The tire of the invention has an optimized path of the outermost carcass designed to maximize the extent of tensile stress in the sidewall and bead portions of the tire. The invention further provides separate reinforcement structures in the bead portion for anchoring the carcass or carcasses in the bead and for retaining the bead on the mounting rim during deflated operation, and said anchoring reinforcement also facilitates the maintenance of the desirable carcass profile.

The invention relates to a tire, more specifically to a pneumatic tire capable of continued mobility in a deflated condition.
Various tire constructions have been proposed for pneumatic runflat tires, that is; tires which normally operate in an inflated condition but which also permit a limited operation in a deflated condition. These tire constructions are generally formed of one or more generally radial carcasses which are turned up around one or more bead wires arranged in each bead. To obtain the desired mobility in the deflated condition, many of these tires further employ sidewalls which are reinforced and thickened by interposing additional rubber layers between the carcasses or between the carcasses and the tire innerliner. An example of such a reference tire is shown in FIG. 1.
It is also important that a runflat tire remain seated on the rim during deflated operation. Many solutions have been proposed including mechanical bead locks, special rim profiles or bead wire bundles of elongated cross-section. In the last instance as shown in FIG. 1, the elongated bead wire bundle functions both to anchor the carcass in the bead to resist tensile forces developed in the carcass and to retain the bead on the rim seat during deflated operation. This dual function necessitates design compromises.
Tires having carcasses turned up around bead wires necessarily have a discontinuity at the radially uppermost extent of the turned up portion of one or more of the carcasses. When the turned up portion is axially positioned to the exterior of a median axis of the tire cross section, deformation of the bead portion due to loading the tire places the turned up portion in a state of compressive stress. This stress state and the aforementioned discontinuity lead to design constraints resulting in tire performance compromises between the inflated and deflated states.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,526 to Oare et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,599 to Willard both relate to runflat tires with multiple carcasses wherein at least one carcass is turned up around bead wires. These references disclose different design solutions to treat the carcass discontinuity. Oare et al disclose a tire with two cord reinforced carcasses, both of which are turned up around the bead wires. At least one carcass turned up portion extends radially to the tire equator, and the lower sidewall portion includes multiple reinforcing plies. In this context, the term xe2x80x9ctire equatorxe2x80x9d defines the radial position corresponding the point of maximum width or axial extent of the exterior surface of the tire. Willard discloses a tire having three cord reinforced carcasses wherein one carcass terminates at the radially and axially inward extent of the bead, the second carcass being turned up around the bead and overlapped by the third carcass in the axially outward portion of the lower sidewall. Neither reference avoids a compressive stress in the turned up portion due to its position at the axially outward side of the bead structure. As a result, the geometry and arrangement of products in the bead region must be adapted to have good durability when these products are subjected to a tensile-compressive cyclic stress. Thus, a tire whose design removes these constraints will yield better overall levels of both inflated and deflated performance.
The tire of the invention has a unique outermost carcass path designed to maximize the extent of tensile stress in the sidewall and bead portions of the tire. The invention further provides a bead portion for anchoring the carcass or carcasses in the bead and for retaining the bead on the mounting rim during deflated operation, and said carcass anchoring also facilitates the maintenance of the desirable carcass profile.
The tire according to the present invention comprises at least one axially outermost carcass anchored in each side of the tire in ; bead, the bead having a base which is intended to be mounted on the tire""s design mounting rim, each bead being extended radially upward by a sidewall portion, the sidewall portions joining a tread portion wherein,
a median reference profile is defined by the locus of points corresponding to the median position between the axially innermost surface and axially outermost surface of the tire,
a rim reference point R in said bead is defined having an axial coordinate equal to one half the nominal width and a radial coordinate equal to one half the nominal diameter of the mounting rim,
a bead reference point Z is defined as the intersection of the outermost surface of the tire with a horizontal line offset radially outward a distance from the radial coordinate of the rim reference point R.
a tread reference point N is defined on the outermost surface of the tire at the junction between the tread and sidewall portions of tire,
a sidewall reference point P is defined on the outermost surface of the sidewall of the tire and located between said reference points Z and N;
wherein said at least one axially outermost carcass is disposed axially outward of said median reference profile for radial positions between said sidewall reference point P and said tread reference point N,
wherein said at least one axially outermost carcass intersects said median reference profile at a point Q, said point Q having a radial position between said reference point Z and said reference point P, and thereafter being disposed axially to the interior of said median reference profile for radial positions inward of said point Q;
wherein each axial coordinate of said at least one axially outermost carcass has a corresponding unique radial coordinate for each radial position inward of said sidewall reference point P, and
said tire further comprises a first bead reinforcement for anchoring said at least one carcass in the beads and a second bead reinforcement for providing retention of the beads on the mounting rim in a deflated condition.
The invention just described introduces a unique carcass path defined such that at least the axially outermost carcass first passes axially to the exterior of the median position between the axially innermost and outermost surfaces of the tire from a point at least at the junction of the tread portion with the tire sidewall portions to a specified point above the bead thereafter passing to the interior of the median profile. In this manner the extent of tensile stress in the axially outermost carcass is maximized throughout the sidewall and bead potions of the tire. The carcasses have a radially innermost extent terminating in the bead area without being turned up around bead wires. The carcasses of this invention are anchored in the beads by reinforcements laterally bordering the carcass so as to resist the tension developed in the carcass during inflated or deflated operation of the vehicle. This carcass anchoring reinforcement in the bead can include essentially circumferentially oriented cords or other reinforcements with or without cords. Compared to conventional tires intended for use only in the inflated state, tires intended for extended deflated operation impose additional design constraints to insure retention of the beads on the mounting rim during deflated operation. The present invention introduces a second bead reinforcement positioned axially outward of the carcass anchoring reinforcement of a prescribed geometry to provide adequate retention of the bead on the tire mounting rim during deflated operation, and also to permit easy mounting of the tire on a standard profile rim. The bead retention reinforcement of the invention can include any material suitable to resist the stresses and temperatures during vehicle operation, such as circumferentially oriented cords or filaments, metallic cables, elastomeric materials, fiber reinforced resin matrices and their equivalents.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tire has a single radially oriented cord reinforced carcass having a path in the tire sidewall and bead conforming to the teaching relative to the median axis of the tire thickness such that the extent of the sidewall and bead portions of the carcass that remain in tension during inflated or deflated operation is maximized. One or more crescent shaped reinforcing members are disposed in the tire sidewalls between the carcass and the axially innermost surface of the tire so that the tire sidewalls are capable of supporting vehicle forces and moments during deflated operation. To anchor the carcass in each of the beads, the carcass is bordered, on at least one side, in the axial direction by at least one winding of circumferentially oriented cords incorporating a rubber layer interposed between the carcass and the circumferentially oriented carcass anchoring cords. A bead retention reinforcement is located axially outward of the carcass and carcass anchoring reinforcement. A elastomeric bead filler is posed radially outward of the bead retention reinforcement and axially between the carcass and the axially outermost surface of the tire.
In a second embodiment of the invention the tire has at least two carcasses, the first being disposed axially and radially outward from the second carcass. The path of the outermost carcass conforms to the tension maximizing profile of the preferred embodiment. This embodiment has at least two crescent shaped reinforcing members with the first disposed between the first and second carcasses and the second between the second carcass and the radially innermost surface of the tire. In the bead area the two carcasses may have a common circumferential alignment or may follow adjacent circumferential alignments. Carcasses are anchored in the beads by at least one winding of essentially circumferentially oriented cords ax bordering the respective carcass. As in the first embodiment a bead retention reinforcement and an elastomeric bead filler rubber are employed.
In a third embodiment of the invention the tire has at least three carcasses, the first being disposed axially and radially outermost from the second and third carcasses, the third carcass being disposed axially inward from the second carcass. The path of at least the outermost carcass conforms to a tension maximizing profile similar to that of the preferred embodiment. This embodiment has at least three crescent shaped reinforcing members with the first of said members being disposed between the first and second carcasses, the second of said members being disposed between the second and third carcasses, and the third of said members being disposed between the third carcass and the radially innermost surface of the tire. The carcasses are anchored in the bead by at least one winding of essentially circumferentially oriented cords axially bordering the respective carcass. In this embodiment the second and third carcasses have a common circumferential alignment in the bead area, and the cord density of each of the second and third carcass layers is less than that of the first carcass layer. Alternatively, each of the three carcasses may follow adjacent circumferential alignments wherein the respective cord densities are independent of each other. As in the first embodiment a bead retention reinforcement and an elastomeric bead filler rubber are employed.

