During the administration of NO to a patient, NO reacts with oxygen in the respiratory gas to form NO.sub.2. Since NO.sub.2 is a toxic gas, minimizing the formation of this gas is important. A previously unknown property of NO is that an initial amount of NO.sub.2 is formed when NO and O.sub.2 mix. By adding NO to respiratory gas at a number of spaced-apart mixing points, the total initial amount of NO.sub.2 formed can be reduced. In a method and a device for mixing and administering NO, the gas containing NO is supplied to a flow divider for distributing the flow and sending sub-flows to a number of various mixing points.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method for mixing a gas containing nitric oxide (NO) with a gas containing oxygen, as well as to an apparatus for conducting the method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the use of gaseous nitric oxide (NO) has attracted widespread interest in different kinds of therapy. A number of positive effects has been found when small amounts of gaseous NO are administered to a patient via the airways. For example, NO has a relaxing effect on smooth muscle, thereby improving oxygenation and reducing blood pressure across the lung in patients with severe pulmonary disease. More extensive descriptions of the effects conveyed by NO are provided in e.g. PCT application WO 92/10228 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,797.
NO, usually diluted with N.sub.2, is supplied in gas cylinders and is subsequently mixed with a respiratory gas, usually a mixture of air and oxygen (O.sub.2), before the final mixture is delivered to the patient. Examples of known administration systems are described in European Application 0 659 445 and Swedish Application 502 724.
The biggest problem with NO is that it is a highly reactive gas and forms, with O.sub.2, nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2)--a highly toxic gas even in small concentrations. Since respiratory gas often contains an elevated concentration of 0.sub.2, typically 50-80% O.sub.2, special measures may be necessary to minimize the amount of NO.sub.2 delivered to the patient.
One approach to minimize the opportunity for NO.sub.2 to form is to supply the gas containing NO closely as possible to the patient, even inside the patient. This has the disadvantage, however, that the NO and respiratory gases may not have time to mix thoroughly, and a heterogeneous gas mixture could be carried into the lungs.
Another option is to mix the two gases continuously as they flow at a constant rate past an inspiratory line, so that the patient then draws a fresh mixture into her/his lungs at every breath. Implementing this option is difficult, however, when the patient is incapable of spontaneous breathing with an adequate volume. Moreover, large amounts of gas would be consumed, and gas containing NO would have to be evacuated to prevent a rise in the level of NO.sub.2 in the room.
Another possibility is to mix the gases in the customary fashion and to install an NO.sub.2 absorber or an NO.sub.2 filter before the patient. A disadvantage here is the difficulty in determining the supplied concentration of NO. An absorber must be monitored to keep it from becoming saturated, thereby losing its ability to absorb NO.sub.2, and a filter must be arranged to keep NO.sub.2 from escaping into the room.
Heretofore, the conversion of NO into NO.sub.2 was believed to occur in proportion to the squared concentration of NO times the level of O.sub.2 times time (k.sub.2 *(NO).sup.2 *O.sub.2 *t). In addition, a small amount Of NO.sub.2 may be present in the O.sub.2 --NO mixture. This amount is proportional to the concentration of NO (k.sub.0 *NO).
Recently conducted experiments have disclosed an additional factor. NO was found to have a property which causes initial formation of NO.sub.2 at the instant of mixture with oxygen, which is proportional only to the square of the NO concentration and the O.sub.2 concentration (k.sub.1 *(NO).sup.2 *O.sub.2).
Thus the final conversion equation, designating the concentration of NO.sub.2, is as follows: EQU NO.sub.2 =k.sub.0 *NO+k.sub.1 *(NO).sup.2 *O.sub.2 +k.sub.2 *(NO).sup.2 *O.sub.2 *t

Method and apparatus for mixing a gas containing nitric oxide with a gas containing oxygen


Detecting data duplication comprises maintaining a fingerprint directory including one or more entries, each entry including a data fingerprint and a data location for a data chunk. Each entry is associated with a seen-count attribute which is an indication of how often the fingerprint has been seen in arriving data chunks. Higher-frequency entries in the directory are retained, while also taking into account recency of data accesses. A data duplication detector detects that the data fingerprint for a new chunk is the same as the data fingerprint contained in an entry in the fingerprint directory.

The present invention relates generally to data reduction in storage systems, and more particularly to deduplicating storage with enhanced frequent-block detection.
Storage systems are utilized in information technology environments such as enterprise computing systems. Because information technology system managers are generally interested in increasing data storage efficiency, many modern storage systems provide data reduction for increasing storage efficiency and storage savings. Data reduction techniques are increasingly used to store primary data in less storage space. Efficiency in data reduction and retrieval is an important factor in storage system performance.

Deduplicating storage with enhanced frequent-block detection

International Business Machines Corporation


Suppressor sleeves and gun barrel sleeves and covers have longitudinal interior splines and venting valleys and exterior ribs arranged at angles relative to the interior splines. One or more sleeves and caps are combined to provide suppressor sleeve assemblies and gun barrel covers and related weapon accessories.

Firearm suppressors or "silencers" are devices configured for attachment to a gun muzzle and designed to capture and divert the gases and air displaced from the muzzle of a barrel created by the explosive force of ammunition firing, and to thereby suppress the sound of the firing and reduce muzzle flash. The term "silencer" is defined by ATF as, "any device for silencing, muffling or diminishing the report of a portable firearm." Gun barrel and muzzle temperatures can reach 1500 degrees F. or greater under continuous firing or repetitious semi or fully automatic firing. Suppressors, which can be made of a variety of materials including weapons grade steel and alloys, are attached directly to the muzzle and may become heated to the same extent as the barrel and may retain additional heat energy in the baffle structures during repetitious rates of fire. In addition to being dangerous to touch when heated, suppressors are fully exposed to impact damage.

Barrel and suppressor sleeves and heat resistant weapon accessories


A heat dissipation apparatus for effective dissipation of heat comprises an air flow module and a heat sink. The air flow module comprises a casing, a piston module slidably mounted in the casing, an airflow outlet module attached to a first side of the casing, and an electromagnet module attached to a second side of the casing that is opposite to the first side. The airflow outlet module comprises a plurality of airflow outlet grooves. The piston module comprises a magnet. The heat sink is aligned with the plurality of airflow outlet grooves. The electromagnet module is capable of moving the magnet and the piston module back and forth in the casing. The air flow module is capable of blowing air to the heat sink via the plurality of airflow outlet grooves.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a heat dissipation apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
A heat dissipation apparatus is mounted on a motherboard of an electronic device, such as a computer, for dissipating heat generated by electronic components in the electronic device. Generally, the heat dissipation apparatus comprises a heat sink and a fan. The heat sink is mounted on one of the electronic components (such as a processor) and comprises a plurality of fins. The fan is mounted on the heat sink. However, the heat dissipation apparatus takes up a lot of space and is not practical for thin, flat computers such as tablet personal computers.
Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.


A hose with corrugated metal tube comprises a corrugated metal tube as innermost layer and outer layer in a radially outer side thereof including elastic layer and reinforced layer. The reinforced layer is braided with reinforcing filament members at a braid or winding angle which is a low angle, 40 degrees or lower.

