A processor performance state optimization includes a system to change a performance state of a processor. In an embodiment, the system to change a performance state of the processor includes a processor and a step logic sub-system operatively coupled with the processor and is operable to communicate a performance state change request to the processor. A core voltage regulator is operatively coupled with the step logic sub-system. An end performance state sub-system to determine a desired end performance state is coupled with the step logic sub-system. And, an enable sub-state transition sub-system to enable sub-state transitions is coupled with the step logic sub-system.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems (IHSs), and more particularly to IHS processor performance state optimization.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
IHSs are generally understood in the art to operate using a processor to process information. Current processor control algorithms have been found through experimentation when running bursty applications to give higher performance and lower power consumption when using minimum and maximum performance states and transitioning between the two. A processor may process information by running as fast as possible to get a piece of work done and then sleeping the system until the next piece of work arrives. Traditionally, processors begin running at a lowest performance state and let the voltage continue to slew to a voltage required by the intended performance state and then transition the operating frequency once this occurs. However, with a processor having many performance states, the processor spends a large amount of time at the lowest speed with much higher voltages than required for the given operating frequency. This results in a power penalty for the performance of the processor obtained at the low operating frequency.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide improved processor performance state optimization absent the deficiencies described above.

Processor performance state optimization


An apparatus and method for measuring the length of cloth moving in open width from a loom to a cloth winder is illustrated wherein a wheel C is positioned in tangential relation upon cloth moving over a direction roll reflecting the length of the cloth in response to rotations of the wheel.

This invention relates to measuring the length of cloth manufactured or processed utilizing a wheel driven by the cloth as it passes over a roll to generate a signal. It is difficult to accurately measure the length of cloth moving in open width because of varying tension in the cloth and because finding a location for properly sensing the cloth passing to a takeup roll for reflecting the length has proved to be a problem. Pick counters are often employed to determine the length of cloth manufactured on a loom because if the number of picks per inch of the cloth construction is known, it is believed possible to count the total number of picks woven by the loom to determine length of cloth. Inaccuracies result, however, because of the number of picks per unit of lengths is seldom if ever precisely known, and any inaccuracy becomes multiplied as many yards of cloth are woven.
Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide an accurate device for sensing the cloth woven on a loom and taken up on a takeup roll to measure its length.
Another important object of the invention is to utilize a desirable sensing location and then accurately sense and measure the cloth taken up.
Still another important object of the invention is to utilize the direction roll just prior to take up to measure the cloth passing thereover and tangential thereto to accurately reflect the length of cloth.
Another object of the invention is to control tension in the cloth during measurement utilizing rotations of a measuring wheel to measure yardage of the cloth taken up.


A cellulose sponge cloth containing a net or grid as internal reinforcement is provided, with the sponge cloth further including a uniform distribution of fibers and/or durably softening polymers that are not water-leachable. The sponge cloth is produced by the viscose process by mixing with the fibers and/or the softening polymers and the pore former with cellulose xanthate and forming the resulting sponge cloth raw material into a thin layer. The grid or net is placed onto this layer, followed by a further layer of the sponge cloth raw material. Coagulation and regeneration baths and optional wash baths are used to dissolve the pore former out of the sponge cloth and regenerate the cellulose. The sponge cloth is bend-resistant, it does not break in the dry state. The sponge cloth is envisioned for cleaning and decontamination.

Sponge cloth production by the viscose process is well known (see for example DE C 1 193 237, whose United States equivalent is U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,545; DE A 26 56 968, whose United States equivalent is U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,128; and DE-A 27 07 308 whose United States equivalent is U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,968). First pulp, more particularly wood pulp, is converted with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide into an alkaline cellulose xanthate solution known as viscose. Glauber's salt (sodium sulfate decahydrate) is then added and uniformly mixed with the viscose. This sponge cloth raw material is then applied to an endless belt in the form of a layer to whichever height (thickness) is desired.
Cellulose regeneration takes place in a heated, alkaline coagulation bath. It can also be carried out in an acidic medium, for example dilute sulfuric acid.
Fiber-reinforced sponge cloth is generally produced by cotton noils being degreased with dilute NaOH and mercerized. Viscose, Glauber's salt and cotton fibers are then mixed together, generally by means of a kneader, to form a homogeneous mass. The fibers generally have an average length in the range from 0.5 to 4.5 cm. The sponge cloth material is then spread out and regenerated as described. After cellulose regeneration, the fibers have become bonded into the sponge cloth body. It is of particular importance that the distribution of the fibers is homogeneous and three-dimensional. To achieve this, the cotton noils have to be fully opened and wetted, or the fibers tend to curl and knot. Uniform internal reinforcement is then no longer ensured.
Glauber's salt has a very low melting point (about 32 to 33° C.). It therefore melts in the coagulation bath and is dissolved out. The disappearing salt crystals leave pores and voids behind. Finally, the sponge cloth is washed off to rid it of salt residues and adhering reaction products. After drying, it is cut into narrow lengths, which in turn are rolled up. The roll material can then be end-itemed into cloths of the desired size. If desired, they can additionally be printed beforehand.
Fiber-reinforced sponge cloths are brittle in the dry state, but do not break when subjected to mechanical loading. They are therefore marketed in dry form in few countries only. Moistened sponge cloths, by contrast, are more flexible and have a significantly better "hand". To keep the sponge cloth moist, the sponge cloth lengths are impregnated with an aqueous solution of a hygroscopic salt, more particularly magnesium chloride. Excess liquid is removed by means of a pair of squeeze rolls. The moist cloths are then packaged, normally in a polymeric film impermeable to water vapor.
Sponge cloths incorporating a net are likewise well-known and are manufactured on a large scale. Production involves a sponge cloth material, which contains dissolved cellulose xanthate (viscose) and a pore former, more particularly Glauber's salt, as essential constituents, being applied through a die as a thin layer onto a carrier belt. The net or grid is placed on this web. Immediately thereafter a further layer of the sponge cloth material is applied thereon. The net or grid consists for example of polyester or else of cotton. This intermediate is then led through various coagulation, regeneration and wash baths in which the cellulose from the cellulose xanthate is regenerated. Coagulation and regeneration can take place in acidic or alkaline baths. Sponge cloths with a net are simpler to produce than fiber-reinforced sponge cloths, since a net does not tend to become knotty, unlike fibers.
Sponge cloths with a net are virtually exclusively offered for sale in pre-moistened form. To this end, they are treated with the abovementioned aqueous magnesium chloride solution and then enclosed in a water-impermeable film pack. Dry sponge cloths with net reinforcement break very easily on being subjected to mechanical loading. The net or grid is then the only thing which holds the sponge cloth together at the bend point.