Runflat tire having optimized carcass path


An N well is disposed in the upper surface of a P type substrate, a gate insulating film and a gate electrode are disposed thereon, and the gate electrode is connected to a gate terminal. Two p+ diffusion regions are placed in two areas in the surface of the N well sandwiching the gate electrode, and the p+ diffusion regions are connected to a ground potential wiring. Further, an n+ diffusion region is disposed in the surface of the N well, and is connected to a well terminal. Accordingly, capacitance is generated between the gate electrode and the N well of a varactor element. When the potential of the gate terminal is decreased, the two p+ diffusion regions absorb positive holes serving as minority carriers from a channel region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voltage-controlled capacitive element, in which the capacitance can be controlled by an applied voltage, and a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) including the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a voltage-controlled capacitive element preferably incorporated into an oscillation circuit (hereinafter referred to as a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)), which is used for an electronic apparatus or the like and whose oscillation frequency can be controlled by an applied voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) type varactor elements have been used as voltage-controlled capacitive elements in semiconductor ICs (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 2951128). A MOS type varactor element is used, for example, for controlling an oscillation frequency of an LC-VCO.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional MOS type varactor element. As shown in FIG. 1, in the varactor element 101, an N well NW101 is disposed in the upper surface of a P type substrate PSub. A gate insulating film 102 is disposed on the N well NW101, and a gate electrode 103, which is formed of poly silicon (polycrystalline silicon) for example, or the like is disposed on the gate insulating film 102. Also, n+ diffusion regions N101 and N102 are placed in two areas in the surface of the N well NW101 sandwiching the gate electrode 103 viewed in the direction vertical to the upper surface of the P type substrate PSub. In the surface of the N well NW101, the region between the n+ diffusion regions N101 and N102 serves as a channel region 104. Further, a p+ diffusion region P101 is placed, in the upper surface of the P type substrate PSub, in part of an area where the N well. NW101 is not disposed.
The n+ diffusion regions N101 and N102 are connected to a well terminal Vb, the gate electrode 103 is connected to a gate terminal Vg, and the p+ diffusion region P101 is connected to a ground potential wiring GND. In FIG. 1, the gate insulating film 102 is disposed only directly under the gate electrode 103, but the gate insulating film 102 may be disposed over the entire upper surface of the P type substrate PSub except an area which contacts (not shown) connected to diffusion regions are disposed. In this varactor element 101, capacitance is generated between the gate electrode 103 and the N well NW101.
In the conventional varactor element 101, a ground potential is applied to the p+ diffusion region P101 through the ground potential wiring GND, so that the P type substrate PSub is at the ground potential. Also, by changing a voltage applied between the gate terminal Vg and the well terminal Vb (hereinafter referred to as voltage between terminals Vgb (=Vg−Vb), the capacitance between the gate electrode 103 and the N well NW101 can be changed. FIG. 2 is a graph showing the voltage dependence of the capacitance in the varactor element 101, in which the horizontal axis indicates the voltage between terminals (Vgb) and the vertical axis indicates the capacitance between the gate terminal Vg and the well terminal Vb.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by setting the voltage between terminals Vgb at an adequately high value V2, electrons accumulate in the channel region 104 of the N well NW101, so that the varactor element 101 is brought into an accumulation state. As a result, the capacitance of the varactor element 101 reaches a maximum, which is substantially equal to the capacitance of the gate insulating film 102. By decreasing the voltage between terminals Vgb from this state, a depletion layer is generated in the channel region 104 of the N well NW101. As the depletion layer expands, the capacitance of the varactor element 101 decreases along a solid line 53. Then, when the voltage between terminals Vgb reaches an adequately low value V1, expansion of the depletion layer becomes saturated. Accordingly, the capacitance reaches a minimum and does not decrease any more.
However, the above-described prior art has the following problems. By decreasing the voltage between terminals from V2 to V1, the capacitance of the varactor element 101 decreases along the solid line 53, as indicated by an arrow 51. At this time, if the voltage between terminals is instantly changed, the capacitance is also changed instantly. After that, however, even if the voltage between terminals is kept constant at V1, the capacitance gradually increases as indicated by an arrow 52. That is, the capacitance increases by several % to about 10% over several seconds to several minutes, and finally reaches a thermal equilibrium state as indicated by a broken line 54. In this way, even if the voltage between terminals is instantly changed, time is required until the capacitance reaches the thermal equilibrium state indicated by the broken line 54. That is, the capacitance does not quickly follow change in the voltage between terminals. Therefore, when this varactor element is incorporated into a VCO, change in the oscillation frequency thereof is delayed to change in the control voltage, that is, the oscillation frequency does not quickly follow change in the control voltage.

Voltage-controlled capacitive element and semiconductor integrated circuit


An information processing system includes a management apparatus that manages construction of a cluster system including a plurality of information processing apparatuses, the management apparatus being configured to acquire information relating to a configuration of the cluster system, and generate definition information that defines the configuration of the cluster system on the basis of the acquired information, and the plurality of information processing apparatuses each including a memory configured to store templates and association information, each of the templates being a model of a construction program to be used for construction of the cluster system, each of the templates including information that designates an extraction method of information from the definition information, and a processor configured to acquire the definition information, perform generation of the construction program in accordance with the definition information, the plurality of templates, and the association information, and execute the generated construction program.

In the case where a plurality of information processing apparatus are used to construct a cluster system, as depicted in FIG. 13, a user logs in to each cluster node 93 from a management apparatus 92, which manages cluster construction, and performs execution of commands and creation of a setting file. Here, the user is a constructor of a cluster system. Further, in FIG. 13, the cluster nodes 93 represented as cluster node X and cluster node Y are information processing apparatus included in the cluster system to be constructed.
By execution of commands and creation of a setting file, setting of interfaces for a vital monitoring network, setting of behaviors upon occurrence of a split brain, setting of volumes to be taken over between cluster nodes, setting of a network to be taken over between cluster nodes and so forth are performed.
It is to be noted that a technology is available in which a centralized management server installed under a cloud environment creates an installer including a redundant program and setting information and a computer downloads the installer from the centralized management server to install the redundant program and set the setting information. According to this technology, a cluster system may be constructed simply.
Further, a technology is available in which calculation for constructing a system requested in a construction catalog is performed by rearranging resources configuring a server by referring to state information and failure information of the resources and incorporation of hardware for constructing the system including wiring is performed. According to this technology, the availability of an information processing center in which shared resources are deployed may be improved.
Furthermore, a technology is available in which arrangement of virtual servers with respect to physical servers that satisfy inputted availability requirements is determined by referring to system configuration information of a computer system and restriction information for restricting the number of virtual servers that are operable in a physical server of the computer system. According to this technology, redundancy of a computer system may be implemented using a virtual machine technology.
Examples of the related art include, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2016-122421, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-173751, and International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2009/081736.

Information processing system, cluster system construction method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing cluster construction program


A thermal management unit for a vehicle powertrain component. The thermal management unit is designed to maintain the operating temperature of the vehicle component within a relatively small, ideal temperature range. The thermal management unit includes a three-way valve and temperature sensor that uses the temperature of a lubricant used by the component itself to configure the valve such that lubricant having the desired temperature is passed to the component.

Certain automotive components need to be held within a certain temperature range to operate correctly. In a vehicle powertrain, for example, one of these components is the vehicle's transmission that is used to transfer torque from the vehicle's engine to its wheels. It is known that operating a transmission at too high of a temperature can cause excessive wear, seals to harden and clutch performance to degrade, which shortens the life of the transmission. It is also known that transmissions will not operate as consistently, reliably and efficiently if they are too cold. Typically, it is desired to have the transmission operating temperature to be about the same as the engine's temperature and somewhere in the range of 160° to 200° Fahrenheit. Operation at the ideal temperature promotes optimized shift quality through stable viscosity and friction properties of the transmission's fluid. Additionally, the lower, controlled viscosity of the fluid resulting from a narrow operating temperature reduces viscous drag, improving transmission overall efficiency.
In an automatic transmission, automatic transmission fluid (ATF) serves as a coolant for the transmission while also lubricating transmission components and acting as the hydraulic fluid. Transmission fluid reduces heat and friction, which helps sustain an automatic transmission's life. Manual transmissions use a transmission oil sometimes referred to as gear oil. Modern attempts to control transmission temperature include oil cooling devices to cool down the transmission oil/fluid. Bypass valves may be used to bypass the cooling device when the oil/ATF drops below a certain temperature. Temperature rise times and the temperature achieved, however, are dependent upon the self-generated heat of the transmission. This is not a desirable mechanism since the source of the heat are the inefficiencies of the transmission. Modern transmissions have high efficiencies and forcing inefficient operation to generate heat reduces the benefit of controlled temperature operation.
Accordingly, there is a need and desire for an improved method and system for controlling the temperature of a powertrain component such as a transmission.

