A keyboard and display for a computer includes a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front wall. A processor is mounted within the housing. A plurality of keys defining a computer keyboard is positioned in the top wall and is substantially flush with the top wall. Each of the keys comprises a touch sensitive key and each is electrically coupled to the processor. A display is mounted in the top wall and is substantially flush with the top wall. The display is electrically coupled to the processor. An interface is electrically coupled to the processor and selectively coupled to the computer for communication between the processor and the computer. The computer may receive input from the plurality of keys and a video signal received from the computer may be displayed on the display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to keyboard devices and more particularly pertains to a new keyboard device for remotely controlling a computer and displaying a display generated by the computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of keyboard devices is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that utilizes the ability of wireless signals and liquid crystal display technology to allow a person to control a computer and view its display output from a remote location. Such a device should be thin and compact to allow for its versatile use.


A multi-carriage printing device has a first member, a first bar mounted on the first member, and a first printer carriage mounted on the first bar. The device further has a second bar mounted on the first member, a second printer carriage mounted on the second bar, and a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a first temperature of the member.

A multi-carriage printing device employs a plurality of carriages that respectively print to different portions of a print medium, e.g., paper. In this regard, each carriage has at least one print head that transfers ink onto the print medium. Oftentimes, these carriages are mounted on control bars, and each carriage moves along its respective control bar for positioning before printing. The control bars are usually coupled to and held by a pair of support members mounted on a frame of the printer.
Typically, the multiple carriages are positioned such that during printing of an image to the medium, the carriages do not have to move along the control bar. Instead, the medium on which the image is to be printed moves via, for example, a rotating drum, underneath the carriages. Thus, as the paper moves under the carriages, the print heads transfer ink onto the medium to form a desired image.
As described hereinabove, the carriages are held by a pair of support members, and such members are often made up of a material that expands and/or contracts when the temperatures in which they operate increases and/or decreases, respectively. Furthermore, the expansion and/or contraction experienced by the members are not consistent. Therefore, because the carriages are mounted on control bars that attach to the support members, when the support members expand and/or contract, such expansion and/or contraction causes the carriages to misalign. When the carriages misalign due to the expansion and/or contraction of the support members, the portion of the desired image printed by one of the carriages may not continue to be aligned with the portion of the desired image printed by the other carriage. Such misalignment affects the print quality (PQ) of the desired image.

Multi-carriage printing device and method

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A self-loading disc head-slider has a slider body, with a leading slider edge and a trailing slider edge, and first and second raised rails. Each raised rail has a leading rail edge, inside and outside rail edges and a bearing surface. A cavity dam extends between the first and second raised rails. A subambient pressure cavity trails the cavity dam, between the first and second raised rails. A stepped leading taper extends from the leading slider edge to the bearing surfaces of the first and second raised rails. The stepped leading taper is formed of first and second steps. The first step is positioned along the leading slider edge. The second step wraps around the leading rail edges of the first and second raised rails and extends along a portion of the inside and outside rail edges of the first and second raised rails. The first and second steps have a step height of 0.05 to 1.5 microns.

The present invention relates to disc drive data storage systems and, more particularly, to a disc drive data storage system having a slider with steps approximating a leading taper.
Disc drives of the xe2x80x9cWinchesterxe2x80x9d type are well known in the industry. Such drives use rigid discs which are coated with a magnetizable medium for storage of digital information in a plurality of circular, concentric data tracks. The discs are mounted on a spindle motor which causes the discs to spin and the surfaces of the discs to pass under respective hydrodynamic (e.g. air) bearing disc head sliders. The sliders carry transducers which write information to and read information from the disc surfaces.
An actuator mechanism moves the sliders from track-to-track across the surfaces of the discs under control of electronic circuitry. The actuator mechanism includes a track accessing arm and a suspension for each head gimbal assembly. The suspension includes a load beam and a gimbal. The load beam provides a load force which forces the slider toward the disc surface. The gimbal is positioned between the slider and the load beam, or is integrated in the load beam, to provide a resilient connection that allows the slider to pitch and roll while following the topography of the disc.
The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the disc drags air under the slider and along the air bearing surface in a direction approximately parallel to the tangential velocity of the disc. As the air passes beneath the air bearing surface, air compression along the air flow path causes the air pressure between the disc and the air bearing surface to increase which creates a hydrodynamic lifting force that counteracts the load force and causes the slider to lift and fly above or in close proximity to the disc surface.
One type of slider is a xe2x80x9cself-loadingxe2x80x9d air bearing slider, which includes a leading taper, a pair of raised side rails, a cross rail and a subambient pressure cavity. The leading taper is lapped onto the end of the slider that is opposite to the recording head. The leading taper pressurizes the air as the air is dragged under the slider by the disc surface. An additional effect of the leading taper is that the pressure distribution under the slider has a peak near the taper end or xe2x80x9cleading edgexe2x80x9d due to a high compression angle of the taper, and a second peak near the recording end or xe2x80x9ctrailing edgexe2x80x9d due to a low bearing clearance required for efficient magnetic recording. This dual-peak pressure distribution results in an air bearing with a high pitch stiffness.
The bearing clearance between the slider and the disc surface at the recording head is an important parameter to disc drive performance. It is desired to minimize variation in the head clearance or xe2x80x9cflying heightxe2x80x9d. Therefore, it is important to control several metrics of flying height performance, such as flying height sensitivity to process variations, ambient pressure (e.g., altitude) variations, changes in radial position of the slider over the disc surface and resulting head skew, and quick movements of the slider from one radial position to another radial position. Also, the slider should take off from the disc surface as quickly as possible after the start of disc rotation.
The above-mentioned sensitivities are reduced by providing the slider with a high bearing stiffness in the pitch and roll directions and vertically in a direction normal to the disc surface. High vertical bearing stiffness has been achieved with the use of sub-ambient pressure cavities. The cross rail provides an expansion path for the air to de-pressurize as it is dragged into the sub-ambient pressure cavity by the disc velocity. The expanded air in the cavity provides a self-loading force which forces the slider toward the disc surface. The counteraction between positive pressure developed along the side rails, the preload force provided by the suspension and the self-loading force provides the air bearing with a high vertical stiffness and a relative insensitivity to variations in ambient pressure. To achieve high pitch and roll stiffness, air bearings have utilized geometries that distribute the positive pressure away from the center of the slider.
Quick take-off is typically achieved by developing high pressure near the leading edge of the slider through the leading taper. The leading taper causes the pressure to rise rapidly from ambient pressure at the slider""s perimeter towards the interior of the slider. This rapid pressurization is also useful in improving pitch and normal stiffness and in decreasing changes in fly height with changes in ambient pressure.
Since the air bearing surface is pressurized by the leading taper, variation in the taper angle and the position of the taper relative to other air bearing surface features causes the flying height of the transducer to vary. In addition, the flying height of the transducer typically varies proportionately more with variations in the manufacture of the taper than with other manufacturing variations.
There are three major difficulties associated with the conventional method of forming the leading taper. First, the angle of the taper with respect. to the air bearing surface can be controlled only to the degree afforded by the mechanical tilting mechanism used during the grinding or lapping process. Second, the length of the taper and its position with respect to other air bearing surface features varies with the uncertainty in the grinding or lapping rate and with the tilt angle. The intersection between the leading taper and the air bearing surface has the greatest variability in location relative to other air bearing surface features, at shallow taper angles. Third, conventional grinding or lapping processes permit only linear leading tapers. Also, the intersection between the taper and the air bearing surface is limited to a line which is parallel to the trailing edge of the slider.
Alternatively, sliders have been fabricated with a step at the leading edges of the side rails. This leading edge step constrains air flow approaching the side rails and causes the pressure to increase substantially when the flow reaches the rails. Leading edge steps are typically fabricated by ion milling the bearing surface. With ion milling, the position and depth of the step can be controlled very accurately. However, a leading edge step does not pressurize the leading edge of the slider as effectively as a leading taper.
Improved slider geometries are desired which effectively pressurize the leading edge of the slider and yet have small flying height sensitivities to process variations and ambient pressure.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a self-loading disc head slider having a slider body, with a leading slider edge and a trailing slider edge, and first and second raised rails. Each raised rail has a leading rail edge, inside and outside rail edges and a bearing surface. A cavity dam extends between the first and second raised rails. A subambient pressure cavity trails the cavity dam, between the first and second raised rails. A stepped leading taper extends from the leading slider edge to the bearing surfaces of the first and second raised rails. The stepped leading taper is formed of first and second steps. The first step is positioned along the leading slider edge. The second step wraps around the leading rail edges of the first and second raised rails and extends along a portion of the inside and outside rail edges of the first and second raised rails. The first and second steps have a step height of 0.05 to 1.5 microns.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a disc drive assembly, which includes a housing, a data storage disc, an actuator assembly attached to the housing, a suspension supported by the actuator assembly, and a slider supported by the actuator assembly. The slider has a bearing surface and means for approximating a taper at a leading edge of the bearing surface.