A RSD analog to digital converter has an RSD stage that in turn has a switched capacitor integrator (SCI). The SCI uses an operational amplifier. A capacitor, which operates as a offset compensation capacitor, is precharged to the offset voltage of the operational amplifier during a precharge phase. The next phase switches this offset compensation capacitor in the path of the capacitors which are used to perform the integration. The effect is that the offset of the operational amplifier is corrected by the use of the compensation capacitor that had been precharged to the offset voltage during the previous phase.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to analog to digital (A/D) converters and more particularly to RSD A/D converters.
2. Related Art
RSD (redundant signed digit) A/D converters have been found to be effective for situations in which high speed is useful.
Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a cyclic RSD A/D converter 10, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,313, is shown. The A/D converter 10 includes an analog section having two RSD stages 11 and 12 followed by a digital section 14 having an alignment and synchronization block 15 and a correction block 16. An analog input signal (voltage) is input to the first RSD stage 11 by way of a switch 18. After the input signal is received, the switch 18 is opened. The first RSD stage 11 compares the input signal to a high voltage (VH) and a low voltage (VL) and generates a first digital output signal, in this case the msb, based on the comparison results. The first RSD stage 11 also generates a first residue voltage VR1. The msb is output to the digital section 14 and the residue voltage VR 1 is input to the second RSD stage 12. The second RSD stage 12 also performs high and low voltage comparison operations, generates a second digital output signal (msb-1), and a second residue voltage VR2. The second digital output signal (msb-1) is output to the digital section 14, the switch 18 is moved to connect the feedback path, and the second residue voltage VR2 is provided to the first RSD stage 11. This operation is repeated, with the RSD stages 11, 12 outputting additional digital bits of the input signal. The digital bits are aligned, synchronized, and combined in the digital section 14 to provide a standard format binary output code.
In some applications, although speed is desired, it is also desirable for there to be high accuracy of the A/D converter. One of the difficulties in providing high precision in a RSD A/D converter is there required a high performance operational amplifier. The operational amplifier should have extremely gain and no offset voltage between the plus and minus inputs thereof. This is very difficult to achieve in practice. The offset voltage is a problem that results in reduced accuracy in the output. This error may be small but may become significant depending upon the application. It can be a limitation in the resolution of the A/D converter. Thus, there is a need for RSD converters with improved resolution.


A process for the linear synthesis of a gram-positive class II bacteriocin or a variant thereof is disclosed herein. The process comprises the stepwise addition of selected amino acids to a solid support; pseudoproline positioning and reopening; and cleavage of the gram-positive class II bacteriocin or the variant thereof from the solid support to provide a linear gram-positive class II bacteriocin or variant thereof; and in situ disulfide bond formation. Various applications and uses of the synthetic bacteriocins are also disclosed. The synthetic process can also be used to synthesize variants of bacteriocins by the selective substitution of one or more amino acids and/or additions and/or deletions of selected amino acids.

Antibiotic therapy is certainly one of the most important scientific achievements of the twentieth century both in terms of economic and health impacts for animals as well as for humans. However, the abuse of antibiotics, such as by overprescription, has led to an alarming increase in the number of multi-resistant pathogenic strains such as MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci) and Clostridium difficile and the appearance of serious health problems including significant damage to human commensal microflora and certain autoimmune diseases.[1]
The increase in resistance to antibiotics has become a major challenge in the treatment of various bacterial infections. Indeed, the use of large-scale antibiotics has accelerated the emergence of resistance in many bacterial species. In the US alone, according to recent reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are at least 2 million people suffering from bacterial related infections, and 23000 deaths per year have been reported that are linked to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In view of the first generations of antibiotics losing their effectiveness, as evidenced by the aforementioned resistance, a substantial amount of research is being dedicated to the discovery and development of novel and alternative antibiotics.
Bacteriocins represent a class of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by a broad variety of bacteria in order to survive in their respective competitive environments. Potential health risks associated with the use of chemical preservatives, in addition to increased consumer awareness, have led to bacteriocins being given greater consideration as natural antimicrobial agents.[2] The substantial absence of cross-resistance, as well as the faint propensity for the development of resistance, are further factors favoring the use of bacteriocins as antibiotic agents.[3, 4] Moreover, several combinations of bacteriocins and antibiotics have been reported as exhibiting synergistic effects.[5] Furthermore, bacteriocins have been considered for use in both medicine and the food industry. To date, only one bacteriocin (i.e. nisin A; commercialised as Nisaplin®) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS). The market value of nisin is expected to reach 500 M$ in 2020.
Among the bacteriocins, the class IIa bacteriocins are produced from food grade bacteria, which offer food scientists the possibility of directing or preventing the development of specific bacterial species in food. This can be particularly useful in preservation or food safety applications. Indeed, the class IIa bacteriocins are active against pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes which has a mortality rate as high as 20-30% when infected. Moreover, Listeria monocytogenes has been associated with neonatal deaths, fetal demise, severe meningitis and sepsis.
Even though a great many bacteriocins have been sequenced, only very few have actually been chemically synthesized. Indeed, their synthesis represents, and continuous to represent, a significant challenge to the peptide chemist, largely due to their inherent structural complexity and well defined structure activity relationships (SAR).[6] Moreover, purified bacteriocins isolated from fermentation batches remain quite expensive, partly due to a lengthy purification process, prohibiting their commercial-scale exploitation.[7] The development of chemical syntheses provides for the added advantage of enhancing the pharmacological properties of a given bacteriocin (e.g. solubility, stability, potency, activity and bioavailability). Among the class IL bacteriocins, only a very few called "pediocin-like" bacteriocins, have actually been successfully synthesized. Similarly, very few class IIb-e bacteriocins have been successfully synthesized. To that effect, the total synthesis of Pediocin PA-1 and bactofencin A has been previously achieved in extremely low yields (˜0.1% overall yield) and only a few analogs have been prepared. Pediocin PA-1 (class IL bacteriocin) is a broad-spectrum lactic acid bacteria bacteriocin that shows a particularly strong activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Bactofencin A (class IId bacteriocin), shows strong activity against pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.
The present disclosure refers to a number of documents, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Process for the linear synthesis of gram-positive class II bacteriocins and compositions and uses thereof


A cursor control apparatus and a cursor control method thereof are provided. Adjust a displacement value according to a DPI ratio of an extending display unit to a benchmark display unit in an axial direction to generate a modified displacement value, and move a cursor on the extending display unit according to the modified displacement value, so that the velocities of the cursor on the extending display unit and the benchmark display unit are substantially equal.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to input apparatuses, and more particularly, to a cursor control apparatus and a cursor control method thereof.
Description of the Prior Art
Extended display entails connecting a host computer to at least two display screens in a computer system to allow the desktop of a Windows operating system to span multiple screens and thus create desktop accessible space larger than a single screen. Extended display is particularly important to notebook computer users. In general, since the screen of a notebook computer is small, a user who needs to work with multiple application windows simultaneously must have the application windows overlapped and displayed on the desktop to the detriment of ease of reading window contents. To overcome the aforesaid drawback, the user can resort to extended display whereby the host computer is connected to at least one external screen such that a portion of windows is disposed on the extended desktop.
Due to advancements of display unit technology, not only is the resolution of screens becoming higher in recent years, but various display units which come in different sizes are also commercially available in order to meet customer needs at different levels. Hence, the DPI (dots per inch) values of the display units for use by users in effectuating extended display are always different from the default DPI values of the display units. Therefore, the velocity and position of a cursor changes whenever the cursor moves between display unit frames with different DPI values; as a result, cursor control deteriorates, and thus user's perception is compromised. Hence, users have to accommodate to the changes in the velocity of the cursor which moves across display units with different DPI values. Moreover, in the situation where display unit frames with different DPI values are arranged side by side, as soon as the cursor crosses the boundary between one display unit and another display unit, the cursor "leaps" vertically and thus its path is never smooth. Likewise, in the situation where display unit frames with different DPI values are arranged one above the other, as soon as the cursor crosses the boundary between one display unit and another display unit, the cursor "leaps" horizontally and thus its path is never smooth.