System and method to control automotive powertrain component temperature


A mechanical walker comprises six legs extending from a sphere, the legs organized in a X-Y-Z axial configuration. The sphere and legs support a bearing member. A shell holds the sphere and legs to the bearing member. Movement is accomplished by applying downward force to one of three high legs to walk it over two anchor legs moving the device in the horizontal inclination of the selected high leg. The invention is capable of horizontal movement in six directions offset from each other by sixty degrees. Preferably downward force is applied to the selected high leg using a retractable actuating rod. Slots in the shell, and a groove and prominences in a bottom portion of the actuating rod, prevent the high leg from drifting horizontally. At least three mechanical walkers can support a platform or other conveyance means.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to mechanical walkers, and particularly to robotic walking mechanisms having six legs of equal length organized in an X-Y-Z axial relationship extending radially from a central sphere, wherein movement over a surface is accomplished by rotation of the legs and sphere. The invention also relates to a superstructure for conveyance of items supported by a plurality of such walkers.
2. Description of the Related Art
A great deal of effort and attention has been directed toward construction of mechanisms capable of horizontal movement. Myriad applications of the wheel have been designed and built, but they generally require a smooth surface especially as speeds increase. All wheel-reliant machines must incorporate a braking system to prevent movement on slanted or irregular surfaces. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, universities, and independent research laboratories, have created sophisticated walking and movement devices which employ continuous belt-like tracks, such as used by tanks, numerous wheeled configurations, and sophisticated two-footed walking machines which require lateral support to remain upright. Despite these advances, a need remains for a simple device capable of forward movement which is stable on slanted or rough surfaces, and which has the capability of conveying objects to a remote location. Any such robotic movement device would have enhanced value if capable of being controlled remotely.
A mechanical walker according to the invention comprises a set of six legs of approximately equal length, extending radially from a central sphere and disposed in an X-Y-Z-type axial relationship. The legs and sphere, when placed on a horizontal surface, assume a natural rest position wherein three low legs rest on the surface, and three high legs extend upward in axial alignment with the three low legs. From the rest position, the legs and sphere can be moved in any of three directions coincident with the direction of extension of each of the high legs. In any one of the three selected directions, in rest position the two lower legs below the selected high leg are referred to as xe2x80x9canchor legs.xe2x80x9d Movement in the selected direction is accomplished by applying sufficient force on the mechanism to move the high leg forward, rotating the sphere (and legs), until the foot of the high leg rests on the surface with the ends of the two anchor legs. This movement represents a first movement cycle. The apparatus may then be moved in one of three new directions represented by the three xe2x80x9cnewxe2x80x9d high legs through a second movement cycle. Movement through the second cycle is identical to movement of the device through the first cycle, except that the three directions of movement available for the second cycle of movement are sixty degrees offset from the three directions of movement available at the beginning of the first cycle. Subsequent cycles of movement after the second cycle are available, the directions of movement for each cycle offset by sixty degrees from the directions of movement of the previous cycle.
A superstructure comprises a bearing member and shell. The bearing member provides a downward facing bearing surface having a curvature matching that of the outer surface of the sphere. The bearing surface rests against a top portion of the sphere. During each cycle of movement, the two rearward high legs sweep forward as the forward high leg rotates forward and downward to the end of the cycle. The orientation of the sphere is confined as discussed below so that the movement of the high leg through any cycle of movement is restricted to three vertical planes common with a center point of the sphere and offset from each other by one hundred twenty degrees. Hence, the rear high legs are also confined to defined sweep paths. The bearing member extends upwardly from the bearing surface in a six-sided scalloped pattern matching the sweep paths of the rearward high legs in each of the six possible directions of movement available through any two consecutive cycles of movement.
The shell comprises six inwardly biased pads for gripping the equatorial region of the sphere. Spaces between each adjoining pair of pads are sufficiently wide to accommodate the vertical movement of a high leg on its vertical path during a movement cycle. Slots in the shell extending upwardly from each of the spaces confine movement of the high legs to three vertical planes through each movement cycle. That is, they prevent horizontal drift of the high leg during the movement cycle. The shell also forms a plurality of scalloped surfaces between each pair of adjoining slots parallel to and spaced from the scalloped outer surface of the bearing member, defining therebetween sweep channels for preventing the rearward legs from lateral rotation during a movement cycle. The shell is joined to the bearing member, thereby holding the sphere by the six pads, against the bearing surface of the bearing member.
The bearing member includes six vertical bores. An actuating rod disposed in each bore has at its lower end a contact foot for engaging and pushing down a selected high leg. Forward movement is accomplished by pressing down one of the actuating rods, thereby bringing the contact foot into engagement with the selected high leg. Pushing the high leg down forces the mechanism to xe2x80x9cwalk overxe2x80x9d the two anchor legs until the high leg is brought into contact with the surface level of the anchor legs. The actuating rod is then retracted, and a succeeding cycle of movement is initiated by pushing down the actuating rod over a selected one of the three xe2x80x9cnewxe2x80x9d high legs.
A plurality of at least three mechanical walkers can support a platform, chassis, or other means for conveying any desired object. The force necessary for downward movement of the actuating rods can be supplied by numerous means well known to those skilled in the art.


An economical batchwise production method of polyamide with good quality by the polycondensation in which a diamine component including 70 mol % or more of a xylylenediamine which includes 20 mol % or more of p-xylylenediamine is added to a dicarboxylic acid component in a batchwise reaction tank equipped with a partial condenser. The diamine component is added while maintaining the whole reaction system in fluid state under pressure. The pressure is reduced during the time that the molar ratio is within a specific range while continuing the addition.

In a common batchwise production method of polyamide using a nylon salt or its aqueous solution, the aqueous solution of nylon salt is heated under pressure in a single reaction vessel to allow the polymerization to proceed in a homogeneous phase while preventing the diamine component from escaping by evaporation. After fixing the diamine component, the water vapor in the system is gradually released to reduce the pressure finally to atmospheric pressure or reduced pressure, thereby completing the polymerization. In this method, since an aqueous solution of nylon salt with a concentration of about 50 wt % is generally used, a large amount of solvent water and the condensation water eliminated by condensation must be removed. Therefore, a countermeasure should be taken against various disadvantages, such as foaming, solidification of polymer due to the evaporation latent heat of water, heat degradation of polyamide which is adhered to the inner wall of reaction vessel due to a large change of liquid level during the reaction. In addition, this method requires a large amount of heat energy for removing a large amount of water and the single batch yield of polyamide is low. Therefore, this method involves many technical and economical problems. These problems can be fairly solved by the production method wherein the nylon salt is supplied as the raw material (Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, the proposed method requires additional steps for isolating and purifying the nylon salt, reducing the production efficiency.
Patent Document 3 discloses a polymerization method without using a nylon salt or its aqueous solution, in which the reaction is allowed to proceed by adding a diamine component containing a small amount of water dropwise to a dicarboxylic acid component at 220° C. under atmospheric pressure. Patent Documents 4 and 5 disclose methods wherein the reaction is allowed to proceed by adding dropwise a diamine component to a dicarboxylic acid component under atmospheric pressure. Although technically and economically advantageous, these methods involve a problem attributable to the addition of the diamine component to the dicarboxylic acid component under atmospheric pressure.
Since the molten dicarboxylic acid component is sublimable, the sublimated dicarboxylic acid component deposits on the ceiling of the polymerization apparatus. Also, the sublimated dicarboxylic acid component adheres to the inner wall of pipes connected to the upper portion of the polymerization apparatus, for example, the inlet for adding additives, inlet for adding the diamine component, and the pipe for introducing the vapor mainly containing the steam of condensation water which is eliminated by the polymerization reaction from the reaction tank to a partial condenser, and further adheres to the inside of the partial condenser. Most of the adhered sublimate of the dicarboxylic acid component is washed away in the polymerization step by the dissolution in the condensation water eliminated by the polymerization. The dicarboxylic acid component sublimates when the polymerization apparatus contains only the molten dicarboxylic acid component and also during the addition of the diamine component if the fixation of the dicarboxylic acid component is insufficient.
The sublimate of the dicarboxylic acid component adhered to the polymerization apparatus reacts with the diamine component brought by the vapor of the condensation water eliminated by polycondensation, thereby forming nylon salt or oligomer. As compared with the salt of m-xylylenediamine and a dicarboxylic acid, the salt of p-xylylenediamine and a dicarboxylic acid component is less soluble in water. Therefore, the amount of the salt which does not dissolve in the condensation water increases as the content of p-xylylenediamine in the diamine component increases. The amidation of the salt proceeds during the repeated batchwise productions to form oligomer, thereby further reducing the solubility in water. The adhered matter is subjected to a long-term heat history. If the adhered matter falls into the polymer during its production, the resultant final product, such as film, bottle, and monofilament, may suffer quality defects, such as gelation. Of the parts of the reaction apparatus, the nylon salt and oligomer adhere and accumulate most exceedingly in the pipe which introduces the vapor mainly containing the condensation water eliminated by the polymerization from the reaction tank to the partial condenser and in the partial condenser. If continuously accumulated, the pipe and the partial condenser are clogged, making it difficult to continuously repeat the batchwise production. In the production of polyamide from a diamine component and a dicarboxylic acid component, it is very important to control the mole balance to achieve the desired degree of polymerization. However, the amount of the accumulated salt and oligomer in the reaction tank varies batch to batch, making it difficult to precisely control the mole balance. Thus, the method of adding the diamine component to the dicarboxylic acid component has many disadvantages to producing polyamide with uniform and good quality.
Patent Document 6 discloses to add a whole amount of diamine component to a dicarboxylic acid component in an extremely short time and allow the reaction to proceed under pressure. The proposed method involves various disadvantages, which are attributable to the addition of a whole amount of diamine component in an extremely short time. Since a large amount of condensation water is eliminated in a short time, a countermeasure should be taken against foaming, change of liquid level, solidification of polymer due to the evaporation latent heat of water, and escape of monomers by evaporation. Particularly, a high pressure is needed. Therefore, it takes a long time to reduce the pressure for allowing the reaction to proceed, because the pressure should be reduced while preventing foaming. During the operation of reducing the pressure, the polyamide is exposed to high temperature for a long time, this promoting the oxidative degradation of polyamide molecules to cause yellowing. In addition, a large amount of heat energy is required in a short time for removing a large amount of the condensation water which is eliminated in a short time and maintaining the reaction system at a temperature enough to keep the whole reaction system in fluid condition, thereby requiring a heating means excessively large in view of the amount of the produced polyamide. Thus, the proposed method involves many technical and economical problems.
Patent Document 6 further discloses a production method of polyamide by the polycondensation of a dicarboxylic acid component and a diamine component under pressure, in which after completing the polycondensation under pressure, the pressure is decreased to allow the polymerization to further proceed. In this method, the polyamide is exposed to high temperature until the pressure is lowered to the desired level and the deterioration of the polyamide molecule by oxidation is promoted to cause yellowing. In contrast to the proposed method, it is recommended to allow the degree of polymerization to quickly reach the desired level after the whole diamine component is added to the dicarboxylic acid component.
The polycondensation of the dicarboxylic acid component and the diamine component under pressure involves a problem of taking a long time for decreasing the pressure while preventing the foaming. To shorten the process time after completing the addition of the diamine component, it has been known to control the inner pressure of the reaction system so that the pressure at the time the addition of the diamine component is completed is lowered. However, in the polycondensation under a constant pressure, to prevent the adhesion of the nylon salt and oligomer to the reaction system and effectively wash away the adhered matter with the condensation water eliminated by the polycondensation of the diamine component and the dicarboxylic acid, the polycondensation should be conducted under the lowest pressure enough to keep the effect of preventing the adhesion or under a controlled inner pressure of the reaction system. Patent Document 6 describes nothing about a method wherein the pressure is reduced while preventing the escape of monomers by evaporation during the polycondensation, i.e., during the addition of the diamine component to the dicarboxylic acid component.
Patent Document 7 discloses a method in which a diamine component comprising m-xylylenediamine and p-xylylenediamine is added to adipic acid, while decreasing the concentration of p-xylylenediamine in the diamine component in a later stage of the reaction. The proposed method uses different diamine components containing the ingredients in different proportions, thereby increasing the number of equipments to be used. In addition, the diamine component being adding is changed to another during the reaction, this complicating the operation. Thus, the proposed method cannot be said as an efficient method.
Therefore, it has been demanded to provide an efficient method of producing polyamide with uniform properties by the polycondensation of a diamine component comprising p-xylylenediamine and a dicarboxylic acid component.