Self-loading disc head slider having multiple steps approximating a leading taper


[Summary]

In Japan, one in two get cancer and one in three die by cancer. Cancer is No. 1 cause of death in Japan. Although new therapy is developed for cancer, and improving a survival rate, however, there is no therapy for Ductal Cancer, because of a few ductal cancer patients.
I, the present invention's inventor suffered very bad Ductal Cancer which has no therapy. And it was declared from famous doctor that this inventor has only two years left. Therefore, the inventor has invented the new therapy at the risk of the inventor's life doing many experiment and proof, and the inventor herewith apply this patent according to the result of the inventor's own body.

Abstract: [Summary]

Abstract: [Problem]

Abstract: The therapy method and the therapy apparatus for difficult cancer such as ductal cancer and other diseases.

Abstract: [Solution to problem]

Abstract: The therapy and the apparatus to beat cancer and other diseases by injecting the material which is energy receptive from outside and emissive heat to cancer cells in the body of a patient, and giving energy from outside.


The steering mechanism includes a center link which extends between opposite longitudinal ends. Each end has a bore with threads which are spaced from the end by an unthreaded portion. A tie rod includes a bore with threads that are spaced form an end of the tie rod by an unthreaded portion. A length adjuster threadedly connects one of the longitudinal ends of the center link with the tie rod. The length adjuster includes threaded sections and an unthreaded middle section. The unthreaded middle section overlaps with the unthreaded portions of the center link and tie rod bores respectively. A first clamp is clamped around the overlapping unthreaded portion of the center link bore and the unthreaded middle section of the length adjuster, and a second clamp is clamped around the overlapping unthreaded portion of the tie rod bore and the unthreaded middle section of the length adjuster.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to length adjusting mechanisms for the steering systems of vehicles where bending or buckling loads may be applied to an adjusting mechanism.
2. Related Art
Recirculating ball steering mechanisms are found in many types of passenger vehicles as well as heavy equipment vehicles including, for example, tractors. Such steering mechanisms typically include a single center link and a pair of tie rods. The tie rods are joined with steering knuckles of the vehicle's front wheels and the center link is moveable back and forth in a lateral direction for pushing and pulling on the tie rods to turn the front wheels. The tie rods are joined with opposite ends of the center link.
Typically, components such as center links and tie rods are provided with male and female threaded unions. Threads may be of either type on either component but always in mating male/female configurations for adjustment. During assembly, opposite thread types are threaded together to a predetermined distance, and then a clamping mechanism is engaged around the outside diameter of the component having female threads. The clamping mechanism is then tightened to secure the threaded union. Often, the male threads extend beyond the female threads of the mating component after the clamping mechanism is secured.

Length adjuster and clamping mechanism for a steering mechanism


A circuit board has, in a first signal layer, a signal conductor having a relatively small width and a contact pad having a relatively large width. The relatively large width of the contact pad combined with the relatively narrow signal conductor creates an impedance mismatch between the contact pad and the signal conductor. The circuit board has, in a second signal layer, a ground plane separated from the first signal layer by a nonconductive layer. The circuit board defines an opening in the second signal layer underneath the contact pad. The presence of the ground plane underneath the contact pad typically affects the impedance of the contact pad. The opening in the second signal layer removes a portion the ground plane relative to the contact pad and, therefore, reduces the impedance mismatch between the contact pad and the signal conductor. Such reduction in the mismatch of the impedances between the contact pad and the signal conductor minimizes signal reflection of a signal transmitted through the signal conductor and across the contact pad.

A typical circuit board includes layers of conductive material (e.g., copper) and nonconductive material (e.g., fiberglass) sandwiched together to form a single, rigid board. Some circuit boards include many layers of alternating conductive and nonconductive materials.
In general, to manufacture a circuit board having multiple layers, a circuit board manufacturer creates separate circuit board sheets. Each circuit board sheet typically includes two conductive signal layers and a nonconductive separating layer disposed between the conductive signal layers. The manufacturer typically aligns multiple circuit board sheets along with other nonconductive sheets (e.g., nonconductive core layers) in an interleaved manner and laminates the sheets to form a single, integrated board.
A typical circuit board includes, as one of the signal layers, ground planes and power planes to provide power to the circuitry of the circuit board (e.g., circuit board components). A ground plane is a generally contiguous signal layer that carries a power supply ground signal (e.g., a reference voltage such as zero volts or chassis ground) from an external power supply to the circuit board circuitry. A power plane is also a generally contiguous signal layer that carries a power supply voltage signal (e.g., a DC voltage at a predetermined potential difference from the ground signal) from the power supply to the circuit board circuitry.
The typical circuit board includes, as one of the conductive signal layers, a data signal layer that carries data signals containing information for controlling the operation of the circuit board. Such a data signal layer typically includes conductive traces (e.g., data signal traces) that connect circuit board components mounted on the circuit board. Manufacturers conventionally include, as part of the data signal layer, conductive pads electrically connected to the conductive traces. The conductive pads provide a contact interface for a circuit board testing device, such as a bed of nails testing device. The conductive pads, therefore, allow a manufacturer to verify the integrity and continuity of the conductive traces of the circuit board (e.g., test for shorts in the conductive traces) prior to high volume manufacturing and shipping of the circuit board.
Certain conventional conductive pads electrically attach to a conductive trace by way, of conductive stubs. The conductive stub locates the conductive pad at a distance away from the conductive trace to provide a circuit board testing device access to the conductive pad. For example, assume a circuit board component is positioned in relative proximity to a conductive trace. A manufacturer utilizes the conductive stub to electrically connect the conductive pad to the conductive trace at a distance away from both the conductive trace and the circuit board component. The conductive stub, therefore, limits the circuit board component from interfering with a circuit board testing device's access to the conductive pad. Other conventional conductive pads electrically attach to a conductive trace via direct contact between the conductive pads and the conductive trace and without the use of a conductive stub. For example, conventional conductive pads are centered relative to the conductive trace.

Apparatus for reducing signal reflection in a circuit board


This disclosure relates to method and system for detecting and tracking at least one object in a rotational environment. The method includes receiving a set of first features based on first data and a set of second features based on second data, detecting at least one object based on the set of first features using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based predictive model, determining a set of first parameters for the at least one object, detecting the at least one object based on the set of second features using the CNN based predictive model, determining a set of second parameters for the at least one object, and tracking the at least one object based on the set of first parameters and the set of second parameters. It should be noted that the first data and the second data sequentially belong to an input dataset that includes images or video frames.

With every passing day, innovations in the field of computer vision are enhancing its features and usefulness. In the present state of art, several real-world applications exist for computer vision in performing tedious jobs in an easier and faster way. Further, the parallel computation of computer vision helps in addressing complex medical problems as well as the real-time problems in traffic management, autonomous vehicles, and aerial vehicles. However, when an object is in a rotational environment, the conventional computer vision techniques fail in determining object attributes leading to false positive or false negative predictions in a rotational environment. Particularly, when the object is rotating at a high velocity, the images captured for the object may depict the object in a distorted state. The conventional techniques are not capable of detecting distorted objects. Moreover, the conventional mechanisms lack in computing a trajectory for the object at same instance.
In a rotational environment, the object may undergo quick changes in features and attributes. Therefore, if a learning model learns wrong features, the accuracy of prediction and object detection may be decreased. The conventional techniques fail in projecting an image from a spherical signal to a planar signal. Deep learning models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are most commonly used methods of computer vision. However, detecting an object in an image with spherical refraction is not possible using conventional CNN techniques.
In short, existing techniques fall short in providing a mechanism for detecting objects in a three-dimensional (3D) rotational environment. Further, existing techniques fail to provide a mechanism for detecting objects in a distorted state using computer vision.

Method and system for detecting and tracking objects in a rotational environment


A steering apparatus includes a steering shaft; a column jacket including an outer jacket including a slit and a pair of fastened portions, and an inner jacket; a bracket; a fastening mechanism; an engaged tooth formation member including at least one engaged tooth and fixed to the inner jacket; a support shaft including end portions supported by support holes of the fastened portions; an engaging tooth formation member including an engaging tooth that engages with the engaged tooth; and a biasing member configured to bias the support shaft in a biasing direction. One of the fastened portions or a member supported by the one fastened portion includes a positioning portion configured to position the support shaft in the biasing direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-254204 (JP 2010-254204 A), a projection and a recess of an eccentric cam biased by a biasing spring constituted by a torsion coil spring so as to rotate about a support shaft mesh with an inner-column side, so that a telescopic lock is achieved. Further, when an adjusting lever and a release lever that rotates together with a fastening shaft in an integrated manner displace the eccentric cam so that the eccentric cam rotates in a release direction against the biasing spring, the telescopic lock is released.
A case, in which the support shaft is constituted by a member (a resin member or the like) that can break at the time of a secondary collision, is assumed. In this case, due to variation of component dimensions, a backlash of the support shaft in an axial direction of the support shaft may be caused with respect to a member for supporting the support shaft and a member supported by the support shaft. Accordingly, a breaking load of the support shaft may vary at the time of the secondary collision.