The present invention relates to a hose with corrugated metal tube, which is suitable for fuel conveying hose for automobiles, refrigerant conveying hose or any other fluid conveying hose, and more particularly to a hose with corrugated metal tube including characteristic reinforced layer.
Typical rubber hoses, for example, made of blended product of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and polyvinyl chloride (NBR/PVC blend) which is excellent in resistance to gasoline permeability, have been used for conveying fuel for automobiles or the like in view of their high vibration-absorbability, easy assembling or the like. However, for the purpose of global environment protection, the regulations have been recently tighten against permeation of fuel for automobiles or the like, and are anticipated to be further tighten in the future. Further, hoses are demanded to meet the requirements to convey highly permeable fluid such as hydrogen gas used in fuel cells or carbon dioxide (CO2) refrigerant.
Then it is anticipated difficult to satisfy the future requirements with hoses made only of organic materials such as rubber or resin.
Accordingly, it is currently considered to adapt a hose with a corrugated metal tube as an inner layer because the hose with corrugated metal tube is expected to have an extremely high fluid impermeability to meet the demand for a fluid impermeable hose.
As for a hose with corrugated metal tube, such hoses as disclosed in the following Document 1, Document 2 and Document 3 are known.
Document 1JP, A, 2001-182872Document 2US20020007860A1Document 3JP, U, 51-150511
In case of the hose with corrugated metal tube, even if adapted for hydrogen gas used for fuel cells, a corrugated metal tube in or as an inner layer reduces gas permeation zero, i.e., completely eliminates permeation of gas.
However, if the hose with corrugated metal tube is adapted, it will be a problem how to construct a reinforcing structure with a reinforced layer.
As shown in FIG. 6, a typical conventional hose usually has a hose body 200 of multi-layered construction including inner elastic layer 202, reinforced layer 204 and outer elastic layer 206. The reinforced layer 204 is constructed by reinforcing filament member or reinforcing filament members. If a winding or braid angle of reinforcing filament member or reinforcing filament members in the reinforced layer 204 or a winding or braid angle thereof with respect to an axial direction is higher or larger than a neutral angle α (refer to FIG. 6 (B)), which of reinforcing filament member or reinforcing filament members is 54 degrees 44 minutes (54° 44′) in this case, the reinforced layer 204 overall expands or elongates longitudinally, extracts and deforms in a radial or diametrical direction so as to make a braid or winding angle of reinforcing filament member or reinforcing filament members close to or to be a neutral angle α when an internal pressure is exerted thereto as shown in FIG. 7 (A). Here and so forth, it is based on the hypothesis that reinforcing filament member itself or reinforcing filament members themselves do not elongated. And in "braid angle" of FIG. 7 a winding angle is also included.
On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 7 (C), if a braid or winding angle of the reinforcing lament member or the reinforcing filament members in the reinforced layer 204 are lower or smaller than a neutral angle α, the hose including the reinforced layer 204 overall contracts in a longitudinal direction and expands and deforms in a radial direction so as to make a braid or winding angle thereof close to or to be a neutral angle α when an internal pressure is exerted thereto.
And, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), if a braid or winding angle of reinforcing filament member or reinforcing filament members in the reinforced layer 204 is initially a neutral angle α, the reinforcing filament member or the reinforcing filament members remain at an angle α or a neutral angle α as it was when an internal pressure is exerted thereto. Therefore, the hose overall does not substantially expand and contract in a longitudinal direction, and also does not substantially expand and contract in a radial direction.
In FIG. 6, a numeral reference 208 indicates a rigid pipe-shaped connecting part inserted in the hose body 200 on an axial end portion thereof, a numeral reference 210 a metallic socket fitting fitted onto or on an outer surface of the hose body 200. The hose body 200 is fixedly secured to the connecting part 208 and the socket fitting 210 while clamped radially in between the connecting part 208 and the socket fitting 210, by securely compressing or swaging the socket fitting 210 radially inwardly thereto.
In FIG. 6, a numeral reference 212 indicates an inwardly directed collar-like portion formed on an axial end of the socket fitting 210. In this state, the collar-like portion 212 fits in and engages with a fit-engagement groove formed on an outer surface of the connecting part 208.
As stated above, in general, a typical conventional hose tends to expand, contract and deform in radial and longitudinal directions depending on a braid or winding angle of a reinforced layer when an internal pressure is exerted thereto.
However, a hose including a corrugated metal tube 214 as inner layer as shown in FIG. 8 tends to expand and deform uniformly in a longitudinal direction regardless of a braid or winding angle of a reinforced layer when an internal pressure is exerted thereto.
Therefore, such hose with corrugated metal tube inherently involves a problem that when an internal pressure is exerted thereto repeatedly, the hose including the corrugated metal tube 214 overall repeatedly elongates or expands in a longitudinal direction, and consequently repeated deformation thereof causer a fatigue break in the corrugated metal tube 214.
The above are described with reference to a hose for conveying hydrogen gas used in a fuel cell as example. The similar problems are anticipated in common to any hoses. For example, it may be the case that a hose with corrugated metal tube is employed for conveying fuel gasoline for the purpose to deal with gasoline or the like permeating to an air or, for high temperature and high pressure application due to high output power of equipment, where low permeation is severely regulated. Or it may be the case that a hose with corrugated metal tube is employed to convey carbon dioxide (CO2) as refrigerant fluid, which is low in amount of particles just like hydrogen and has high gas permeation. Further, it may be any other case that a hose with corrugated metal tube is applied in fields under severe regulations against gas permeation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hose with corrugated metal tube to settle the problems described above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The invention concerns test elements, in particular diagnostic test elements, for determining the presence or concentration of biological, medical or biologically or medically effective substances including nucleic acids, proteins, viruses, microorganisms and cells, characterized in that these test elements contain nanofibers.

The invention concerns test elements, in particular diagnostic test elements, for determining the presence or concentration of biological, medical or biologically or medically effective substances including nucleic acids, proteins, viruses, microorganisms and cells, characterized in that these test elements contain nanofibers.
Diagnostic test elements, and in particular, test strips, contain a wide variety of fiber-based materials. Papers or fleeces are especially noteworthy. Fleeces in particular are used to separate undesired sample components. As an example, reference is made to blood separation fleeces in glucose tests or in the test strips from, e.g., the Reflotron® system. The fibers that are used in papers or fleeces of the prior art are characterized by diameters between about 5 μm and 200 μm.
Nanofibers have been basically known since about 1930. They are produced by the so-called electrospinning process in which a thin fiber is produced by applying a high voltage in the range of 10-55 kV to a droplet of a polymer solution or polymer melt (Formhals, A., U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,975,504; 2,160,962; 2,187,306).
Nanofibers have extremely small diameters. Fibers having diameters of 10-2000 nm are obtainable depending on the material. In some cases branched fibers are obtained or fibers are obtained which contain a variable number of polymer beads which can be of different sizes on the fibers. Important influencing variables are known to a person skilled in the art or may be found in the pertinent literature (e.g., Li and Xia, Adv. Matter. 16 (2004), 1151-1170).
The use of nanofibers in medical products is described in U.S. Publication No. 2003/0171053. This publication concerns a medical device which is covered with a nanofiber layer in order to improve biocompatibility. Other publications relate to a brain probe which is coated with nanofibers to improve the biocompatibility and measuring stability (e.g., U.S. Publication No. 2002/0106496 or DiPaolo et al., Proc. 2nd Joint EMBS/BMES Conf. Houston Tex., USA, 23-23, October 2002).
U.S. Publication No. 2003/0217928 discloses a process for the electrosynthesis of nanostructures which can be used to detect an analyte also within an electrically conductive array.
WO 02/40242 describes a process for producing products for medical and cell-biological use, e.g., stents by electrospinning nanofibers based on collagen.
WO 03/026532 describes the use of nanofibers for medical devices, for example, balloons, catheters, filters and stents.
WO 03/087443 discloses a process for applying nanofibers to an object, for example medical devices such as stents, or devices for the controlled release of drugs.
Feng et al. (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 42 (2003), 800-802) and Feng et al. (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 41 (2002), 1221-1223) describe the production of "superhydrophobic" surfaces made of short nanofibers.
The use of fibers of the usual diameter in test elements for diagnostic applications has specific disadvantages, especially relating to the separation of blood cells. The fiber matrices in known test elements typically have relatively coarse, non-uniform porosity. Blood cells are either not retained by the large pores or they are retained in the interior of a fabric layer or fleece. The large pores cause lysis due to the high capillarity or due to injury or rupture of the membrane of red blood corpuscles on sharp corners and edges, especially in the case of glass fiber fleeces. Another disadvantage of fleeces or fabrics of the prior art is that these materials become relatively thick and retain correspondingly large volumes of liquid in the interstitial space of the fibers. This is problematic in the context of the development trend towards smaller and smaller sample volumes.
Structures made of hydrophobic conventional fibers can be used as liquid barriers. Examples of these are known under the trade name Tyvek®. However, a disadvantage of these structures is that an aqueous solution which comes into contact with these fabrics rolls off the surface, which is why they are not able to penetrate into the pores.


Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved method and system for assessing non-uniformity of features in the measurement area (within the beam spot) on a semiconductor structure, (e.g. wafer), such as a non-uniform film thickness. The scattering from non-uniform features is modeled. Post-processing the residual of theoretical and collected spectra is performed to assess a measure of non-uniformity from within an incident spot beam of a spectrum acquisition tool.

Optical "scatterometry" attempts to evaluate the geometry of a sample based on the pattern of the diffracted light. More specifically, scatterometry systems use a modeling approach to transform scatterometry measurements into geometric measurements. For this type of approach, a theoretical model is defined for each physical structure that will be analyzed. The theoretical model predicts the empirical measurements (scatterometry signals) that scatterometry systems would record for the structure. The theoretical results of this calculation are then compared to the measured data. To the extent the results do not match, the theoretical model is modified and the theoretical data is calculated once again and compared to the empirical measurements. This process is repeated iteratively until the correspondence between the calculated theoretical data and the empirical measurements reaches an acceptable level of fitness. At this point, the characteristics of the theoretical model and the physical structure should be very similar.
Scatterometry takes the diffraction signal from a laser beam with a given spot size. Diffraction is an interaction of light with multiple periods of a structure. The current assumption is that the features are uniform within the laser spot. This assumption leads to inaccuracies. Furthermore, prior art systems are limited to a very specific set of analysis constraints. Broader analysis on a real-time basis is very desirable so that manufacturers can immediately determine when a process is not operating correctly.

Method for quantification of process non uniformity using model-based metrology

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A surgical access assembly includes a cannula and a retention anchor including an annular body and a washer secured to the annular body. The annular body includes an inner side surface defining an opening therethrough, and the washer includes an inner terminal edge defining an opening therethrough that is aligned with the opening of the annular body. The elongated shaft of the cannula extends through the openings. The washer is transitionable between a first configuration in which the inner terminal edge of the washer is coincident with or disposed radially outwardly of the inner side surface of the annular body so that the retention anchor is slidable along the elongated shaft, and a second configuration in which the inner terminal edge of the washer extends radially inwardly of the inner side surface of the annular body and engages the elongated shaft to fix the retention anchor to the elongated shaft.