Software-based quality control analysis of well log data. At least some of the various embodiments are computer-readable mediums storing a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to read data from a well log, and perform a quality control analysis on the data.

During the life of a hydrocarbon producing well (e.g., oil well or natural gas well), the well may be the subject of multiple "logging" operations. Well logging may take place while drilling, during the drilling process but with the drill string removed, or after the well is completed and has a casing installed. After each logging operation, the one or more logs produced are reviewed by a human analyst. In particular, the analyst reviews the header data, and may also compare information in the header data to the actual log data. Such a review is known as performing quality control on the well. Performing human-based quality control analysis of the log header data is very time consuming as in most logs the header data may comprise 350 or more data points. In some cases, the human-based interpretation and/or comparison of the well header information may take from two to four man-days to complete for each well.


An aspirator for inflating an aircraft evacuation slide, emergency raft or other inflatable device includes a flexible, collapsible aspirator barrel that is inflated during operation to form a substantially rigid tube. According to one embodiment, the inflatable support member receives a flow of high pressure air directly from the aspirator injector nozzle assembly. According to another embodiment, the collapsible aspirator barrel receives a flow of high pressure gas directly from the high pressure inflation source. Because the aspirator barrel of the present invention is collapsible, the present invention occupies significantly less space when stored than an equivalent aspirator with a rigid aspirator barrel.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for inflating devices, in particular to apparatus for inflating aircraft emergency evacuation slides and rafts.
Aircraft emergency evacuation slides, emergency life rafts and similar devices are typically stored in a packed configuration occupying as little space as possible for long periods of time. When called upon for use, these inflatable devices are typically inflated to a relatively low pressure, on the order of 2-3 psig for conventional aircraft evacuation slides up to approximately 7-8 psig for advanced high pressure lightweight evacuation slides. The requirement that the inflatable device in its packed condition occupy a minimum volume dictates that the inflation source comprise a volume of gas stored in a high pressure container, a pyrotechnic gas generator, or a hybrid inflator comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator in combination with a quantity of gas stored at high pressure.
Because the aforementioned high pressure inflation sources exhaust a volume of gas at a pressure substantially higher than the inflation pressure of the inflatable device, it is common to use an aspirator to draw atmospheric air into the inflatable device during inflation to augment the high pressure gas flowing into the inflatable device. In the operation of an aspirator, one or more nozzles act as gas injectors, injecting a jet stream of gas at high velocity into the inlet end of an aspirator barrel. The flow of air entering the aspirator barrel reduces the pressure at the inlet end to below atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric air, therefore, enters the aspirator body to be entrained with the jet stream entering the aspirator barrel. The outlet of the aspirator barrel communicates with the interior volume of the inflatable device so that jet stream and the entrained air collectively make up the volume of gas filling the inflatable device.
Because the aspirator barrel must be capable of operating at sub-atmospheric pressure without collapsing, aspirators are conventionally equipped with rigid aspirator barrels. Although a rigid aspirator barrel adequately performs the function of entraining atmospheric air into the jet stream produced by the injector nozzle(s) a rigid aspirator barrel adds significant weight and storage volume to the inflatable device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,465 to Lagen et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,084 to Wass et al. suggest aspirators having telescoping aspirator barrels. Although a telescoping aspirator barrel reduces the storage volume of the aspirator to some extent, a telescoping aspirator barrel typically collapses by only about 20% or less and, therefore, 80% or more of the length of the rigid aspirator barrel remains to be stored in the limited volume for storage of the inflatable device.

Inflation aspirator with collapsible barrel


An apparatus includes a three dimensional array of light receptors disposed within a substrate having a light receiving surface, where light receptors disposed closer to the light receiving surface are responsive to light having shorter wavelengths than light receptors disposed further from the light receiving surface, and where each light receptor is configured to output a binary value and to change state between an off-state and an on-state by the absorption of at least one photon.

Two dimensional pixel array light sensors may be used with a color filter array for achieving multi-color detection and imaging.
In addition, there are light sensor arrays that do not require color filters, as the detection of color is based on the depth of the light sensitive areas or pixels within a semiconductor substrate. These types of sensors may rely on the wavelength-dependent absorption coefficient of silicon (Si).
A double-layer photodiode has previously been described that is created in an integral structure to form two diodes, where an upper diode has a relatively thin active region and a lower diode a relatively thick active region. Light whose wavelength is to be measured is directed onto the upper diode. The thickness of the first diode is chosen so that, in the spectrum of light wavelengths being measured, the energy of the shortest wavelength is entirely absorbed in the first diode. As the radiation wavelength increases, the absorption by the upper diode decreases exponentially, and the unabsorbed light is transmitted through the thin active region into the thick active region of the lower diode where it is absorbed. The thickness of the active region of the lower diode is chosen so that it absorbs substantially all of the energy of the longest wavelength in the spectrum being measured. The absorption of the photon energy in each diode creates electron-hole pairs therein which produce in each diode a change in conductivity that is proportional to the absorbed energy. Since the difference in conductivities of the two diodes is a function of the wavelength of the incident light, as the wavelength changes, the difference between the changes in the conductivity of the two diodes, divided by the sum of the changes in the conductivity, is a function which is a single-valued function of the wavelength of the incident light, and which is independent of the intensity of the incident light. A measuring circuit connected to the double-layer diode provides a direct reading of the wavelength.
FIG. 1 shows the absorption coefficient of silicon (Si) as a function of wavelength.
A digital imager apparatus has been described that uses the differences in absorption length in silicon of light of different wavelengths for color separation. A preferred imaging array is said to be based upon a three-color pixel sensor using a triple-well structure. The array is said to result in elimination of color aliasing by measuring each of the three primary colors (RGB) in each pixel in the same location.
FIG. 2 shows a three-color pixel sensor that uses the triple-well structure.
FIG. 3 depicts a graph that plots light absorption length in Si versus wavelength.
A two dimensional 1-bit receptor array has been described as a digital-film sensor (DFS), which is an array of deep-SDL (sub-diffraction-limit) pixels, defined as those smaller than a 550 nm Airy disk diameter, wherein each pixel is a fraction of a micron in size. While several photoelectrons could contribute to pushing the output signal above some threshold, ultimately single photoelectron sensitivity is said to be desired. It is said that a pixel that only needs to detect a single photoelectron has much lower performance requirements for full-well capacity and dynamic range than an analog pixel in a conventional image sensor. These specialized pixels have been referred to as "jots".
The implementation of a jot is said may be by making a conventional active pixel with very high conversion gain (low capacitance). Other approaches are said to include using avalanche or impact ionization effects to achieve in-pixel gain, as well as the possible application of quantum dots and other nanoelectronic devices. It is stated that stacked structures are also possible.
In operation, at the start of the exposure period the jot would be reset to a logical '0'. If it is then hit by a photon during exposure the jot is set to a logical '1' immediately or upon readout. Due to the single-bit nature of the "analog-to-digital" conversion resolution, it is said that high row-readout rates can be achieved.
It is said that color can be handled in a manner analogous to current color image sensors. That is, the jots could be covered with color filters. In this case red (R), green (G) and blue (B) jots could be treated separately, and later the digitally developed images combined to form a conventional RGB image. R, G, and B jots need not appear at the same spatial frequency.