Mobile living quarters, such as manufactured housing or a recreational vehicle, is provided with a structure defining a main living quarters and a slide out room which is extended from the main living quarters when the unit is used, and is retracted into the main living quarters when the unit is to be transported. An actuation mechanism extends and retracts the slide out room, and a pivot mechanism is used to tilt the slide out room slightly in one direction when the slide out room is drawn into the main living area to thereby compress a seal between a sealing area on the slide out room and a sealing surface on the structure defining the main living quarters. When the slide out room is moved to the extended position, the slide out room is tilted in the opposite direction to thereby compress a second seal between another sealing area and a sealing surface.

The width of recreational vehicles and manufactured housing is limited to that which can be accommodated for traveling on public roads. Accordingly, it is common to provide recreational vehicles and manufactured housing with a slide out room which can be retracted into the main living quarters when the mobile living quarters is moved, but which can be extended from the main living quarters to provide auxiliary living space when the unit is parked for use. Since the interface between the slide out room and the main living quarters provides a path through which rain, dust and other environmental contaminants may enter the unit, it is desirable that a sealant be provided between the slide out room and the structure defining the main living quarters. This is necessary when the room is retracted into the main living quarters, because moisture, dirt and other such contaminants are likely to be drawn into the unit when the unit is being moved on the public roads, but it is also desirable that sealing be provided when the slide out room is extended to prevent rain or snow from entering the unit.
The present invention provides a compressible seal that extends around the side and top walls of the retractable room to seal against a corresponding sealing surface defined on the structure defining the main living when the slide out room is moved into the retracted position. Optionally, a second seal extends around a flange projecting from the inner edge of the slide out room and is engaged with a corresponding sealing area on the main living quarters when the slide out room is moved into the extended position for use as an auxiliary living area. The mechanism which extends and retracts the slide out room is pivotally connected to the actuator, and a stop assembly causes the slide out room to tilt slightly when the room is moved into the retracted position and to tilt slightly in the opposite direction when the room is moved into the extended position. Accordingly, the seals are compressed between their corresponding sealing areas on the slide out rooms and on the structure defining the main living quarters, thereby assuring a waterproof and dust proof seal.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:


Trivalent actinides can be separated from trivalent lanthanides in aqueous solutions at H.sup.+ concentrations of 2 mol/l to 0.001 mol/liter by extraction with bis(aryl)dithiophosphinic acid and a synergist such as TBP, TOPO and TBPO in an organic solvent. A high separation efficiency results. The method is applicable to high-level liquid waste from reactors and nuclear-material processing plants.

It has been recognized that the hazard potential of radioactive waste can be reduced by separating the long-lived uranium and transuranium elements, hereinafter referred to as actinides, and their subsequent transmutation into short-lived or even stable nuclides. Specific attention has been directed in this regard to so-called high-level liquid wastes (HLLW) which contain, in addition to the actinides, sufficient quantities of lanthanides, i.e. elements ranging in atomic number from 58 to 71, which can effect efficiency of transmutation because of the high neutron absorption cross sections of lanthanides.
Chemical separation of trivalent actinides (An) from lanthanides (Ln) is a difficult separation because of the great chemical and physical similarity of the elements of the two groups and because of the similar ionic radii of the metals and their oxidation characteristics.
Hence efforts have been made to accomplish this separation by extraction techniques. For example, a commercial product known as Cyanex 301 has been identified as capable of yielding a very high Am (III)/Eu(III) separation factor. The key ingredient of the Cyanex 301 for extraction purposes, i.e. the key component of the extractant, is bis(2,2,4 trimethylpentyl)-dithiophosphinic acid.
The extraction practice in earlier techniques of this type at a pH above about 3 which has not been convenient to highly acidic wastes for which such extractions are of the greatest importance.
By and large, therefore, earlier systems for the selective extraction of trivalent lanthanides from acidic aqueous solutions including high-level liquid wastes have not been fully satisfactory. Mention may also be made of the hydrometallurgical technique for separating lower atomic number metals described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,605 and using dialkyldithrophosphinic acids.

Method of separating trivalent actinides from trivalent lanthanides


Methods, systems, and apparatuses, among other things, as described herein may provide for hyperlocal edge cache. A method includes intercepting a request for a resource/entity associated with an application; determining that the request can be served from the cache, wherein the cache is connected with a base station and only serves devices directly connected with the base station; and responding to fulfill the request for the resource associated with the application.

Caches have proven themselves in many areas of computing, because typical computer applications access data with a high degree of locality of reference. Such access patterns exhibit temporal locality, where data is requested that has been recently requested already, and spatial locality, where data is requested that is stored physically close to data that has already been requested. Conventional systems have not focused on cache in the domain of wireless telecommunication and cellular applications.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art.


The present invention relates to a method of reducing the wear of a tip of a probe when the tip is in contact with a surface of a substrate and when the probe is mounted on a support structure. A method is provided where a load force is applied to the probe, thereby causing the tip to be maintained substantially in contact with the substrate surface and a modulation step where the e magnitude of the load force is modulated at a modulation frequency. The modulation frequency is selected to be greater than a fundamental vibration frequency of the support structure on which the probe is mounted.

Generally, in scanning probe microscopy, a probe with a nanometer-sized tip is scanned relative to a substrate surface that is to be investigated. In one mode of operation, the so-called contact mode of operation, the tip of the probe is scanned in mechanical contact with the substrate surface. The tip performs a sensing function of the interaction forces between itself and the substrate surface at each scan point. This information is then used for mapping specific characteristics of the substrate surface by yielding an image thereof. The magnitudes of the interaction forces that are sensed by the tip are relatively small, typically on the order of 1 nN to 1 μN. In order to detect them, transduction of the interaction forces is achieved by the choice of an appropriate force sensor, for example, in local probe microscopy; the force sensor is a cantilever spring on which the probe is mounted.
The interaction forces between the tip and the substrate surface depend on their respective physical and/or chemical characteristics. For example, if the tip comprises a magnetic material, it can be applied for sensing magnetic interactions with magnetic particles present in the substrate. Alternatively, if the tip comprises a conducting material, it can be applied for sensing electrostatic interactions with the substrate surface by applying a voltage between the tip and the substrate. For the investigation of the chemical properties of the substrate surface, the tip can be functionalized by adsorbing chemically active species thereon in order to sense specific chemical interactions with the substrate surface. Alternatively, it can be made of an inert insulating material thereby facilitating the topography of the substrate surface to be mapped. This can be done by exploiting hard-core repulsion forces between the tip and the surface. The tip may also be used to perform a combination of the aforementioned sensing principles.
As mentioned earlier, the magnitude of the interaction forces between the tip and the substrate surface are small and typically on the order of 1 nN to 1 μN. However, taking into account the nanometer scale dimensions of the tip and assuming that the area of contact between the tip and the substrate surface is on the order of 1 nm2 to 1000 nm2, the magnitude of the stress that is locally exerted on both the substrate surface and the tip can reach relatively high values and may be on the order of MPa to GPa. If the tip is displaced laterally over the substrate surface, shear forces of a similar order of magnitude are generated. Shear stress is considered to be one of the main causes of irreversible and undesirable alterations of the tip and/or the substrate surface, such alterations are typically referred to as wear. Wear can be manifested in a variety of ways. The following examples include tip-blunting; modification of the substrate surface topography which may, in some cases, be the irreversible damage of the substrate surface; loss of chemical and/or physical functionality of the tip, etc. Generally, wear is associated with the unintended displacement of atoms or molecules at the tip or the substrate surface.
It is known that wear may be reduced by using an alternative mode of operation in which the tip and the substrate are not maintained in contact during scanning but instead intermittently brought into contact with each other at the fundamental resonance frequency of the support structure onto which the probe is mounted. In this so-called tapping mode of operation, the reduction in wear can be attributed to the dynamics of the interdigitated network that forms between the tip and the substrate surface on an atomic/molecular scale when they are in contact. By periodically removing the tip from the substrate surface, the interdigitated network is allowed to disentangle, thereby relaxing the shear stress that accumulates between them when they are scanned in contact with each other.
Some problems associated with the tapping mode include: the sensing of bandwidth when bandwidth is dependent on and, therefore, limited by, the resonance frequency of the support structure onto which the probe is mounted. In order to cope with the vibration amplitude of the probe, the dynamic range of the sensing channel is chosen to be broad and control of the vibration amplitude is done by specialized and complicated control-loop schemes.
Accordingly, it is a challenge to increase the lifetime and performance of probes in applications where they are operated in contact with respect to a substrate surface.

