus the electron beams transmitted through the slots in the focus mask.
A method of making the uniaxial tension focus mask includes prodding, e.g., by conventional spraying, a first coating of an insulative, devitrifying solder glass onto the screen-facing side of the first metal strands of a mask sheet. A suitable solvent and an acrylic binder are mixed with the devitrifying solder glass to give the first coating a modest degree of mechanical strength. A devitrifying solder glass is one that melts at a specific temperature to form a crystallized glass insulator. The resultant crystallized glass insulator is stable and will not remelt when reheated to the same temperature. The first coating has a thickness of about 0.14 mm. A frame, to which the mask sheet is attached, is placed into an oven and the first coating is dried at a temperature of about 80.degree. C. After drying, the first coating is contoured so that it is shielded by the first metal strands to prevent the electron beams, passing thought the slots, from impinging upon the insulator and charging it. The contouring is performed on the first coating by abrading or otherwise removing any of the solder glass material of the first coating that extends beyond the edge of the first metal strands and would be contacted by either the deflected or undeflected electron beams. The frame with the mask sheet attached thereto is placed into an oven and heated in air. The structure comprising the frame and mask sheet are heated over a period of 30 minutes, to a temperature of 300.degree. C. and held at 300.degree. C., for 20 minutes. Then, over a period of 20 minutes, the temperature of the oven is increased to 460.degree. C. and held at that temperature for one hour, to melt and crystallize the first coating to form a first insulator layer on the first metal strands. The resultant first insulator layer is only substantially continuous; i.e., the layer includes voids caused by baking out the binder and the solvent that are used to deposit the conventionally sprayed first coating. The first insulator layer, after firing, has a thickness within the range of 0.5 to 0.9 mm (2 to 3.5 mils) across each of the first metal strands. Next, a second coating of a suitable insulative material, mixed with a solvent, is applied, e.g., by conventional spraying, to the first insulator layer. Preferably, the second coating is a non-devitrifying (i.e., vitreous) solder glass. Vitreous solder glass is preferred for the second coating because when it melts, it will fill the aforementioned voids in the surface of the first insulator layer without adversely affecting the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the first insulator layer. Alternatively, a devitrifying solder glass may be used to form the second coating. The second coating is applied to a thickness of about 0.025 to 0.05 mm (1 to 2 mils). The second coating is dried at a temperature of 80.degree. C. and contoured, as previously described, to remove any excess material that could be struck by the electron beams. Subsequently, second metal strands are applied to overlie the second coating of insulative material. The second metal strands are substantially perpendicular to the first metal strands.
The conventional spraying steps for the first and second insulator layers require the mixing of a dry glass material with at least a suitable solvent, and usually a binder. The conventional spraying steps are wasteful of the insulative material, because most of the insulative material passes through the large slots, or openings, in the mask sheet. Additionally, the excess material cannot be salvaged, and a drying step is required, prior to the firing step that solidifies the sprayed mixture into a glass insulator layer. Furthermore, conventionally sprayed material usually adheres not only to the edges of the mask openings, but often splatters onto the oppositely disposed gun-facing surface of the first metal strands; the material must be removed therefrom and from the edge of the openings, to prevent charging of the insulator by the electron beams.
It is desirable to eliminate the above-described waste of insulative material and to decrease the time required to make the uniaxial tension focus mask by simplifying the steps of applying the insulative material to form the insulator on the mask sheet. Also, it is desirable to provide a first insulator that does not contain voids, in order to increase the electrical integrity of the uniaxial tension focus mask.

Method and apparatus for forming an insulator on a uniaxial tension focus mask of a color selection electrode


The invention relates to a method for data transmission in a serial bus system comprising a control unit and bus users. The method comprises steps: receiving a first data telegram by a bus user from the control unit, wherein the data telegram has a data field containing output data; reading out the data field intended for the bus user from the first data telegram; preparing input data as a response to the read out data field; checking whether a predefined criterion is met, wherein if the criterion is met a second data telegram is newly generated and the input data is attached to the second data telegram and if the criterion is not met, the input data is attached to a data telegram previously received from another bus user; and transmitting the input data to the control unit by the second data telegram.

