A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that can suppress thermal damage in operation of a dosing valve resulting from crystallization of urea solution and corrosion of the dosing valve to perform proper urea solution injection control, and includes an SCR device provided in an exhaust pipe of an engine; a dosing valve that injects urea solution at an upstream side of the SCR device; a minimum injection quantity setting unit that if temperature of the dosing valve is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, sets a minimum injection quantity according to the temperature of the dosing valve; and an urea solution injection control unit that if injected quantity of urea solution according to quantity of NOx emitted from the engine is smaller than the minimum injection quantity, controls the injected quantity of urea solution to be the minimum injection quantity.

As an exhaust gas purification system for purifying NOx in an exhaust gas from a diesel engine, an SCR system using an SCR (selective catalytic reduction) device has been developed.
The SCR system supplies urea solution to an exhaust gas upstream of the SCR device to generate ammonia using heat of the exhaust gas, and using the ammonia, reduces NOx on an SCR catalyst to purify NOx (see, for example, patent literature 1).
As illustrated in FIG. 4, upon urea solution reaching a temperature equal to or exceeding its boiling point, water in the urea solution starts to evaporate, and as a result, the urea solution turns into a melt, through which a gas is generated. The generated gas, upon its temperature being raised, is crystallized, resulting in generation of a solid. Upon the generated solid subliming, ammonia is generated. Also, the generated melt and/or gas are partially hydrolyzed with water vapor, generating ammonia and carbon dioxide.
Urea solution is injected from a dosing valve (urea injection device or dosing module) provided on the upstream side of the SCR device.
As illustrated in FIG. 5(a), a dosing valve 104 has a structure in which a cylinder 51 filled with high-pressure urea solution L is provided with an injection orifice 52 and a valving element 53 occluding the injection orifice 52 is attached to a plunger 54, and upon energization of a coil (not illustrated) to pull up the plunger 54, the valving element 53 is moved away from the injection orifice 52, whereby urea solution L is injected. Upon the energization of the coil being stopped, the plunger 54 is pulled down by means of an internal spring force so that the valving element 53 occludes the injection orifice 52, whereby the injection of urea solution L is stopped.
The dosing valve 104 is provided in an exhaust pipe for an engine, the exhaust pipe allowing a high-temperature exhaust gas to flow therein. Upon the dosing valve 104 heated to a high temperature, the urea solution L in the dosing valve 104 also has a high temperature, and disadvantageously, proper urea solution injection control may not be performed as a result of the dosing valve 104 having a failure in operation, e.g., the urea solution L in the dosing valve 104 being crystallized, resulting in fixation of the plunger as illustrated in FIG. 5(b) or a solid body resulting from the crystallization of the urea solution L being stuck between the valving element 53 and the cylinder 51 (valve seat) as illustrated in FIG. 5(c), disabling injection of urea solution L to be stopped.
Furthermore, a corrosive intermediate product (ammonium carbamate) is disadvantageously generated in a process of generating ammonia from urea solution and the corrosive intermediate product corrodes the inside of the dosing valve. Furthermore, when urea solution in the dosing valve is heated to a high temperature, parts made of rubber or resins, which are used in the dosing valve, may disadvantageously be damaged. In the present description, these troubles are collectively referred to as thermal damage.
In order to prevent such thermal damage, cooling water for cooling an engine is made to pass through a dosing valve to cool the dosing valve by means of the cooling water.


A photodiode, and method of manufacturing thereof, is provided which combines advantages of planar structure photodiodes and mesa structure photodiodes. Semiconductor layers are epitaxially grown as is done for traditional planar structures. However the upper doped layer is also epitaxially grown, unlike traditional planar structures in which the upper layer is formed by diffusion depth targeting into one of the intrinsically doped layers. The edges of the upper layer are then removed by etching to leave an island-like structure. Termination junctions are formed by deep diffusion of an impurity of the same type as the dopant in the lower doped layer, thereby avoiding exposure of the edges of the photodiode to the ambient environment. The photodiode therefore combines the reliability of a planar structure device with the precision of a mesa structure device. The invention is particularly suited to avalanche photodiodes, in which suppression of edge breakdown is most beneficial.

This invention relates to P-I-N photodiodes, particularly avalanche photodiodes, and to a method of manufacturing such photodiodes.
The generic structure of an Avalanche Photodiode (APD) consists of two electrical contacts separated by a P-I-N diode. The two electrical contacts are separated by at least three layers of semiconductor material. One electrical contact is in contact with a P-doped semiconductor layer (P-layer). The second electrical contact is in contact with an N-doped semiconductor layer (N-layer). The P-doped semiconductor layer is separated from the N-doped semiconductor layer by at least one intrinsic semiconductor layer (I-layer). More than one I-layer may be used to enhance performance of the APD. The dimensions, doping levels, and material of each layer depend on the application for which the APD will be used. The APD is bounded on its edges by termination junctions lying perpendicular to the planes of the junctions between the layers.
One current APD structure widely available commercially is a planar structure. A lower I-layer is epitaxially grown on the N-layer. An upper I-layer is epitaxially grown on the lower I-layer. Rather than growing a P-layer, a P-region is introduced into a portion of the upper I-layer by diffusion of P-type impurities through a window in a dielectric mask. The APD is bounded on its edge by imaginary termination junctions. These termination junctions are imaginary in that they are not defined physically, but occur because the upper I-layer electrically isolates different P-regions diffused into the same material. Because the termination junctions are never exposed to any processing or ambient environment, the termination junctions are strong and planar structures are of superior reliability. However, the depth of the P-region is difficult to control precisely due to the nature of the diffusion process. As a result, the high performance required of APDs is difficult to achieve. In addition, because the diffusion process allows P-type impurities to end up under the edges of the mask and the P-region is therefore extended horizontally in undesired locations, parasitic capacitance effects arise.
A second current APD structure used in research and available commercially in small quantities is a mesa structure. As with the planar structure, an I-layer is epitaxially grown on a N-layer. However, the P-layer is then epitaxially grown on the I-layer. The termination junctions are formed by dry etching all layers at the desired width of the APD. Formation of the P-layer through epitaxial growth results in a well defined P-layer thickness and doping profile, and the horizontal dimension of the P-layer is well defined because of the dry etching process, and parasitic effects are much less than in a planar structure. The well defined thickness and horizontal dimension of the P-layer allow high performance APDs to be built. Edge breakdown can be reduced by bevelling the edges of the layers. However, edge breakdown is still a factor as the termination junction is exposed to ambient air during the fabrication process, and the reliability of the APD is reduced.
The present invention provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor photodiode comprising epitaxially grown layers of semiconductor material. A first doped layer is formed on a semi-insulating substrate, and has a p-type conductivity. An intrinsic layer is formed lying adjacent to the first doped layer. Other intrinsic layers may be formed over the first intrinsic layer. A second doped layer having an n-type conductivity is formed adjacent to the uppermost intrinsic layer. The second doped layer is etched to leave an island-like structure. The edge regions of the intrinsic layers and the first doped layer are doped using deep diffusion to produce doped regions having a p-type conductivity. The result of the deep diffusion process is that the horizontal dimension in each layer of the portion which does not contain the doped region decreases with vertical proximity to the second doped layer. The deep diffusion may be achieved by placing a dielectric over the second doped layer and extending partially over the uppermost intrinsic layer, and diffusing impurities through the uncovered portions of the uppermost intrinsic layer as far as and into the first doped layer. Alternately, the first doped layer has an n-type conductivity, the second doped layer has a p-type conductivity, the doped regions have an n-type conductivity, and the doped regions are formed by ion implantation through the vertical surfaces of a mesa structure. The invention is particularly suited to avalanche photodiodes, in which suppression of edge breakdown is most beneficial.
High performance photodiodes can be produced using this method because the formation of the various layers through epitaxial growth results in well managed doping profiles and layer thicknesses. Furthermore, because the junctions between the N-layer and the intrinsic layer are not diffused junctions there is less parasitic capacitance than in planar devices. The photodiodes are highly reliable as the termination junctions are formed by the doping regions, and are never exposed to the ambient environment. No guardrings and no special layers are needed to suppress edge breakdown.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.