Method and apparatus for reducing tip-wear of a probe

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides compositions including peptide display scaffolds that present at least one candidate peptide and at least one detectable moiety in at least one of the N-terminal and C-terminal candidate peptide presenting domains that when expressed in a cell are accessible at a surface of the cell outermembrane. In addition, the present invention also provides kits and methods for screening a library of cells presenting the candidate peptides in peptide display scaffolds to identify a ligand for an enzyme.

Combinatorial library screening and selection methods have become a common tool for identifying substrates or inhibitors of enzymes. The most widespread technique is phage display, whereby the protein of interest is expressed as a polypeptide fusion to a bacteriophage coat protein and subsequently screened by binding to immobilized or soluble biotinylated ligand. Phage display has been successfully applied to antibodies, DNA binding proteins, protease inhibitors, short peptides, and enzymes (Choo & Klug, 1995, Hoogenboom, 1997, Ladner, 1995, Lowman et al., 1991, Markland et al., 1996, Matthews & Wells, 1993, Wang et al., 1996).
Nevertheless, phage display possesses several shortcomings. For example, the nature of phage display precludes quantitative and direct discrimination of ligand binding parameters, such as quantitative characterization of protease specificity and substrate cleavage kinetics. Furthermore, some eukaryotic secreted proteins and cell surface proteins require post-translational modifications such as glycosylation or extensive disulfide isomerization which are unavailable in bacterial cells.
Accordingly, there remains a need in this art for systems and methods that provide efficient display and screening of polypeptides at the cell surface, as well as qualitative and quantitative characterization of the candidate polypeptides. The present invention addresses this need.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cellular libraries of peptide sequences (CLiPS) and methods of using the same

The Regents of the University of California


Structures and methods of fabricating portions of integrated circuit devices to reduce agglomeration tendencies of high surface-energy metals used in interconnects and contacts. Early transition metals having relatively low surface energies are chosen to form stable crystalline compounds rich in the high surface-energy metal. Agglomeration control layers containing such alloy compounds facilitate adhesion between the high surface-energy metal and an underlying layer of the integrated circuit device, such as a diffusion barrier layer. These agglomeration control layers may be nitrided to improve robustness at higher temperatures.

In the fabrication of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, it is desirable to fabricate the device with materials having a low resistivity (i.e., property of resistance to current flow) in order to optimize the device's electrical performance. Lower resistance within the device allows faster processing of information due to a smaller delay time associated with resistance to current flow.
Various portions of an integrated circuit device are typically interconnected using metal lines (i.e., conductive layers) with metal contacts extending to active areas within the device. Resistivity of the metal lines plays an increasingly important role in the overall resistance of an integrated circuit device. As such devices become more dense, wiring length increases. Furthermore, wiring pitch decreases, which effectively decreases the available wiring width. As the wiring width decreases, resistivity of the wiring material becomes a dominant factor as compared to parasitic capacitance between wires (i.e., that associated with device resistance). Thus, it is desirable to decrease the resistivity of wiring material within an integrated circuit device.
Copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) are becoming increasingly desirable in integrated circuit fabrication as a replacement for aluminum (Al), particularly for interconnect lines and other conductive structures (i.e., conductive digit lines and plugs connecting the conductive layers). Copper and silver have lower resistivity and higher resistance to electromigration (i.e., the transport of metal atoms in conductors carrying large current densities, resulting in morphological degradation of the conductors) than aluminum.
These metal interconnects and contacts are typically formed using a dual damascene technique. In a dual damascene process, a dielectric layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate in which the integrated circuit device is being fabricated. Vias are formed in the dielectric layer to expose active areas of the semiconductor substrate and trenches are formed in the dielectric layer to couple the vias to other portions of the integrated circuit device. A metal layer is then blanket deposited to fill the trenches and vias and to cover the dielectric layer. The excess metal overlying the dielectric layer is removed, such as by chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) to define the metal interconnects as the metal-filled trenches and metal contacts as the metal-filled vias. A CMP process generally involves abrading the surface of the semiconductor substrate with an abrasive and a solution to chemically assist the abrasive. The abrasive/solution combination is generally specific to the material to be removed and to the surrounding materials to be retained.
To reduce migration or diffusion of copper or silver into the underlying substrate, a diffusion barrier layer is often interposed between the substrate and the metal layer. Tantalum nitride is one material used as a diffusion barrier layer between the substrate and the metal layer. Continuous copper and silver layers are readily formed over tantalum nitride. However, it is generally necessary to use two different abrasive/solution combinations to first remove the copper or silver layer and then remove the tantalum nitride layer. While the use of titanium nitride as a diffusion barrier layer facilitates the use of a single abrasive/solution combination, it can be difficult to form copper or silver layers on a titanium nitride layer. Because of their large surface energies, copper and silver tend to agglomerate on a titanium nitride layer, thus tending to result in a discontinuous film and the production of voids in the damascene structure.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below that will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for alternative structures and methods for utilizing copper, silver and other high surface-energy metals as integrated circuit interconnect materials.

Agglomeration control using early transition metal alloys


A system for measuring a mass property of an object is provided. The system includes a first shaft having a first end and a second end and a table disposed in a first plane and coupled to the first shaft at a predetermined angle to support the object. The table is configured to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the first plane between at least a first pivot position and a second pivot position. The system further includes a torque sensor configured to collect a first torque measurement on the first shaft when the table is in the first pivot position and a second torque measurement on the first shaft when the table in the second pivot position.

Determining the mass properties of a vehicle about all three axes is important in the design and implementation of safety and stability mechanisms. Such mass properties associated with a vehicle may include the center of gravity and moments of inertia. While estimating the mass properties of regularly shaped objects may be relatively simple, it is more problematic with irregular objects such as vehicle components and the vehicle itself This is particularly true with respect to vehicle components provided by third party manufacturers in which design changes for a component may modify the associated mass properties for the component, vehicle system, and assembled vehicle.
Techniques for estimating mass properties of irregular objects may include a trifilar pendulum system and an inertia table system. The trifilar pendulum system includes a flat plate suspended by cables. The vehicle component is secured to the plate, and the plate is twisted and released. The mass properties about a single axis may be calculated based on characteristics of the resulting oscillations and the characteristics of the pendulum. The inertia table system includes a flat plate supported by a torsional spring. The vehicle component is secured to the plate, and the plate is twisted and released. The mass properties about a single axis may be calculated based on characteristics of the resulting oscillations and the characteristics of the torsional spring. Unfortunately, in each of these systems, the vehicle component must be carefully repositioned into an orthogonal arrangement relative to the first estimation to recalculate the mass characteristics about a second axis and again repositioned into another orthogonal arrangement to recalculate the mass characteristics about a third axis. Repositioning and refixturing the vehicle component into three mutually orthogonal orientations may be problematic and generally takes a substantial amount of time.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide accurate and relatively expedient systems and methods for determining the mass properties of irregular components, particularly vehicle components. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Systems and methods for determining mass properties of vehicle components


A sensing system for sensing the presence of a blank or part in the sheet metal forming tool. A blank holder assembly has a fixed bracket that is fixed to a lower die of the tool and a movable bracket that is moved with the upper die of the tool. A proximity sensor is attached to the movable bracket and senses the presence or absence of an edge of a blank or part during the course of a sheet metal forming operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blank or part sensing system for sheet metal forming tools that permits sensing the presence of a blank or part during a forming process.
2. Background Art
Metal parts may be formed in sheet metal forming process in which a blank is formed in a series of steps into a finished part. Several presses may be arranged and aligned to sequently form a part. Parts may be initially drawn in a draw die, and then may be spanked, trimmed, and punched in subsequent press forming operations. The sheet metal parts may also be made in a transfer press in which a die having multiple stations is operated by a single press that has a die with multiple stations that perform prescribed steps in sequence to form a finished part.
Sensors are used in sheet metal forming processes to control the operation of one or more presses. Sensors may be provided in the dies and also may be provided on loaders, shuttles, conveyors and other material handling equipment that is used to load blanks or partially formed parts. Different types of sensors may be used in sheet metal forming processes include limit switches, reed switches, Hall Effect switches, or proximity sensors.
One application for a sensor used in a sheet metal forming tool is as a blank or part presence detector. A part presence detector is used to detect whether a sheet metal blank or a partially formed part is in the proper position for performing the next operation. If a part presence detector provides a false indication that a part is in the desired position the part, die, or tool may be damaged if, in fact, the part is out of location. If a part is mishit by a sheet metal forming tool the part may be scrapped and the tool may be damaged. If a part presence detector indicates the presence of a panel when no panel is in the tool, the tool may be damaged. If a sheet metal forming tool is cycled without performing the desired the operation on the part, the number of parts produced may be inaccurately reflected.
Variations in the strength or resiliency of a blank or part may result in unexpected spring back in the part after a forming operation. Bowed blanks or parts may be difficult to sense by a part presence detector since the blank may be bowed in an area where the sensor is oriented to detect the presence of the blank.
High speed production lines have short cycle times that afford less time for a blank or part to nest within the tool. Less time is also available for sensing that the part is properly nested in the tool. Some part shapes present challenges for locating sensors that accurately and quickly sense the location of a blank or part.
In some instances, it would be advantageous to provide a part presence detector that senses the presence of a part throughout a forming process even as the edge of a part moves during the drawing or forming cycle.
There is a need for an accurate system for sensing the presence of a blank or part. There is a further need for a part sensing system that provides a quick response and is capable of providing an accurate indication of the presence of a part throughout a forming cycle. By providing an improved part presence detecting system a reduction in false signals from the part sensing system can result in reduced downtime and scrap.
The above problems and needs are addressed by applicant's invention as summarized below.