The pace of change in automation technology continues unabated. Downward pressure on costs, the ever-increasing expectations in terms of process flow and product quality as well as the demand for the most highly flexible production facilities are the market-led driving forces to which the manufacturers of devices, systems and plants are responding with a fast rate of innovation.
Of crucial importance here is the advancement of automation technology, with field buses playing a key role in this technology. Field buses provide an efficient means of transmitting data to various automation devices in order to enable said devices to be controlled on a real-time or virtually real-time basis.
To ensure highly efficient data transmission, various system bus concepts have been developed which are commercially available under the name "Profibus", "PROFINET", "Interbus", "EtherCAT". The speed of the bus system has been increased by, among other things, transmitting the data in a so-called "broadcast telegram" for which payload data is combined into a packet in order to be then transmitted serially to the individual bus users, instead of transmitting the data individually to individual bus users. In such a system it is possible for the bus users to be disposed in a ring arrangement so that the master-initiated broadcast telegram is transmitted round all the modules, units, etc. This provides the possibility of optimizing the transmission of payload data for a linear structure of this kind.
DE 10 2005 054202 B3, for example, discloses a user device of a serial bus system, a bus system with a user device of this kind and a digital input/output card.
DE 199 22 497 A1 discloses a method for transmitting data between at least two users of a bus system, each user having a logic unit, a memory unit and an interface. After transmission of start information to all the users in the sequence of the consecutive data field positions, data fields are processed position by position by each user writing data to the data field position or positions assigned to it.
WO 03/061211 A1 discloses an installation for transmitting data in a serial bus with a control device which has a transceiver unit for data fields combined to form a data frame, and with bus users which possess an evaluation circuit for reading data fields into and out of the data frame.


A heterogeneous enzymatic immunoassay, in which chemiluminescence is employed as a detection means, is disclosed. The chemiluminescence is produced by an enzymatic catalyzed redox reaction between hydrogen peroxide and a phenolic compound such as pyrogallol, resorcinol, phloroglucinol and hydroquinone. The assay is disclosed as having sensitivity equal to that of radioimmunoassays and reverse hemaglutination tests without some of the drawbacks of these methods, e.g., radioactivity hazards.

There exist many methods for the determination of small quantities of biological substances, such as proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, lipids, steroids, hormones, viruses, enzymes, bacteria, and the like.
One type of reaction which has gained importance during recent years is the immunoassay, which has many variations. Any substance with antigenic properties, or which can form an antigen when suitably linked to another substance can be used for such quantitative determinations.
Generally the quantitative measurements in immunoassays are either carried out directly after an immunoreaction, or by measuring a "tag" attached to one of the components of the immunocomplex, i.e. the antigen or the antibody. The tags can be colored or produce color after a reaction; they may be fluorescent or radioactive. Large particles, such as latex or red blood cells which form readily discernible aggregates, can be used as well. The latter are amongst the most sensitive methods known hitherto.
One specific type of immunoassay, which makes use of spectrophotometric measurements is the enzyme-linked immunoassay, performed with enzymes such as peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, and .beta.-galactosidase as "tags".

Israel Institute for Biological Research


Provided is an information processing apparatus that enables adequately grasping the gaming environment. The information processing apparatus receives environmental information representing a gaming environment at a place where a gaming machine is installed in a gaming hall and performs image processing to create a floor map of the gaming hall in which gaming machines installed in the gaming hall are mapped to corresponding positions by associating the environmental information with the position of the gaming machine.

Gaming halls including casinos have a large number of gaming machines. Large-scale gaming halls have floor areas over 50,000 m2 and are equipped with more than 3,000 gaming machines.
In recent years, a game system for the gaming machines in a gaming hall has been introduced that allows a player to play games with an IC card. The game system is implemented by incorporating a player tracking device capable of reading information in an IC card into each gaming machine (refer to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0135799).
In the game system according to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0135799, as soon as a player inserts an IC card into a player tracking device, information on the player's remaining amount of money managed by the IC card is indicated on the display device of the player tracking device and the player is allowed to play games on the gaming machine using the credit data managed by the IC card. This IC card is a player card that has recently become a requirement to play games with common casino machines and is issued at a dedicated counter of a casino by presenting an ID document such as a passport. The casino may use the IC card for customer management on the player who possesses the card by utilizing the identification information associated with the player card (e.g., an RFID associated with the chip in the card).
In the meanwhile, not for the customer management by the casino but for a service for the casino, a game playing information integration system has been introduced that utilizes the various gaming history records at each gaming machine to replace gaming machines installed in the casino while maintaining the balance of satisfaction between the players and the shop by (refer to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/221083).