It is provided that an imaging lens having satisfactory optical performances and being reduced in size and cost. The imaging lens includes in order from an object side, a negative first lens, a negative second lens, a positive third lens, a stop, a positive fourth lens and a negative fifth lens L5. And the focal length f3 of the third lens at d-line, the focal length f of the whole system at d-line satisfy 3.0<f3/f<4.5.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an imaging lens and an imaging device and, more particularly, to both an imaging lens suited for use in a vehicle-mounted camera, a portable terminal camera, a monitoring camera or a on-board camera using an imaging element of CCD (Charge Coupled Device), CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or the like, and an imaging device having the imaging lens.
2. Related Art
In recent years, the imaging device of the CCD or CMOS is remarkably advancing in size reduction and in high pixel density. Accordingly, the imaging device body having those imaging elements is being reduced in size so that the imaging lens to be mounted is desired to be reduced in size and weight.
In the vehicle mounted camera or the monitoring camera, on the other hand, there has been demanded a lens which can be used over a wide temperature range while having high weather resistances to the ambient air in a cold country to a vehicle compartment in summer in the tropical districts and which is small-sized but can enjoy a wide angle and high performances.
As the imaging lens of the aforementioned field, the Applicant has proposed the imaging lenses having six and seven lens components while intending the size reduction and the angle widening in Japanese Patent Application Number 2007-011288 (not yet published). The imaging lenses known in the prior art and belonging to the aforementioned field are described in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3. Patent Document 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,023,628) described a wide-angle lens of six lens components having first and second negative meniscus lenses. Patent Document 2 (JP Hei. 10-039206 A) described an imaging lens of five components having negative first and second lenses and a diaphragm arranged on the image side farther from the lens closest to the image. Patent Document 3 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,038) describes a wide-angle lens of five lens components and for use in a photographic system.
In recent years, however, not only the further size reduction but also the cost reduction is desired, and the aforementioned constitutions of six and seven components are desired to reduce the lens number. The lens constitution described in Patent Document 2 is composed of five lenses, but the diaphragm position is close to the image plane so that the light ray height in the lens on the side closest to the object increases to enlarge the lens diameter. Especially in the vehicle-mounted camera, it is preferred that the exposure area of the lens surface is small, and accordingly that the diameter is small.
In view of the aforementioned described, the present invention has an object to provide an imaging lens which can be reduced in size and cost while holding the satisfactory optical performances, and an imaging device having that imaging lens.


Flanges of half bodies provided in a compressor casing are fastened by multiple bolts and a multi-hole washer shared by two or more adjacent bolts. When F is fastening force, T is a thickness of the washer, θ is a distribution angle of the fastening force, Rb is a radius of the bolt, R is a radius of a distribution range of the fastening force on a bearing surface, A is an area of the distribution range on the surface, a is an area of a distribution range of the fastening force on a mating surface of the flange, and R=Rb+T·tan θ and A=πR2 are established, F/A is lower than yield strength of each of a flange material and a multi-hole washer material, and F/a is equal to or higher than predetermined surface pressure determined based on pressure of fluid inside the casing.

A compressor includes a rotor coupled to a rotary shaft, bearings supporting the rotary shaft, and a casing containing the rotor. The compressor sucks gas from a suction port into the casing and compresses the sucked gas through rotation of the rotor, and discharges the compressed gas from a discharge port.
The casing of the compressor is typically divided in a horizontal direction, and a flange of an upper half body and a flange of a lower half body are fastened together by bolts (Patent Literature 1).
In Patent Literature 1, a groove and a protrusion formed on mating surfaces of the flanges engage with each other to prevent high-pressure gas inside the casing from being leaked to outside from a gap between the flanges.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION


An imaging radiation detection system, useful in detecting and localizing radioactive materials, may include a large number of particle detectors stacked in a two-dimensional array. The array may include protruding detectors interleaved with recessed detectors, in which each detector is oriented in a different direction. The array may have a checkerboard-type arrangement of protruding and recessed detectors. Detection data from the recessed detectors may include a radiographic image indicating the distribution of radioactive sources in view. Embodiments with high detection efficiency and large field of view can rapidly detect and localize even well-shielded threat sources at substantial distances.

The U.S. Congress has ordered that all cargo entering the country must be inspected for clandestine radiological and nuclear materials. Unfortunately, this is still not feasible. Although threat materials emit radiation (principally gamma rays and/or neutrons), sufficient shielding can greatly reduce the amount of escaping radiation. In addition, natural radiation (cosmic rays and radioactive materials in the environment) further complicate detection. In the short time allocated for an entry scan at a shipping port (typically less than 2 minutes and often less than 1 minute), current detectors cannot detect a well-shielded nuclear weapon.
Advanced detectors with large solid angle acceptance and high detection efficiency are needed. In addition, detectors are needed that can determine the spatial distribution of radiation sources so that they can be distinguished from backgrounds. What is needed is an advanced detector or detector array capable of efficiently detecting even a well-shielded source, separating neutrons and gamma rays of various energies, and determining the spatial distribution of radiation sources present. Preferably the detection and imaging may be completed rapidly and automatically, without using expensive or rare materials, and preferably at low cost.


Provided is a metal casing structure capable of avoiding a cavity resonance at 10 GHz and 20 GHz by controlling an eigenmode frequency in an inner space of a casing without involving an increase in cost, and a 10 Gbit/s optical transceiver module which achieves reduction in unnecessary electromagnetic waves and cost. In the optical transceiver module, a metal casing having a cavity therein is formed by an upper casing (100) and a lower casing (101), a metal partition wall (103, 104) is provided on at least one of the upper casing (100) and the lower casing (101) near a central portion of the casing in a direction parallel to a direction connecting a front and a rear thereof, and a length of a gap between the partition wall (103, 104) and a printed circuit board (102) is adjusted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical transceiver module for optical communication, and more particularly, to a casing structure of a transceiver for optical fiber transmission having a high-speed transmission rate of 10 Gbit/s.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transceiver module for optical fiber transmission (optical transceiver module) is required to achieve a downsizing and higher speed operation in accordance with a widespread use of broadband network in recent years. For the higher speed operation, an optical transceiver module having a bit rate of 10 Gbit/s is now widely used. (For example, there are used ones having 9.95 Gbit/s and 10.7 Gbit/s compliant with Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), and one having 10.3 Gbit/s compliant with 10 Gigabit Ethernet ("Ethernet" is a registered trademark).) For the downsizing, a reduction in casing capacity is promoted from an older generation 300-pin Multi Source Agreement (MSA) standard to XENPAK, X2, XFP, and SFP+ (which are MSA standards).
On the other hand, a transmission device, on which the optical transceiver module is mounted, is required to suppress an intensity of unnecessary electromagnetic waves generated in the transmission device to a statutory limit value or less. For example, in the United States, it is necessary to satisfy the limit value of 53.9 dB (μV/m) or less which is defined in FCC, Part 15, Subpart B (in a case of Class B, distance: 3 m, frequency range: 1 GHz to 40 GHz).
Due to switching noise and the like of an IC, which is built in the optical transceiver module and operates at 10 Gbit/s, the optical transceiver module generates unnecessary electromagnetic waves in many cases at the frequency of 10 GHz and at the frequency of 20 GHz which is the higher harmonics content thereof. Thus, a design technology for reducing radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves to an exterior of the device is important for both the transmission device and the optical transceiver module.
Kazushige Oki, et al., "The Design Challenge with the Predictable Analysis of the Heat Dissipation and the Electro Magnetic Radiation for 10 Gbps Pluggable Optical Transceivers", 2006 Electronic Components and Technology Conference, pp. 1567-1572 (2006) (hereinafter, referred to as "Non-patent Document") describes a technology for reducing the unnecessary electromagnetic waves at 10 GHz in an X2 MSA optical transceiver module. According to this technology, the structure of a transmitter optical sub-assembly (TOSA) is made with ingenuity, and an exposed portion of the TOSA of the optical transceiver module is connected to a frame ground to be electrically separated from a signal ground of a CAN structure portion of the TOSA. As a result, the unnecessary electromagnetic waves which are radiated through a TOSA/optical-connector connecting portion toward a front surface of the transmission device are reduced.
Further, JP 2006-84683 A discloses a further detailed technology for the TOSA structure of the Non-patent Document.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,999,323 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,068,522 B2 each disclose a casing design technology for reducing radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves in an XFP MSA optical transceiver module. According to this technology, a short circuit part (which is formed by an upper casing column, a board through electrode, and a lower casing column) formed of a conductor is provided at a substantially intermediate position with respect to a casing opening of an edge connector of a printed circuit board, whereby an effective length of the opening is reduced and the unnecessary electromagnetic waves leaking from the opening of the edge connector are reduced.
In recent years, as a condition for the radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves of the transmission device (customer side), on which the optical transceiver module is mounted, becomes severer, when the optical transceiver module is configured with use of the above-mentioned conventional technologies, there is a risk in that the specification for the radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves, which is required for the transmission device, cannot be satisfied. Particularly, diversification of the transmission device on the customer side increases, and, in accordance with an increase in the number of the optical transceiver modules mounted to the same transmission device (multiple mounting) and a reduction in shield amount of the transmission device as a result of cost-reduction of a shielding countermeasure for the transmission device, each of the optical transceiver modules is required to further reduce the radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves.
In the course of examining the reduction of radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves, it was found that the radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves becomes remarkable and difficult to be suppressed when the following conditions coincide. That is, the conditions are (1) a case where an eigenmode (resonance) of a cavity formed inside a metal casing of the optical transceiver module exists near the frequencies of 10 GHz and 20 GHz and, (2) a case where an IC serving as an excitation source and wiring connected thereto (transmission line and the like) are arranged at a position where the eigenmode is excited.
In that case, strong cavity resonance occurs inside the metal casing, and the radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves extremely increases. According to our examination, when the inside of the metal casing is of a rectangular solid shape in the XFP MSA optical transceiver module, a cavity resonant frequency is defined by the dimensions of the optical transceiver module, and the cavity resonant frequency occurs near 10 GHz. In addition, the cavity resonance intends to generate surface current in a perpendicular direction of inner side surfaces of the metal casing. The opening of the metal casing provided to the edge connector of the printed circuit board is orthogonal to this current, and hence the opening functions as a good slot antenna. When the cavity resonance occurs due to the above-mentioned operations, a shielding effect on the unnecessary electromagnetic waves generated from the printed circuit board by using the metal casing becomes remarkably small.
In the technologies described in the Non-patent Document and JP 2006-84683 A, the reduction effect cannot be attained regarding the radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves from the opening of the metal casing of the edge connector. Further, in the technologies described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,999,323 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,068,522 B2, when the cavity resonance described above occurs, the reduction effect is insufficient.
As another method of reducing the radiation of the unnecessary electromagnetic waves due to the cavity resonance, there may be adopted a method of causing a loss of the cavity resonance so as to lower a Q value and a method of changing the resonant frequency so as to avoid the cavity resonance. As specific means for the former, there is known means for arranging an electromagnetic wave absorber formed of a magnetic material and the like inside the metal casing.
However, while the electromagnetic wave absorber is highly effective at low frequency, a permeability of the magnetic material becomes remarkably low at high frequency such as 10 GHz or 20 GHz. Therefore, sufficient reduction effect is difficult to be attained. Further, the electromagnetic wave absorber is a relatively expensive component, and hence there arises a problem in that cost of the optical transceiver module increases when using a large number of the electromagnetic wave absorbers. As the latter means, there may be adopted a method of reducing the dimensions of the inside of the metal casing to raise the resonant frequency. However, it is necessary to largely reduce the area of the printed circuit board capable of being built-in, whereby it is difficult to mount components such as the IC.