Cursor control apparatus and cursor control method thereof


A system that uses three different wireless technologies to print a document from a mobile device. The invention is comprised of a server and a client. The server is comprised of a controller, an 802.11x transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver and a modem. The server waits for a connection from a mobile device and once a connection is detected determines the type of connection. The server uses the proper protocol to extract the print control data and interpret the print type. The server proceeds as normal, converts to printable format, and prints the document. The client can be a personal computer, a laptop, a personal data assistant, or a cellular telephone. The client operating systems include all versions of Windows, Palm OS, Handspring, and Simbian.

The present invention pertains generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to a method and system of communication between a mobile client device and a wireless wide area network image output system.
Users of mobile devices such as a laptop, personal data assistant, or cellular telephone can often access information over the Internet. However, to print this information, the users of these devices usually need to have an image output system physically connected to the client device, or the user must pre-store the document on an internet based storage that can only be accessed by special types of peripheral devices.
Mobile client devices are typically equipped with communications systems to communicate with a broad variety of other devices, ranging from a web server to an image output system. Such communications systems may incorporate connections involving IEEE 802.11x (Wi-Fi) or Bluetooth wireless networks. These technologies allow users using a mobile client device, such as notebook computers, personal digital assistants, or even cellular telephones to connect wirelessly to the peripheral and initiate a print job or other output function. However, these mobile client devices do not provide a method for printing documents while at a remote location.
Furthermore, these mobile client devices are often limited to the type of communications channel they can establish with an image output system. While this may be suitable for a client device residing solely within a single installation, this is not suitable for a user who travels between installations and is desirous of printing while away from his or her office. A method allowing a mobile client device to communicate with an image output system from anywhere in the world provides much needed flexibility for the mobile user.
Thus a method, system and apparatus that brings total mobile printing capability to a mobile user by combining three different wireless technologies with a mobile client device and allow a user to print a document from any location is needed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed is a focusing channel device which focuses fluid containing micro particles so that the micro particles flow in a line. The channel device comprises a nozzle formed by left and right walls each of which comprises an inclination surface. The cross sectional area in vertical direction decreases from the entrance of the nozzle toward the exit of the nozzle. The shape of cross sectional view in horizontal direction is asymmetric for the central line in the length direction. Using the focus channel device of the invention, the micro particles in the fluid are not combined with each other and passed through the channel one by one. Thus, blockage of the channel or combination and movement of two particles together does not occur.

Currently, researches and commercialization of a point of care (POC) and a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) (which means a laboratory on a chip and is a technology for diagnosing various diseases in a small chip at a time) are actively carried out in the field of bio-industry. The LOC makes the experiment equipments used in various field such as, biology, medical science, pharmacology, and so on to be embodied on a single plastic micro-chip. Using the micro-chip, information of every single cells or particles existing in body fluids or solutions could be obtained and examined.
In order to obtain information on cells or particles, cells (particles) should be flowed in a line in the channel. To make it possible, the process of focusing the fluid which contains the cells (particles) to pass through only a fixed area is necessary.
Conventional focusing channel has a nozzle the width of which is narrowed in symmetry on both right and left sides of the channel. Due to the symmetry of both sides of the channel, cells (particles) entering the symmetrically narrowing channel simultaneously block the focusing channel, or two cells (particles) are combined into one cell and flow as one cell. Thus, bottleneck phenomenon occurs as such.
FIG. 1 is a photograph of red blood cells flowing in a conventional focusing channel composed of symmetric fixed walls. In FIG. 1, the oval mark indicates a point where two red blood cells enter the focusing channel at the same time and the bottleneck phenomenon occurs due to the symmetric shape of left and right walls in the focusing channel.
FIG. 2 is a photograph of red blood cells flowing in a conventional focusing channel composed of symmetric fluid walls. In FIG. 2, two red blood cells also enter the focusing channel at the same time and the bottleneck phenomenon occurs due to the symmetric shape of left and right fluid walls in the focusing channel similarly to the case of FIG. 1.
These situations of blockage and combination of two cells (particles) into one in the focusing channel may cause an error in data analysis, and eventually deteriorate efficiency of the analysis devices. For instance, in the focusing channel used in device for diagnosis of cancer or diabetes by examining the flow velocity of red blood cells, above defects may cause the slowdown of flow velocity. Thus, it may be impossible to diagnose such disease precisely.
The 'fixed wall' used herein means an actual solid wall formed on a plastic micro-chip in designing and manufacturing of the micro-chip.
The term 'fluid wall' means a wall of fluid state. It does not form an actual wall in the micro chip. However, when flowing the fluids containing particles to be observed in the channel, buffer solution is also flowed in the left and right sides of the flowing fluids, and thereby the buffer solution serves as a wall. FIG. 3 shows a focusing process for fluids using the fluid wall.

Channel apparatus for focusing a fluid flow


The modellable tile has an upper surface and a bottom surface and comprises a thin and flexible support element associated to the bottom surface, and at least one recess which involves a whole width of the tile but not the thin and flexible support element. The recess separates the tile into at least two parts which are totally separated one from another, which parts exhibit upper edges which are located side-by-side and which are destined to be brought into reciprocal contact in order to give the tile a predetermined non-flat conformation.

The invention relates to a tile which can be shaped when cold in order to take on a non-flat configuration, and also to a process which produces the tile.
The invention is usefully applied in tiles or slabs of all types of materials. In particular the invention is applicable to ceramic tiles, for slabs or tiles made of marble, natural stone and stone materials in general.
In the realization of tiled floors using tiles or slabs, skirting is frequently laid using the same tiles or slabs which have been used for the floor itself. It is therefore common to use (for the skirting) portions of the tiles or slabs cut to a desired size. The portions are then laid or glued to the wall one next to another along the perimeter of the floor or floor covering, with a perpendicular lie plane to the tiles or slabs forming the floor or floor covering.
This process is rather long and laborious due to the tile-cutting operations and the laying thereof, neither of which is immune to imprecision. Cutting same-size pieces of tile is problematic, and since the resulting pieces tend to be small, laying operations are often fraught with difficulty.
The prior art includes other processes for realizing corner finishing involving floor/covering couplings with ceramic tiles, one of which processes consists in realizing special products formed by pressing or drawing and subsequently firing them.
The main aim of the present invention is to obviate the drawbacks in the prior art by providing a tile which can be modelled while in the cold state, in order to take on a non-flat configuration which is constructionally simple and easy to apply.
The invention also provides a process for modelling tiles into predetermined non-flat shapes which is particularly simple and economical.