Information processing apparatus, information reading apparatus, gaming machine, and gaming system


A superconducting magnet assembly (10) suitable for use as a magnetohydrodynamic generator having an elongated channel (12) through which a high temperature, high ionized gas may be passed while immersed in a high strength magnetic field produced therein by a plurality of elongated saddle-shaped superconducting magnet rings (16) disposed side-by-side in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel as symmetrical pairs with the end turns of each of the rings outwardly directed. A compression member end support (30), preferably wedge-shaped, is disposed between the end turns of the symmetrical pairs of saddle-shaped superconducting magnet rings (16) so as to absorb the attractive forces generated between the end turns.

This invention relates to superconducting magnets and, more particularly, to a superconducting magnet assembly suitable for use as a magnetohydrodynamic generator having a wedge-shaped compressor member end support.
Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is a method of generating power by directly converting fuel energy into electrical energy. In a MHD generator, fuel is combusted so as to produce a very high temperature, high pressure ionized gas commonly termed plasma. The plasma generated in the MHD burner is passed through a channel immersed in a high strength magnetic field generated by a plurality of superconducting magnets flanking the channel. The plasma passing therethrough induces an electrical current which is gathered in electrodes lining the channel.
Because of the high efficiency associated with a direct conversion mechanism of MHD, major development efforts are underway to produce commercial scale MHD generators. One problem encountered in designing the commercial MHD generators is providing a superstructure for supporting and enclosing the superconducting magnets which are capable of withstanding the high stresses created when the superconducting magnets are energized.
The superconducting magnet of a MHD generator typically comprises a magnet substructure of a plurality of elongated symmetrical magnet pairs flanking the channel through which the plasma passes. One magnet of each symmetrical pair is disposed on one side of the channel, and its corresponding counterpart is disposed on the other side of the channel. When energized, the magnets want to deform into a circular shape. That is, the long sides of the individual magnets repel each other in inverse proportion to the square of the distance between conductors in which current directions are opposite. Likewise, there is an attraction between conductors in which current directions are in the same direction, causing the pairs of magnets to be attracted in inverse proportion to the square of the distance between conductors. Thus, a conductor forming a magnet if unrestrained will deform into a circle so as to equalize the repulsive and attractive forces on the conductor.
As a result, the superstructure for encircling and supporting the superconducting magnet substructure must effectively absorb and equilibrate the stresses generated when the magnets are energized. An improved superstructure for enclosing and supporting a superconducting magnet assembly which effectively absorbs and equilibrates the repulsive magnetic forces generated within the superconducting magnet assembly is disclosed and claimed in a related application of even date of Shotwell and Gaines entitled, "Superconducting Magnet Assembly".
In accordance with said related application, a magnet substructure is provided for producing the high strength magnetic field within the channel through which the high temperature, high pressure ionized gas is to pass, the magnet substructure having a first magnetic pole disposed above the channel and a second magnetic pole, opposite in polarity to the first magnetic pole, disposed below the channel. The outer surfaces of the first and second magnetic poles are machined to conform to a pre-calculated catenary-shaped curve. A support superstructure for absorbing the equilibrating repulsive magnetic forces generated within the magnet substructure when the first and second magnetic poles are energized completely encloses the magnet substructure. The inner surface of the superstructure is also machined to conform to the pre-calculated catenary-shaped curve so as to mate with the outer surfaces of the first and second magnetic poles. Because of the catenary shape of the interface, the load carried by the support superstructure members will not create a bending moment but will be in pure tension and will efficiently equilibrate the repulsive forces generated within the magnet substructure. The Shotwell and Gaines application does not, however, address the problem of absorbing and equilibrating the attractive magnetic forces generated within the magnet substructure.