Image-processing devices and methods are disclosed. Such a device includes an image-input unit, a fluctuation-extraction unit, a modulation-signal-generation unit, a level-compression unit, and a gradation-correction unit. The image-input unit inputs an image. The fluctuation-extraction unit extracts a local-fluctuation component from the input image and generates a local-fluctuation image containing a fluctuation component. The modulation-signal-generation unit produces a modulation signal used for modulating the input image to a local-fluctuation image. The level-compression unit level-compresses the modulation signal. The gradation-correction unit modulates the input image according to the modulation signal after level-compression, thereby producing a gradation-corrected image.

Conventionally, it has been very difficult to correct the gradation of an image having extremely bright and dark portions. In other words, gradation-correction based on the bright portion causes the dark portion to blacken, making only the dark portions conspicuous and placing the entire image in poor gradation. On the contrary, gradation-correction based on the dark portion causes the color of the bright portion to be too white and the gradation to disappear. As a result, the bright portion will lack gradation and the entire image will be in poor gradation.
To reduce such a difference in brightness, a conventional gradation-conversion-processing method uses a low-contrast curve. It is difficult, however, to drastically reduce an extremely large difference in brightness in an image. Moreover, attempts to perform such a reduction tend to decrease differences in brightness in the middle gradation area of the image.
Another conventional processing method makes uniform a distribution-of-graduation histogram of an image in order to correct the image with a biased gradation. In this processing method, it is possible to increase the difference in brightness in the dense area of the gradation histogram. However, in the sparse area of the gradation histogram the difference in brightness is reduced, which may result in the gradation collapse becoming conspicuous at some portions of the image.
In the technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,456, it is possible to increase the brightness of a shadow area of an image and to enhance a small gradational change in the shadow area. As a result, it is possible to brighten a gradational change, which would otherwise be hidden in the shadow area of the image. But, due to the brightened shadow area, color balance of the shadow area may appear unnatural, and blue components of the shaded portion may be enhanced, for example. Further, a too-brightened shadow area can impair the shades of the entire image, giving the image a somber impression.

Image-processing devices, methods, and programs, and electronic cameras and the like comprising same


Provided are a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor may include a gate; a channel layer; a source and a drain, the source and the drain being formed of metal; and a metal oxide layer, the metal oxide layer being formed between the channel layer and the source and the drain. The metal oxide layer may have a gradually changing metal content between the channel layer and the source and the drain.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a switching device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Thin film transistors may be used as switching devices for flat panel display devices, for example, a liquid crystal display device or an organic light emitting display device.
The mobility or leakage current of a thin film transistor may vary significantly depending on the material and state of a channel layer of the thin film transistor.
The majority of the channel layer of the thin film transistor in conventional liquid crystal display devices may be an amorphous silicon layer. If the channel layer of the thin film transistor is an amorphous silicon layer, the charge mobility may be about 0.5 cm2/Vs, which is low, and thus, it may be difficult to increase the operation speed of the conventional liquid crystal display devices.
Accordingly, research is being conducted to find ways to use a ZnO based material layer, for example, a Ga—In—Zn—O layer, having greater charge mobility than an amorphous silicon layer, as a channel layer for a thin film transistor. The mobility of the Ga—In—Zn—O layer may be several tens of times greater than that of the amorphous silicon layer, and thus, it may significantly increase the operation speed of a liquid crystal display device.

Thin film transistor having a graded metal oxide layer


An electronic cash register with a learning function for registering items of articles on sale in a chit file and performing a transaction settlement processing by computing a total amount of registered items on the basis of data stored in the chit file. As structural constituent factors of the chit file, there are set in the electronic cash register a maximum customer number per chit, a maximum number of items for registration per chit and a maximum number of chit files capable of being disposed by the cash register through manipulation of corresponding keys. The cash register includes a unit for generating chit file suited for configuration of a shop where the cash register is used, and a unit for setting control information for issuing the chit file, provisional closing of the file, recalling thereof, issuance of a bill. Upon registration, issuance of a bill, settlement of transaction or issuance of adjustment report, the control information is referenced to realize functions and controls on the basis of the information as placed in the cash register.