A connector for coupling an end of a light-transmitting conduit comprises a pivotable socket for mounting adjacent an opening through which light from a light source passes and having a passage therethrough formed to allow an end of a light-transmitting conduit to be coupled to the socket. The connector also comprises a shutter piece extending from the socket so as substantially to block light passing through the opening from entering the passage when the socket is in a first position, and substantially to expose the opening to allow light passing through the opening to enter the passage and pass into the conduit when the socket is in a second position.

This invention relates to a connector and method for coupling an end of a light-transmitting conduit.
Connectors for coupling ends of conduits typically require two hands to operate. An example of a connector requiring two-hand operation is a screw-type cap having a bore therethrough into which the end of the conduit can be inserted. The cap must be loosened manually before the end of the conduit can be inserted into the bore. After loosening and insertion of the end into the bore, the cap is tightened to secure the end in place. An insertion-type connector is another example of a connector requiring two-hand operation. With the insertion-type connector, a spring-loaded leaf plate must be opened with one hand while the end of the conduit is inserted into an exposed opening with the other hand. When released, the leaf plate typically contacts the end of the conduit to secure it in place.
Connectors requiring two-hand operation can be very inconvenient to use, especially in situations such as medical applications where a surgeon (or other medical personnel) typically must perform two tasks simultaneously, one with each hand.
A connector can be disposed on a face plate of a piece of equipment having a light source therein, in which case, the connector is aligned with an opening in the equipment through which light from the light source can pass. The equipment can be, for example, medical equipment such as a part of an endoscopy system or laser system. If an end of a light-transmitting conduit is inserted into the connector on the face of the equipment, light from the light source will pass through the opening into the conduit. Upon removal of the end of the conduit from the connector, light from the light source typically shines (at least momentarily) through the opening and the connector and generally out into an area or room in which the equipment is located.
In many situations such as medical applications including laser surgery and endoscopy, it is desirable to control the light and prevent it from shining out of the equipment. A surgeon and other medical personnel present during a medical procedure typically will be distracted if a bright light is emitted from the equipment whenever a light-transmitting conduit is removed from the equipment. Any distractions to the surgeon or the other personnel can endanger the patient and reduce the chances of a carefully-performed, successful medical procedure.
A connector which provides the convenience of one-hand operation and which prevents bright light from being emitted unchecked therethrough when a conduit end is removed is desired.

Connector and method for coupling an end of a light-transmitting conduit

American Surgical Technologies Corporation


There are disclosed a thermoplastic resin composition comprising (A) a styrenic polymer having a high degree of syndiotactic configuration, (B) an inorganic filler and (C) a polyphenylene ether that is modified with a compound having an ethylenic double bond and a polar group in the same molecule, especially maleic anhydride, the ether having a modification rate of 1.3% or more by weight; a thermoplastic resin composition further comprising (D) a rubbery elastomer in addition to the above components (A), (B) and (C); a process for producing modified polyphenylene ether (PPO) comprising reacting 100 parts by weight of PPO with 1 to 20 parts by weight of the above compound or a derivative thereof in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of 15 or less parts by weight of a radical generator; and a process for producing the modified PPO comprising reacting 100 parts by weight of PPO with 1 to 5 parts by weight of the above compound or a derivative thereof at 300.degree. to 350.degree. C. in the presence of 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of a radical generator which exhibits a half-life period of 1 minute at 300.degree. C. or higher. The above thermoplastic resin composition is markedly improved in its dynamical properties especially rigidity and heat resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermoplastic resin composition. More particularly, it pertains to a thermoplastic resin composition which comprises as the principal component a styrenic polymer having a high degree of syndiotactic configuration, said composition being improved in long-term heat resistant stability by being compounded with a polyphenylene ether that is modified by a compound having an ethylenic double bond and a polar group in the same molecule (particularly typified by maleic anhydride) or a derivative thereof at a modification rate of not less than 1.3% by weight (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Maleic anyhydride-modified PPO" or simply "Modified PPO"), and at the same time, to a process capable of efficiently producing the Maleic anhydride-modified PPO.
2. Description of Related Art
There has heretofore been adopted the technique for improving various thermoplastic resins in the dynamical properties (or mechanical properties), especially rigidity and heat resistance by compounding therein an inorganic filler such as glass fiber. There are proposed the thermoplastic resin compositions excellent in heat resistance and dynamical properties, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 257948/1987 and 182344/1990 in which syndiotactic polystyrenes are compounded with an inorganic filler, and a thermoplastic resin and/or rubber together with an inorganic filler, respectively. However, the aforesaid technique has been incapable of producing a satisfactory resin composition even if compounded with an inorganic filler because of the insufficient adhesivity between a syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) and an inorganic filler.
Such being the case, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 126743/1991 discloses the improved technique over the aforementioned ones in which a syndiotactic polystyrene is incorporated with a maleic anhydride-modified PPO to provide a resin composition excellent in impact resistance, heat resistance and mechanical properties. The aforesaid improved technique, however, necessitates at least 5% by weight of the maleic anhydride-modified PPO to be incorporated therein for the purpose of sufficienty exhibiting the effect owing to its low modification rate.
Nevertheless it has been found, as a result of long-term heat resistance test for the resin composition incorporated with the maleic anhydride-modified PPO, that the decrease in the molecular weight of the syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) is made remarkable by the increase in the loading of the maleic anhydride-modified PPO causing deterioration of dynamical properties of the composition, and that a loading thereof of 5% by weight or more further accelerate the aforestated unfavorable tendency. Moreover in order to allow an alloy-based resin composition incorporated with polyamide to exert a sufficient compatibility effect, it is necessary to add a large amount of maleic anhydride-modified PPO to the composition, thus lowering the crystallinity of SPS. Likewise, the decrease in the molecular weight of SPS is inevitable in the long-term heat resistance test for the composition.

Thermoplastic resin composition containing a modified polyphenylene ether


A method for thickening a plastically deformable hollow body wall of a hollow body includes the steps of arranging the hollow body in an outer mold, arranging an inner supporting body inside the hollow body, applying a compressive force to the hollow body wall by means of two application members moving towards one another in an axial direction with a continuous compressing movement, and performing an axial relative movement of the application members performing the continuous compressing movement on the one hand and of the outer mold on the other hand. Due to the compressing movement of the application members, material of the hollow body wall is plasticized and flows into an expansion space of the outer mold, an axial extent of the expansion space increasing due to the axial relative movement of the application members performing the continuous compressing movement and of the outer mold.

The invention relates to a method and a device for thickening a plastically deformable hollow body wall of a hollow body, in particular in portions, the hollow body wall extending in an axial direction along a cavity axis of a cavity, delimited by the hollow body wall, of the hollow body.
The invention also relates to a manufacturing method for producing a hollow body, within which method the above-mentioned method is used, and to a machine for producing a hollow body, which machine comprises a device of the above-mentioned type.
The need to thicken a hollow body wall of a hollow body exists for example in cases in which the hollow body wall must have an increased rigidity at least in a portion and/or in cases in which a specific region of the hollow body wall is to be provided with particular functional elements, for example with a toothing or with a thread. Hollow bodies of this kind are hollow shafts for example, as are used in automotive engineering as drive shafts, more specifically as side shafts inter alia.
Methods and devices by means of which axial portions of different wall thickness are produced on hollow shafts by reducing the thickness of the wall of a shaft blank in an axial portion, whilst maintaining the original wall thickness in another axial portion of the shaft blank, are currently customary. In some cases, cold forming methods, for example rotary swaging, can be used.