Tile which can be modelled in a cold state and a process for manufacturing the tile


A wafer surface test preprocessing device includes a chamber; a supporting component disposed in the chamber; an atomizer connected to a lateral side of the chamber; a cooling component connected to a bottom of the chamber; and a lid disposed on a top of the chamber. With the wafer surface test preprocessing device having the cooling component to thereby dispense with a ventilation device and collect hydrofluoric acid residues in the chamber at the bottom of the chamber, thereby saving costs and time effectively.

With semiconductor devices being increasingly widely used in daily life and semiconductor processes being increasingly sophisticated, acceptable concentrations of metallic impurities of semiconductor wafers are becoming lower. As a result, an indispensable test carried out in a semiconductor process is analysis of wafer surface metallic impurities.
In general, by vapor phase decomposition (VPD) technology, hydrofluoric acid (HF) etches silicon dioxide on the wafer surface. After reacting with hydrofluoric acid, silicon dioxide spreads. Afterward, the metallic impurities on the wafer surface are collected again and analyzed.
With hydrofluoric acid being toxic, its fluoride ions are corrosive when released. Human beings exposed to hydrofluoric acid may have their hearts, livers, kidneys and nervous systems injured or may even been killed as a result. Hence, a ventilation device must be mounted on a container used in the aforesaid test process to remove hydrofluoric acid residues upon completion of the reaction of hydrofluoric acid and silicon dioxide. Afterward, the container is opened, so as to perform subsequent tests on the wafer.
However, the ventilation device not only incurs costs but also performs ventilation slowly. In view of this, it is imperative to provide a wafer surface test preprocessing device to solve the aforesaid problems.

Wafer surface test preprocessing device and wafer surface test apparatus having the same


A low noise type reduction gear which assures that sound generated by collision of particles of a lubricant with a wall surface of a casing and sound attributable to resonance of the casing can substantially be attenuated by arranging laminated vibration damping steel sheets inside of the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a gear device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a low noise type gear device wherein leakage of sound, generated by gear meshing and collision of splash and drops of a lubricant with a wall surface of the casing, and sound attributable to resonance of the casing, can be reliably prevented.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various conventional gear devices of the aforementioned type are in practical use. Among them, a typical conventional gear device (reduction gear) will briefly be described below with reference to FIG. 3.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 designates a casing which is of an entirely closed box-shaped configuration. The casing 1 includes a side wall 1A and a side wall 1B. First bearing set 2A, second bearing set 2B and third bearing set 2C are fitted into both the side walls 1A and 1B of the casing 1. An input shaft 4 is rotatably supported by the third bearing set 2C while a first gear 3A is fixedly mounted on the input shaft 4. An intermediate shaft 5 is rotatably supported by the second bearing set 2B while a second gear 3B and a fourth gear 3D are fixedly mounted on the intermediate shaft 5. Similarly, an output shaft 6 is rotatably supported by the first bearing set 2A while a third gear 3C is fixedly mounted on the output shaft 6.
The fourth gear 3D is fixedly mounted adjacent to the second gear 3B on the intermediate shaft 5. Accordingly, the first gear 3A meshes with the second gear 3B and the third gear 3C meshes with the fourth gear 3D.
One end 4a of the input shaft 4 projects outward of an outer wall 1a of the casing 1, while one end 6a of the output shaft 6 projects outward of the outer wall 1a of the casing 1.
A sound-proofing member 7, molded of a rubber, a synthetic resin or the like, covers the whole outer wall 1a of the casing 1 so as to prevent sound generated by meshing engagement of the gears 3A to 3D and sound generated by collision of splash and drops of a lubricant utilized in the device with an inner wall 1b of the case 1 from traveling to the outside of the casing.
Although not illustrated for the purpose of simplification, another conventional gear device of the aforementioned type is constructed such that the bearing sets are arranged on the inner wall 1b of the casing 1, as opposed to being fitted into the wall. Otherwise, operation of this device is similar to that of the device illustrated in FIG. 3.
Conventional gear devices, constructed in the above-described manner, have several limitations. Specifically, in the case of the first-mentioned conventional gear device, a large space is required for installation, and moreover, it requires a large quantity of sound-proofing materials. Consequently, it is expensive to manufacture and apply.
Also, heat generated by meshing engagement of the respective gears in the casing cannot be easily diverged to the outside of the sound-proofing cover through the casing. For this reason, the bearings and other associated components may become thermally damaged.
In addition, the aesthetic appearance of the gear device is degraded and maintenance is difficult to perform due to the sound-proofing material on the casing.
In the case of the second conventional gear device discussed above, it unavoidably requires even larger dimensions, resulting in an increase in production cost. It should be added that this type gear device also does not operate satisfactorily.


Bowling game apparatus allowing children to get strikes and spares for a high score. Two guides (10) are provided longitudinally along lane (3); two first retainers (15) are arranged outside the end of lane (3) near approach (2) for retaining first ends of the guides (10); two second retainers (20) for retaining the second ends of the guides (10) are provided over lane (3) between first retainers (15) and pins (5), and allow, as driven by a second-retainer drive unit, the guide second-end retaining portions of the second retainers (20) to shift between a guide position and a retract position apart from the guide position. The guides (10) diagonally intersect the longitudinal direction of the lane (3), where they come into contact with the height-wise center of a ball rolling down the lane (3) ball when the second-end retaining portions of the second retainers (20) are in the guide position.