In minimally invasive surgical procedures, including endoscopic and laparoscopic surgeries, a surgical access device permits the introduction of a variety of surgical instruments into a body cavity or opening. A surgical access device (e.g., a cannula or an access port) is introduced through an opening in tissue (e.g., a naturally occurring orifice or an incision) to provide access to an underlying surgical site in the body. The opening is typically made using an obturator having a blunt or sharp tip that may be inserted through a passageway of the surgical access device. For example, a cannula has a tube of rigid material with a thin wall construction, through which an obturator may be passed. The obturator is utilized to penetrate a body wall, such as an abdominal wall, or to introduce the surgical access device through the body wall, and is then removed to permit introduction of surgical instruments through the surgical access device to perform the surgical procedure.
Minimally invasive surgical procedures, including both endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures, permit surgery to be performed on organs, tissues, and vessels far removed from an opening within the tissue. In laparoscopic procedures, the abdominal cavity is insufflated with an insufflation gas, e.g., CO2, to create a pneumoperitoneum thereby providing access to the underlying organs. A laparoscopic instrument is introduced through a cannula accessing the abdominal cavity to perform one or more surgical tasks. The cannula may incorporate a seal to establish a substantially fluid tight seal about the laparoscopic instrument to preserve the integrity of the pneumoperitoneum. The cannula, which is subjected to the pressurized environment, e.g., the pneumoperitoneum, may include an anchor mechanism to prevent the cannula from backing out of the opening in the abdominal wall, for example, during manipulation of the laparoscopic instrument within the cannula or withdrawal of the laparoscopic instrument therefrom.

Retention anchor for surgical access devices


A speed change ratio of a continuously variable transmission for converting the rotation of the output shaft of an engine in a stepless manner and transmitting it to a drive shaft of a vehicle is controlled to a target speed change ratio. A target vehicle speed at a predetermined future time is estimated based on a real vehicle speed, and the target speed change ratio is calculated based on the estimated vehicle speed. By controlling a real speed change ratio to this target speed change ratio, the response of the transmission is enhanced. Preferably, a feedback vehicle speed is calculated by processing the estimated vehicle speed with a predetermined lag element. By integrating a difference between the real vehicle speed and feedback speed so as to estimate the vehicle speed at the predetermined future time, hunting of the speed change ratio in the speed change ratio control is suppressed.

A continuously variable transmission system for a vehicle for example comprises a hydraulic transmission such as a torque converter or fluid coupling and a continuously variable transmission (referred to hereafter as CVT). The hydraulic transmission transmits an engine rotation output to CVT, and CVT changes the rotation speed of the engine output in a stepless mode and transmits it to a vehicle drive shaft.
CVT is disclosed for example in Tokkai Hei 3-121358 published in 1991, and Tokkai Sho 59-217047 published in 1984 by the Japanese Patent Office.
Such a CVT has an arbitrary gear ratio, a rotational force being communicated via for example a V-belt looped around a drive pulley and a driven pulley. The speed change ratio can be continuously varied by increasing the width of one pulley and decreasing the width of the other, and oil pressure supplied through a gear control valve acts on each pulley so as to change its width. The speed change ratio is therefore varied by increasing and decreasing the opening of the speed change ratio control valve.
In this case, a target speed change ratio is preset according to driving conditions such as engine rotation speed and engine load. A control mechanism feedback controls the opening of the speed change ratio control valve so that, for example, the real rotational speed of the CVT output shaft coincides with a rotation speed corresponding to a set speed change ratio based on vehicle driving conditions.
There is thus a response delay until the real speed change ratio changes after the speed change ratio control valve opening is changed. Also, the oil pressure acting on each pulley of CVT is not necessarily directly proportional to the speed change ratio, and the dynamic characteristics of the speed change ratio when a change is made from one ratio to another are not uniform.
Accordingly, even when a real velocity is compared with a target velocity and the speed change ratio control valve is feedback controlled, a desired control response may not be obtained, the CVT output may give rise to hunting, and the vehicle and driver may experience a shock due to an excessive change of speed change ratio.

Continuously variable transmission controller


A method for producing a scintillator array comprising fixing a scintillator substrate to a support plate via a double-coated adhesive sheet, at least an adhesive surface thereof to be in contact with the scintillator substrate being thermally peelable; providing the scintillator substrate with lattice-patterned grooves to form pluralities of scintillator cells; filling gaps between the scintillator cells with a liquid hardening reflector resin; curing the liquid hardening reflector resin by heating to form a resin-hardened scintillator cell body; and then peeling the double-coated adhesive sheet from the resin-hardened scintillator cell body by heating.

One of radiographic inspection apparatuses is a computed tomography (CT) apparatus. The CT apparatus comprises an X-ray tube for radiating X-ray fan beams, and a radiation detector comprising a large number of radiation detection elements arranged in parallel. The X-ray tube and the radiation detector are arranged oppositely to each other with an object to be measured at center. X-ray fan beams radiated from the X-ray tube pass through the object to be measured, and are detected by the radiation detector. With every radiation having a changed angle, X-ray absorption data are collected to calculate X-ray absorbance at each position in each cross section of the object by computer analysis, thereby forming an image based on the X-ray absorbance. The radiation detector may be a detector comprising a combination of a scintillator array and silicon photodiodes, or a detector comprising a scintillator array and photomultiplier tubes.
As a method for producing such a scintillator array, JP 2000-241554 A discloses a method comprising disposing light-emitting elements on an adhesive sheet, placing a frame enclosing the light-emitting elements on the adhesive sheet, introducing an epoxy resin containing rutile-type titanium oxide powder for a light-reflecting layer into the frame to cover the light-emitting elements with the resin, curing the resin by heating, removing the adhesive sheet and the frame, and machining the cured body to form a scintillator array having a predetermined shape. However, this method suffers a large number of steps, because dissolving and washing steps are needed to peel the adhesive sheet.
JP 2004-3970 A discloses a method comprising covering a comb-shaped scintillator wafer with a polyester resin containing rutile-type titanium oxide, and then curing the resin by heating to form a light-reflecting layer. A reservoir frame is placed around the scintillator wafer to prevent the resin from flowing out. However, this method does not use an adhesive sheet for fixing the comb-shaped scintillator wafer.
JP 4-273087 A discloses a method for producing a scintillator array comprising disposing scintillator substrates with predetermined gaps on an adhesive sheet in a frame, introducing a liquid light-reflecting resin into the frame such that the liquid light-reflecting resin enters gaps between the scintillator substrates, curing the liquid resin, and removing the adhesive sheet. However, when the resin is cured on the adhesive sheet, dissolving and washing steps are needed to peel the adhesive sheet, resulting in an increased number of steps.
JP 2000-98041 A discloses a method for producing a radiation detector comprising attaching a light-emitting layer to a first ultraviolet-ray-sensitive adhesive film, forming lattice-patterned grooves reaching the adhesive film in the light-emitting layer by laser beams, attaching a second adhesive film to an opposite surface of the light-emitting layer to the first adhesive film, removing the first adhesive film by radiating ultraviolet rays, and subjecting at least one surface of the light-emitting layer to a surface treatment for improving light transmission to a photo-detector. However, this method does not use a member for supporting the second adhesive film. When the second adhesive film is curved, light-emitting layers separate from each other by the grooves are likely displaced before the resin-coating step.
JP 2003-14852 A discloses a method for producing a multi-channel radiation detector, in which pluralities of radiation detectors each constituted by a laminate of a scintillator and a light-detecting semiconductor element are arranged, comprising the steps of attaching one surface of a scintillator wafer to a holding sheet, slicing the scintillator wafer attached to the holding sheet with a predetermined interval to form gaps, pouring a white mixture containing rutile-type titanium oxide and a resin onto the sliced scintillator such that the white mixture fills the gaps and spaces around the scintillator, curing the resin to make pluralities of scintillators integral with the white mixture, machining pluralities of the integrated scintillators to a predetermined size, attaching a light-reflecting layer comprising rutile-type titanium oxide and a resin to one surface of each scintillator, and attaching a light-detecting semiconductor element to the other side of each scintillator. Used as the holding sheet is a foamed sheet. However, when the resin is cured on the foamed sheet, dissolving and washing steps are needed to peel the adhesive sheet, resulting in an increased number of steps.