A method of manufacturing a resin multilayer substrate with a cavity, includes stacking insulation substrates including thermoplastic resins and thermocompression-bonding the insulation substrates. At least one of the insulation substrates is formed by affixing a peelable carrier film to one main surface of the insulation substrate, making a cut in the insulation substrate having the carrier film affixed thereto, the cut being designed to form the cavity, penetrating the insulation substrate in a thickness direction and not penetrating the carrier film in a thickness direction, and removing the carrier film and a portion of the insulation substrate that is cut out by the cut.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a resin multilayer substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A resin multilayer substrate having a rigid portion and a flexible portion is known. Such a resin multilayer substrate consists of a flexible portion (a portion that is thinner or has fewer layers and higher flexibility) and a rigid portion (a portion that is thicker or has more layers and lower flexibility). The rigid portion is different from the flexible portion in a number of insulation substrates or in a composition material of the insulation substrate. Furthermore, as a method of manufacturing a resin multilayer substrate, there is a known method by which resin sheets, each made of a thermoplastic resin and having a conductor pattern formed thereon are stacked, then heated and pressurized by a heat pressing plate, and collectively bonded as a stacked body.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-264369 discloses a method of manufacturing a via-filled single-sided conductor pattern film. The method includes the steps of: affixing a PET film to a single-sided conductor (Cu) pattern resin film; providing a via hole by a laser beam from the PET film side and charging an interlayer connection material (via paste); and making a cut in a boundary between a rigid portion and a flexible portion, in which the cut is made in a length equal to or greater than the width of a product.
In Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-264369, however, a cut for forming a cavity is made after via paste is charged. Accordingly, due to vibration caused by cutting and conveyance, the via conductor tends to spatter or fall off, which leads to short-circuit defects or electric connection failures in a via. It is to be noted that this manufacturing method does not allow a film (for example, a PET film) functioning as a mask for via filling to be conveyed in the state where this film is held as a carrier film.
In addition, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-322838 discloses a method of manufacturing a flexible wiring substrate equipped with a stiffening plate. In this manufacturing method, the surface side (pattern side) of the flexible wiring plate is affixed to a slightly adhesive film, and the flexible wiring plate is half-cut from its back surface side while using the slightly adhesive film as a carrier, thereby cutting the flexible wiring plate in a prescribed shape without cutting the slightly adhesive film. However, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-322838 does not describe a manufacturing method of performing via filling, and also does not provide a carrier film functioning as a mask for via filling.

Method of manufacturing resin multilayer substrate


The invention provides a process for the production of hydrogen, comprising catalytically decomposing a concentrated aqueous solution of potassium formate in a reaction vessel to form bicarbonate slurry and hydrogen, discharging the hydrogen from said reaction vessel, and treating a mixture comprising the bicarbonate slurry and the catalyst with an oxidizer, thereby regenerating the catalyst. Pd/C catalysts useful in the process are also described.

The bicarbonate-formate cycle has been described by Zaidman, Weiner and Sasson [Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 11(5), pp. 341-347 (1986) and Weiner, Blum, Feilchenfeld, Sasson and Zalmanov [Journal of Catalysis, 110, pp. 184-190 (1988)], suggesting the use of aqueous formate solutions as hydrogen carriers. The bicarbonate-formate cycle consists of two stages, as shown by the following chemical equation:HCO3−+H2↔HCO2−+H2O
The first stage involves the reduction of bicarbonate to formate. To this end, a bicarbonate salt in aqueous solution is reacted with hydrogen at about 35° C. under hydrogen pressure, to give an aqueous solution of the corresponding formate salt. On demand, the reverse reaction is carried out, normally at about 70° and atmospheric pressure, whereby the formate is decomposed to produce the bicarbonate and hydrogen. The hydrogen can then be used for any desired purpose, e.g., as a fuel material. It follows that in the first stage (formate synthesis), the system is loaded with hydrogen, which is released and delivered in the second stage (formate decomposition). Both stages are carried out in the presence of a catalyst, e.g. heterogeneous catalyst such as palladium.
Kramer, Levy and Warshawsky [Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 20(3), pp. 229-233 (1995)] investigated the activity of the catalysts used in bicarbonate-formate cycle, starting by reacting 3.5 M KHCO3 solution with hydrogen to give the formate. The authors reported that the activity of the palladium catalyst used decreases with time, demonstrating that the catalyst can be regenerated through the following sequence of steps: (i) separating the catalyst from the solution; (ii) washing with distilled water at ambient temperature; (iii) drying at 120° C. under argon atmosphere; (iv) oxidizing the catalyst with oxygen or air.
It would be beneficial to provide a process allowing enhanced hydrogen storage and production capacity, and on the same time, offering a convenient way for treating and regenerating the catalyst used.

Method for storage and release of hydrogen

YISSUM RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM LTD.


A liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal panel LCP and a touch panel TP provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal panel is characterized in that wires connected to the liquid crystal panel and wires connected to the touch panel are included in one flexible printed circuit FPC, which is first connected (FOG1) to the liquid crystal panel (specifically, a TFT substrate (TFTS)) and then connected (FOG2) to the touch panel.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display device, and in particular to an image display device having an image display panel, such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic electroluminescent panel, and a touch panel.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Thin image display devices, such as liquid crystal modules (liquid crystal display devices) and organic electroluminescent modules (organic EL display devices), are used for the display devices of many portable information apparatuses, such as cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDAs), digital cameras and multimedia players.
FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing an example of a liquid crystal display device that is formed of a liquid crystal panel and a backlight unit BLU for illuminating the liquid crystal panel. DA represents the display region of the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel has a TFT substrate (TFTS) on which switching elements made of thin film transistors and electrodes are provided and a color filter substrate (facing substrate, CFS) on which color filters are formed, and liquid crystal is sealed in between the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate. A driver chip (DRC) for driving the liquid crystal panel is mounted on part of the TFT substrate. In addition, the liquid crystal panel has an upper polarizing plate (UPP) provided on the upper side of the color filter substrate and a lower polarizing plate (not shown) provided on the lower side of the TFT substrate. Furthermore, the wires connected to the liquid crystal panel are included in a flexible printed circuit (FPC) as shown in FIG. 1. The organic EL display device also uses a TFT substrate where the wires are connected in an FPC.
Recently, image display devices having a touch panel have been proposed in order to make the operation of information apparatuses easier. FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram showing a touch panel where touch panel electrodes (TPE) are formed on one side of a touch panel substrate (transparent substrate, TPS). The wires connected to the touch panel are included in a flexible printed circuit (FPC) on which a driving IC for driving the touch panel is mounted. IFT represents the interface of the flexible printed circuit.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a liquid crystal display device having a touch panel. A front panel (FW) for protecting a liquid crystal panel LCP and a touch panel TP are provided, and the touch panel TP and the liquid crystal panel LCP are provided in this order on the rear surface. Thus, the touch panel and the liquid crystal panel are provided in proximity, and therefore there are many wires in a small space which makes it difficult to make the liquid crystal display device thinner. The same problem arises in organic EL display devices.
JP 2003-280541A discloses a number of liquid crystal panels that are implemented by using one flexible printed circuit in order to provide display devices on the two sides, front and rear. The present inventor examined the method for implementing a touch panel and a liquid crystal panel connected through one flexible printed circuit and found that there is no space for the backlight between the touch panel and the liquid crystal panel as in JP 2003-280541A. Therefore, the distance between the terminals for the liquid crystal panel on the flexible printed circuit and the terminals for the touch panel is short, which makes it difficult to connect the flexible printed circuit to the liquid crystal panel and the touch panel with high precision.
In addition, the connection between the flexible printed circuit and the liquid crystal panel (portion represented by FOG in FIG. 3) is made by an FOG contact bond where the two are connected through the application of pressure and heat with an anisotropic conductive film in between. Therefore, the flexible printed circuit is connected to one panel, and after that the flexible printed circuit is connected to the other panel when it is found that the previous connection might slide or disengage due to the heat applied for the FOG contact bond, which leads to a problem.
In addition, JP 2005-38231A discloses a touch panel attached to one branch of an FPC and a liquid crystal display device attached to the other branch in order to reduce the number of connection cables so that the cost for parts and cost for assembly can be reduced. Furthermore, JP 2005-38231A discloses a touch panel and a liquid crystal display device that are integrated.

Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display  Co., Ltd.