The present invention generally relates to an electronic cash register utilized primarily in the dining-out service industry such as in restaurants or like shops and more particularly to an electronic cash register for registering customer orders in chit files stored in a memory incorporated in the register, issuing bill chits and performing sales totalization processing (transaction settlement processing).
The electronic cash register of the type mentioned above is known heretofore. However, the known electronic cash register lacks adaptability to various business environments and managements adopted in restaurants or the like shops and can not cope by itself with alterations or changes in the environment promptly by changing or modifying the preset information required for registration of customer orders in chit files, issuance of bill chits or receipts, execution of totalization processing and others.
Under the circumstances, in the shop where the chit processing scheme is frequently changed or altered, programs required to this end have to be down-loaded from a host computer to which the electronic cash register is connected via a communication line, which in turn means that high operation cost is involved.
However, in view of rapid and frequent changes in the conditions in which the cash register is operated as brought about by developments in the dining-out service industry, a variety of customer demands and/or labor environments, there exists a great demand for an electronic cash register having functions or capabilities for handling registration of customer orders in the chit files prepared in the memory incorporated in the cash register, provisional closing of the chit files, additional item registration therein, issuance of bill chits and so forth, wherein by changing or modifying the information preset in the cash register, the structure of the chit file as well as the method of processing the same can easily be altered or modified over a wide range so as to cope promptly and easily with the changes in the business environments of the shops in which the electronic cash registers are installed. More specifically, the electronic cash register known heretofore lacks the capability of realizing the functions mentioned below.
(1) Function capable of setting the number of article items for registration in one chit and the number of chit files as issued (i.e., the number of openable chits) which have to be disposed of by the electronic cash register, thereby to allow the structure or configuration of the chit file to be easily altered in the cash register so as to conform with the business environments of shops promptly and appropriately.
(2) Function for presetting and checking a chit file ID (identification) number reset flag in the memory, thereby to select an automatic issuing of the customer chit file ID number by manipulating a chit file issuing key starting from a starting number of "1" in the registration processing succeeding to the issuance of an adjustment report or starting from a serial number succeeding to the number generated before issuance of the adjustment report.
(3) Function for setting a customer chit file ID number generation mode to a manual generation mode and invalidating the manipulation of a chit file issuing key which is not accompanied with manual inputting of the ID number of the chit file while displaying a corresponding error message when the chit file ID number generation mode is the manual generation mode, while when the chit file issuing key is manipulated after inputting of a chit file ID number, a chit file of the corresponding ID number is issued provided that the chit file of the same ID number is not issued yet.
(4) Function for storing in the memory a first register ID number of the associated cash register and a second register ID number of a master electronic cash register which incorporates a memory shared by a plurality of cash registers in a cash register system which includes a plurality of individual cash registers interconnected via communication line, wherein generation of a customer chit file, provisional closing of the chit file, recalling thereof, additional article item registration therein and sales totalization can be effectuated by making access to the memory of the master cash register via a communication facility.
(5) Function for storing a customer chit file having article item registration data and a chit file ID number written therein and ending temporarily the registration processing for the chit file, and function for recalling the content of a customer chit file closed provisionally in response to actuation of a recall key after inputting the chit ID number to thereby make it possible to register additional article items in the recalled customer chit file, and the function responsive to actuation of the recall key to thereby set in the chit file a flag indicating that data of the chit file is being recalled, for thereby protecting the customer chit file being recalled against access attempted by another cash register.
(6) Function for allotting the ID number of a chit file cancelled by a cancel key after issuance of the chit file to a customer chit file issued subsequently with priority and confirming a drop-out of an ID number of the cancelled chit file from a sequence of the serial ID numbers by printing out a corresponding report.
(7) Function for displaying article items registered in the provisionally closed chit file which is recalled for registration of additional customer orders simultaneously with and distinctively from the additional items being currently registered by using different display regions or by affixing a distinction mark for confirmation.
(8) Function for enforcing inputting by a server in charge upon manipulation of the chit file issuing key in accordance with server control information preset in the memory and storing a server code in the chit file upon storing thereof to thereby allow the manipulation of the recall key to be validated for recalling of the provisionally closed chit file only when the server who closed provisionally the chit file is the same person as the server who manipulated the recall key, for thereby preventing mishandling of the server-allocated chits.
(9) Function for enforcing the server in charge to manipulate the chit file issuing key on the basis of the server control information set in the memory, wherein when the server in charge of the provisionally closed chit file as recalled is not identical with the server who manipulated the recall key, decision is made that the server who is in charge of the provisionally closed and recalled chit file is replaced by the server who manipulated the recall key, to thereby replace the server ID stored in the chit file by the ID of the replacing server who manipulated the recall key so that transfer of transaction information between the servers can be ascertained on the adjustment report.
(10) Function for issuing a bill chit for a chit file provisionally closed after item registration while confirming whether the bill chit has already been issued, to thereby prevent the bill chit from being issued in duplicate.
(11) Function for changing in a manual chit file issuing mode the ID number of the customer chit file undergoing the registration processing to a given chit ID number except for that of the chit being currently issued.
(12) Function for responding to the manipulation of a recall key for recalling the customer chit file closed provisionally to thereby invalidate the manipulation of the recall key and display a corresponding error message when the recall key is manipulated after inputting of a chit file ID number in the automatic recall mode, while when the recall key is manipulated without being accompanied with the inputting of the chit ID number, the content of the customer chit file having a smallest file ID number of all the issued chit files stored in the memory is recalled on the display device, i.e. the function suited to a shop (e.g., drive-through shop) in which the customer order chits sequentially undergo the totalization processing.
(13) Function for setting in the cash register as factors determining the structure of the chit file a number of customers registered per chit (a number of divisions of one chit file corresponding to different customers, respectively), a number of article items for registration per chit file, a number of chit files to be issued (a number of openable chit files) which have to be disposed of by the cash register, to thereby realize appropriately a chit file structure suited for the business environment of a shop in which the cash register is installed, so that the article items can be registered distinctively on a customer-by-customer basis with a plurality of customer orders being registered in a same chit file, while bill chits are issued separately on a customer-by-customer basis.
(14) Function for setting in the cash register as factors determining the structure of the chit file a number of customers to be registered per chit (a number of divisions of one chit file corresponding to different customers, respectively), a number of article items for registration per chit file, a number of chit files to be issued (a number of openable chit files) which can be disposed of by the cash register, to thereby realize appropriately the chit file structure suited for the business environment of the shop in which the cash register is installed, so that the article items can be registered distinctively on a customer-by-customer basis with a plurality of customer orders being registered in a same chit file and that the transaction end processing (transaction settlement processing) is performed separately from one to another customer.
(15) Function for inputting a number of customers capable of being handled with a chit file upon generation thereof, and when a number of customers as inputted exceeds the preset customer number per chit mentioned in the paragraph (13), another chit file area is additionally secured to be linked as an extended file of which link address is stored at an area provided in the chit file, so that a number of customers which exceeds the preset per-chit customer number can be disposed of by the cash register.
(16) Function for storing in a link address area an address information of other empty chit file for using the linked file as an extended file when number of items to be registered in a chit file as issued exceeds a preset per-chit number of items to be registered, so that a number of items which exceeds a preset number of items for registration per chit can be disposed of by the cash register.
(17) Function for performing recall processings sequentially for a plurality of chit files closed provisionally to thereby issue a bill chit by totalizing the data of the plural chit files, and a function for performing transaction settlement processing by totalizing the chit data.
(18) Function for setting the electronic cash register to a learning mode, wherein the chit file which is issued in the learning mode is enabled to undergo a recall processing and a transaction settlement processing only in the learning mode, while totalization data resulting from the chit registration processing performed on the chit file in the learning mode is added to only a learning totalizator of a totalization file, so that the chit registration processing in the registration mode (REG) can be distinguished from the chit registration processing in the learning mode, and the status of the chit registration processing in the learning mode can be confirmed by printing out data of the learning totalizator in the form of a report.
(19) Function for setting in the memory a learner code identifying a person in charge of learning, so that the chit file issued after the inputting of the learner code is enabled to undergo the recall processing and the transaction settlement processing only after the inputting of the learner code while totalization data resulting from the chit registration processing performed on the chit file is added to only a learning totalizator of a totalization file without being added to the ordinary sales totalization file, that the chit registration processing effected by a learner can be distinguished from the chit registration processing performed by other servers, and that the chit registration processing in the learning mode can be confirmed by printing out Data of the learning totalizator in the form of a report.
(20) Function for setting in the register a maximum customer number per chit (corresponding to a number of divisions of a chit, a maximum number of chit files as issued which have to be handled by the cash register as structural factors for the chit file, so that a structure of the chit file can be made suitable for the business environment in a shop or restaurant and the function for changing the preset control data to thereby modify the issuance of a chit file, storing (provisional closing), and recalling thereof as well as issuance of a bill chit so that chit file functions suited for business environments of various shops such as restaurants can be selected easily, promptly and conveniently from wide varieties of functions.

Electronic register with a learning function

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An inflatable pneumatic bag includes two outer films up-down stacked, and two inner films located between them. By thermal-sealing means, an interval line is formed between upsides and downsides of the two inner films, while a pneumatic passage is formed between the upsides of the two inner films and the interval line. Air tubes are formed between downsides of the two outer films and the interval line, while the two inner films are bonded at the interval line to form air ingress for connecting through the pneumatic passage and the air tube. After thermal-sealing upsides of the two outer films and the interval line, a buffer space is formed between the outer films and the two films. When the air of the air tube is leaking to the buffer space, the air of the buffer space will press the inner films to seal the pneumatic passage and prevent from leaking.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an inflatable pneumatic bag, and more particularly, to an inflatable pneumatic bag with enhanced airtight capability.
2. Related Art
Nowadays air bubble sheets or polystyrene are widely used to wrap articles first and then load into a cardboard box to prevent the articles from impact during transportation. However, even with the air bubble sheets firmly bonded on the surfaces of the wrapped articles, the buffering effect is not satisfied. Polystyrene has a fluffy volume occupying large spaces. And besides poor microorganism-decomposed capability, polystyrene endangers humans and causes serious environment pollution with poison gas generated from incineration process. To solve the drawbacks of the air bubble sheets and polystyrene, an air-packing bag made of resin films is developed. It includes air tubes formed by thermal-sealing, and a pneumatic hole for filling air. After air is filled into the air tube through the pneumatic hole, the air-packing bag may be used as a buffer material of internal packing.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is an explanatory diagram for an air-packing bag in the prior art before filling air; FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view after filling air. The air-packing bag includes two up-down stacked outer films 21a and 21b, bonded through thermal-sealing means to form a bag body, and then a pneumatic passage 22 and a air tube 23 are made by thermal-sealing means as well. Between the two outer films 21a and 21b, thermal-sealed spots 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are utilized to attach with two inner films 25a and 25b. With the two inner films 25a and 25b bonded laterally to the outer film 21a, but with the two inner films 25a and 25b not attaching to each other, a air ingress 26 is formed therein. When the air of the pneumatic passage 22 flows through the air ingress 26 to the air tube 23 to make the pneumatic passage 22 expanded, the air in the air tube 23 will press the two inner films 25a and 25b to seal the air tube 23 for preventing the air in the air tube 23 from leaking out; for example, Japan Patent Publication No. 10-000706 "Manufacture of Synthetic Resin Bag with Check Valve".
After said type of air-packing bag has been filled with air for a duration, the air in the air tube 23 will press the thermal-sealed spot 24b and loose off gradually, thereby generating gaps between the two outer films 21a, 21b and the two inner films 25a, 25b. Then the air in the air tube 23 will flow to the pneumatic passage 22 through the gaps generated by the loosing-off of the thermal-sealed spot 24b, leak out via the pneumatic passage 22 and make the air-packing bag malfunction. Therefore, improving the structure of the air-packing bag, to prevent from the drawbacks of poor buffering effects that the air in the air tube leaks out when the thermal-sealed spot is loosing off by air pressing, and to extend the usage lifetime of the air-packing bag, becomes an issue that the inventor of the present invention and those practicing in the art are eager to develop.