A cathode contact device is provided for providing particle deposition from an anode source onto a target surface of a working piece. The working piece has a first electrically conductive continuous contact surrounding the target surface. The cathode contact device includes a second electrically conductive continuous contact adapted for frictionally contacting the first contact along a continuous path located on the first contact. The second contact further has an inner periphery defining an aperture for passing therethrough the particles onto the target surface. Additionally, the cathode contact device includes a circuit for electrically coupling the second contact to an electrical current supply.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of electroplating. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for improving the process of electroplating of controlled collapse chip connection (C4) microbumps, of tape automated bonding (TAB) microbumps, and of integrated circuit interconnects.
2. Related Art
Typically, integrated circuits are assembled by using the standard "wirebond" integrated circuit method which will be explained in conjunction with FIGS. 1a-1d. FIG. 1a shows a wafer 10 with dice 12 laid out in horizontal and vertical rows. A die can be singled out, as shown in FIG. 1b, and bonded into a Pin Grid Array package (PGA) 14 shown in FIG. 1c. As one can see from this figure, first the die 12 is positioned face up within a recess 17 made onto the top surface 16 of the PGA 14. Then the die is bonded to the PGA 14 by means of the wirebond pads 18. The wirebond pads 18 are also connected to various functional blocks of the die via conductors (not shown). Typically, up to 600 wirebond pads are positioned around the periphery of the die for making connections with the package. A wirebonder is used to wirebond the die, via the wirebond pads 18 to the wirebond pads 19 positioned onto the top surface 16 of the PGA 14. The wires are looped up and over to the corresponding pads on the package as shown in FIG. 1d. One drawback of this method is that the routing of conductors, from the functional blocks of the die to the peripheral wirebond pads 18, increases signal propagation delays due to the high impedance of the conductors.
A more recent technology called controlled collapse chip connection ("C4") has emerged in the field of integrated circuit assembly. According to this method, the chip is positioned face down in the package, instead of face up. The die is then connected to the package via a plurality of solder bumps which are soldered to both the die and the package. The connections between the package and the die are made straight down into the package, as opposed to the connections in the conventional wirebond technology where the connections were made by routing conductors or wires to the peripheral wirebond pads, and then looping wires up and over to the package. Due to the shorter signal path from the die to the package, this method provides an improvement over the old method with respect to the parasitic impedances of the conductors.
According to one method for depositing solder bumps onto a wafer, a molybdenum mask 30 is overlaid onto the wafer 10 and then aligned to the input/output of each die 12 as shown in FIG. 2. The molybdenum mask has openings 32 at locations corresponding to the projected signal connections on the die. The wafer 10 and the overlaid mask 30 are inserted into a vacuum chamber and exposed to physical vapor deposition. A compound such as lead and tin, for example, is heated until it melts, evaporates inside the vacuum chamber, and deposits through openings 32 onto the wafer, thereby forming bumps. Once the compound is deposited, the molybdenum mask is torn off the wafer. The C4 bumps remain on the wafer at the desired locations corresponding to the respective openings in the mask thereby defining the desired microbump pattern in the molybdenum mask. The problem with this process is that a lot of the material is wasted during the deposition. Almost 90-98% of the material is deposited on the vacuum chamber's walls instead of being deposited onto the wafer.
A more advantageous method is electroplating solder onto the wafer. This method involves initially metalizing the surface of the wafer thereby forming a conductive layer across the wafer. The next step is depositing a photoresistive mask which defines a predetermined bump patterns, upon the surface of the conductive layer. The photoresistive material electrically insulates the metal layer except for the openings through the photoresist where bumps are to be plated. The following step is plating the bumps with an alloy of lead and tin. The bumps build up in a predetermined bump pattern, each bump having a desired final height. The next step is stripping the photoresistive material and also stripping the portions of the conductive layer which do not have bumps plated thereon so that the bumps will not be short-circuited.
The system used for the above-described electroplating process is configured utilizing a cup which contains the electrolyte and holds the wafer in place during the electroplating process. Electrolytic plating requires, among other things, an electrolyte which contains lead and tin in an ionic suspension, for example. Other metals however, depending on the specific application, can be used in the ionic suspension. Furthermore, electrolytic plating requires electrical contacts onto the wafer such that a negative charge will be distributed onto the conductive metal layer of the wafer. The negative charge flowing onto the wafer combines with positive ions from the electrolytic solution, through a reduction process, thereby causing the lead to be deposited onto the wafer in the form of microbumps positioned onto the wafer according to a predetermined microbump pattern. Typically, there are two types of currents which flow onto the wafer-cathode current and anode current. The cathode current is provided by the cathode along the surface of the wafer. The anode current, provided by the anode assembly, flows in a direction substantially transversal to the plane of the wafer towards the wafer to be plated.
The above-described method, however, suffers from several disadvantages. One such disadvantage is non-uniform cathode current flowing onto the cathode surface of the wafer. The non-uniform cathode current causes non-uniformity in the anode current which in turn causes the microbumps formed onto the wafer to display non-uniformity across the wafer. The non-uniform cathode current flowing onto the wafer is caused, mostly, by the fact that prior art cathode contacts were connected to the wafer at only a discrete number of points located at the periphery of the wafer.
Non-uniform bumps can cause several problems. For example, if the chip has bumps that are very small and bumps that are very large, the die will be tilted upon its assembly onto the package. The lack of uniformity in the bump pattern also causes open circuits due to the fact that not all microbumps are connected to the pads of the package. Yet another problem occurs where bumps are formed so close to each other causing a short circuit. This type of problem is also known as bridging bumps.
Furthermore, non-uniform distribution of negative charge onto the target surface can affect the deposition of metallic particles in cases other than microbumps electroplating. For example, integrated circuit interconnects are also plated onto silicon wafers. Non-uniformity of the cathode current can cause non-uniform thickness of the plated interconnect. This, in turn, can cause undesirable effects such as electro-migration.
Furthermore, some electroplating methods require that the cathode contact, which is mounted on top of the cup, is easily removable once it is used up. However, removal of the cathode contact can be very difficult since the cathode contact will stick to the rim of the cup holding the cathode contact due to lead tin, or other metal, deposited between the cathode contact and the rim of the cup.
Consequently, a different type of configuration for the cathode contact is desirable such that the anode current flowing across the wafer will be uniformly distributed across the surface of the wafer. Moreover, it is desirable to have a cathode contact which is protected from particle deposition thereon. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a cathode contact which is easily removable once this contact needs to be replaced. Also, it is desirable to have a cathode contact which provides a resilient sealing against the photoresist layer of the wafer--thereby protecting, from deposition during plating, the exposed conductive metal contact located at the edge of the wafer. It is also desirable that the cathode contact be very thin in order to minimize the obstruction of smooth flow of the electrolyte at the periphery of the wafer. Also, it is desirable to have a cathode contact which is easily and precisely positioned onto the electroplating cup relative to a conductive contact of the wafer located at the periphery of the wafer.

Flexible continuous cathode contact circuit for electrolytic plating of C4, TAB microbumps, and ultra large scale interconnects


An apparatus for making noodles includes a casing, a rolling unit mounted on the casing for flattening a mass of dough into a flat piece of dough, a cutting unit mounted on the casing for cutting the flat piece of dough into strands of noodles, a drive unit for driving operably the rolling unit and the cutting unit, a guiding unit for guiding the flat piece of dough into the cutting unit, and an adjustment unit. The rolling unit includes a cylindrical first roller and a cylindrical second roller parallel to and spaced apart from the first roller. The first and second rollers permit passage of the mass of dough therebetween. The rolling unit further includes a first shaft connected fixedly and coaxially to the first roller, and a second shaft extending axially and rotatably through the second roller. The first shaft is coupled to and is driven rotatably by the drive unit. The rolling unit further includes a drive gear coupled to the first shaft, and a follower gear coupled to the second roller and engaging the drive gear, thereby permitting simultaneous rotation of the first and second rollers in opposite directions. The adjustment unit is operable for adjusting distance between the first and second shafts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for making noodles, more particularly to a noodle-making apparatus which includes a rolling unit for flattening a mass of dough into a flat piece of dough and a cutting unit disposed below the rolling unit for cutting the flat piece of dough into strands of noodles.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional noodle-making apparatus generally includes a kneading unit and a rolling unit. To make noodles, predetermined amounts of flour and water are poured into a kneading chamber of the kneading unit for thorough mixing to form a mass of dough, which is then removed from the kneading chamber and passed through the rolling unit for flattening so as to result in a flat piece of dough. Thereafter, the rolling unit is detached from the apparatus for replacement with a cutting unit. The flat piece of dough is subsequently fed into the apparatus for cutting into strands of noodles by the cutting unit. However, since a replacement procedure is required, it is somewhat complicated and inconvenient to make noodles with the use of the aforementioned noodle-making apparatus. In addition, although the rolling unit of the conventional noodle-making apparatus may incorporate adjustment means for adjusting thickness of the flat piece of dough, the adjustment means permits only finite adjustment of the thickness in a limited range and is easily damaged when a large-sized mass of dough passes through the rolling unit. The conventional noodle-making apparatus is thus not satisfactory.


A scanner including a scanning unit for scanning penetrative document as well as reflective document, and a light source projecting unit adapted for reflecting light from the light source of the scanning unit through penetrative document when the light source of the scanning unit is turned from the position for reflective scanning mode to the position for penetrative scanning mode.

The present invention relates to scanners, and more particularly to such a scanner which is practical for scanning penetrative document as well as reflective document.
FIG. 1 shows a scanner adapted for scanning reflective document as well as penetrative document. The scanner comprises a scanning unit 80, and a light source projecting unit 90. The scanning unit 80 comprises a carriage 82 mounted on a conveying belt 83 and moved relative to document by a motor M through a gear train G and belt wheels P, a lamp holder 81 mounted on the carriage 82 and holding a lamp L1, a reflecting mirror assembly and a focusing lens respectively mounted on the carriage 82, and an image sensor for example a charge coupled device CCD for converting light from the focusing lens into a corresponding image signal. The light source projecting unit 90 comprises a conveying belt 92 mounted on belt wheels P turned by a motor M through a gear train G2, a lamp holder 91 mounted on the conveying belt 92 and holding a lamp L2. The light source projecting unit 90 is operated when the scanner is set for penetrative scanning mode for scanning penetrative document. When the scanner is set for reflective scanning mode for scanning reflective document, the light source projecting unit 90 is turned off. Because the scanning unit 80 and the light source projecting unit 90 are provided with a respective light source, much warm up time is needed when alternatively changing the scanning mode. More particularly when cathode ray tubes are used for the light sources of the scanning unit and the light source projecting unit, much warm up time is wasted. Furthermore, the installation of the two light sources greatly increase the manufacturing cost of the scanner. In order to let heat be quickly carried away from the light source of the light source projecting unit, a relatively larger housing is required.