A range finding device having a lens holder with two tunnels, and two lens plates mounted in front of the tunnels. Two pins are formed on the front surface of the lens holder, the two pins being positioned on vertical positioning lines externally of the vertical center lines of the two tunnels. Each lens plate has an elongated hole extending in the direction of the vertical positioning line, a pin being inserted in the elongated hole. In a preferred embodiment, each lens plate has four holes formed therein. Two of the four holes are used for coupling with two pins. Of these two holes used for positioning, one is a round hole and the other is an elongated hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a range finding device for detecting a distance of a subject by an optical triangulation method, and more particularly to an improved range finding device free from displacement of a lens optical axis as caused by environmental conditions.
2. Description Related to the Prior Art
Recent photographic cameras and video cameras are equipped with an autofocus system for automatically focussing a taking lens. This autofocus system is constructed of a distance measuring device for measuring a distance of a subject and a lens setting mechanism for setting a taking lens to a position suitable for the subject distance. As a distance measuring device, a range finding device is widely used which measures a distance of a subject by an optical triangulation method. Such a range finding device includes an active type device and a passive type device. The active type device has a light projector for projecting light toward a subject and a light receiver for detecting light reflected from the subject, the light projector and light receiver being disposed spaced apart by a predetermined length of a base line. The passive type device has two light receivers spaced apart by a predetermined base length.
FIG. 7 shows an autofocus system having a passive type range finding device. Two lenses 3a and 3b having the same specifics are mounted with their optical axes being disposed in parallel and with the distance between two optical axes being set to a lens base length B. Mounted on the focussing plane of the lenses 3a and 3b are line image sensors 5a and 5b each having a plurality of pixels disposed in the direction along the base line. Representing the focal length of each lens by F, a distance of a subject at point S by L, and a distance, from the optical axis of the lens 3b to a point on the image sensor 5b to which light from point S is incident, by X, the following equation is satisfied: EQU L=(B.times.F)/X
The distance X corresponds to a deviation of an image of the subject S focussed on the image sensor 5a from an image of the subject S focussed on the image sensor 5b. The subject distance L can be obtained by calculating the distance X as detected. A processing circuit 6 compares signals from the two image sensors 5a and 5b, while sequentially shifting one of the signals by one pixel at a time. When both the signals become the same within the range of a predetermined number of shifted pixels, the distance X can be obtained by multiplying a pixel pitch by the number of shifted pixels. The obtained distance X is correlated to the object distance L, so a lens drive circuit 7 is actuated to correspondingly drive a motor 8 and set a taking lens 9 at a lens position suitable for the distance X.
FIG. 8 shows a conventional integral range finding device as a unit. Lens sections 3a and 3b are integrally formed on a transparent acrylic resin lens plate 10 at positions spaced by a lens base length B. A lens holder or housing 11 has two tunnels of a quadrangle in section and is made of black colored plastics. On the front surface of the lens holder 11, the lens plate 10 is fixed with adhesive agent in the state of high positioning precision. On the back surface of the lens holder 11, an IC package 13 is fixed with adhesive agent. This IC package 13 has image sensors 5a and 5b covered with a cover glass 12. Reference pixels of the image sensors 5a and 5b are disposed spaced apart by a sensor base length C which is set equal to the lens base length B.
It is essential for the range finding device described above that the lens base length B representing the distance between the optical axes of the lens sections 3a and 3b be quite the same as the sensor base length C representing the distance between the reference pixels of the image sensors 5a and 5b. However, in an assembled state of the range finding device in a camera body, the lens plate 10, lens holder 11, and the silicon substrate forming the image sensors 5a and 5b expand or contract differently from each other at given temperature and humidity. Therefore, the spherical surfaces of the lens sections 3a and 3b may be deformed by a force caused by a difference of expansion or contraction between the lens plate 10 and lens holder 11. Furthermore, each element changes its mounting position as temperature or humidity changes, resulting in a relative change between the lens base length B and the sensor base length C. For example, since the thermal expansion coefficient of silicon substrate of the IC package 13 is small, the sensor base length C changes less with environmental conditions. However, resin is often used as the raw material of the lens holder 11 and lens plate 10, so that the lens base length B is likely to change greatly. A relative change between the lens base length B and sensor base length C is a main factor of distance measuring error, unable to maintain a reliable measurement precision.

Range finding device unaffected by environmental conditions


An apparatus for controlling an operational panel on which keyboards or change over switches are randomly arranged. Wherein the electrical circuit constitution is simple and each switch can be freely selected corresponding to whether a buzzer should be sounded or not when operating the switches. The constitution of the apparatus for controlling an operational panel includes a switch matrix (21) including n number of rows of data lines (231-23n), and m number of columns of common lines (241-24m). These data lines (231-23N) and common lines (241-24m) intersect each other. At each intersection, switches (S11-Snm) are respectively provided. Data lines (231-23n) and the common lines are connected to the receiving circuit (8), and a driving circuit (9) . Switch discriminating elements (251-25m) are connected to the receiving circuit (8) via switch discriminating data lines (26) on each of the common lines (241-24m).