A practice sports racket and ball in combination is disclosed. The racket has an elastic member stretched over both sides of the frame. The elastic member is partly covered with the hook fasteners of hook and loop fastener material and the ball is covered with the loop fasteners of hook and loop fastener material. The center of this practice sports racket, sometimes referred to as the "sweet spot" is void of any hook fastener material. In practice, if the ball hits the "sweet spot", it will rebound as a normal hit. However, if the ball is off center, it will be contained as the loop fastener material on the ball makes contact with the hook fastener material on the practice sports racket.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a practice sports racket that is used to improve ones ability to hit the ball in the center of the racket. More specifically if the ball is hit in the center, it will rebound as a normal hit. If the ball is not hit in the center, hook fastener material on the surface of the racket and loop fastener material on the surface of the ball will contain the ball on the face of the racket.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many devices in various sports such as tennis, racquet ball, squash and badminton that are designed to improve ones ability to obtain the maximum efficiency when striking the ball. One such device is a modified tennis racket in U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,958 to Piche such that one will feel a different vibration when the "sweet spot" makes contact with the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,935 to Gormley is very similar to Pecker except there is an aural indicator. U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,909 to Pecker describes an regular tennis racket that has some of the strings attached to force sensors in electronic circuitry. When the "sweet sport" is hit an audible sound will be emitted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,873 to Andreoli has the "sweet spot" eliminated and allows the ball to pass through the racket.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,785 to Occhipinti et al utilizes a mask placed over the strings of a conventional tennis racket. Occhipinti fastens the mask in one embodiment with laced strings and in another embodiment with VELCRO.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,147 to Ping is a toy ball game set which utilizes fastening fabric on the ball and on one side of the racket. However, the opposite side of the racket is free of fastening material since the opposite side is used to rebound the ball. There is no training whatsoever since the "sweet spot" is also covered with fastening material and the ball will always be caught by the racket.
None of the above training devices utilize the hook fastener material bonded on the surface of the racket and the loop fastener material bonded on the surface of the ball.
What is needed is a training racket that allows the ball to rebound when the "sweet spot" area is utilized in rebounding and a penalty is incurred when the ball is hit off center by having the ball caught by the material on the racket. The present invention also utilizes the same configuration on both sides of the racket to train for back hand strokes as well as foreward strokes.


Disclosed are a porphyrin-peptoid conjugate and a method for preparing the same. The porphyrin-peptoid conjugate according to the present disclosure has porphyrins arranged face-to-face on a helical peptoid. The porphyrin-peptoid conjugate according to the present disclosure is a new-concept photosensitizing dye material wherein the distance, arrangement and number of porphyrins are controllable. Since the porphyrin-peptoid conjugate is monodisperse and has a precisely defined structure, selective decoration of dyes is easy and dyes can be arranged on the peptoid helix sequence and space specifically. Accordingly, a new high-efficiency photosensitizing dye molecule system having wide absorption spectrum including the visible and near-infrared range and high absorption coefficient can be prepared.

Many researches are under way for commercialization of a dye-sensitized solar cell. Examples include technical development for synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles of various structures and for increasing the surface area thereof, development of new metal oxide electrodes, development of dyes and electrolytes having high efficiency and stability, and improvement of preparation processes. In particular, development of new photosensitizing dye materials that directly affect the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells is actively ongoing. Especially, in order to improve the overall efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell, improvement of the light harvesting efficiency of the dyes is important. As examples of such dyes, there are ruthenium (Ru) complexes, porphyrins, phthalocyanines and other various organic dyes.
Among them, porphyrins are actively studied because of their interesting photophysical and chemical properties. Since adequate arrangement of porphyrins leads to many interesting molecules useful as from sensors to new photoelectric materials, there are many efforts to establish defined oligomeric arrangement of porphyrins, especially, that mimics the naturally occurring photosynthetic antenna system. To provide desirable photoelectric properties in an artificial light-harvesting complex as the nature fully utilizes organized pigments in the light-harvesting complex, a higher-level arrangement of porphyrin dyes is necessary.
Up to now, the researches on the interaction between porphyrins have mostly focused on two π-planes arranged side-by-side. In contrast, there have been few researches on the face-to-face arrangement of porphyrins, probably because of the inability to synthesize an effective scaffold.
The development of artificial light-harvesting systems thus far has mainly been accomplished by binding a dye to a biopolymer or synthetic polymer material as a scaffold and forming a complex through self-assembly or binding on the surface of nanoparticles. However, the systems synthesized in this manner are mostly polydisperse complexes and it is not easy to precisely control the position where the dye is attached.
To solve this problem, an artificial light-harvesting system using a dendrimer as a scaffold was proposed. The light-harvesting system using the dendrimer has been used in many multi-pigment array light-harvesting systems because it is monodisperse and has a precisely-defined structure.
However, there are problems that the synthetic yield of the dendrimer is low and it is difficult to arrange two different dyes at desired positions of one dendrimer molecule (non-patent document 1).
Use of the face-to-face arrangement of porphyrins as a scaffold has never been reported.

Porphyrin-peptoid conjugate and the preparation process thereof

GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A customer driven process of diagnosing and repairing a vehicle. The process involves temporarily providing a customer with a diagnostic tool that can receive vehicle diagnostic signals from a vehicle on-board computer. The customer then uses the tool to upload diagnostic signals from the car, and returns the tool to the automotive parts/service facility. The vehicle diagnostic signals are communicated to a console, which then accesses a database(s). The database(s) includes information relating to the vehicle malfunction, the repairs needed, and the parts required to complete those repairs. The process also allows automatic scheduling of repairs and purchasing of parts from the automotive parts/service facility. Upon payment of any prescribed fees, the process outputs report information to the customer.

The present invention relates generally to processes used to diagnose and repair a vehicle, and more particularly to a process of quickly diagnosing a vehicle and obtaining information to ultimately repair the vehicle based on the diagnosis.
It is widely understood that vehicle care and repair can be costly. In order to mitigate the cost of vehicle care and repair, drivers often choose to fix their vehicle by themselves, performing as much maintenance as possible. However, more serious vehicle problems often must be fixed by a professional mechanic, leaving the vehicle owner to the mercy of the mechanic's repair schedule. Also, the vehicle owner is further inconvenienced because they are left without a vehicle during the repair. Thus, it is understood that there is a need to mitigate the cost and inconvenience involved in vehicle care and repair.
In addition, operation of an automotive care facility providing automotive parts and/or services (parts/services facility) can be challenging. For instance, customers desire to have their repairs completed as soon as possible; however, limited labor resources and repair space cause repair schedules to be tight. Also, since these facilities are in a competitive market, significant advertising is generated to ensure the success of the facility, but some types of advertising can be deceptively ineffective. Finally, instead of working at what they do best—repairing vehicles—mechanics often are required to spend time record keeping and helping customers with simple transactions, and since repair labor costs are not realized during this time, significant economic losses can result. Thus, it is understood that there is an ongoing need for a more effective method of operating an automotive repair facility.
One avenue of decreasing these costs and inefficiencies for both the driver and mechanic involves the computerized systems currently included on most newer vehicles. A vehicle's computer control system consists of the on-board computer and several related electronic control devices (e.g., sensors, switches, actuators, etc.). The control devices may control various systems and/or subsystems within the vehicle. These electronic control devices send information to the on-board computer related to such parameters as the temperature and density of the outside air, the speed of the engine, the amount of fuel delivered, etc. At the same time, the on-board computer scans for any problems from its sensors. If a problem is detected, the on-board computer stores the problem as a numeric code, referred to as a vehicle trouble signal or fault code, in its memory for later retrieval. In this regard, vehicle trouble signals are codes that identify a particular problem area and are intended as a guide to the proper corrective servicing of the vehicle.
Hand-held or portable code readers or scan tools, also referred to as diagnostic tools, have been utilized to trouble-shoot faults or problems associated with these electronic control units. Such code readers are configured to electronically communicate with the vehicle's on-board computer for accessing stored vehicle trouble signals. When the diagnostic tool receives trouble signals from the on-board computer the trouble signals can be translated to thereby discern the vehicle malfunction.
Thus, with a hand-held diagnostic tool, a vehicle owner can diagnose their vehicle and hopefully effectuate repairs on their own. Such self-reliance can help mitigate the cost and inconvenience of vehicle repair for the vehicle owner. Also, allowing the customer to complete the minor repair tasks leaves the professional mechanic free to complete more involved (and more lucrative) tasks.
Although the use of hand-held diagnostic tools can help both the vehicle owner and the professional mechanic, the tools have not been used to do more than complete the vehicle diagnosis. Thus, it is understood that there is an ongoing need for an process by which these tools are more effectively used. Such a process would reduce the cost and inconvenience of vehicle repair for the vehicle owner, and operation of an automotive care facility would become more efficient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Use of automotive diagnostics console to diagnose vehicle