Scanner capable of scanning penetrative document and reflective document with single lamp


A fishing device provided is configurable as a teaser that can simulate a live fish. A hookless teaser provided is configurable in various shapes and sizes to effectively attract a desired fish. More particularly, a fishing device is provided including a first portion, a second portion, and a flexible portion. The flexible portion may be received by and operatively attached to the first and second portions. The flexible portion may facilitate reorienting the second portion with relation the first portion to simulate swimming. The first portion may be configured to simulate a head of a fish and the second portion may be configured to simulate a tail of the fish. A loop near the central second portion end may interact with water to reorient the second portion. A method is provided for using the fishing device.

Fishing has long been a popular sport and source of food for people. Typically, the fisherman may use live bait attached to a line with the hook to catch a fish. However, live bait can be costly to procure and can expire before being used to fish. To counter this disadvantage, the fishing industry developed artificial lures to reduce dependency on live bait. Use of artificial lures and other devices advantageously reduces overharvesting of the species, a practice that could otherwise starve out larger and more desirous game fish.
Unfortunately, artificial lures and other devices lack the natural movement and appearance of live bait. This may disadvantageously reduce the effectiveness of the artificial lures and other devices in attracting a desired fish. Efforts have been made to mitigate this disadvantage, such as providing multiple teaser lures or simulated fish in a daisy chain to mimic a possible school of baitfish. However, such efforts still fail to produce an artificial fish that is virtually indistinguishable from live baitfish to a desired fish.
What is needed is a fishing device that resembles a live fish. What is needed is a fishing teaser capable of moving such to simulate a live fish. What is needed is a hookless teaser configurable various shapes and sizes to effectively attract a desired fish. What is needed is a lifelike teaser includable in a dredge to facilitate fishing.


Quality associated with an interpretation of data captured as unstructured data can be determined. Attributes can be identified within the unstructured data automatically. Subsequently, sentiment associated with each of the attributes can be determined based on the unstructured data. Correctness of the unstructured data, and thus the interpretation, can be assessed based on a comparison of the attribute and associated sentiment with structured data. A quality score can be generated that captures the quality of the data interpretation in terms of correctness and as well as results of another analysis including completeness, among others. Comparison of the quality score to a threshold can dictate whether or not the interpretation is subject to further review.

Underwriting is a process in which an entity assumes a financial risk for a fee. For example, a financial institution that loans money to an individual collects interest on the loan and takes on the risk that the individual will not repay the loan. In another example, a company can charge an entity a premium for assuming the risk associated with insuring people and assets.
Underwriters are individuals who assess risk associated with an applicant for a loan or insurance, for instance. An underwriter decides whether to approve or decline an application based on risk assessment. For example, an application with acceptable risk can be approved while an application with unacceptable risk can be declined. Underwriters consider a number of different attributes to make a risk assessment. Underwriters justify their decision to approve or decline an application in a comment that references a set of attributes. Review of underwriter performance conventionally involves comparing fees collected versus losses incurred as well as evaluating the speed of processing.


The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a silver halide photographic emulsion comprising a nucleation step, a growing step and a washing step, wherein a reduction sensitization is performed between said growing step and said washing step in the presence of a sulfuring agent and a stabilizer. According to a preferred embodiment a fine grain silver halide emulsion is added either between the addition of stabilizer and the addition of sulfuring agent or between the addition of sulfuring agent and the start of reduction sensitization or both.

In the photographic field, there is a continuous demands to obtain silver halide photographic emulsions having lower fog and better speed and stability under storage condition.
It is well known in the art that speed and fog of a silver halide photographic emulsion are dependent upon each other and it is difficult to increase speed without a corresponding increase in fog and vice versa.
Sensitivity of a silver halide photographic emulsion can be improved by (1) increasing the number of photons absorbed by each silver halide grain, (2) increasing the conversion efficiency of photoelectrons generated by light absorption into silver clusters, or (3) improving the development activity to have a complete development of silver clusters.
A practical way to increase the number of photons absorbed by each silver halide grain is by increasing the grain size and having a high concentration of sensitizing dye absorbed on the surface of the silver halide grains. However, this method reduces the image quality. Moreover, high concentration of sensitizing dyes can have an adverse effect on the sensitivity of the silver halide grains due to the tendency for recombination of trapped photoelectrons with free dye photoholes and destruction of the latent image (silver clusters).
The improvement of developing activity has the drawback of adversely affecting graininess of the resulting image.
Increasing the conversion efficiency of photoelectrons generated by light absorption into silver clusters is one means of reducing the effects which decrease the probability of recombination of photoelectrons and positive holes generated by light absorption.
It is known in the art that reduction sensitization methods in which a reducing agent is introduced into the vessel during silver halide preparation can effectively reduce the recombination by formation of fine silver cluster (Ag.sub.2) having no development activity in the interior of the silver halide grains or on the surface thereof. It is also known in the art to form molecular clusters of Ag.sub.2 S (very effective photohole acceptors) by introducing sulfur compounds during silver halide preparation.
Examples of these techniques can be found in EP 435,270; EP 371,338; U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,456; U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,138; U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,999; EP 438,791; EP 434,012; U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,673; U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,614; EP 552,650; and EP 407,576.
EP 435,270 and EP 434,012 disclose the use of oxidizing agents during silver halide emulsion making (in particular, the use of thiosulfonate derivatives).
EP 371,338 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,614 disclose a silver halide emulsion reduction sensitized with a reducing agent in the presence of a thiosulfonic acid derivative during precipitation of silver halide grains.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,456 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,138 disclose a silver halide emulsion reduction sensitized with ascorbic acid or derivatives thereof (in an amount of from 10.sup.-1 to 10.sup.-5 mol/molAg) in the presence of a thiosulfonic acid derivative during precipitation of silver halide grains.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,999 discloses a silver halide emulsion reduction sensitized during precipitation of silver halide grains and then added with a thiosulfonic acid derivative.
EP 438,791 discloses the use of a thiosulfonic acid derivative during manufacturing of a silver halide tabular emulsion containing not less than 3% of silver iodide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,673 discloses a silver halide emulsion reduction sensitized with ascorbic acid or derivatives thereof (in an amount of from 10.sup.-1 to 10.sup.-5 mol/molAg) during precipitation of silver halide grains and further added with a mercaptotetrazole derivative.
EP 552,650 discloses a reduction sensitized silver halide emulsion further containing a polyvalent metal (such as Fe, Ir, Cd, Pb, In, Os, and Re) in an amount of not less than 10.sup.-6 mol/molAg.
EP 407,576 discloses a silver halide emulsion reduction sensitized in the presence of an oxidizing agent, said silver halide emulsion being prepared by adding fine silver halide grains into a reaction vessel for causing nucleation and/or growing of silver halide grains.
However, the above mentioned technique still requires an improvement for the prevention of the surface molecular cluster aggregation and formation of polyatomic Agn and polymolecular (Ag.sub.2 S)n (wherein n is higher than 2), which decrease speed and increase fog.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,838 discloses the use of azaindene derivatives in a manufacturing process of a silver halide emulsion subjected to reduction sensitization, preferably in the presence of a thiosulfonic acid derivative. However, the azaindene derivative is added after reduction sensitization and together with or before chemical sensitization.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,958 discloses the use of a tetraazaindene derivative in the process of manufacturing monodispersed octahedral or tetradecahedral silver bromoiodide emulsions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,937 discloses the use of tetraazaindene derivatives in the process of manufacturing a sulfur sensitized ammoniacal silver halide emulsion having grain size not exceeding 0.5 .mu.m.

Silver halide emulsion manufacturing method


An image forming apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires visitor information regarding a visitor and notification destination information indicating a destination of notification to a visitor-receiving person who is to receive the visitor; an issuance unit that, based on the visitor information acquired by the acquisition unit, issues a permit indicating that the visitor is allowed to enter; and a notification unit that notifies the destination of notification indicated by the notification destination information acquired by the acquisition unit that the visitor has arrived.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a computer program product.
2. Description of the Related Art
On an occasion of visiting a company, an event, a seminar, or the like, a procedure at the reception is required. As the procedure at the reception, the following steps, for example, may be necessary: the visitor writes down information on the visit; the reception notifies by telephone a person to meet the visitor that the visitor has arrived; and the reception provides an admission card.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-171350 discloses a visitor management system in which: a visit reception apparatus transmits a reception number corresponding to visit-schedule information to a terminal of a visitor; an admission card issuing apparatus transmits a reception number to the visit reception apparatus upon accepting the reception number; the visit reception apparatus transmits authentication information to the admission card issuing apparatus; the admission card issuing apparatus outputs the authentication information by printing out the authentication information on a printing medium; an admission gate apparatus reads out the authentication information as the printing medium is shown thereto and transmits the thus read authentication information to the visit reception apparatus; the visit reception apparatus determines whether to admit the entry and transmits control information based on a result of the determination to the admission gate apparatus; and the admission gate apparatus brings a gate into action in accordance with the control information.
However, it has been difficult to promptly issue a permit for entry to a visitor and notify a visitor-receiving person to receive the visitor that the visitor has arrived.
In view of the above, there is a need to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a computer program product that make it possible to promptly issue a permit for entry to a visitor and notify a visitor-receiving person who is to receive the visitor that the visitor has arrived.

Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and computer program product


A new and distinct cultivar of Carex plant named ‘ET CRX 904’, characterized by its relatively compact and broad outwardly arching plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; long linear yellow green, light yellow and white variegated leaves; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Carex plant, botanically known as (Carex morrowii X Carex oshimensis) X Carex trifida and hereinafter referred to by the name 'ET CRX 904'.
The new Carex plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact Carex plants with an elegant plant habit.
The new Carex plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands in August, 2017 of a proprietary selection of Carex morrowii X Carex oshimensis identified as code number 13-77, as the female, or seed, parent, not patented, with a proprietary selection of Carex trifida identified as code number 210, as the male, or pollen, parent, not patented. The new Carex plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, The Netherlands in July, 2018.
Asexual reproduction of the new Carex plant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, The Netherlands since August, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Carex plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A dual clutch gearbox for a motor vehicle comprising a first gearbox input shaft (20) with which at least one first gear is associated, and a second gearbox input shaft (22) with which at least one second gear is associated. An outer gearbox input shaft (22) embodied as a hollow shaft surrounds an inner gearbox input shaft (20), and a synchronization device is provided inside the gearbox. The synchronization device comprises at least one planetary gear set (30, 40) and an associated braking device (50), the planetary gear set being arranged with its sun gear, planet carrier and internal ring gear, essentially coaxially in relation to the gearbox input shafts (20, 22), and a first component (34; 42) selected from the sun gear, the planet carrier and the internal ring gear is coupled or can be coupled to the first gearbox input shaft (20) for the purpose of rotational engagement; a second component (32; 44) is coupled or can be coupled to the second gear box input shift (22) for the purpose of rotational engagement, and a third component (36; 46) can be braked by the brake device (50) of the synchronization device, which is supported or can be supported, directly or indirectly, on a gearbox housing.

In recent times, dual clutch transmissions and dual clutches have received substantial interest in a renewal of use. The reason for this is that such transmissions and clutches, in an automization of a transmission provide an ease of shifting, which is similar to the shifting of familiar transmissions possessing a torque converter. However, these mechanisms allow much to be desired as to the degree of efficiency in their operation. An essential advantage of the dual clutch transmission over conventional automatic transmissions with direct shifting, is related to a corresponding coordination between the transmission gear selection and the transmission input shaft. The act of shifting with the invented dual clutch takes place while the motor driving force remains active, that is, the driving power is still functioning during the execution of shifting from a gear stage assigned to one of the individual transmission input shafts to an assigned gear stage of the other transmission input shaft.
In accordance with a given gear stage, and other gear stages which can be involved, a relatively high degree of synchronization operation must be expended. Let it be noted here, as to the said gear stage, that, relative to the present gear to be abandoned and the desired gear to be shifted to, under certain circumstances, a driver will not choose to shift between gears which are not successive to one another in a manner free of driving power interruption, or torque drag. In the proposal here offered, among others, the dual clutch itself is active in the support of the synchronization—as far as possible—that is to say, it initiates the synchronization itself by means of appropriate activation of the clutch assignment. For example, DE 199 39 819 C1 discloses, in a special way, a procedure which favors internal transmission synchronization. The said internal synchronization cannot be eliminated, since the procedure presented in the said patent text only borders on the conventional synchronization rings and does not have the capability of accelerating above the motor speed of revolution currently in use.
Another possibility is, to provide synchronizing apparatuses of the conventional type (these being, for example, common synchronization rings and the like), but allowing a safety factor for a higher degree of loading in accord with the synchronous operation to be carried out by the transmission. This arrangement, however, must be executed with some attention to a relatively greater installation-space and finally, the conclusion is made, that such synchronization devices of the conventional kind are not to be considered the "optimum" for the intended use.
Another approach stresses the provision of special synchronization devices, which enable a transmission of torque between a first gear train shaft governing at least one set of gear train stages (for example, the even numbered forward gear stages) and at least a second gear train shaft to which is assigned another set of gear stages (for instance, the odd forward traveling gear stages). In this respect, DE 44 36 526 A1, discloses a synchronization of a dual clutch transmission, wherein, a transmission is proposed, on the basis of an additional shaft and gear pairs assigned thereto. DE 44 36 526 A1 teaches that the successive gear stages are to alter by a factor of "q". On this account, this arrangement is not suited for optional dual clutch transmissions. Because of the additionally required shaft, this transmission must be built even larger in the radial direction.
DE 34 17 504 A1 teaches additionally, of a synchronizing device based on multi-disk brakes in combination with a planetary gear set, which possesses a rotating shaft situated at a distance from and parallel to, the input shaft of the transmission. An additional planetary gear set is installed, which is coaxial to, or is on the same axis as the input shaft. This serves for the doubling of the gear stages before a 3-shaft-gear stage component, which can be shifted in or out by means of a shiftable clutch. The said shiftable clutch can also serve as a start-up clutch and is designed as a type of dual clutch. The said planetary gear set, which is provided for synchronization purposes and is not coaxial with the input shaft train, serves only for upward acceleration in regard to synchronization. For the braking operation, again in regard to the synchronization, the previously mentioned disk braking is employed.
Conversely to the above, the purpose of the invention is to create a dual clutch transmission with coaxial input shafts, which possesses a central synchronization device, which is compactly built, and without unwieldy mechanical attachments, and can be integrated into the transmission. The invented synchronization device, in addition, is to enable both an acceleration as well as a braking of a respective gear train shaft, and indeed—at least in a preferred development—both in regard to gear stages assigned to a first transmission input shaft and in regard to the gear stages assigned to the other transmission input shaft.

Synchronization device for a dual clutch gearbox based on at least one planetary gear set, and corresponding dual clutch gearbox


Disclosed is a hydro-electric energy system comprised of an inner and outer tube designed to contain and distribute water such that failing water powers hydro-electric turbines located in the inner tube. The system may be located in a body of water taking in and distributing the surrounding water, or on and utilizes natural or/constructed/water sources. A number of different pump types are utilized at the bottom of the inner tube to maintain water levels and water flow within the system. In certain embodiments the pumps are driven by pressure and gravitational forces. In other embodiments supplemental power sources drive the pumps either power generated from the system's turbines or power sources external to the system.

Hydroelectric energy often utilizes rivers, natural waterfalls or man made darns to produce energy. However natural waterfalls suitable for energy production are rare. Man made darns are expensive to build and require flooding large areas of and behind the dam. Traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels have numerous drawbacks and in recent years the desire for renewable energy sources has grown.
The present invention provides for a clean and renewable energy source. Once in place the system produces enough energy to be used as an energy source as well as maintain and operate itself.


A processing agent for synthetic fibers contains a lubricant, a functional improvement agent and an emulsifier, each containing a specified kinds of components by a specified amount and also by a specified amount and also by specified total amount so as to have improved characteristics of preventing occurrence of fluffs, yard breaking and uneven dyeing when applied to synthetic fibers at a specified rate.

This invention relates to agents for the processing of synthetic fibers and methods of processing synthetic fibers.
The production speed of synthetic fibers is increasing rapidly in recent years. At the same time, there is a tendency to increase the production of new kinds of synthetic fibers such as low denier synthetic fibers, high multifilament synthetic fibers and modified cross-section synthetic fibers. If synthetic fibers of such new types are produced at a higher speed, their friction increases with the yarn passing, guides, rollers and heater. This causes an increase in the friction-charged electrostatic potential, resulting in low cohesion and unwanted tension variations of synthetic fibers, and the problems of fluffs and yarn breaking tend to occur. The present invention relates to agents for and methods of processing synthetic fibers capable of sufficiently preventing the occurrence of fluffs and yarn breaking as well as dyeing specks even when synthetic fibers of the aforementioned new kinds are produced at an increased production rate.
Examples of prior art processing agent for synthetic fibers for preventing the occurrence of fluffs and yarn breaking at the time of their high rate of production include (1) processing agents for synthetic fibers containing polyether compounds with molecular weight of 1000-20000, having dialkylamine with random or block addition of alkaline oxide with 2-4 carbon atoms (such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 6-228885); (2) processing agents for synthetic fibers containing branched-chain polypropylene glycol having 4 or more branched chains (such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 10-273876); (3) processing agents for synthetic fibers containing a polyether lubricant having 10-50 weight % of polyether block of number average molecular weight of 1000-10000 with block copolymerization of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide at weight ratio of 80/20-20/80 (such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 2001-146683); and (4) processing agents for synthetic fibers containing polyoxyalkylene glycol with number average molecular weight of 5000-7000 with copolymerization of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide at weight ratio of 40/60-20/80, monocarboxylic acid with 8-14 carbon atoms and alkyl amine salt with 6-14 carbon atoms or quaternary ammonium salt (such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 10-245729).
These prior art processing agents are not sufficiently capable of preventing the occurrence of fluffs, yarn breaking and dyeing specks when synthetic fibers are produced at a fast rate and in particular when synthetic fibers of the aforementioned new kinds are produced at a fast rate.