Recently, an apparatus for controlling an operational panel on which keyboards, rotary switches or other switches are arranged, is utilized for machine tools, etc., and has a signaling function using a buzzer when switching so as to provide an operator with audible feedback. This function is quite useful when operating switches having very little tactile feedback such as flat key switches. However, it can be irritating when operating switches that clearly provide sufficient tactile feedback, such as rotary switches, change over switches, etc. Therefore, in the prior art, it is previously determined whether the buzzer should be sounded for each switch or not.
In general, a matrix circuit is used for discriminating the ON/OFF state of each switch on an operational panel. The matrix circuit is arranged such that a switch is provided for each intersection of the matrix, and the ON/OFF state of each switch is discriminated by driving signals sent through each of the common lines.
The discrimination of whether the buzzer should be sounded or not when a switch is the ON state, is accomplished by providing 2 groups of common lines. Namely, intersections of the matrix for sounding the buzzer are located in a group No. 1 of common lines, while intersections of the matrix for not sounding the buzzer are located in a group No. 2 of common lines.
Thereby the apparatus for controlling an operational panel is controlled so as to sound the buzzer if any of the intersections are in the ON state when the No. 1 group of common lines is driven, and the apparatus is controlled so as not to sound the buzzer if any of the intersections are in the ON state when the No. 2 group of common lines is driven.
However in the prior art, there is a problem that the operational panel cannot be freely manufactured because the number of switches that sound the buzzer and the number of switches that do not sound the buzzer, have to be determined during the switch layout design stage of the operational panel.

Apparatus for controlling an operational panel


An intake system for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines, in particular of a V-type design, whose suction pipes extend in longitudinal direction and are connected to the intake channel leading towards the intake valve by means of passages of different lengths, a control element being provided for selectively activating one of the two flow paths. The design is kept simple by providing only one control element for controlling the inlets of two groups of intake pipes, the connection between one of the intake pipes, or rather, one of the two pairs of intake pipes, and the intake channel being established via manifold passages of one length, and the connection of the other intake pipe, or pair of intake pipes, via manifold passages of a different length.

This invention relates to an intake system for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines, in particular of a V-type design, whose suction pipes extend in longitudinal directions and are connected to the intake channel leading towards the intake valve by means of manifold passages or risers of different lengths, a control element being provided for selectively activating one of the two flow paths.

Intake system for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines

AVL Gesellschaft fur Verbrennungskraftmaschinen und Messtechnik m.b.H. Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c. Hans List


This invention relates to a microstrip array antenna, especially a broad-band dual-polarized microstrip array antenna having parallel feeding structure whose consist of two parts power supplying layers each of which generates its own polarization respectively. And the broad-band dual-polarized microstrip array antenna according to the present invention arranges transmission paths for two separate linear polarization on a different layer each other in order to minimize an interference effect and a proximity feeding method and an aperture coupled method are used in order to get two separate polarization.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a microstrip array antenna, especially a broad-band dual-polarized microstrip array antenna having parallel feeding structure whose consist of two parts power supplying layers each of which generates its own polarization respectively.
The broad-band dual-polarized microstrip array antenna according to the present invention arranges transmission paths for two separate linear polarization on a different layer each other in order to minimize an interference effect and a proximity feeding method and an aperture coupled method are used in order to get two separate polarization.
2. Description of the Related Arts
The general microstrip array antennas have used a dielectric substrate as a power supplying substrate having a power supplying line. Therefor the thickness of the system and the manufacturing cost increased. Also, it was possible to receive only one polarization because a patch antenna has an exciting part. Although the patch antenna has two exciting parts in case of using a single power supplying substrate, there is no sufficient space for arranging an exciting transmission line for another polarization, and the bandwidth of the antenna decreases in case of having a serial feeding type transmission line structure, and the transmission line structure becomes complicated and the bandwidth of the antenna decreases in case of having a mixing transmission line structure of the serial feeding type and the parallel feeding type.
FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional microstrip array antenna. In the FIG. 1, the reference number (1) indicates a power input part. After inputted, the power is divided into two transmission lines in the direction of up and down of the power input part (1) and is divided again into two parts in a left and a right direction of a power distributor (2). And the number (3) is an exciting part for transmitting the inputted power to a patch antenna (4). As described in the above, the traditional microstrip array antenna is capable of receiving only one polarization because having only one exciting part (3).