A pneumatic tire comprises: a bead portion provided with an inside bead apex rubber disposed between a turned up portion and a main portion of a carcass ply, and an outside bead apex rubber disposed axially outside the turned up portion and having a radially outer edge; and a the sidewall portion provided with a sidewall reinforcing cord layer disposed axially outside the carcass and having a radially inner edge which is spaced apart from the radially outer edge of the outside bead apex rubber by a radial distance of not less than 5% of a tire section height.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses a pneumatic tire comprising: a carcass ply having a main portion extending between bead portions of the tire and a turned up portion turned around a bead core in each of the bead portions; a tread reinforcing belt disposed radially outside the carcass ply in the tread portion of the tire; an bead apex rubber disposed between the carcass ply main portion and turned up portion in each of the bead portions; and a reinforcing layer disposed on the axially outside of the carcass ply main portion in each sidewall portion of the tire, and
the reinforcing layer has a radially outer edge secured between the tread reinforcing belt and the carcass ply main portion in the tread portion, and a radially inner edge secured between the carcass ply main portion and the bead apex in the bead portion.


A protective label including: a printable base panel; a transparent securing flap; a protective flap; wherein the base panel is affixed to and substantially sealed with the transparent securing flap; and wherein the protective flap maintains the legibility of the printed material on the base panel.

The present invention relates generally to tags or labels or functionally similar devices (hereinafter collectively "label" or "labels"). The present invention relates specifically to labels for use in industrial applications, including the identification of: machinery; process control system components; conveyance system components (whether material conveyed is a solid, liquid or gas or combination thereof); electrical system components; hazards; dangers; and the like. Labels are often color coded and/or contain alphanumeric content to readily provide information to an observer. The observer could be a worker, inspector or any other person who may need to see or read the label. Labels often include a protective window, so the information itself is not exposed to degrading elements or contact and thereby subjected to damage.
The present invention is particularly useful for applications wherein the label, including a protective window, may be degraded by its environment or use (including misuse). "Degraded" may include anything that may negatively impact the legibility of the label by covering or damaging the information, label, or the label's protective window, including damage that limits the translucency or transparency of the protective window. The present invention is useful and is particularly adapted for harsh industrial environments including pulp and paper mills, chemical plants, other types of mills and refineries. Splattered liquids, chemical damage, air-born debris such as lime dust in a woods product mill and electromagnetic radiation (such as light) all may degrade a label and are common to many industrial environments. The usefulness of the present invention is not, however, limited to industrial environments. A label that is legible, even though it has been degraded, would be useful regardless of where or how it may be degraded.
The prior art is replete with examples of means to protect written material by covering the written material with a transparent protective synthetic material or coating. The prior art also includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,821 "Printable tag with integral fastener" which includes a flap overlying a window with a printable substrate, however, the purpose of the flap is to define a slit which enables the tag to be secured to an article—the flap does not protect the window. The prior art also includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,843 "Identification Band" which includes adhesive means to secure a transparent strip to a backing strip receptive to a pre-printed insert. The transparent strip is not protected. Therefore, if the transparent strip is sufficiently degraded the information will be illegible.
The FLAP TAG™ assembled by the Applicant is also prior art. It is comprised of a printable base panel and a transparent securing flap, but it does not include a protective flap. The prior art FLAP TAG™ may be rendered illegible when used in the industrial environments sited above.


A braking system for a rotary mower includes a brake element which is secured to an impeller and is urged by a spring normally into braking engagement with a fixed brake friction member. On start-up of a motor of the mower, rotation of the impeller causes axial movement of the brake element against the spring and out of braking engagement. Movement of the brake element may be assisted by mechanical means, for example by a multiple ball and ramp system or arrangement. In this embodiment, four equally spaced balls are normally located in ramped recesses formed in an upper face of an adaptor element, such that on start-up of the motor, the balls ramp up at least partially out of the recesses, and assist in urging a braking element and a friction element out of braking engagement with one another. This assist stops when the motor is turned off, the balls now moving back into their respective lowest positions in the recesses formed in the upper face of the adaptor element.

The present invention relates to an improved braking system which is particularly suitable for use with a lawn mower of the rotary type in which a blade and an impeller are rotated about a common axis by a motor, which may be an electric motor or a petrol motor.
For safety reasons, it is necessary to incorporate a braking system within the lawn mower, so that the blade and impeller are brought to a stop within a specified time. With the increased concern for safety, safety requirements are continually becoming more stringent, and it is now generally accepted that a stop time of less than 3 seconds is particularly desirable, and indeed is increasingly being required by statutory regulations in many countries.
Braking systems which are currently available for use on mowers of this type include electromechanical systems which are spring-loaded brake systems including a brake pad and a brake disc, the spring urging the pad and disc into braking contact and being opposed by the action of a solenoid.
For mowers of the type driven by induction motor, brakes of the type in which the magnetic field created in the rotor is used to hold a movable brake disc in an OFF position against the spring force while the motor is running have been proposed. In these systems, the magnetic field is energized only when the motor is energized.
Braking systems for electric motors are also known, which comprise an electromagnetically releasable spring-actuated brake with a braking surface, a brake disc driven in rotation, a release device non-rotatably secured to the braking surface, and an armature mounted non-rotatably and so as to be capable of axial displacement between the brake disc and the release device, and biased by springs against the brake disc. Such braking systems have been disclosed in connection with motors having substantially horizontally-mounted axles to be stopped.
In such braking systems, on energizing the motor the axle moves to separate the brake disc from its corresponding braking surface. On de-activating the motor, the spring urges the brake disc back into contact with the braking surface.
It is a disadvantage of the known electromechanical braking systems that they are expensive to manufacture and add significantly to the cost of each lawn mower. Where attempts have been made to reduce the cost of these systems by using part of the motor housing to provide part of the housing for the solenoid coil and spring, these systems only achieve a stop time in the order of 5 seconds, which is not sufficiently short to satisfy the more stringent safety requirements which require a stop time of less than 3 seconds by increasing the size of the brake disc, but this would lose part of the cost saving benefit.
Known electromagnetically releasable spring-actuated braking systems would not be suitable for use with a substantially vertical shaft, since the force generated by the magnetic field is not sufficient to hold the armature in its raised position under normal running conditions, after the initial surge observed when the motor is energized.


A method for optimizing performance analysis of a plurality of network hosts associated with a communications network includes aggregating captured network performance data including a plurality of captured network performance metrics for a plurality of network flows. Each one of the plurality of network flows is associated with a plurality of network hosts. The aggregated captured network performance data is encoded by employing at least one data modification function. Dimensionality of the encoded captured network performance data is reduced using a neural network model. One or more reduced-dimensional clusters of the encoded captured network performance data are generated. Each of the one or more reduced-dimensional clusters is grouping one or more hosts of the plurality of network hosts based on the captured network performance metrics.

As an increasing number of applications and services are being made available over networks such as the Internet, an increasing number of content, application, and service providers are turning to technologies such as resource sharing, multi-tenant environments, and cloud computing. Such technologies can enable a user to obtain access to electronic resources through services, such as Web services, where the hardware and/or software used to support those services is dynamically scalable to meet the needs of the services at any given time. A user or customer typically will rent, lease, or otherwise pay for access to these resources, and thus does not have to purchase and maintain the hardware and/or software to provide access to these resources.
In at least some environments, a provider of these resources can be responsible for tasks such as upgrading and deploying software, as well as managing configuration information for the various resources. In some cases, errors can occur on these machines which may affect their ability to update information, deploy code, modify settings, or perform other activities with respect to the various resources. These errors are often costly for the provider of these resources.
Furthermore, networks and network devices are increasingly affected by the damages caused by various attacks, such as Denial of Service ("DoS") attacks. Therefore, the ability to cluster a plurality of network devices based on network metadata to identify anomalous host behavior is advantageous.