Such bowling game apparatuses are configured with: an approach where players roll a ball; a lane extending from the approach and on which the ball rolls; a group of pins placed on the end of the lane opposite the approach; trough-like gutters that lie on either side of the lane and receive balls slipping off the lane. Players enjoy the game by competing with each other for a higher score that depends on the number of pins they knock down.
Of course, how many pins players are able to knock down depends on the direction of in which the ball is rolled—that is, players' scores are determined by which part of the arranged pins their balls strike, and on the players' skill at controlling the ball toward the center of the lane.
Being not yet fully developed physically, children are not able to control very well the direction in which the ball rolls, and consequently cannot hope for a high score, or as is likely to happen, they are able to knock down only a few pins because the ball always falls into the gutter. In such cases, children lose interest in the bowling game, and are left unable to enjoy household bowling outings with the object of interacting as a family.
In light of such considerations, various gutter-ball prevention apparatuses for preventing a bowled ball from falling into the gutter have been proposed to date. One of such apparatus is configured so that bars, which are placed along the both sides of the lane, simultaneously shift horizontally between a blocking position near the edge of the lane, where the bars prevent the ball from falling into the gutter, and a retract position near the edge of the gutters, where the bars shift from the blocking position. (Reference is made to Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. Nos. H7-155424, No. H9-84923 and No. H11-164931.)
In accordance with this gutter prevention apparatus, the bars shift into the blocking position when players, such as young children, unable to control a ball well bowl, and shift into the retract position when physically more developed adolescent players bowl.
Therefore, even if a ball rolled by juvenile players unable to control the direction of the rolling ball well rolls toward a gutter, the bars shift into the blocking position to prevent the ball from falling into the gutters and retain it on the lane, such that the ball runs into the pins and knocks down some of them as a result. In other words, even children are able to always knock down some of the pins and score.
The bars are shifted into the retract position when non-children players bowl, so that any gutter balls they bowl will fall directly into a gutter without being blocked.
The fact that this gutter prevention apparatus allows children to always knock down some of the pins and score encourages them to maintain interest in the game. Moreover, children are able to bowl along with adolescent and older players in the same lane, so that they are able to enjoy a household bowling outing to interact with as a family.
Additionally, the following apparatuses have been also proposed: an apparatus configured so that bars simultaneously shift vertically between a blocking position and a retract position lower than the blocking position (reference is made to Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. Nos. H10-151235 and 2002-65933), and an apparatus configured so that the gutters rotate toward the lane about axes paralleling the lane lengthwise (reference is made to Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H10-506031). Both of these play the same role as that of the apparatus explained in the foregoing.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H7-155424.
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H9-84923.
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H11-164931.
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H10-151235.
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. 2002-65933.
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H10-506031.

Shifting guides for gutter ball prevention on a bowling alley


A luminaire may include a light engine comprising a plurality of LEDs arranged in one or more annular rows. The luminaire may include an optic. The optic may include an annular optic body having a light entrance side facing the plurality of LEDs and a light exit side opposite the light entrance side. A plurality of annular grooves may be defined within the light exit side, the plurality of annular grooves being coaxial with the optic body. A plurality of arc-shaped grooves may be defined within the light exit side. Each of the plurality of arc-shaped grooves may be convex relative to a center of the optic. Each of the plurality of arc-shaped grooves may intersect at least one of the plurality of annular grooves. The optic may be configured to produce a Unified Glare Rating of less than 28.

Luminaires typically include one or more light emitters accompanied by optional optical enhancements (reflectors, lenses, diffusers, etc.) to control the directionality and/or appearance of the light as it exits the luminaire. These light emitters and optional optics are typically housed in a luminaire housing that can take on a variety of different shapes, sizes, and other geometries. Luminaires sometimes provide a bright area on the fixture from which light emanates, that can be in stark contrast to the lighting environment surrounding the luminaire. This contrast increases the glare perception of an observer and can make the light visibly uncomfortable to the observer. Improvements to reduce glare in luminaire are desired, while still providing sufficient luminous area to minimize the number of luminaires needed to light a given area.


The invention provides new methods for modulating specific CMI-inducing cytokines in vivo. Such new methods result in stimulation of the cytokines IL-6, IL-12 MIP-1β and MCP without substantially inducing undesired cytokines. The methods according to the invention are based upon administration of oligonucleotides containing particular structural motifs which lead to specific cytokine induction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to mediation of specific cytokine induction. More particularly, the invention relates to modulating specific cytokine expression in vivo.
2. Summary of the Related Art
Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is an important mechanism for host defense against a broad range of infectious diseases. CMI is largely controlled through expression of specific cytokines. Le and Vilcek, Laboratory Investigation 61: 588-602 (1989) teaches that the cytokine IL-6, produced mostly by B-lymphocytes, monocytes and Th2 cells, promotes release of acute phase reactants and contributes to T cell activation. Trinchieri et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 13: 252-276 (1995) and Res. Immunol. 146: 419-656 (1995) disclose that the recently discovered cytokine IL-12 is critical to the initiation of CMI.
IL-12 most likely acts first upon resting natural killer (NK) cells, which express the IL-12 receptor. Gazzinelli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 6115-6119 (1993) teaches that upon stimulation with IL-12, NK cells produce high levels of IFN-gamma, which is a potent stimulator of macrophage effector functions against invasive pathogens, and which further enhances IL-12 synthesis by macrophages previously triggered by an infectious agent.
At another level, IL-12 appears to act by driving the differentiation of T helper cell precursors (Thp) toward production of Th1 cells, which produce IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-beta, thereby driving the CMI response. Seder et al., teaches that this process begins by recognition of specific antigen by Thp, which produces IL-2 and subsequently IL-12 receptor. The Thp cell then differentiates into a Th1 cell if IL-12 is present, or into a Th2 cell in an IL-4 environment. Gazzineri et al., J. Immunol. 153: 2533-2543 (1994) teaches that the Th1 cells, once differentiated, do not require IL-12 as a co-stimulatory molecule to produce cytokines and mediate resistance against pathogens.
Miller and Krangel, Crit. Rev. Immunol. 12: 17-46 (1992) and Taub et al., J. Clin. Invest. 95: 1370-1376 (1995) teach that chemokines are one superfamily of cytokines that play important roles in recruitment and activation of lymphocytes to sites of inflammation. Gallo et al., Science 274: 1393-1395 (1996) teaches that certain chemokines, such as RANTES, MIP-1α and MIP-1β can suppress the replication of macrophage-tropic HIV strains in infected T cell cultures, and therefore may play important roles in the regulation of virus replication and are potentially useful as anti-viral therapeutics.
During bacterial infections, the natural immune response is characterized by the production of various cytokines which are involved in CMI. Uyttenhove et al., J. Exp. Med. 167: 1417-1427 (1988) teaches that IL-6 production is stimulated by bacterial infection. Murray, Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 13: 411-421 (1990) teaches that IFN-gamma is produced in response to bacterial infection. Trinchieri, Blood 84: 4008-4027 (1994) discloses IL-12 induction resulting from bacterial infection.
The bacterial components responsible for such cytokine induction have recently been investigated. Yamamoto et al., Microbiol. Immunol. 36: 983-997 (1992) showed that bacterial DNA, but not mammalian DNA, boosts lytic activity of NK cells as well as IFN-gamma production, and proposed that this effect was caused by palindromic sequences present in bacterial DNA. More recently, Klinman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93: 2879-2883 (1996) discloses that the ex vivo induction of IL-6, IL-12 and IFN-gamma by bacterial DNA is mediated by a structural motif of an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide preceded by two purines and followed by two pyrimidines and that this effect can be duplicated by an oligonucleotide of at least eight nucleotides containing such a structural motif. These authors noted that such effects may confound studies involving antisense, gene therapy, or plasmid DNA vaccines produced in bacteria.
Interest in developing drugs modeled from microbial products that induce CMI has been expressed. Gazzinelli, Molecular Medicine Today, June 1996, pp. 258-267, notes that such compounds would have a broad application in immunotherapy. However, Gazzinelli also teaches that uncontrolled IL-12 synthesis may cause excessive activation of the immune system, resulting in severe host tissue damage and death Gazzinelli concludes such toxicity is likely to limit the use of IL-12 therapy in humans.
There is, therefore, a need for new approaches to modulating specific CMI-inducing cytokines in vivo. Such approaches should stimulate production of the desired cytokines without substantially inducing undesired cytokines and without causing unwanted toxic side effects. Ideally, such approaches should protect against infection by a pathogenic agent or against tumor development.