Broadband dual-polarized microstrip array antenna


An automatic focusing apparatus incorporated in a scanning electron microscope. The focusing apparatus permits accurate focusing even if a very uneven specimen surface is observed. The apparatus has a secondary electron detector. The output signal from this detector is supplied to a peak-holding circuit via a low-pass filter. The greatest peak value of the signal is detected and stored in a memory whenever the electron beam makes a scan at each different focal length of the objective lens. This processing is performed concurrently with integration of the output signal from the detector. This set of operations is repeated for all focal lengths. Data in the memory are compared with each other by a comparator, and the greatest peak value is found. Data about the focal length providing the greatest peak value is supplied as a reference signal to another comparator. In response to this data, data about several focal lengths close to this focal length are read from the memory and compared with each other. The focal length which makes the output value from the integrator maximal is selected from these focal lengths. The exicting current fed to the objective lens is determined according to data about this focal length.

Various apparatus have been developed to automate focusing of scanning electron microscopes. One example of such apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,681. Also, an apparatus of the construction shown in FIG. 3 is known.
Referring to FIG. 3, an electron beam 1 is focused onto a specimen 3 by an objective lens 2. A deflector 5 is driven in response to scanning signals produced by a scan generator 4. The electron beam on the specimen 3 is scanned in two dimensions by the deflector 5. As a result, secondary electrons are emitted from the specimen. These secondary electrons are detected by a secondary electron detector 6. The output signals from the detector 6 are converted into digital form by an analog-to-digital converter 7 and stored in a video memory incorporated in a display unit 8 in synchronism with the scan. An appropriate SEM image is displayed on the viewing screen of the display unit according to the stored data. The output signal from the detector 6 is supplied to the display unit 8 and also to an integrator 12 via a high-pass filter 10, and an absolute value circuit 11. The cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter 10 is selected to cut off noises from commercial frequencies. During one focusing step, i.e., at a given focal length, the objective lens 2 is excited according to a given current value set into an objective lens control circuit 13. The integrator 12 integrates the output signal from the absolute value circuit 11 whenever a scan is made at each different focal length. The output signal from the integrator 12 is stored via an analog-to-digital converter 14 in a memory 16 that exists within a central processing unit (CPU) 15. The integration period of integrator 12 is controllable. The signal is integrated during one set of scan lines (for example, during a single frame). The integrator is reset for the next set of scan lines at a new focal length. This processing for finding the integrated value is repeated with different values of exciting current supplied to the objective lens 2 for all the focusing steps, i.e., for every focal length. The results are successively stored in the memory 16. The values stored in the memory 16 are compared with each other by a comparator circuit 17. Data about the focal length which produced the greatest one of the compared values is supplied to the lens control circuit 13. Then, this control circuit 13 determines the exciting current that should be supplied to the objective lens from the data about the focal length. This exciting current is supplied to the objective lens 2 from a lens power supply 18, thus completing this focusing operation.
FIG. 4(a) shows the output signal from the integrator of the above-described automatic focusing apparatus. Where the unevenness of the surface of the specimen irradiated with the electron beam is relatively small, the integrator produces a signal as shown in this figure. On the other hand, where the specimen surface is very rough in the vertical direction and has sharp edges, the amount of secondary electrons emitted from the specimen surface increases in the following two cases. One case is where the focal point is approached. In other words, the electron beam spot size on the surface approaches the minimum value. The other case is where the electron beam spot size on the specimen surface is fairly large and the electron beam is not focused on the specimen surface. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4(b), a plurality of peaks appear in the output signal from the integrator. This phenomenon is described in more detail below.
FIGS. 5(a) to 5(e) show the intensities of signals obtained when a specimen of a cross section having a shape as shown in FIG. 5(f) is scanned with the electron beam. FIGS. 5(a) to 5(e) show the intensities of signals arrived where the electron beam diameter ranges from 200 .ANG. to 10 .ANG.. As can be seen from these graphs, the amount of secondary electrons produced in response to the scans which are made with the electron beam of a diameter of 10 .ANG., i.e., under focused condition, is very large at the edge, but the amount is quite small in other locations. On the other hand, in defocused condition, the amount of secondary electrons emanating from the surface portions surrounding the edge is larger than the amount produced in focused condition. This is explained away as follows. In defocused condition, the electron beam spot on the specimen surface has a large diameter and f.sub.o a part of the beam hits the edge if the irradiated position is somewhat remote from the edge. Therefore, in some cases, the value obtained by integrating the output signal from the detector in defocused condition is larger than the value obtained in the above-described focused condition. Consequently, where the above-described automatic focusing apparatus is employed to observe very uneven specimen surfaces, it is impossible to carry out an accurate focusing operation.

Automatic focusing apparatus for scanning electron microscope