Scalable unsupervised host clustering based on network metadata


A diagnostic syringe actuator device for use in combination with a syringe in the removal of tissue, fluid and/or cells for the diagnosis of pathological processes wherein the syringe includes a hollow syringe body having a longitudinally movable syringe plunger at least partially disposed therein with a probe needle attached to the distal end portion comprising a hollow retractor tube having a longitudinally movable retractable piston disposed therein, a longitudinally movable syringe plunger sabot disposed within the hollow retractor tube, a sabot lock mechanism selectively movable between a locked and unlocked position disposed to engage the syringe plunger sabot when in the locked position to maintain the syringe plunger and the syringe plunger sabot in the advanced position and to disengage the syringe is plunger sabot when moved to the unlocked position such that the syringe plunger sabot and the syringe plunger move from the advanced position when the retractable piston has been at least partially retracted within the hollow retractor tube creating a vacuum therein whereby material is extracted from a patient through the probe needle and into the hollow syringe body.

1. Field of the Invention
A retractable piston syringe adapter for use in combination with a syringe in the removal of human tissue, fluid and/or cells for the diagnosis of pathological processes.
2. Prior Art
The pathological diagnostic technique of fine needle aspiration has become widely used.
An example of the technique which can be performed in a doctor's office, allows diagnosis of lesions, such as breast masses. In this technique a needle is inserted through the skin into the mass, organ, sack and a vacuum is applied to aspirate or withdraw cells or fluid from the target. The vacuum is created by withdrawing the syringe plunger. During the vacuum state, the user moves the needle up and down with one hand, causing cells, tissue and/or fluid to be cut free so that the vacuum will suck them into the barrel of the syringe. When an adequate sample is obtained, the vacuum is exhausted. The needle is withdrawn.
Needle aspiration usually involves a disposable syringe with an attached disposable needle. A syringe holder is presently used with the syringe, although the syringe may be used by hand without the holder. The syringe holder is a device made of a solid material such as metal, in which the disposable syringe and needle is inserted. The syringe holder allows the user to operate the syringe, including withdrawing its plunger with one hand,
U.S. Pat. No. 2,198,666 describes a syringe having a body and plunger to take up and expel fluid including a resilient spring that operatively engages the plunger to urge the plunger outwardly of ii the body and interlocking means operatively connected to the plunger and the body to position the plunger relative to the body in at least one intermediate position. The interlocking means comprises an engageable finger and recess means adapted to selectively accommodate the finger having a shoulder positively preventing outward movement of the plunger by the spring and provide a free passage in the opposite direction whereby the plunger may be freely actuated to expel the contents of the syringe against the spring tension only and a second passage disposed axially of the syringe open ended in both axial directions for permitting movement of the plunger completely out of the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,969 shows a syringe holder for the diagnostic technique of fine needle aspiration used in the diagnosis of cancer and other pathological processes. A stabilizing ring with or without a detachable extended stabilizing ring is placed on the skin around the mass which is to be needled. The needle is guided into the mass accurately as the syringe is held firmly by a syringe body holder which slides on guide bars. A vacuum is created by pulling the syringe plunger back with a plunger holder and cells and tissue from the mass are sucked into the syringe as the needle is moved in an up-and-down direction by the hand holding a handlebar. The depth of needle penetration is controlled by limit screws. When the sample is obtained, the vacuum is released. The needle is removed from skin and the sample is removed from the syringe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,973 teaches an injection device adapted to fit various syringe sizes. The injection device is spring loaded and provides a firing barrel which in the cocked position is offset slightly from the central bore of the device. When the device is fired, the firing barrel is aligned with the central bore and projects the needle portion of the syringe into the user. For obtaining blood samples, the syringe is replaced by a striker element which actuates a spring loaded puncture module which punctures the skin and is quickly withdrawn.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,496 describes a syringe guide with adjustment of the depth to which the needle penetrates comprising a body having one end provided with a sliding base which is adjustable in position by means of a screw and whose other end includes a sliding part fixed to the syringe and loaded by a spring which on relaxing causes the needle to be plunged into the skin to a predetermined depth.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,026 shows an implant injector for animals adjustable for implant insertion depth. The distance that the injector needle or cannula extends past the nose of the injector is adjustable. The insertion depth adjustment is accomplished by moving the nose of the injector relative to the tip of the cannula that extends past the nose. In addition to adjusting the insertion depth, the cannula or needle may also be rotated to a plurality of positions relative to the injector handle. A spring loaded plunger, when released by a release button, will push the implant out the end of the cannula as the operator withdraws the cannula from the animal. The release button is designed as a safety trigger to avoid premature activation of the plunger during insertion of the needle. Needles or cannulas of various diameters and lengths may be interchanged in the injector. The spring loaded plunger for expelling the implant may be removed allowing the operator to replace the plunger with a different diameter and length plunger to match different size cannulas.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,380 teaches a syringe comprising a dose metering device provided by a cap rotatable with respect to a pen body to a position related to the dose of medicament to be injected. The rotation compresses a coil spring which is prevented from unwinding by cooperating ratchet teeth. When the dose is to be injected, a trigger slide is moved to the left causing the ratchet teeth to come out of engagement. This permits the spring to unwind thereby rotating a drive sleeve, drive gear and a drive plunger. The drive plunger is formed with a quick pitch screw thread so that its rotational movement is accompanied by axial movement to cause medicament to be discharged from a cartridge and injected through a needle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,393 describes a autoinjector converted from an intramuscular to a subcutaneous mode of injection comprising a housing having a medicament cartridge assembly mounted within the housing means in a storage position for movement out of the storage position and a releasable stressed spring assembly for moving the medicament cartridge assembly means out of the storage position. The stressed spring assembly is operable in response to a manual actuating procedure which does not require compression of the subcutaneous tissue to effect an intramuscular mode of injection by moving the hypodermic needle of the cartridge assembly outwardly of the housing into the muscle tissue at the injection site of a user and a major portion of the liquid medicament of the cartridge assembly outwardly through the hypodermic needle into the muscle tissue of the user. An injection mode converting structure is secured in a subcutaneous mode position for converting the mode of injection effected by the stressed spring assembly from the intramuscular mode of injection to a subcutaneous mode of injection in which the needle cannot extend substantially beyond subcutaneous tissue at the injection site of the user and a major portion of the liquid medicament enters into the subcutaneous tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,368 shows a pistol-like casing for mounting a tubular holder containing a syringe in the gun barrel portion of the casing so it may be cocked in the withdrawn position against the force of a spring and released by movement of an arresting pawl. Pulling back a trigger advances a push rod that first trips the pawl, then brings force to bear against the pistol rod of the syringe. After the needle is driven into the skin by the release of the pawl and the actuating mechanism has been brought to bear against the syringe piston-rod, the injection of the syringe contents can proceed under control of hand feel without any necessity of changing or shifting the hand grip by continuing to pull the trigger back.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,916 teaches an injection pistol for intramuscular implantation of encapsulated liquid or solid chemical material into animals. The depth of injection of the needle into the animal muscle is controlled by an injection depth gauge mounted on the injection needle. A shaft means having a slidable plunger means integral therewith is mounted on the frame and is utilized to eject the chemical material from within the injection needle and implant the chemical material into the animal muscle after the needle is thrust into the muscle. The travel of the plunger means within the injection needle is limited by a threadedly adjustable depth stop means mounted on the end of the shaft means opposite to the plunger means.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,537 describes a hypodermic syringe and automatic needle insertion device wherein the syringe is biased against a trigger when the needle is in the retracted position. Upon release of the trigger, the syringe and needle are driven forward extending the needle into the underlying tissue. The depth of insertion may be predetermined by the attachment of an interchangeable stop.
Additional examples of the prior art are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,459; U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,376 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,465.


A removable door skin for a vehicle for mounting on a door frame member and includes a flexible door panel that includes an edge and a flap. The flexible door panel may further include a fastening means having a first portion and a second portion wherein the first portion is located on the flexible door panel and second portion is located on the flap.