Sensing system for sheet metal forming tool


A device that is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of a polymeric fuel tank includes a body, a weld foot adapted to be inserted into the molten inner surface of the fuel tank and having a support surface adapted to control insertion of the weld foot into the molten inner surface of the fuel tank and to position the device relative to the inner surface, and a break zone positioned between and interconnecting the weld foot and the body and having a structural cross section that is weaker than the weld foot and the body such that under sufficient force, the break zone will fracture and allow the body to separate from the inner surface of the fuel tank, thereby leaving the weld foot embedded within the inner surface of the fuel tank.

Traditionally, the fuel tank within an automobile vehicle was made from metal, however, polymer fuel tanks are becoming more common, wherein the fuel tank is made from a polymeric material. Fuel tanks typically include devices such as vapor valves, modules, and baffles which perform specific functions within the fuel tank. Current methods of manufacturing polymer fuel systems include forming an opening in the polymeric fuel tank, inserting the device within the opening, and hot-plate welding the device into place. This compromises the structural integrity of the fuel tank. Therefore, there is a need for a vapor valve that is adapted to be mounted to the internal surface of a polymeric fuel tank and will not compromise the structural integrity of the fuel tank.


The use of camera based safety systems is growing at a rapid rate in modern automobiles. As the industry moves for full autonomous capability, the number of cameras required is increasing. At the same time, windshields, where many of the cameras are mounted are 5 becoming larger and more complex in shape. This presents problems in the area of camera optics. For one, the camera is looking out through at least two layers of bent glass bonded together by a third layer of plastic. Mismatches in the refractive index can result in a double image. The curvature of the glass turns the window into a lens and, in conjunction with the often low installation angle, can reduce the optical clarity of the camera field of view. The 0 laminate of the invention has a cutout in the area of the camera(s) on the interior glass layer where the cameras are mounted. The cameras are mounted directly to the glass via a bracket or adhesive or to a thin transparent insert. The glass can also be fitted with a lens system optically bonded to the glass for even better performance. The result is a laminated glazing with superior optical quality.

The use of cameras based safety systems, requiring a wide field of view and a high level of optical clarity, is growing at a rapid rate. As the industry moves towards full autonomous capability, the number of cameras and resolution is increasing. At the same time, windshields, where many of the cameras are mounted, are becoming larger and more complex in shape.
The main cameras require a high, forward looking field of view and so must typically be mounted on the windshield and in the wiper area. Early initial applications were for night-vision. Today, camera based systems are used to provide a wide array of safety functions including adaptive cruise control, obstacle detection, lane departure warning and support for autonomous operation. Many of these applications require the use of multiple cameras. A clear undistorted field of view, with minimal double imaging and excellent MTF (Modulation Transfer Function, a measure of how well a lens maps an image to a sensor), is especially critical for camera based systems to perform as intended. It is essential for these systems to be able to quickly differentiate between objects, capture text, identify signage, and operate with minimal lighting. Further, as the resolution of the cameras used increases the need for a clear distortion free field of view increases.
Laminated windshields are made by bonding two sheets of annealed glass together using a thin sheet of a transparent thermo plastic as shown in FIG. 9. Annealed glass is glass that has been slowly cooled from the bending temperature down through the glass transition range. This process relieves any stress left in the glass from the bending process. Annealed glass breaks into large shards with sharp edges. When laminated glass breaks, the shards of broken glass are held together, much like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, by the plastic layer helping to maintain the structural integrity of the glass. A vehicle with a broken windshield can still be operated. On impact, the plastic layer also helps to prevent penetration by the occupant in the event of a crash and by objects striking the laminate from the exterior.
This laminated construction presents problems in the area of optics, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B. For one, the cameras 16, disposed in a mounting bracket 8, are looking out through at least two layers 2 of bent glass, exterior glass layer 201 and interior glass layer 202, bonded together by a third layer of plastic 4. Secondary reflections from the multiple surfaces can result in double image. The curvature of the glass, in conjunction with the often low installation angle, can also contribute to double image as well as further reducing the optical clarity of the field of view.
It would be desirable overcome these limitations providing a laminated glazing with superior optical quality and performance.

Automotive laminate with superior camera window


An automated fueling system in which an operator remains in their vehicle. The fueling system is configured to obtain transaction information from the operator, align the vehicle relative to a fuel pump, and to deliver the fuel to the vehicle. Once the process is complete, the operator can drive their vehicle away from the station.

The present application is directed to a system for fueling vehicles and, more particularly, an automated fueling system in which the vehicle operator remains in the vehicle during the fueling process.
Fueling stations are commonplace in today's society. The most readily seen station is a gas station that includes one or more fuel pumps that are able to dispense one or more different types of fuel. A vehicle operator drives their vehicle to one of the pumps and stops their vehicle. The operator then exits the vehicle to pay for the fuel and then dispense the fuel. At some stations, the operator may be required to walk to a nearby kiosk or store to pay for the fuel. Alternatively, the pump may be equipped with an interface to receive credit card payment. The user may also remove a fuel nozzle and corresponding hose from the pump and place the nozzle into the gas tank in their vehicle to dispense the fuel. Once complete, the nozzle and hose are returned to the pump, the user closes their fuel tank, and is then able to drive away in their vehicle. This type of fueling system includes a variety of disadvantages.
One disadvantage is the vehicle operator is required to exit the vehicle. Exiting the vehicle may expose the operator to unsafe conditions in which they may be robbed or worse. This is more likely in certain circumstances, such as when the operator is alone, the fueling occurs at night, or the station is in an area with a history of crime.
Exiting the vehicle also exposes the operator to adverse weather conditions. It may be raining at the time of fueling thus causing the operator to get wet while they perform the refueling. Likewise, the weather may be frigidly cold or excessively hot, either of which exposes the operator to be placed in physically uncomfortable situations.
From a business efficiency perspective, requiring the operator to exit the vehicle to fuel their vehicle is a relatively slow process that limits the throughput of the number of fuelings that can occur within a given time period. Operators may spend an excessive amount of time to complete the fueling due to a variety of different factors, such as being unfamiliar with how to pump the fuel, and being unfamiliar with the payment interface. This reduces the number of operators that can be serviced and thus may reduce the profitability of the station.


A high-resolution display system is provided.

In recent years, display devices with high resolution have been demanded. For example, display devices including a large number of pixels such as full high definition (the number of pixels: 1920×1080), 4K (the number of pixels: 3840×2160, 4096×2160, or the like), and 8K (the number of pixels: 7680×4320, 8192×4320, or the like) have been actively developed.
Furthermore, larger display devices have been required. For example, the screen size of mainstream home-use television devices has been 50 inches diagonal or more. A larger screen size allows a larger amount of information to be displayed at a time, and a further increase in screen size has been demanded for digital signage and the like.
Flat panel displays typified by liquid crystal display devices and light-emitting display devices are widely used as display devices. Silicon is chiefly used as a semiconductor material of transistors included in these display devices; recently, a technique in which a transistor using a metal oxide is used in a pixel of a display device has also been developed.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which amorphous silicon is used as a semiconductor material of a transistor. Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 each disclose a technique in which a metal oxide is used as a semiconductor material of a transistor.