The present invention provides an in-mold detachable marking device which does not lock rotation of an index body even when the index body is repeatedly rotated to switch marking indications. An in-mold detachable marking device comprises a substantially cylindrical outer shell body for indication fit into a molding mold, an index body fit into the outer shell body for indication and configured to be angularly displaceable around the axis line of the outer shell body for indication, a cover body screwed at the lowermost part of the outer shell body for indication, and a spring which biases the index body with the downward force, said outer shell body for indication and said index body having a marking indication part formed on their surfaces, wherein the index body comprises an index part facing inner surface of the mold, a positioning part extending downward from the index part, and a shaft extending downward from the positioning part, the shaft having a threaded part in its lower part, the spring has an engaging part which engages with the index part, and a fixed part which is fixed to the cover body, pitch of the spring of the engaging part and pitch of the threaded part are equal, and the engaging part and the threaded part engage each other.

A molding is generally provided with date of manufacture, lot number, product number, etc. on its surface and these indications are used for investigating, the causes leading to defects in the molding and for performing inventory control. An indication body comprising a marking indication part is attachably and detachably inserted into inner surface of a molding mold and then the molding is molded with the indication body inserted therein. As a result, these indications, including the marking contents of the indication body in its entirety, are marked and molded on the surface of the molding.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 3470880 discloses a marking device comprising such an indication body. The marking device disclosed by the Patent Publication No. 3470880 is shown in FIG. 10.
As shown in FIG. 10, the marking device disclosed by the Patent Publication No. 3470880 consists of a substantially cylindrical outer shell body (O) on which surface indications are marked, a substantially bolt-shaped index body (I), a spring (S), a nut (N), and a cover body (C).
The index body (I) is fit into the outer shell (O) from upper side of the outer shell (O). The nut (N) is placed from lower side to the inside of the outer shell body (O) and is threadedly engaged with a threaded part (I1) formed in a lower part of the index both (I). The spring (S) is arranged between the nut (N) and a projecting step part (O1) formed at intermediate position in an axial direction of the inner wall of the outer shell body (O), and downwardly biases the nut (N) with the force and the index body (I) connected with the nut (N). The cover body (C) is threadedly engaged with female thread parts formed in the lower part of the inner wall of the outer shell body (O), and blocks a lower opening of the outer shell body (O).
At the intermediate position of the index body (I), the projecting part (I2) consisting of a spring and a sphere projects in a radial direction of the index body (I). Moreover, the projecting step part (O1) of the outer shell body (O) has a plurality of positioning grooves (O3) formed continuously and at equal intervals in a circumferential direction, into which the projecting part (I2) is fit.
The marking device disclosed by the Patent Publication No. 3470880 has a structure such that if the index body (I) rotates, the projecting part (I2) projecting from the index body (I) is fit into the positioning grooves (O3), leading to secure fixation of angular positions of the index body at a desired position.
According to the marking device disclosed by the Patent Publication No. 3470880, when the nut (N) is threadedly engaged with the threaded part (I1) of the index body (I), an engaging projection (N1) formed on outer surface of the nut (N) and the outer shell body (O) engage each other. This engagement prevents the nut (N) from rotating when the index body (I) rotates, and the nut (N) moves only in upper direction of the axis of the outer shell body (O). If the index body (I) repeatedly keeps rotating in accordance with the use of the marking device, however, the nut (N) comes into contact with the projecting step part (O1) and is then locked, which prevents the nut (N) from moving in upper direction of the outer shell body (O) axis. As a result, the index body (I) can no longer rotate. In order to rotates the index body (I) again, it is necessary to move the nut (N) to the lower part of the threaded part (I1). Therefore, it was required to remove the marking device from the mold once, remove the index body (I) from the marking device, move the nut (N) to the lower part of the index body (I), mount the index body (I) to the marking device, and then mount the marking device to the mold. Furthermore, molding of a resin by heating and melting the resin may produce gas from the melted resin. In a conventional marking device, the gas produced from the melted resin enters the inside of the marking device through the space between the upper part (index part) of the index body and the inner wall surface of the outer shell body (O), and solidifies in the gap between the threaded part (I1) of the index body and the nut (N). This can prevent the index body (I) from rotating. In such a case, it was necessary to remove the solidified product (residue) by using a solvent etc., which was troublesome.
Furthermore, in order to remove the marking device from the mold for maintenance, the marking, device is removed by being hit with a hammer etc. through a hole provided to face a surface opposite from the surface the marking device is attached on. However, it may be difficult to hit with a hammer etc. and remove the marking device due to positional relationship of pipes such as a cooling path provided in the mold. In this case, a stick etc. is welded, on top surface of the index body 1 and pulled, so that the marking, device is pulled out of and removed from the mold. This detaching work is troublesome and time-consuming, and therefore, the maintenance work was inefficient.


Methods are provided for treating schizophrenia, Tourette's Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse or substance addiction including drug or alcohol addiction, manic-depression syndrome, anexoria or bulimia comprising administering an amount of cotinine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which amount is effective to reduce or alleviate at least one of the symptoms of schizophrenia, Tourette's Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse or substance addiction including drug or alcohol addiction, manic-depression syndrome, anexoria or bulimia in a human or other mammal.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,794 describes the use of cotinine in reducing anger, hostility, irritability and frustration, fear and anxiety without general sedation effects. U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,169 describes the effectiveness of cotinine in treating Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's disease through its ability to bind to and hence cause activation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors of the brain of the patient while acting as a nicotinic agonist. Australian Patent 273715 describes the use of cotinine as an effective tranquilizer through its action as a muscle relaxant or anti-spasmodic and in lowering blood pressure. Cotinine has also been shown to assist in tobacco withdrawal (pending U.S. application Ser. Nos. 124,004 and 885,314) as well as in human body weight management (pending U.S. application Ser. No. 964,277) and as a therapeutic agent in treating inflammatory bowel disorder such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis in humans (pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/405,607).
It has not, however, been previously recognized that cotinine is also able to provide a therapeutic effect in psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive behavior, Tourette's Syndrome and schizophrenia which are characterized by irrational behavior or repetitive thoughts. In obsessive-compulsive behavior, the patient is under a compulsion to repeat irrational or inappropriate behavior patterns and/or thoughts, while in Tourette's Syndrome the patient has an uncontrollable compulsion to utter inappropriate sounds or words. Similarly, in schizophrenia, the patient has uncontrolled inappropriate or irrational thoughts, delusions or behavior patterns. Schizophrenia, of course, has other characteristics, primarily disorganized or impoverished speech or behavior, flattened affect and avolition, social withdrawal and diminished interest in school or work. While a number of pharmacological treatments have been used for these psychiatric disorders in recent years with a degree of success, no studies have reported the successful treatment of all subjects or the absence of unwanted side effects, e.g., depression, drowsiness, sedation, tardive dyskinesia, agranulocytosis, and other problems. Consequently, a continuing need exists for pharmacological treatments that will alleviate or reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette's Syndrome and schizophrenia.
These and other more detailed and specific objects of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description which illustrates by way of example but a few of the various forms of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Use of cotinine in treating psychiatric disorders


Personal colors for cosmetics are determined by a method and a kit of equipment which determines an overall value for an individual by reference to the skin, eye, and hair features, determines a four-seasonal color designation of the individual by reference to colors such as powders applied to the skin, and presents the personal colors based on the overall value and seasonal color designation. A value determining scale is used to determine specific values of features by adjacent comparison to those features. An overall value chart contains information defining an overall value based on a predetermined multiple number of specific values of features. A seasonal color designation chart contains information defining a seasonal color designation as either summer, winter, spring, or autumn based on the relative ability of predetermined colors to blend with natural skin tone. A personal color direction chart correlates the overall value and seasonal color designation to personal colors.