Utility vehicles often comprise of an open body arrangement that include a fabric top and removable doors. This arrangement may be seen in light sport utility vehicles, heavy sport utility vehicles, light trucks, or large earth moving machines by way of example. The ability to remove the top or the doors increases the flexibility of the vehicle, however the ease in which one can remove the top or the doors is also important so as to improve the function and use of the vehicle by the user.
Prior art door panels have been devised to address some of the aforenoted issues. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,056 issued on Jan. 24, 1978 to Hickman, and relates to a utility vehicle such as an open vehicle provided with a fabric top, in which the windshield forms the upper portion of the forward upright of the door frame and portions of the top form the lintel and at least part of the rear upright. The door comprises a skeletal framework having a border structure conforming to the shape of the door frame and covered with fabric, the framework being made of resilient material. The door is hung on the existing hinge mounts and its lower portion lies in a vertical plane corresponding to that of the lower portion of the door frame. When the door is closed the upper end of the sealing rib and continued movement to complete closure springs the upper part of the door so that it fits tightly against the rib and lintel and produces a weather tight seal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,699 which issued on Feb. 24, 1987 to Chandler et al. relates to utility vehicle such as an open vehicle having an open top such as a Jeep type vehicle or a large earth moving machine. To provide an enclosed operator's compartment it has been necessary to use steel or fabric door closures that makes use of space age plastics and uses the high impact characteristics along with the transparency of these materials to provide a strong yet safe door closing allowing the operator to have full vision from the door of the operator's station.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,989 which issued on Jun. 13, 2000 to Hilliard et al. relates to a removable door frame assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first portion pivotally interconnected to a second portion. The first portion is adapted to be oriented horizontally and releasably attached to a sport bar assembly of the motor vehicle. The second portion is adapted to be oriented vertically and releasably engage the body of the vehicle. The first portion is configured to releasably retain a retaining element attached to a top section of the soft top and thereby retain the soft top in a cross-car direction. Similarly, the second portion is adapted to releasably retain a retaining element attached to a side section of the soft top and longitudinally retain the side section.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,054 which issued on Aug. 10, 2004 to Martini relates to an open mesh vehicle door comprising a substantially rigid frame member, having at least one pin to pivotally affix said door to a vehicle at a first end and having a latch at a second end, further having an open mesh webbing being attached between at least two opposing sides of the frame member.
The prior art however does not address a removable door panel or skin for a utility vehicle door frame member or support. Therefore a removable door skin or panel which can be easily removed and replaced with another door skin or panel by either removing the door support from the vehicle or by leaving the door support or frame in place is desirable.


Disclosed is an apparatus and method for manufacturing pallets. The apparatus and method incorporates an assembly table that alternates between an inclined position where the components of the pallet are fastened and a lower, horizontal position where the assembled pallet is transferred to an conveyor.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of pallets. In particular, the invention relates to an automated apparatus and method for manufacturing pallets from wooden boards in a safe and efficient manner.
Pallets, particularly wooden pallets, are an indispensable part of industrial and commercial shipping, handling and storage of goods. Pallets are typically formed of a number of spaced, parallel boards or xe2x80x9cstringersxe2x80x9d connected by a number of spaced, parallel deck boards that are situated perpendicular to the stringers. A pallet has at least one deck in which deck boards are attached (e.g., nailed) to one side of the stringers. As used herein the term pallet means a set of stringers having at least one deck. More commonly, deck boards are attached to both sides of the stringers thereby creating a two-deck pallet. The apparatus and method according to the invention includes the manufacture of both single and double deck pallets.
The demand for pallets is never ceasing. This demand is responsible for the development of several machines and methods for automating and increasing the efficiency of pallet manufacture. The majority of these devices fall into two types: large, expensive machines that require substantial space and capital or smaller machines that are not operator friendly or require unnecessary manual labor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,439 to Dykeman is an example of the former and U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,106 is an example of the latter. Furthermore, many of the known devices utilize designs that add unnecessary safety risks to the operator such as arms that can fall on an operator""s hands as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,575 to Self or free-falling pallets as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,492,016 to Smets et al and 5,058,795 to Tonus.
Accordingly, a need exists for a pallet manufacturing machine that is compact, economical, efficient and operator friendly. Preferably, the machine requires only one operator and minimizes the physical labor required by the operator. Additionally, the machine should minimize the safety risks to the operator by channeling movement of the pallet away from the operator rather than towards the operator or perpendicular to the operator.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for efficiently, quickly and safely manufacturing pallets. A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for manufacturing pallets that is economical in terms of capital investment and manpower. These and additional objects are met by the apparatus and method of the claimed invention.
A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an apparatus for manufacturing pallets comprising an assembly table. The assembly table comprises means for supporting a plurality of stringers situated in a common plane. The apparatus further comprises means for arranging a plurality of deck boards transversely across the stringers and means for fastening the deck boards to the stringers to form a pallet. The apparatus also comprises a transitioning means for lowering the assembly table from an inclined position to a substantially horizontal position where the pallet engages with a conveyor which transfers the pallet to subsequent processing stations.
A further embodiment of the invention is a method for manufacturing pallets. The method according to the invention comprises positioning a plurality of stringers on an inclined assembly table and traversing the stringers with a first plurality of deck boards. The deck boards are then fastened (i.e., nailed) to the stringers to form a pallet. The assembly table is then lowered from an inclined position to a substantially horizontal position whereby the pallet engages with a conveyor. The pallet is then transferred from the horizontally positioned assembly table to subsequent processing stations.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention and the manner in which the same are accomplished will become clearer based on the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Apparatus and method for manufacturing pallets


A magnetic storage medium comprises a keeper layer of soft magnetic, saturable material disposed upon a magnetic storage layer. The keeper layer is disposed above the magnetic storage layer, and a non-magnetic "break" layer may be used between the keeper and the storage layer to reduce the exchange coupling between these layers. To increase the ability of the keeper layer to shunt flux from the magnetic storage layer, a longitudinal anisotropy is induced in the keeper layer. This establishes a desired magnetic orientation of the keeper which facilitates maintaining the regularity (i.e., relative uniformity) of the transitions, and reducing the magnetic interaction between transitions as the spacing between transitions is reduced to provide denser media. Specifically, the longitudinal anisotropy may be oriented either circumferentially or radially relative to the plane of rotation of the magnetic storage layer.

In conventional wideband, high density magnetic signal processing, magnetic flux transferred to or from a magnetic storage medium permeates a magnetic core of a magnetic transducer (i.e., a head). During reproduction operation modes this flux produces an induced output voltage which, after suitable amplification, is a reproduced representation of the magnetic flux from the media that permeates the core and is suitable for use by a utilization device. During record operation modes, the permeating flux results from current applied to the transducer coil winding, and the flux fringes from a physical gap provided in the core for recording a representative signal in the magnetic storage medium.
One problem with prior art magnetic storage systems is that various losses occur during signal transfers between the magnetic storage medium and the transducer. One of the more significant losses, called "spacing loss", results from the physical spacing between the magnetic storage medium and the transducer. Spacing loss is particularly deleterious during reproduction operations where the effects of such loss are more significant. Prior efforts to reduce spacing loss primarily involved reducing the physical spacing by placing the transducer as close to the magnetic storage medium surface as operating conditions permitted. Such positioning, however, is accompanied by an increase in the likelihood of collisions between the transducer and magnetic storage medium, particularly in devices in which the transducer is normally supported above and out of contact with the storage medium surface, i.e., the transducer "flies" relative to the storage medium. On the other hand, if the transducer is in physical contact with the medium, damaging wear occurs due to the contact. However, it should be noted that if contact heads are used, the head is still separated from the storage medium by the carbon overcoat and lubricant that are standard in such disks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,922 to Wood et al (hereinafter "Wood et al."), assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a magnetic recording system which includes a magnetic medium having an overlying or underlying "keeper" layer of magnetically saturable high permeability material. The keeper layer facilitates denser storage media by reducing the fringing fields from the media. As disclosed in Wood et al., the properties of the keeper layer are selected to act as an extension of the head poles, thereby effectively bringing the head closer to the magnetic medium and reducing the spacing loss. Since one of the material properties of the head poles is high permeability, the keeper layer material in Wood et al was also selected to have high permeability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,969 entitled "Method of Making a Magnetic Medium for Longitudinal Recording" to Michael L. Mallary (hereinafter "Mallary") discloses that a magnetic image layer (somewhat analogous to the keeper layer disclosed in Wood et al.) may have a uniaxial anisotropy. In particular, Mallary discloses several techniques for inducing the uniaxial anisotropy. However, each of the techniques is problematic in practice. For example, applying a magnetic field while the soft magnetic material of the image layer is being deposited interferes with the deposition process of the image layer when sputtering is used to deposit the layer. Specifically, the magnetic field which is used to establish the anisotropy in the magnetic image layer may interfere with the field which controls the sputtering process. The other techniques disclosed in Mallary to induce the anisotropy in the magnetic storage layer include (1) performing an anneal in a magnetic field, (2) controlling the angle of incidence in the case of vacuum deposition or (3) protexturing the substrate. However, these techniques are also problematic.
Hence, there is a need for a technique for inducing a desired anisotropy in the keeper layer to increase the system signal to noise ratio and reduce the intersymbol interference.

Method and apparatus for providing a magnetic storage and reproducing media with a keeper layer having a longitudinal anisotropy