Abstract: A display system with high display quality is provided. The display system includes a processing unit and a display unit. A first image signal is supplied to the processing unit. The processing unit has a function of generating a second image signal by using the first image signal. The processing unit has a function of generating a correction signal. The display unit includes a pixel. The pixel includes a display element and a memory circuit. The second image signal and the correction signal are supplied to the pixel. The memory circuit has a function of retaining the correction signal.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Disclosed is a bound phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst. Zeolite is treated with a phosphorus compound to form the phosphorus-treated zeolite. Binder material is treated with a mineral acid prior to being bound with the phosphorus-modified zeolite. The binder material includes inorganic oxide materials, such as alumina, clay, aluminum phosphate and silica-alumina, in particular, a binder of alumina or clay or their combinations. The mineral acid includes hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid. The phosphorus-treated zeolite is combined with the acid-treated inorganic oxide binder material to form a zeolite-binder mixture. Water is added to form an extrudable paste which maybe shaped and is heated to a temperature of about 400° C. or higher to form a bound phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst. For aromatic alkylation, the bound phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst is contacted with an aromatic alkylation feed of an aromatic compound and an alkylating agent under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the alkylation of aromatic compounds and catalysts used for such reactions and their preparation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Before 1940 virtually all of the aromatic solvents, including xylene, were produced from coal. Thereafter production of xylene from petroleum started. Most mixed xylene is currently produced by catalytic reforming of petroleum aromatic-rich streams from refineries. It is also obtained from pyrolysis gasoline as a by-product of olefin manufacture during the cracking of hydrocarbons, by-product of naphtha cracking. Xylene can also be obtained from toluene by disproportionation or alkylation. Toluene disproportionation (TDP) is a catalytic reaction of toluene to produce xylenes and benzene. Toluene methylation (TM) is a catalytic reaction of toluene with methanol to produce xylenes as shown below:

All of these processes generally produce a mixture of isomers. The xylene isomers, meta-xylene (m-xylene), ortho-xylene (o-xylene) and para-xylene (p-xylene), are important chemical intermediates. o-Xylene is oxidized to make phthalic anhydride which is used to make phthalate plasticizers among other things. m-Xylene is oxidized to make isophthalic acid, which is used in unsaturated polyester resins (UPR). However, p-xylene has by far the largest market of the three isomers. The largest use of p-xylene is in its oxidation to make terephthalic acid. Terephthalic acid is used in turn to make polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). PET is one of the largest volume polymers in the world. As such the demand for p-xylene is several times that for m- and o-xylene. In commercial manufacture p-xylene is purified from mixed xylenes by crystallization and adsorption processes.
Thermodynamic equilibrium compositions of o-, m-, and p-xylenes are approximately 25, 50 and 25%, respectively, at 500° C. The catalytic processes such as TDP and TM would give about 25% p-xylene (PX) in mixed-xylenes (MX). However, if a catalyst possesses shape selective properties it will give significantly greater than 25% PX. Typically, a shape selective catalyst would give >85% PX in MX.
Zeolites are crystalline solids made up of aluminum-substituted SiO4 tetrahedral units joined together to form different ring and cage structures into a crystalline framework. The physical structure of zeolite is very porous with a large internal and external surface area. The substitution of aluminum generates a charge imbalance which must be countered by a supplementary counterion, such as a proton.
Zeolites can be shape-selective catalysts due to steric and electronic effects. Selective reactions can occur over zeolites as certain products, reactants or transition states are kept from forming within the pores either by transition state selectivity or because of size or shape of molecular diameter. By varying the preparation of zeolite catalysts, they can be modified to carry out very specific syntheses of desired products.
Modified zeolite catalysts are known for alkylation of aromatics, specifically methylation of toluene to xylenes, especially p-xylene

U.S. Pat. No. 6,504,072 discloses a phosphorus-modified zeolite used in the selective methylation of toluene to p-xylene. The P-modified zeolite catalyst may contain active and inactive materials such as clays, silica and/or metal oxides such as alumina as a binder. There is no disclosure of modification or treatment of the binder and no disclosure of the effect of modification or treatment of the binder on selectivity to para-xylene.
Other prior art discloses the modification or treatment of binder material for zeolite catalysts used in other processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,073 discloses a process for alkylation of an aromatic with a molecular sieve catalyst of a modified zeolite beta having an intergrowth of a ZSM-12 crystalline framework. During synthesis, NH4-Beta and LaNH4-Beta were mulled with nitric acid treated alumina, extruded and calcined which converted the NH4-Beta and LaNH4-Beta into H-Beta catalyst and LaH-Beta catalyst, respectively. The finished catalyst was used in ethylation of benzene to form ethylbenzene. There is no disclosure that modification or treatment of the binder had an effect on selectivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,690 discloses a catalyst for the production of light olefins which is a mixture of clay, inorganic oxides and zeolite prepared by mixing the precursor of the inorganic oxides such as aluminum sol, pseudo-bohemite, silica sol or its mixture, and silica-alumina sol or gel with clay, peptizing with de-cationized water to prepare a slurry, further mixing homogeneously, adjusting and maintaining the pH value of the slurry to 2-4 using inorganic acid such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, or sulfuric acid, after aging statically, adding into it a pre-calculated amount of zeolite, homogenizing, spray drying, washing-off isolated sodium ions, and drying. There is no disclosure that adjusting and maintaining the pH of the slurry containing the binder precursor had an effect on selectivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,544 discloses an engine exhaust gas purification catalyst of a layer of palladium, platinum or rhodium on a layer of a zeolite hydrocarbon adsorbent on a monolithic substrate. During synthesis, Pd-impregnated alumina powder, Pd-impregnated cerium oxide powder, nitric acid acidified alumina sol and water were introduced into a magnetic ball mill to crush the mixture so as to obtain a slurry. The nitric acid acidified alumina sol was obtained by adding 10 weight % nitric acid to 10 weight % bemite alumina. There is no disclosure that modification or treatment of the alumina had an effect on selectivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,530 discloses a hydrocracking catalyst having a binder of a small pore alumina which is peptized with nitric acid and has a specific surface area of 240-280 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.4-0.5 ml/g. There is no disclosure that modification or treatment of the alumina binder had an effect on selectivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,293 discloses an olefin-selective catalyst for production of light olefins which is a phosphorus-modified zeolite having a binder. The alumina binder is usually peptized before or during its combination with the other catalyst composition components. There is no disclosure that peptization of the alumina binder was with a mineral acid or that peptization of the alumina binder had an effect on selectivity.

Bound phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst, method of preparing and method of using thereof


A multi-piece knob having a cylindrical tubular plastic body with a central hub and a peripheral wall. An annular end wall extends from the peripheral wall and terminates radially short of the central hub to define a passage into the tubular body and around the hub. An undersurface is formed on the annular end wall at the annular passage. An annular ring is seated on the annular end wall of the cylindrical tubular body between the passage and the peripheral wall. A locking top cap is formed having a head with an underside. A number of discrete elongated fingers are formed integrally with the underside of the head of the locking top cap with the elongated fingers spaced from each other and arranged generally in a circle. The elongated fingers extend from the underside of the top cap with each of the fingers terminating in a tip. The locking top cap is positioned on the annular ring with its elongated fingers extending through the annular ring and through the passage in the annular end wall of the tubular body to engage and surround the hub of the cylindrical tubular body. Each of the elongated fingers has a locking lug located between its tip and the underside of the top cap head to engage the underside of the annular end wall of the cylindrical tubular body to connect the cylindrical tubular body, the annular ring and the locking top cap to one another. The locking lug has an inclined locking ledge which engages the undersurface of the annular end wall to provide a connection which automatically adjusts to compensate for temperature changes. The annular ring may be formed of either metal or plastic.

This invention is directed to a snap fitted multi-piece knob in which a locking cap connects to a tubular plastic body and captures a decorative ring between the locking cap and the tubular body.
An object of this invention is a multi-piece snap fitted knob in which the components of the knob are held together under a constant clamping force over a wide range of environmental operating temperatures.
Another object of the invention is a multi-piece knob having a locking cap having fingers that pilot the locking cap into its locking position.
Yet another object of this invention is a decorative ring of a multi-piece knob which is held against rotation relative to the knob's tubular body.
Still another object of this invention is a multi-piece knob which may incorporate a metal or a plastic decorative ring.
Other objects of the invention will be found in the following specification, claims and drawings.

Knob with decorative ring and snap on cap


A latch assembly for a door comprising a bolt disposed on the door, the bolt movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The latch assembly further includes a lock plate disposed on a door jamb, the lock plate movable between an upper position and a lower position. During operation, when the bolt is in the locked position, the bolt slideably engages the lock plate to move the lock plate from the lower position to an upper position to enable the bolt to be inserted within an opening in the lock plate to secure the door in a closed position.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a door latch assembly for securing a door in a closed and/or otherwise locked position, and even more particularly, to a door latch assembly having movable latch plate for providing a smooth and quiet door closure when the door is transitioned to the closed position.
Introduction
In typical door installations, as the door is moved from an open position towards a closed position, a large force is oftentimes required to enable the door's bolt to lock into and otherwise engage a lock plate on the door jamb to secure the door in the closed position. Thus, in the case of a typical sliding door assembly, as the door is moved towards the closed position, an increased velocity/closing force is oftentimes required, especially with lightweight doors. This results in undesirable noise and/or large slamming forces against the door frame, potentially damaging the door or door frame. It is therefore the principal purpose of this invention to avoid these and other disadvantages of existing door latch assemblies.