For many years, personal color analysis has been employed to assist individuals in selecting cosmetics and makeup, such as lipstick, lip liner, blush, and the like which are worn on the face. In general, the objective of personal color analysis is to identify those personal colors which most naturally blend with and compliment the natural coloration of the individual. The individual's personal colors, when worn in makeup and cosmetics, enhance natural beauty and attractiveness of the individual. Personal colors for cosmetics and makeup are primarily related to the skin, hair, and eye colors.
A widely used method of personal color analysis, commonly known as four-seasons method, classifies personal colors into four groups, each of which has been identified with a season of the year. In general, a person with personal colors of golden undertones is characterized as having "spring" or "autumn" coloration, while a person having blue undertones is characterized as having "summer" or "winter" coloration. The seasonal coloration is determined by comparing an individual's skin with a group of warm and cool colors and another group of clear and muted colors. A determination is made whether an individual's skin falls into the warm or the cool color range, and another determination is made whether the individual's skin falls into the clear or the muted range. By integrating the results of these determinations, the consultant determines the individual's "seasonal" coloration. For example, a individual with skin that best matches the cool and clear colors is categorized as winter. A chart, classified by seasons, is then referred to which identifies those personal colors that best compliment that individual.
While the use and acceptance of the four-seasons method has been widespread, effective implementation of the method requires the exercise of a great deal of subjective judgment and individual skill. Consultants usually become proficient and experienced in the four-seasons method only after analyzing many individuals. Of course, this type of personal color analysis is only as effective as the skill of the consultant. Frequently, personal color analysis using the four-seasons method suffers as a result of faulty judgments made by inexperienced consultants.
Another technique of personal color analysis is a method for determining an individual's personal colors based on correlating the relative lightness and darkness of an individual's features with the particular hue of that individual's skin color. This method is described more particularly in the above identified U.S. patent. In this method, a gray scale is first used to determine a "value" for the relative lightness or darkness of various features of the individual, such as skin, hair, and eyes. The light and dark values for each of these features are then correlated to determine the overall value of the individual. Next, the individual's hue is determined by applying red purple, red, and red yellow powders to the individual's skin to distinguish between personal colorations. By applying the powder colors directly to the skin, an accurate and realistic color evaluation can be made. Finally, a personal color direction chart is consulted to determine the individual's personal colors based on the individual's overall value and hue. This "value and hue" method can quickly, accurately, and more objectively determine personal colors.
While the value and hue method is more objective than the four-seasons method, its acceptance by beauticians, color consultants, and the public at large has not been widespread. This lack of acceptance is in large part due to the pervasiveness of the terminology of the four-season method. Through many years of use, the characterization of personal colors in terms of the four-seasons method has become ubiquitous in the beauty industry. Many make-up, clothing, and fashion companies have categorized and marketed their products based on the four-seasons terminology. Beauticians and color consultants have been reluctant to abandon the four-seasons method and terminology in which they have been trained and to which they and their customer have become accustomed. For these reasons, beauticians and color consultants are reluctant to accept any new method of color analysis which does not relate to or employ the terminology of the four-seasons method. It is with respect to this and other background information that the present invention has evolved.

Cosmetic personal color analysis method and kit using value scale, colors, seasonal color designation, and charts


A dryer unit intended especially for drying printed products, has a frame in which two sides of the frame are formed by portions of profile material of the kind used also for the manufacture of rail main bodies of heating rails.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dryer unit having a plurality of heating rails, each of the rails having a main body which is a portion of an extruded hollow profile and which is connected to a heat source.
A dryer unit of that kind is described in German Patent DE 44 42 940 A1
In that dryer unit, the frame consists in practice of metal parts that are manufactured for every frame size and the particular use. For that reason, the frame is relatively expensive.


A transfer request is received from a terminal, in which the transfer request carries a user identity (ID) of a first user, a user ID of a second user, and a virtual card ID of the first user; the virtual card is transferred from user account of first user to user account of second user, based on the user ID of the first user, the user ID of the second user and the virtual card ID; an image for transferring the virtual card is obtained; an image library of the virtual card is obtained; an image ID and the image are stored into the image library of the virtual card.

Accompanying with rapid developments of Internet technologies, functions of Instant Messaging (IM) applications become stronger. At present, functions of a virtual card have been incorporated into IM applications. A virtual card refers to a virtual account, which includes a resource value and a card number.
A user may obtain a virtual card by using an IM application. After the user obtains the virtual card by using the IM application, a server stores the virtual card into the user account of the user. When other users want to use the virtual card, how to deal with the virtual card is the focus of the industry.

Method and device for processing virtual cards

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


Without using corona charge, a predetermined voltage is applied to all of the island-like electrodes provided on a front surface of an electrostatic latent image forming member, which is then exposed by exposing device from a rear surface thereof. Consequently, a contrast potential is generated between the island-like electrodes two-dimensionally arranged, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. By setting the exposing light-emitting diode array inside the electrostatic latent image forming member, the light irradiating position and the developed position can be made close to each other. Therefore, the latent image can be developed by toner at the maximum contrast potential of the electrostatic latent image on the image forming member. The toner image is then transferred and fixed on an image formation medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device such as a page printer, or an electronic copier which performs an electronic photographic process.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional electronic photographic process performed in an image forming device such as an electronic copier or page printer, there is used a photosensitive member serving as a photoelectric converting member which converts a photo-image to an electrostatic image. The photosensitive member is precharged (adhesion of charge) by means of, for example, corona charge, and exposed in accordance with the image. The charge on the exposed section is neutralized or canceled out by the photoconduction effect of the photosensitive member, and the charge on the non-exposed section is maintained. The photo-image is then converted to a charge image. The charge image is visualized by development using toner, and the toner image is transferred and fixed on a recording medium.
The above-described electronic photographic process, which is characterized by high speed and high image quality, continues to be the main recording mode of the hard copy device as clearing possible requirements of the future, such as a higher image quality, a higher speed, and a lower running cost, of the hard copy device.
However, recently, as the usage of the copiers and the page printers is popular, and the number thereof increases, there begins to rise the problem of a poor office environment caused by these devices. In particular, in consideration of an influence on human health due to ozone generated by the corona discharge, the amount of ozone generated and leaking from these devices is very much restricted by law.
An environmental problem is and will be the most important issue, and regulations regarding ozone will be much more tighter, and there is a strong demand for reducing the amount of ozone.


The present invention provides an amplitude comparison monopulse radar system. The system comprises a beam forming network for coupling to the phased array antenna. The beam forming network is adapted to change the phase delays between the antenna elements in a phased array antenna such that the monopulse radiation pattern is scanned over an angular range through space.

The capability to locate or track a radiating source or radar target is beneficial for many communication, radar and imaging applications, such as for example military and commercial applications. One conventional method for determining the location of a target is through a mechanical scanning technique, which involves the physical movement of an antenna to track a target. Another conventional method is known as a monopulse radar system, which uses a single pulse to detect a target. This system can be implemented either through an amplitude comparison or a phase comparison.
In a conventional amplitude monopulse system, the main beams of two distinct antennas are pointed at different but closely separated directions in space in transmit mode, as is illustrated in FIG. 1. In such a system, when operating in receive mode, both the sum and difference of the received signal power of the squinted antenna patterns are measured, as is shown in FIG. 2. The sum of the received signal power provides distance information associated with a target, while the ratio of the difference and the sum of the received signal power is used to produce an error voltage which is proportional to the angular deviation of the target from the boresight. It will be appreciated that when the target is situated directly on the boresight, the error signal is zero, as the target echo amplitude is the same in both antenna beams. Fading of the echo will occur in both beams, and so this does not affect the comparison, except for the usual inaccuracies with a low signal-to-noise ratio.
While such monopulse radar systems provide high accuracy estimates of target position, they have a narrow field of view. Electronic equivalents to the mechanical scanners include True Time Delay and Phased Array antennas. These antennas offer the capability of continuously scanning over a wider field of view. However, they suffer from the drawback of having an inherently narrow bandwidths, as well as high cost and large component size and losses at W-band frequencies.
Beam forming networks can offer an attractive alternative to True Time Delay and Phased Array antennas, due to a cheaper, simpler, and more compact design, and a component count which is typically low. One type of beam forming network is known as the Rotman lens waveguide. Rotman lenses are typically used in implementations when a scanned beam is required. FIG. 3 shows the geometry of a conventional Rotman lens. It comprises a plurality of input or beam ports, a lens cavity or parallel plate region, and a plurality of output or array ports. For illustrative purposes, the lens shown in FIG. 3 has five beam ports and four array ports, but it should be appreciated that any number of ports can be used. The beam ports are situated along a focal arc at one edge of the parallel plate region of the lens, while the array ports are located on the opposite edge. The array ports are connected to an array of radiating elements or antennas through phase correction lines of unequal length. During operation, the lens is excited at one of the beam ports at a time. When each beam port is excited, a signal propagates through the parallel plate region, is sampled by the array ports, and transmitted via the phase correction lines to the array elements. The array elements then radiate the signal into free space. By switching between beam ports, the radiated beam can be scanned through the field of view of the lens.
The propagation path lengths from the beam port under excitation to the antenna elements provide a progressive linear time delay across the array. Due to constructive interference, a delay of Δτ between adjacent array elements, which are separated by a distance of N, produces a radiation pattern at a scan angle, θs, relative to the central axis, which is defined by the following equation:
      θ    s    -            sin              -        1                        (                        C          N                        Δτ            )      where c is the speed of light in free space. The lens is a true time delay beamformer: the values of c and N are constant, and the beam scan angle depends only on the time delay, Δτ. Providing Δτ is independent of frequency or has only a weak dependency on frequency, the scan angle does not vary with frequency, as is the case with phased arrays. This lens features three focal points, F1, G, and F2, which, when excited, form radiation patterns with peaks at −α°, 0°, and α° respectively.
To achieve a high angular resolution between beams in a conventional Rotman lens, a large number of beam ports are required. This can lead to a requirement for a high component count on the input side of the lens, as well as high spillover losses due to small port widths.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,754 discloses a radio frequency array antenna employing stacked parallel plate lenses. However, this antenna is not suitable for operation in the W-band frequency range. This is due to the fact that in this system the switching network is positioned between the beam forming network and the phased array antenna, which results in the complexity of the switching network which would be required for W-band operation being too great.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for tracking a radiating source which overcomes at least one of the above mentioned problems.

Amplitude comparison monopulse RADAR system