Method and device for thickening a plastically deformable hollow body wall of a hollow body, in particular in portions, and manufacturing method and machine for producing a hollow body


The present invention provides a method, a device and a computer-readable medium for a pseudo seamless switch between different video sources and belongs to a field of the Internet technology. According to the method, a device and a computer-readable medium for a pseudo seamless switch between different video sources of the present invention, when a video source needs to be switched, the Web browser first establishes a target video source playback instance; determines a synchronization duration based on a playing state of an original video source and a network state; after the synchronization duration, the Web browser switches to the target video source playback instance to achieve seamless switching between various video sources, so as to effectively avoid blocking during playback and greatly improve user experience. And the method, device and computer-readable medium for a pseudo seamless switch between different video sources of the present invention have the advantages of simple implementation, low application cost and wide application range.

Video Website is a popular content Website at present. Web browser is one of the main ways to visit video Websites. At present, there are three kinds of video source formats commonly used in the network: DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) format, fly format and mp4 format. The best user experience is the DASH format, followed by the fly format and the mp4 format. Because of level of support of different browser platforms for video source format, usability of some browsers is just the opposite, for example, the mp4 format is better than the fly format, and the DASH format is the most unsupported.
During the actual use, according to different network states or users' viewing needs, the resolution usually needs to be switched, and different resolutions often need to switch the video source format. When gop (group of picture) is not aligned, different video source formats can not be switched directly, only the DASH format itself can be switched seamlessly. The DASH format switch thread is shown in FIG. 3.
Therefore, how to provide a seamless switching method between various video sources, to avoid blocking during playback, and improve user experience become an urgent problem in the field.

Pseudo seamless switching method, device and media for web playing different video sources


A packet filtering apparatus for filtering a packet transmitted from a mobile node to a correspondent node in a network system using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP). The packet filtering apparatus includes a next header reader for reading a next header of the received packet to determine whether it is a mobility header, a mobility header type reader for reading a mobility header type when the next header is the mobility header, a mobility option reader for reading a mobility option added by the mobile node, and a packet rule applier for determining whether a home address included in the mobility option read by the mobility option reader is identical to a source address stored in a packet filter rule, and determining whether to pass the packet according to the determination result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a network system using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP), and in particular, to an apparatus and method for filtering packets in a network system using Mobile IP.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the progress of the Internet technology, there has been a rapid increase in the development of IP communication networks. In these IP communication networks, users and a particular server operate with their fixed addresses, or IP addresses, and routing is achieved based on the addresses.
Similarly, in the mobile communication system, several schemes have been proposed to provide more data to mobile terminals. The so-called Mobile IP concept of allocating IP addresses to mobile terminals has now been introduced as one of the proposed schemes. In Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) concerned with Mobile IP, many discussions are being held and have now reached a stage of Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6). Mobile IP is classified into Mobile IPv4 and Mobile IPv6 technologies according to version of IP.
The IP communication network, though it started based on IP version 4 (v4), is developing into an IPv6-based network, an advanced network, for limitation of available IP resources, an increase in the number of users, and provisioning of various services. The most noticeable characteristic of IPv6 is that a length of IP address is extended from 32 bits to 128 bits, in preparation for a possible depletion of network addresses due to the rapid growth of the Internet industry.
IPv6, as its header region is extended, is allowed to designate a mechanism for source authentication of packets, and guarantee of data integrity and security.
In data transmission, this Mobile IP communication network can provide data without a change in the existing IP and/or disconnection of the access. However, since the standard for Mobile IP technology has been completed and applied to the commercial products up to now, use of the conventional packet filter rule cannot guarantee smooth data communication.
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a network system using Mobile IP, provided for a description of an authentication process based on a Care-of Test Init (CoTI) message in a conventional Mobile Node (MN).
An MN 170 indicates a terminal for performing data communication. A Correspondent Node (CN) 110 indicates a counterpart node with which the MN 170 performs data communication.
A packet filtering apparatus 120, or FireWall (FW), prevents further extension of security accident and/or intimidation of networks on the Internet and isolates the networks. That is, the packet filtering apparatus 120 prevents unauthorized traffic influx from the exterior and permits only the authorized and authenticated traffic in order to protect an internal network from unreliable external networks. The packet filtering apparatus 120, in which a packet filter rule is stored, can be an access router.
In Mobile IPv6, even though the mobile node 170 having a home address (also known as Home of Address (HoA)) assigned in a home link region leaves the home link region and moves to a remote link region, it can communicate with the desired correspondent node 110 using a Care-of Address (CoA) assigned in the remote link region.
There are two possible methods in which a mobile node performs data communication with a correspondent node in a Mobile IP communication network.
A first method is a tunneling method in which the mobile node passes through a Home Agent (HA) between the mobile node and the correspondent node.
In FIG. 1, the correspondent node 110 is protected by a network to which the packet filter rule of the packet filtering apparatus 120 is applied. For communication with the correspondent node 110, the mobile node 170 initially performs communication via an HA 160, and in this communication process, the packet filter rule is stored in the packet filtering apparatus 120. When the mobile node 170 communicates with the correspondent node 110, the packet filtering apparatus 120 sets a home address of a mobile node as a source IP address and sets an address of a correspondent node as a destination IP address by means of a downlink packet filter. The 'downlink' herein indicates a communication route from the mobile node to the correspondent node. An uplink indicates a communication route from the correspondent node to the mobile node.
A second method is a direct communication method in which for optimization of a route, the mobile node 170 and the correspondent node 110 directly communicate with each other without passing through the HA 160.
In order for the mobile node 170 and the correspondent node 110 to directly communicate with each other without passing through the HA 160, the mobile node 170 attempts to authenticate the correspondent node 110 through a return routability process. The authentication attempt process is initiated by the mobile node 170 by sending a CoTI message shown in FIG. 1 to the correspondent node 110. However, the CoTI message uses a CoA as a source address because the mobile node 170 having a home address assigned in the home link region has vacated the home link region and moved to the remote link region. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, a packet is dropped by the packet filter rule in the packet filtering apparatus 120 before it is transmitted to the correspondent node 110. In this case, a source address should be a home address assigned by the packet filter rule in the home link region, but because it is a CoA, the packet filtering apparatus 120 recognizes a sender of the packet as a hacker or an attacker.
That is, even though the return routability process has been introduced to perform authentication, because a CoTI message, one of a plurality of return routability messages, is filtered and dropped in the packet filtering apparatus 120, the corresponding network has a low security level and thus can be exposed to potential hacking.
FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a network system using Mobile IP, provided for a description of an authentication process based on a Home Test Init (HoTI) message in a conventional mobile node.
In the Mobile IP communication network, for communication with a correspondent node 110, a mobile node 170 initially performs communication via an HA 160, and in this communication process, a packet filter rule is stored in a packet filtering apparatus 120. When the mobile node 170 performs communication with the correspondent node 110, the packet filtering apparatus 120 sets a home address of the mobile node 170 as a source IP address and sets an address of the correspondent node 110 as a destination IP address by means of a packet filter, and sets a protocol type to Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
In the communication method via the HA 160, due to the unreasonable routing problem, the mobile node 170 may wish to directly communicate with the correspondent node 110. In this case, the mobile node 170 attempts authentication through a return routability process, and this process is initiated by the mobile node 170 by sending an HoTI message to the correspondent node 110 via the HA 160. Because the HoTI message is sent via the HA 160, the source address includes the home address, solving the problem in FIG. 1.
However, there is a function of checking a header type by means of the packet filter rule in the packet filtering apparatus 120, and because the header type is output from the IPv6 network, the packet filtering apparatus 120 actually recognizes the packet as an IPv6 packet. However, in the IPv6 network, because the protocol type is transmitted using a Mobility header, the HoTI message is dropped by the packet filter rule in the packet filtering apparatus 120 before it is transmitted to the correspondent node 110, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, when the Next header is a Mobility header in the current packet filter rule, the packet filtering apparatus 120 checks only the header type, so that it drops the packet as it has failed to read the Mobility header.