Door latch assembly with movable lock plate


A method for managing a memory in a computer system is disclosed. A mapping of a virtual page to physical page is locked in response to receiving a request to make the page immutable. According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention, locking the mapping of the virtual page to the physical page includes preventing mapping of the virtual page to another physical page. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

It has been observed that substantial portions of an operating system kernel, including portions of the kernel's data, should not be changed after some milestone (e.g. after the kernel is loaded). In addition, the operating system may complete a set of initialization routines which determine a number and features of CPUs and memory regions present in a system. In many cases, those data structures should not change after initialization. Changes to these regions in memory after passing milestones are often due to either implementation errors or malicious attacks. Preserving the integrity of a running kernel is vital for maintaining system security.
Applications executed on a computer system rely on the operating system kernel to manage resources and enforce boundaries. Basic protection of the kernel is typically provided by distinguishing the execution of trusted kernel code from user-space by a processor supervisor bit and then enforcing memory protection through paging and segmentation. Further, protections such as read/write protections are provided in the page table architecture of processor memory sub-systems. However, in current page tables read/write and other permissions are maintained by the operating system. Consequently, a compromised operating system can change the read-only permission to read-write and then write to the protected memory regions. A single vulnerability in the kernel code, or an act of misplaced trust granting elevated permissions, may enable execution of hostile code in supervisor mode, which would render the computer system compromised. Additionally, since an operating system operates on virtual addresses, it is not sufficient to maintain protections only on physical pages. If protections were only on physical pages, an attacker could remap virtual addresses to unprotected pages.

Method and apparatus for supporting immutable memory


A gas sensor (1) has a platelike detection element (5) extending in an axial direction and a ceramic member (67) having an element insertion hole (81) into which the detection element (5) is inserted. When the ceramic member (67) is viewed from the axial direction, the element insertion hole (81) has a main insertion hole (83) having a substantially quadrate shape surrounded by four sides, and relief holes (85), (86), (87) and (88), each of which is surrounded by an outline connecting ends of two adjacent sides of the four sides of the main insertion hole (83) and located radially outward of the main insertion hole (83) so as to communicate with the main insertion hole 83.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas sensor having ceramic members, such as a holder, a sleeve and a separator, and used as, for example, an air/fuel ratio sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an air/fuel ratio sensor, for example, includes the following ceramic members: a holder through which a platelike gas detection element (hereinafter, referred to as a detection element) is inserted and which is engaged with a forward portion of the gas detection element; a sleeve through which the detection element is inserted and which is engaged with a central portion of the detection element; and a separator which accommodates a rear end portion of the detection element and into which connection terminals made of metal are inserted (refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Among the above-mentioned ceramic members, as shown in FIG. 20, the holder and the sleeve have, for example, an element insertion hole P2 through which a detection element P1 (having a substantially rectangular cross section) is inserted. FIG. 20 is a view of the sleeve as viewed from the direction of the axial line of the detection element P1. The element insertion hole P2 has a substantially quadrate shape surrounded by four sides; however, corners P3 of the element insertion hole P2 are not right-angled (at an angle of 90 degrees), but are radiused; i.e., smoothly curved. This is for the following reason: as a result of employing right-angled corners P3, stress is apt to be imposed on the apexes of the corners P3, potentially generating cracks in the ceramic member.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2006-308328    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2007-3216
3. Problems to be Solved by the Invention
However, when the edges P3 of the element insertion hole P2 are radiused, as shown in FIG. 20, the dimensions (vertical dimension T1 and horizontal dimension T2) of the element insertion hole P2 must be greater than the dimensions (specifically, thickness t1 and width t2) of the detection element P1 to be inserted into the element insertion hole P2.
This is for the following reason: when the platelike detection element P1 is to be inserted into the element insertion hole P2, the radiused surfaces of corners P3 of the element insertion hole P2 must be located radially outward of the apexes of edges P4 of the platelike detection element P1.
As a result, a clearance between the side surfaces of the detection element P1 and the inner peripheral surfaces of the element insertion hole P2 increases, thereby raising a problem in that the detection element P1 is apt to have play within the element insertion hole P2, with a resultant deterioration in positioning accuracy.
Although unillustrated, in the case of the separator, when the connection terminals are to be disposed through insertion into terminal insertion holes, similar to the above-mentioned case, since the edges of the terminal insertion holes are radiused, a problem arises in that the connection terminals are apt to have play, with a resultant deterioration in positioning accuracy.


The invention relates to a light redirecting polymeric film comprising a plurality of polymeric individual optical elements wherein the elements comprise curved wedge shaped features in the plane of the film, having a length in the range of 800 to 4000 micrometers.

Light redirecting films are typically thin transparent optical films or substrates that redistribute the light passing through the films such that the distribution of the light exiting the films is directed more normal to the surface of the films. Typically, redirecting films are provided with ordered prismatic grooves, lenticular grooves, or pyramids on the light exit surface of the films which change the angle of the film/air interface for light rays exiting the films and cause the components of the incident light distribution traveling in a plane perpendicular to the refracting surfaces of the grooves to be redistributed in a direction more normal to the surface of the films. Such light redirecting films are used, for example, to improve brightness in liquid crystal displays (LCD), laptop computers, word processors, avionic displays, cell phones, PDAs and the like to make the displays brighter.
Previous light redirecting films suffer from visible moiré patterns when the light redirecting film is used with a liquid crystal or other display. The surface features of the light redirecting film interact with other optical films utilized in backlight assemblies, the pattern of printed dots or three-dimensional features on the back of the light guide plate, or the pixel pattern inside the liquid crystal section of the display to create moiré, an undesirable effect. Methods known in the art for reducing moiré have been to die cut the light redirecting films such that the lenticular array, is not parallel to any edge of the sheet, such that the lenticular array is at an angle relative to another light redirecting film or to the display electronics. Methods also used include randomizing the linear array by widths of the linear array elements, varying the height of the grooves in the linear array, adding a diffusing surface to the film on the side opposite the linear array, adding a diffusing film to the system, or rounding the ridges of the linear array. The above techniques to reduce moiré also cause a decrease in on-axis brightness or do not work to adequately solve the moiré problem. Moire and on-axis brightness tend to be related, meaning that a film with high on-axis gain would have high moiré in a system. It would be beneficial to be able to reduce the moiré while maintaining relatively high on-axis gain.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,551 (Cobb, Jr. et al) discloses a linear array film with variable pitch ridges and/or grooves to reduce the visibility of moiré interference patterns. The pitch variations can be over groups of adjacent ridges and/or valleys or between adjacent pairs of ridges and/or valleys. While this varying of the pitch of the linear array elements reduces moiré, the linear elements of the film still interact with the dot pattern on the backlight light guide and the electronics inside the liquid crystal section of the display. It would be desirable to break up the linear array of elements to reduce or eliminate this interaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,709 discloses a film with a linear array that varies in height along its ridgeline and the ridgeline also moves side to side. While the film does redirect light and its varying height along the ridgeline slightly reduces moiré, it would be desirable to have a film that significantly reduces the moiré of the film when used in a system while maintaining a moderately high on-axis gain.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,936 (Kaminsky et al) discloses a patterned roller for the micro-replication of light polymer diffusion lenses. The patterned roller is created by first bead blasting the roller with multiple sized particles, followed by a chroming process that creates micro-nodules. The manufacturing method for the roller is well suited for light diffusion lenses that are intended to diffuse incident light energy.


A message display system includes a main housing that is couplable to a vehicle. The main housing has bezel portion designed for encompassing a perimeter edge of a license plate. The main housing has a top display means for presenting a visual message. The top display means is medially positioned on a top portion of the main housing. A receiver portion is operationally coupled to the top display means. The receiver portion is positioned substantially within the housing. The receiver portion facilitates input of a message to be visually presented. A remote transmitter member is designed for receiving user input of a message to be visually presented. The remote transmitter member is operationally couplable to the receiver portion such that the message is communicated from the remote transmitter to the receiver portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to messaging systems and more particularly pertains to a new message display system for displaying a series of messages that allows a user to express their thoughts and personalities.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of messaging systems is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,179 describes an electronic license display comprised of an LCD and capable of serving as a message center. U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,434 describes a communications system using an LCD unit capable of displaying various messages controlled remotely from the interior of a vehicle. Another type of messaging system is U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,008 describing an electronic license plate system.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a license plate communication system.