Oligonucleotide mediated specific cytokine induction and prophylaxis and treatment of viral infection in a mammal


The differences in characteristics among parts or the fluctuations of the inductance value of a coil due to temperature variation is lessened by reducing the stray capacitance components induced among the layers of wound conductor, and size reduction and cost reduction are achieved. A winding portion (30) between two flange portions (22a, 22b) is divided into a plurality of sections (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d). One layer of conductor is wound from one end to the other end in each section, and then layers of conductor are wound in the alternately reversed directions to form the multilayer winding portion (30) by solenoid winding. The conductor is preferably wound in such a way that the boundary surface between adjacent sections inclines to a flange portion, which is the winding start, and the boundary surface of an upper layer is closer to the flange portion than that of a lower layer. Further the conductor is preferably wound in such a way that at least portions near upper layers of end faces facing the flange portions are apart from the flange portions so as to be farther from the flange portions than lower layers of the end faces in each section at both ends. This divided solenoid winding coil can be used for an antenna coil or a transformer coil.

As shown in FIG. 9, for example, conventionally in a typical coil 510 used for an antenna and a transformer, a conductor 531 is wound from one end (flange portion 522a) to the other end (flange portion 522b) of a winding shaft portion 521 along the surface of the winding shaft portion 521 to form a first layer, and then the conductor 531 is in a reversed direction wound from the other end (flange portion 522b) to the one end (flange portion 522a) to form a second layer. Thereafter, the conductor 531 is similarly wound in alternately reversed directions to form a third layer and a fourth layer, so that a winding portion (coil portion) 530 is formed. Such a winding operation is called solenoid winding.
When the coil manufactured by solenoid winding is used as an antenna coil, a capacitor is connected in parallel with the coil, and the leading end and the terminal end of the conductor forming the coil are connected to the main part of a receiver, so that data can be received at a predetermined resonance frequency.
Generally in such a coil, stray capacitance components (parasitic capacitance components) occur between turns of conductor (coil) or terminal electrodes, and the stray capacitance components and the inductance components of the coil cause a resonance phenomenon. The resonance frequency of such a resonance phenomenon is called "self resonant frequency" and is the maximum frequency used for a coil (inductor) on a circuit. In general a frequency used for a coil is equal to or lower than one half to one fifth of the self resonant frequency.
As described above, in the antenna coil manufactured by solenoid winding, the conductor is wound from one end to the other end of the core, and then the conductor is in a reversed direction wound from the other end to the one end. For example, in FIG. 9, conductors adjacent to each other in the vertical direction on the one end are quite different in the number of turns. In other words, a length L2 of the layers is large and causes large stray capacitance components. The same phenomenon occurs on the second layer and the third layer on the other end.
Such large stray capacitance components considerably reduce the self resonant frequency. When the self resonant frequency considerably decreases and the used frequency is brought close to the lower part of the self resonance peak, the inductance value at the used frequency is widely varied among parts due to variations in performance among the parts. Further, when the used frequency is brought close to the lower part, the inductance value is widely varied also by temperature variations.
The inductance value of the coil, along with the capacitance of the capacitor, is a factor for determining the frequency to be used. A corresponding inductance value is set for each frequency to be used. When the inductance value varies, the resonance frequency for reception is displaced, so that reception at the used frequency becomes difficult and a coverage is reduced.
In response to this problem, the applicant has developed an antenna coil (Patent document 1). The coil has a winding portion formed with a core having flange portions on both ends. In the winding portion, layers of conductor are wound one by one from one of the flange portions such that outer layers of conductor incline to the flange portion. The winding operation is performed while being shifted to the other flange portion of the core.
In the antenna coil, the winding portion is formed by a winding method called oblique winding (bank winding) which can produce an excellent effect of reducing stray capacitance components occurring between layers of wound conductor.
Another method for reducing stray capacitance components occurring between layers of wound conductor may be to divide a winding portion into a plurality of sections.
Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-332822