Apparatus and method for filtering packet in a network system using mobile IP


A developing unit is to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming device main body. The developing unit is provided with a developer case, a developing roller coupled with the developer case, and a movement member coupled with the developer case. The movement member is capable of moving between a housing position where the movement member is substantially housed inside the developer case and a protruding position where the movement member protrudes beyond the developer case. The movement member is positioned at the protruding position and pushed by the image forming device main body in a predetermined direction while the developing unit is being attached to the image forming device main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device for forming images using developer. Further, the present invention relates to a developing unit of the image forming device. Moreover, the present invention also relates to an image forming device main body attached to the developing unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming devices that utilize developer to print onto a recording medium (printing paper, for example) are well known. For example, a laser printer comprises a laser printer main body, and a developing unit attached detachably thereto.
The laser printer main body has a main case including a space for housing the developing unit, and a photoreceptor disposed in a position facing the space. The photoreceptor supports an electrostatic latent image.
The developing unit has a case for housing toner, and a developing roller supported rotatably by the toner case. While the developing unit is attached to the laser printer main body, the photoreceptor and the developing roller both rotate while making contact with one another. The developing roller supplies toner housed in the toner case to the photoreceptor. The toner thus adheres to an area of the photoreceptor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image of the photoreceptor becomes visible. The toner that has become visible is transferred from the photoreceptor to the recording medium, thus forming words or images on the recording medium.
In order to form a visible image having a uniform thickness on the photoreceptor, it is preferred that the developing roller presses the photoreceptor with a constant amount of force. For this purpose, a pushing member may be formed on the laser printer main body. This pushing member pushes the toner case in a direction where the developing roller presses the photoreceptor.
Further, a laser printer that performs color printing using four colors of toner is provided with four photoreceptors and four developing units. Each of the developing units houses a different color toner. When the photoreceptors and the developing rollers of the developing units have been brought into contact, the different color toners are supplied to the photoreceptors. Color printing can thus be performed. Alternatively, in the case where monochromatic printing is performed, toner may be supplied to only one photoreceptor. The developing roller may therefore be brought into contact with only the relevant photoreceptor, and the other developing rollers may be separate from the other three photoreceptors. In order to realize this operation, the laser printer main body may be provided with a pushing member. This pushing member pushes the toner case in a direction where the developing rollers separate from the photoreceptors.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,428 teaches a developing unit having a protruding member that protrudes from a toner case. The protruding member is fixed to the toner case. With this developing unit, a developing roller is pressed against a photoreceptor by the protruding member being pushed from a laser printer main body.

Developing unit comprising movement member capable of moving between housing position and protruding position and image forming device


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is set forth, in which a conductive layer (21) and a first insulating layer (22) are provided on a surface (2) of a semiconductor body (1). A conductor track (5) with an insulating top layer (6) is formed in these layers and the top layer (6) is formed in a first insulating layer (22) by means of a first etching treatment. Further, while masking with the top layer (6), the conductor track (5) is formed in the conductive layer (21) by means of a second etching treatment, after which the conductor track (5) is provided with a side edge insulation (7). The surface (2) and the conductor track (5) with its top layer (6) are covered by a second insulating layer (24), which is then subjected to a third anisotropic etching treatment until this layer (24) has been removed from the surface (2) and the top layer (6). According to the invention, the second etching treatment is at least initially carried out so that the conductive layer (21) is etched isotropically, while the top layer (6) is then practically not attacked, cavities (31) are formed under the top layer (6) near its edges (30), after which the second insulating layer (24) is deposited in a thickness such that the cavities (31) are entirely filled with insulating material. Thus, the occurrence of leakage currents and shortcircuits between the conductor track (5) and the metallization (8; 9) to be provided on the insulation layers (6, 7) are avoided.

Thus, an insulated conductor track is formed on the surface of the semiconductor body. Other conductor tracks can be provided over such a conductor track insulated at its upper side by the top layer and at its side edges by side edge insulation. The conductor track may be made, for example, of polycrystalline silicon or a metal, such as aluminium, while its insulation may be made, for example, of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or another insulating material, such as, for example, aluminium oxide. The insulating top layer and the side edge insulation may also be made of different insulating materials. Such an insulated conductor track may be used in the semiconductor device, for example, as gate electrode and is then isolated from the semiconductor body by a thin layer of gate oxide, but use as an electrode connected to a semiconductor zone disposed in the semiconductor body or as a conductor interconnecting circuit elements in the semiconductor device is also possible.
A method of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph is known from Published European Patent No. 081,999, in which, as an insulated conductor track, a gate electrode of a MOS transistor is formed. Semiconductor zones constituting the source and drain zones of this transistor are contacted with a metallization extending above the gate electrode. The first and second etching treatments, which are carried out in this known method, etch the conductive layer and the first insulating layer anisotropically so that the conductor track and the top layer disposed thereon have side edges directed substantially at right angles to the surface. As a result, the side edge insulation can be provided in a simple manner described.
A disadvantage of the known method is that in practice, when a metallization is provided over the insulated conductors that are formed, leakage currents or even shortcircuits can occur between the insulated conductors and this metallization.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, in which isolated conductor tracks are provided on a surface of a semiconductor body


In some implementations, a user device (e.g., a computing device) can perform client-side personalization of search results. For example, a computing device can obtain search results matching user specified search parameters from a server device and/or from various services on the user device. The user device can score the search results based on various search result item attributes. After scoring, the user device can promote or demote search results items based on whether the search results item is relevant to recent user behavior. The promotion and/or demotion of search results items can cause search results items scores to be adjusted to generate a personalized score for each search result. The search results can then be ordered and/or presented based on the personalized score for each search results item. When presenting search results items, the user device can present information indicative of the source of the search results items.

Computing devices provide mechanisms for a user to search for various types of information. In particular, a user can provide input (e.g., typed textual characters, voice input, etc.) specifying search parameters for initiating a search for locations matching the search parameters (e.g., a sequence of characters). The search parameters can be sent to a server device. The server device can perform a search for locations that match the search parameters and return the search results to the client device for presentation to the user. However, aside from matching the search parameters, the search results returned to the user may not be personalized to the user. Or, if the search results are personalized by the server, the client device may need to send personal user information to the server device and risk exposing the user's private information.

Client-side personalization of search results


A method and software product for controlling a percussion device belonging to a rock-drilling machine, and a percussion device. The impact frequency of the percussion device is set so that the percussion device forms a new compression stress wave to the tool always when reflected waves from the previous compression stress waves reach a first end of the tool. This requires that the impact frequency be set proportional to the propagation time of the stress wave, whereby the length of the used tool and the propagation velocity of the stress wave in the tool material are to be noted.

The invention relates to a method for controlling a percussion device, the method comprising: providing impact pulses with the percussion device during drilling to a tool connectable to a rock-drilling machine; and generating a compression stress wave to the tool to propagate at a propagation velocity dependent on the tool material from a first end to a second end of the tool, with at least some of the compression stress reflecting back from the second end of the tool as a reflected wave that propagates toward the first end of the tool; and controlling the percussion device in the rock-drilling machine and its impact frequency.
The invention further relates to a software product for controlling percussion rock-drilling, the execution of which software product in a control unit controlling the rock drilling is arranged to perform at least the following action: to control the percussion device in the rock-drilling machine during drilling to provide impact pulses to a tool connectable to the rock-drilling machine, whereby a compression stress wave is arranged to form in the tool to propagate at a propagation velocity dependent on the tool material from a first end to a second end of the tool, with at least some of the compression stress reflecting back from the second end of the tool as a reflected wave that propagates toward the first end of the tool; and further to control the impact frequency of the percussion device.
The invention further relates to a percussion device that comprises: means for generating a impact pulse to a tool, whereby a compression stress wave caused by the impact pulse is arranged to propagate from a first end to a second end of the tool, and at least some of the compression stress reflects back from the second end of the tool as a reflected wave and propagates toward the first end of the tool; a control unit for controlling the impact frequency of the percussion device; and means for defining at least the impact frequency of the percussion device.
The invention further relates to a percussion device that comprises: means for generating a impact pulse to a tool, whereby a compression stress wave caused by the impact pulse is arranged to propagate from a first end to a second end of the tool, and at least some of the compression stress reflects back from the second end of the tool as a reflected wave and propagates toward the first end of the tool; means for controlling the impact frequency of the percussion device; and means for defining the impact frequency of the percussion device.
Percussive rock drilling uses a rock-drilling machine having at least a percussion device and a tool. The percussion device generates a compression stress wave that propagates through a shank to the tool and on to a drill bit at the outermost end of the tool. The compression stress wave propagates in the tool at a velocity that depends on the material of the tool. It is, thus, a propagating wave, the velocity of which in a tool made of steel, for instance, is 5,190 m/s. When the compression stress wave reaches the drill bit, it makes the drill bit penetrate the rock. However, it has been detected that 20 to 50% of the energy of the compression stress wave generated by the percussion device reflects back from the drill bit as a reflected wave that propagates in the tool into the reverse direction, i.e. toward the percussion device. Depending on the drilling situation, the reflected wave can comprise only a compression stress wave or a tensile stress wave. However, a reflected wave typically comprises both a tensile and a compression stress component. Today, the energy in the reflected waves cannot be efficiently utilized in drilling, which naturally reduces the efficiency of drilling. On the other hand, it is known that reflected waves cause problems to the durability of drilling equipment, for instance.