An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing system and a method for manufacturing sheet-like structures. The manufacturing system of sheet-like structures contains a loosened portion forming apparatus by which plural loosened portions, which are substantially U-shaped, are formed on a cord member, and plural linear portions, which connect each of the plural loosened portions, are formed substantially linearly; and a sewing apparatus by which each of the plural absorbing members and each of the plural linear portions are sewn with a thread member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to manufacturing systems and methods for manufacturing sheet-like structures comprising sheet members with prescribed forms and predefined cord members.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, in sewing sheet-like structures in which predefined cord members are sewn onto sheet members of a prescribed form, cord members and the sheet members are sewn together in a longitudinal direction of the cord members in order to sew the cord members and sheet members firmly. When a large quantity of sheet-like structures are manufactured continuously for example, a cord member is reeled out linearly and sewn continuously with a thread while plural sheet members are arranged at predetermined intervals so as to be in contact with the cord member. The cord member placed so as to connect each sheet member is cut to obtain prescribed sheet-like structures. In this case, a sewn area which continued from the area sewn with the sheet members is formed on the cord member with a thread member. This has caused problems in that, for example, the thread member starts to come off from free ends of the cord member in the sheet-like structures causing the thread member sewn onto the sheet member to also come off.
In order to solve the above problems, an absorbing member for tampons, which is sewn from the tail end that is a free end of the cord member toward the leading end that is the sheet-like absorbing member, with a double chain stitch for preventing the threads from coming off and for preventing separation between cord members and sheet members caused by the coming off of the threads, is disclosed in Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 2534839 (referred to as "Patent Document 1" below).
In the absorbing member stated in Patent Document 1, sewing starts from a free end of the cord member that is the tail end of the cord member toward the absorbing member that is the leading end is performed with a double chain stitch, thereby the thread is prevented from coming off by using a characteristic of the double chain stitch. That is, the double chain stitch has a characteristic in which when the seam at the tail end comes undone and only a bobbin thread is pulled off from the sewing end, the bobbin thread may come off and the whole seam may come undone; however, when the bobbin thread is pulled off from the threshold, the whole seam does not come undone. The whole thread members can be protected from coming undone as a result of the thread coming off from the free end of the extended portion that is the tail end of the absorbing member stated in Patent Document 1 by using the above characteristic of the double chain stitch.
However, the above thread coming off cannot be prevented completely in the absorbing member of Patent Document 1 because the thread member runs from the sheet member to the cord member continuously. Also, when this is used as an absorbing member for tampons, menstrual blood may leak from the free end side of the extended portion through the thread. In addition, the sewn area is formed continuously from the leading end of the absorbing member to the tail end that is a free end of the extended portion of the cord member, in the manufacturing process. Consequently, this still offer problems in that the thread is used more than necessary and the step of sewing requires excessive time. These are problems to be solved by the present invention.

Manufacturing system and manufacturing method for sheet-like structure


The disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating cell cycle disorders. Compositions of the disclosure include proTAME, a prodrug analog of TAME and apcin, the combination of which inhibits an activity or function of the anaphase promoting complex (APC) by a synergistic mechanism.

Conventional antiproliferative agents used in the treatment of cancer are generally grouped as compounds which affect the integrity of nucleic acid polymers, e.g., by binding, alkylating, inducing strand breaks, intercalating between base pairs or affecting enzymes which maintain the integrity and function of DNA and RNA, and compounds that bind to proteins to inhibit enzymatic action (e.g., antimetabolites) or the function of structural proteins necessary for cellular integrity (e.g., antitubulin agents). Other antiproliferative drugs include those that block steroid hormone action for the treatment of hormone-dependent cancer, photochemically activated agents, radiation sensitizers, and protectors. Many of these agents are associated with adverse side effects.

Cell permeable inhibitors of anaphase promoting complex

President and Fellows of Harvard College


Materials and methods for freeform fabrication of a solid three-dimensional object are provided. At least one layer of support material and at least one layer of build material are dispensed onto a substrate. The support material includes at least one of water and a fusible water-containing substance and the build material is a substance other than water or a fusible, water-containing substance. After solidification, the at least one layer of support material is removed by an automated or manual process which includes washing with water at ambient temperature and/or causing the support material to undergo a phase change, to produce the solid three-dimensional object.

Solid freeform fabrication (SFF), also known as rapid prototyping, is a designation for a group of fabrication technologies that produce three-dimensional objects using additive formation steps without the use of part-specific tooling (e.g., molds or dies). The three-dimensional object is commonly produced from a three-dimensional representation devised using Computer Aided Design (CAD). The three-dimensional representation is a layer-by-layer slicing of the object into consecutive two-dimensional layers which may be fabricated and accrued to produce the three-dimensional object. SFF has been used to create, for example, prototypes or functional final products in a variety of industries, including the aerospace, electronics, medical, dental, architecture, archeology, and biomedical engineering fields.
Exemplary fabrication techniques encompassed by the "rapid prototyping" designation include techniques which involve the use of lasers to solidify successively bound layers of photopolymer (e.g., stereolithography), and techniques which involve the use of CO2 lasers to fuse layers of powdered build and support materials or etch patterns into polyethylene-coated paper materials (e.g., selective laser sintering and laminated object manufacturing, respectively). Other fabrication techniques include, for example, techniques wherein a binder is deposited into a layer of powdered material to form each successive layer of build material, while the unbound powder acts as the support material (e.g., 3-D printing) and techniques involving bulk-jetting build and support materials from inkjet print-heads or other suitable dispensing mechanisms (e.g., fused deposition modeling and thermal phase change and photopolymer phase change inkjet technologies).
Materials that may be used for the fabrication of build supports in bulk-jetting SFF systems, that do not require mechanical or harsh chemical removal, that are non-hazardous, and which may be used in thermal inkjet methods would be advantageous. Further, methods for fabricating solid three-dimensional objects that make use of build supports that utilize environmentally benign materials for the fabrication of such build supports would be desirable. Use of build supports that may be safely and easily removed would also be desirable.

Materials and methods for freeform fabrication of solid three-dimensional objects using fusible, water-containing support materials


An apparatus having a handle with a mounted hand grip is described. A first end wall surface of the hand grip is tapered from a base surface to a top surface of the hand grip. A second end wall surface of the hand grip is tapered from the base surface to the top surface of the hand grip. A first end wall of the recess engages the first end wall surface of the hand grip and prevents movement of the first end wall surface away from the base surface of the recess. A second end wall of the recess engages the second end wall surface of the hand grip and prevents movement of the first end wall surface away from the base surface of the recess.

Many tools such a hand tools, power tools, cutlery, etc., provide handles which a user of the implement may grasp in order to hold and manipulate the tool. Such tools may be formed from metal or other hard materials. Such tools may further include handles, hand grips, or both that are formed from softer materials such as wood, plastic, rubber, etc., which users may find more suitable for grasping and gripping than the hard materials used to form the tool. Since the handles, grips, or both are formed from a different material than the tool, the handles and grips must be joined or otherwise affixed to the tool.
To this end, a tool may include a tang to which a handle or grip is affixed. For example, hand grips may be placed on each face of the tang such that the tang is sandwiched between the hand grips. Rivets, screws, or other fasteners may pass through an outer face of one hand grip, through the tang, and through the outer face of the other hand grip. In this manner, the fasteners affix the hand grips to the tool via its tang.
Limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches should become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with aspects of the embodiments set forth in the remainder of the present application.

Apparatus with hand grip and method for mounting hand grip


A tension detection device according to an embodiment includes a base, a support member, a continuous body, an external force detection unit, and a tension detection unit. One end or both ends of the support member are fixed to the base. The support member has an external force measurement section integrally provided at the one end or both ends thereof. The continuous body is conveyed while wound around an outer circumference of the support member. The external force detection unit is provided at the external force measurement section of the support member. The external force detection unit detects an external force. The tension detection unit detects tension of the continuous body based on a detection result from the external force detection unit.

In the related art, a thermal printer that performs printing using an ink ribbon is known. In the thermal printer, by bringing a thermal head into pressure contact with an ink ribbon on a sheet and generating heat, ink is transferred to the sheet. In the thermal printer, tension acting on the ink ribbon is adjusted according to a change in an environmental temperature, a pattern to be printed, a printing speed, and the like.
Incidentally, a tension detection device that detects tension of a continuous body is known. For example, in Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5393975, a tension detection device detects tension acting on a continuous body being conveyed while wound around an outer circumference of a roll. The tension detection device includes a support shaft, a roll, and a stress sensor. An end portion of the support shaft is fixed to a rigid support member. The roll is rotatably supported by the support shaft via a bearing. The stress sensor is embedded in a small cavity provided in the support shaft. However, since the bearing is provided between the roll and the support shaft, the tension of the continuous body may not be detected with high accuracy.
For example, in Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H05-10836, a tension detection device detects tension of a continuous body from a load applied to a roll that conveys the continuous body. The tension detection device includes a load support portion, a support beam, a fixing portion, and a strain gauge. The load support portion supports the load on a rotation shaft of the roll. The load support portion is provided with a bearing that rotatably supports the rotation shaft of the roll. The support beam supports the load support portion. Two support beams are provided in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft of the roll at an equal distance from an axis. The fixing portion fixes the support beam. The strain gauge is attached to a surface of the support beam. However, since the bearing is provided between the roll and the support beam, the tension of the continuous body may not be detected with high accuracy.

Tension detection device, tension detection system, and thermal printer