The object of the invention is to provide a thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same, which allow the magnetic pole width to be precisely controlled and a sufficient overwrite performance to be attained even in a case where the magnetic pole width is microfabricated. The coupling position where the intermediate portion and the tip of the top pole are coupled each other is located closer to the air bearing surface than the throat height 0 position (TH0 position) which is the reference point for determining the throat height TH. The tip of the top pole defines the write track width on a recording medium. At least the portion of the intermediate portion from the TH0 position to the rear edge portion of the tip has a width wider than that of the tip. The intermediate portion suppresses saturation of the magnetic flux before flowing into the tip of the top pole.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a thin film magnetic head comprising at least an inductive magnetic transducer for writing and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, performance improvement in thin film magnetic heads has been sought in accordance with an increase in surface recording density of a hard disk drive. As a thin film magnetic head, a composite thin film magnetic head has been widely used. A composite thin film magnetic head has a layered structure which includes a recording head with an inductive magnetic transducer for writing and a reproducing head with a magnetoresistive device (referred to as MR device in the followings) for reading-out. There are a few types of MR devices: one is an AMR device that utilizes an anisotropic magnetoresistive effect (referred to as AMR effect in the followings) and the other is a GMR device that utilizes a giant magnetoresistive effect (referred to as GMR effect in the followings). A reproducing head using the AMR device is called an AMR head or simply an MR head. A reproducing head using the GMR device is called a GMR head. The AMR head is used as a reproducing head whose surface recording density is more than 1 gigabit per square inch. The GMR head is used as a reproducing head whose surface recording density is more than 3 gigabits per square inch.
The AMR head includes an AMR film having the AMR effect. The GMR head has the similar configuration to the AMR head except that the AMR film is replaced with a GMR film having the GMR effect. However, compared to the AMR film, the GMR film exhibits a greater change in resistance under a specific external magnetic field. Accordingly, the reproducing output of the GMR head becomes about three to five times greater than that of the AMR head.
In order to improve the performance of a reproducing head, the MR film may be changed from an AMR film to a GMR film or the like which is made of a material with more excellent magnetoresistive sensitivity. The pattern width of the MR film, specifically the MR height, may be adjusted appropriate. The MR height is the length (height) between the edge of an MR element closer to an air bearing surface and the other edge, and is determined by an amount of polishing the air bearing surface. The air bearing surface (ABS) is a surface of a thin film magnetic head facing a magnetic recording medium and is also called a track surface.
Performance improvement in a recording head has also been expected in accordance with the performance improvement in a reproducing head. The main factor which determines the performance of a recording head is a throat height (TH). The throat height is a length (height) of a portion of a magnetic pole from the air bearing surface to an edge of an insulating layer which electrically isolates a thin film coil for generating a magnetic flux. It is necessary to reduce the throat height in order to improve the performance of the recording head. The throat height is also controlled by an amount of polishing the air bearing surface.
It is necessary to increase the track density of a magnetic recording medium in order to increase the recording density among the performance of a recording head. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to realize a recording head with a narrow track structure in which the width of a bottom pole and a top pole sandwiching a write gap on the air bearing surface is reduced to the order of some microns to submicron. Semiconductor processing technology is used to achieve the narrow track structure.
Now, an example of a method of manufacturing the composite thin film magnetic head will be described as an example of a method of manufacturing the thin film magnetic head of the related art with reference to FIG. 30 to FIG. 35.
In the manufacturing method, as shown in FIG. 30, an insulating layer 102 about 5 to 10 μm thick made of alumina (aluminum oxide, Al2O3), for example, is deposited on a substrate 101 made of altic (Al2O3 and TiC), for example. Then, a bottom shield layer 103 for a reproducing head is formed on the insulating layer 102. Next, for example, alumina about 100 to 200 nm thick is deposited on the bottom shield layer 103, whereby a shield gap film 104 is formed. Next, an MR film 105 of a few tens of nanometers in thickness for making up the MR element for reproducing is formed on the shield gap film 104, and is patterned to a desired shape by photolithography with high precision. Next, a lead layer (not shown in figure) as a lead electrode layer which is electrically connected to the MR film 105 is formed on both sides of the MR film 105. Then, a shield gap film 106 is formed on the lead layer, the shield gap film 104 and the MR film 105, and the MR film 105 is buried in the shield gap films 104 and 106. Next, a top shield-cum-bottom pole (referred to as a bottom pole in the followings) 107 made of permalloy (NiFe), for example, which is a magnetic material used for both the reproducing head and the recording head, is formed on the shield gap film 106.
Next, as shown in FIG. 31, a write gap layer 108 made of an insulating film such as an alumina film is formed on the bottom pole 107, and a photoresist film 109 is formed in a predetermined pattern on the write gap layer 108 by photolithography with high precision. Then, a first layer of a thin film coil 110 for an inductive recording head made of copper (Cu), for example, is formed on the photoresist film 109 by plating, for example. Next, a photoresist film 111 is formed in a predetermined pattern so as to cover the photoresist film 109 and the coil 110 by photolithography with high precision. A heat treatment at 250° C., for example, is applied in order to flatten the photoresist film 111 and to isolate between the turns of the coil 110. Then, a second layer of a thin film coil 112 made of copper, for example, is formed on the photoresist film 111 by plating, for example. Next, a photoresist film 113 is formed in a predetermined pattern on the photoresist film 111 and the coil 112 by photolithography with high precision, and a heat treatment at 250° C., for example, is applied in order to flatten the photoresist film 113 and to isolate between the turns of the coil 112.
Next, as shown in FIG. 32, an opening 108a for forming a magnetic path is formed in a rear position (right-hand side in FIG. 32) of the coils 110 and 112 by partially etching the write gap layer 108. Then, a top yoke-cum-top pole (referred to as a top pole in the followings) 114 made of a magnetic material for a recording head such as permalloy is selectively formed on the write gap layer 108, the photoresist films 109, 111 and 113. The top pole 114 is in contact with the bottom pole 107 in the above-mentioned opening 108a and is magnetically coupled to each other. Next, after etching the write gap layer 108 and the bottom pole 107 about 0.5 μm thick by ion milling using the top pole 114 as a mask, an overcoat layer 115 made of alumina, for example, is formed on the top pole 114. A thin film magnetic head is completed after performing machine processing on the slider to form a track surface of a recording head and a reproducing head, that is, an air bearing surface 120.
FIG. 33 to FIG. 35 show a completed structure of a thin film magnetic head. FIG. 33 shows a cross section of the thin film magnetic head vertical to the air bearing surface 120, while FIG. 34 shows an enlarged cross section of the magnetic pole portion parallel to the air bearing surface 120, and FIG. 35 shows a plan view. FIG. 32 corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXX II—XXX II of FIG. 35. In FIG. 33 to FIG. 35, the overcoat layer 115 is omitted.
In order to improve the performance of a thin film magnetic head, it is important to precisely form the throat height TH, an apex angle θ, a pole width P2W and a pole length P2L shown in FIG. 33 and FIG. 34. The apex angle θ is an angle between a line connecting the corners of the side surfaces of the photoresist films 109, 111, 113 on the track surface side and the upper surface of the top pole 114. The pole width P2W determines a write track width of the recording medium. The pole length P2L represents the thickness of the magnetic pole. In FIG. 33 and FIG. 35, "TH0 position" is the position of the edge of the photoresist film 109 on the air bearing surface 120 side, which is an insulating layer for electrically isolating the thin film coils 110 and 112, and represents a reference position when the throat height TH is determined.
As shown in FIG. 34, a structure in which sidewalls of the top pole 114, the write gap layer 108 and part of the bottom pole 107 are vertically formed in a self-aligned manner is called a trim structure. With the trim structure, increase of an effective track width caused by a spread of the magnetic flux occurred while writing on the narrow track can be suppressed. As shown in FIG. 34, a lead layer 121 as a lead electrode layer, which is electrically connected to the MR film 105, is provided on both sides of the MR film 105. The lead layer 121 is omitted in FIG. 30 to FIG. 33.
FIG. 36 shows a plan structure of the top pole 114. As shown in FIG. 36, the top pole 114 comprises a yoke 114a, which makes up most of the top pole 114, and a pole tip 114b with almost a constant width W100 as the pole width P2W. In the connection between the yoke 114a and the pole tip 114b, the outer edge of the yoke 114a forms an angle α with the surface parallel to the air bearing surface 120, while the outer edge of the pole tip 114b forms an angle β with the surface parallel to the air bearing surface 120. α is about 45° degrees, for example, and β is 90° degrees. The width of the pole tip 114b determines the write track width of the recording medium. A portion F is the front side of the TH0 position (close to the air bearing surface 120) of the pole tip 114b and a portion R is the rear side of the TH0 position (close to the yoke 114a) of the pole tip 114b. As shown in FIG. 33, the portion F is extended on the flat write gap layer 108, and the portion R and the yoke 114a are extended on a coil portion (called as an apex portion in the followings) which is covered with the photoresist films 109, 111, and 113 and is protruded like a mountain.
The distinctive shape of the top pole is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application laid-open No. Hei 8-249614, for example.
It is necessary to precisely form the pole width P2W in order to determine the write track width of the recording head. Especially in recent years, in order to attain high surface recording density, that is, to form the recording head with a narrow track structure, microfabrication in which the pole width P2W of the top pole is formed equal to or less than 1.0 μm is required.
As a method of forming the top pole, for example, frame plating method is used as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application laid-open No. Hei 7-262519. When the top pole 114 is formed by the frame plating method, first, a thin electrode film made of permalloy, for example, is formed all over the apex area by sputtering, for example. Next, a photoresist film is formed thereon by applying photoresist, and the photoresist film is patterned in a desired shape through photolithography in order to form a photoresist pattern to be a frame for forming a top pole by plating. The top pole 114 is formed by plating with the electrode film formed earlier being a seed layer and the photoresist pattern being a mask.
There is, for example, 7 to 10 μm or more difference in height between the apex area and other areas. On the apex area, a photoresist of 3 to 4 μm thick is applied. If the film thickness of the photoresist formed on the apex area is required to be 3 μm or more, a photoresist film about 8 to 10 μm thick or more, for example, is formed in the lower part of the apex area since the photoresist with liquidity gathers into a lower area.
In order to form the narrow track as described, it is necessary to form a frame pattern with a width of about 1.0 μm using a photoresist film. That is, a micro pattern with a width of 1.0 μm or less is to be formed by the photoresist film of 8 to 10 μm or thicker. However, it is extremely difficult in a manufacturing process to form such a thick photoresist pattern with a narrow pattern width.
In addition, during an exposure of photolithography, a light for the exposure reflects by an undercoat electrode film as a seed layer and the photoresist film is exposed also by the reflecting light causing deformation of the photoresist pattern and the like. As a result, a photoresist pattern with a sharp and precise pattern shape can not be attained. Therefore, the side walls of the top pole take a round shape so that the top pole can not be formed in a desired shape. Especially, as shown in FIG. 37, it is further difficult to attain a desired width W100A by further microfabricating the pole width P2W. It is because the reflecting light reflected by the undercoat electrode film in the area R of the pole chip portion 114b extended on the apex area includes not only the reflecting light in a vertical direction but also the reflecting light from the slope of the apex area in an oblique direction or in a lateral direction influencing the exposure of the photoresist film. As a result, the pattern width of the photoresist pattern which determines the pole width P2W becomes greater than the anticipated value (as shown by the broken line) and it takes a shape as shown by a solid line in FIG. 37. The width of the portion F of the pole tip 114b which is front of TH0 position (air bearing surface 120 side) is an extremely important factor for determining the track width on the recording medium. Therefore, if the width of the portion F becomes greater than the above-mentioned value W100A, the targeted minute track width can not be attained.
Such problems also exist in the above-mentioned magnetic head disclosed in Japanese Patent laid-open No. Hei 8-249614. It is because, in this magnetic head, the width of the portion which is front of the TH0 position (air bearing surface 120 side) can not be precisely controlled because of the influence on the exposure of the photoresist film by a reflecting light from the apex area in an oblique direction and a lateral direction since the pole width moderately changes from the TH0 position towards the yoke.
As shown in FIG. 37, the portion R of the pole tip 114b, which extends from the TH0 position to the connection between the pole tip 114b and the yoke 114a, has about the same width as the portion F which extends from the TH0 position to the air bearing surface 120, and the portion R has a smaller cross-sectional area. As a result, the magnetic flux from the yoke 114a is saturated in the portion R and can not sufficiently reach the portion F which determines the track width. Therefore, the overwrite performance, that is, the characteristic of overwriting data on a recording medium on which data has already been written, is reduced to a degree about 10 to 20 dB, for example, so that a sufficient overwrite performance can not be attained.