Method for controlling percussion device, software production, and percussion device


A first heating device heats a recording sheet having a developer image formed thereon, and a cooling device cools the recording sheet having been heated. A second heating device heats the recording sheet having been cooled, thereby giving gloss to the image on the recording sheet. A cooling capability of the cooling device is switched over in accordance with temperature detected by a temperature sensor which is disposed in a conveying path for the recording sheet under cooling by the cooling device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a plurality of sheet heating devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, image forming apparatuses, such as copying machines and printers, have been widely put into practice by utilizing the electrophotographic process. Some electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are able to form not only a monochromatic image, but also a full-color image. Further, with increasing applications of the electrophotographic image forming apparatuses in various fields, a demand for higher image quality has been established. One of factors deciding the gloss of a full-color image, in particular, is smoothness of the surface of an output image formed on a recording sheet. Therefore, there is a strong demand to increase that smoothness.
In replying to such a demand, an image forming apparatus is proposed in which a color image is formed by transferring and fusing an image of color toner made of a thermoplastic resin onto a recording sheet coated with a transparent resin layer made of a thermoplastic resin (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-35452 and No. 5-216322).
As a fusing unit suitable for the above-mentioned image forming method, a belt fusing unit employing a belt is proposed (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-216580 and No. 4-362679). In the proposed belt fusing unit, a recording sheet carrying a not-yet-fused toner image thereon is pressed under heating by the fusing unit belt made of a heat-resistant film, and the recording sheet is cooled while it is kept in close contact with the fusing unit belt. Thus, the toner image is solidified and fixated onto the recording sheet. The recording sheet including the fixated toner image is separated from the fusing unit belt and ejected to the outside.
With that related art, the toner image is solidified together with a transparent resin layer following the surface shape of the belt by the action of the belt fusing unit into such a state that the toner image is buried in the transparent resin layer of the recording sheet. As a result, the entire surface of the recording sheet is finished to a smooth surface and a color image having a superior gloss can be obtained.
In one proposed example of the recording sheet having the transparent resin layer, the transparent resin layer contains, as a main component, a thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of not higher than 358K and is formed in thickness of about 10 μm (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-084477).
One known example of an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording sheet having a transparent resin layer comprises a first fusing unit and a second fusing unit, the latter being constituted by a belt fusing unit. In such an image forming apparatus, a first fusing mode and a second fusing mode are switched over depending on the type of the recording sheet. The first fusing mode is a fusing mode for an ordinary recording sheet. In the first fusing mode, the recording sheet to which a toner image has been transferred is conveyed such that it passes the first fusing unit, but it does not pass the second fusing unit. The second fusing mode is a fusing mode for a recording sheet having a transparent resin layer. In the second fusing mode, a toner image on the recording sheet having the transparent resin layer is first fused onto the recording sheet by the first fusing unit. Then, the recording sheet including the fused toner image is sent to the second fusing unit. In the second fusing unit, the toner is further fused into such a state that the toner image is buried in the transparent resin layer on the recording sheet.
Generally, a recording sheet having passed a fusing unit is in a state where heat is accumulated inside the sheet. Therefore, if the recording sheet is conveyed in the heat accumulated state through a curved conveying path, the recording sheet is curled. Also, before a toner image having been heated and pressed by the fusing unit is dried, the toner image is scraped by conveying rollers, guide ribs, etc., thus resulting in a phenomenon that scrape or friction marks appear as unevenness in gloss. In order to suppress curl of the recording sheet and the scrape marks of the toner image, a cooler is disposed to quickly cool the recording sheet immediately after it has passed the first fusing unit. In the first fusing mode, the recording sheet is quickly cooled by the cooler immediately after it has passed the first fusing unit.
In the second fusing mode, when the recording sheet (i.e., the recording sheet having the transparent resin layer) having passed the first fusing unit is quickly cooled as in the first fusing mode, the recording sheet having been temporarily cooled is heated again by the second fusing unit. To heat the temporarily cooled recording sheet again to a predetermined temperature, it is required to increase the heat capacity of the second fusing unit, to raise a level of controllable temperature, or to increase the nip pressure for fusing.
In order to increase the heat capacity of the second fusing unit or to raise a level of controllable temperature in the second fusing unit, however, the amount of electric power supplied to the second fusing unit requires to be increased. This results in an increase of power consumption in the second fusing unit. Also, when the nip pressure for fusing is increased, it is required to increase torque of a motor for driving a fusing roller or a pressing roller. This results in disadvantages that the size of a driving mechanism in the second fusing unit is increased and separation of the recording sheet from the second fusing unit is deteriorated.

Image forming apparatus for controlling the capability of cooling sheets


A structure and method is disclosed for cooling a semiconductor computer chip module. The semiconductor computer chip module is made up of a plurality of semiconductor chips bonded together In one aspect of the present invention every other chip is staggered such that recesses are formed between protruding edges of every other chip along two opposite faces of the chip module. The opposite faces with the staggered chips are capped and sealed so that coolant channels are formed between the recesses and the sealing caps. In another aspect, one face of the chip module is bonded by a plurality of connectors to a base. The base and chip module with connectors form a chamber. The chamber is sealed and an opening is made in the base to circulate coolant into and around the connectors of the base and up along the coolant channels which are in fluid communication with the base. Thermal vias are provided between selected connectors and the chip module to conduct heat from the chips of the module to the connectors.

Fabrication of computer circuitry of increasingly smaller size has been one of the driving forces in the development of computers since their inception. Laptop computers available today have higher processing speeds and more power than a computer which filled an entire room in the late 1940's and early 1950's.
The demand for more powerful and smaller computers for a multitude of applications will continue to spur the computer industry to reduce the size of computers and their components. Also, with the development of increasingly more powerful, faster and more complex computers, the need to limit propagation delays caused by the distance a signal must travel between components of a computer system will become of more concern to the industry. In the near future, propagation distances of several centimeters between components of a computer system may create limits to the operation of a computer system which can only be resolved by further reductions in size.
Bonding of multiple stacked semiconductor chips together into a module is one method under development to reduce the physical area taken up by a computer and its circuitry and to reduce propagation delays. The module of bonded chips, sometimes referred to as a "cube," usually takes the form of a right parallelpiped. The chips as bonded together in the module have connectors distributed on one face of the module to connect the module to a base or carrier, both physically and electrically.
The high chip density of such modules present other problems. One of the primary problems to be resolved is the elimination of the excess heat generated by operation of the chips in such close proximity in the module.
The temperature range over which a silicon chip, fabricated by present day methods, can operate in a fairly safe manner is from 20.degree. to 120.degree. C. However, given the power consumption of many of these chip modules, temperatures of the module can easily exceed the 120.degree. C. limit of a silicon chip if not properly cooled. Moreover, silicon chips operate most effectively and efficiently in a temperature range of from 20.degree. to 40.degree. C. Similarly, the temperature of a module made up of chips of gallium arsenide can easily exceed 170.degree. C., the safe operating limit of gallium arsenide chips.
Failure to properly control the temperature of a module can result in degradation of, and destruction of, the electronic circutry devices on the chips. Excessive heat can also affect the efficiency of operation, even if it does not result in outright destruction of the components of the chips. Thermal expansion of the module and chips, although not of a sizable amount, can also cause serious harm and damage to the module and chips which form the structure of the module if not properly controlled.
Thermal analysis of the operation of semiconductor chips indicates that the temperature difference between the center of the chip and its edge will by only a few degrees and that the chip itself can transmit temperature difference from its center to its edges in a fairly efficient manner. Thus, the challenge is to adequately cool the chips when combined in a module to maintain an operational temperature within the most effective and safe ranges for chips of the module.

Thermally enhanced semiconductor chip package

International Business Machines Corporation


A terminal connecting structure is provided with each of the electrodes provided on the element forming the electronic component; and the terminals respectively having the connecting portions arranged along the electrodes respectively. In addition, the terminal connecting structure is provided with clearance forming portions configured to respectively form the respective clearances between the electrodes and the connecting portions respectively; and the connecting materials respectively provided in the clearances, the connecting material being configured to electrically connect the connecting portions and the electrodes respectively.

In recent years, there have been drastic changes in usage environments for electronic components used for automobiles, household electrical appliances, industrial equipment, etc. There has been revisions of the standards, which had not been requested so far, for the electronic components of these kinds. In addition, the applications of the components have been increasingly diversified for the electronic components of these kinds. As a result, in order to protect fragile electronic circuits from unexpected noise or pulse with large energy, requirements for the electronic components to be mounted on the equipment have become quite severe. A varistor that is used as a component for protecting the circuit is an electronic component formed of a voltage surge absorber. There are the varistors of a disk type, a surface mounted type, and a laminated (inner layer) type, and they are used depending on the application. WO 2011/162181 discloses a surface mounted type varistor. This varistor includes a varistor element, and electrodes are respectively formed on front and back surfaces of the varistor element.
A terminal is connected to each of the electrodes, and the electrode and the terminal are bonded by using a solder.

Terminal connecting structure and electronic component