Method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head


A mobile terminal including a display; an interface unit configured to transmit and receive data to and from an external display apparatus displaying information including an input region and a non-input region; and a controller configured to control the interface unit to receive data from the external display apparatus corresponding to the information displayed on the external display apparatus, to control the display to display a first screen including the input-region displayed on the external display apparatus and a second display screen including at least a portion of the non-input-region displayed on the external display apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method for providing a User Interface (UI) using the mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal for displaying a screen of an external display apparatus and inputting data to the external display apparatus and a method for providing a UI using the mobile terminal.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A display apparatus such as a TV, a PC, etc. provides a UI to a user through a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, a keypad, etc. Therefore, to enter data such as text to the display apparatus, the user should inconveniently manipulate an input device like a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, or a keypad.

Mobile terminal and method for providing user interface using the same


The invention provides an optimized method and system for conducting a continuous-operation, closed-loop, flow-through vapor phase decontamination. By the method, a liquid decontaminant is vaporized and delivered into, through and out of a sealable chamber by means of a carrier gas that is recirculated in a closed-loop conduit circuit. After leaving the chamber, the vapor is decomposed and the carrier gas is partially and selectively dried in response to the monitored temperature, relative humidity, and decontaminant vapor concentration in the chamber. The degree of drying is particularly selected in response to these chamber parameters to maintain a predetermined percent saturation of the decontaminant vapor in the chamber.

Reusable medical, pharmaceutical, and biological instruments are generally sterilized before each use. Additionally, reusable containers employed in medical, pharmaceutical, and biological applications, such as glove boxes and incubators, are generally sterilized before each use. In facilities and applications where these types of instruments and containers are used several times a day, it is important to achieve sterilization efficiently and economically.
Several different methods have been developed for delivering a vapor phase sterilant to an enclosure or chamber for sterilizing the load (e.g., medical instruments) or interior thereof. In one option, the "deep vacuum" approach, a deep vacuum is used to pull liquid sterilant into a heated vaporizer; once vaporized, the sterilant is propelled by its vapor pressure into an evacuated and sealed chamber. In another option, the "flow-through" approach, vaporized sterilant is mixed with a flow of carrier gas that serves to deliver the sterilant into, through and out of the chamber, which may be at slightly negative or positive pressure.
In addition, methods have been developed for optimizing vapor phase sterilization in a deep vacuum and/or flow-through system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,145 discloses a deep vacuum method of vapor phase sterilization in which a predetermined concentration of hydrogen peroxide sterilant is maintained in an evacuated, sealed chamber. The amount of sterilant injected into the chamber is regulated or adjusted to account for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide sterilant vapor into water and oxygen in the closed system over time. A different approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,445,792 and 5,508,009, incorporated by reference herein, wherein a predetermined percent saturation is maintained in an open, flow-through sterilization. The rate of hydrogen peroxide vapor injection into a carrier gas is regulated or adjusted in response to predetermined characteristics of the carrier gas.
Also, several systems and apparatus have been developed for conducting vapor phase sterilization. An open flow-through system designed to handle the disposition of residual sterilant vapors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,999 and is incorporated by reference herein. That system can be integrally associated with or releasably connected to a sealable container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,258, which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses another flow-through system in which vapor phase hydrogen peroxide is introduced into a recirculating, closed flow of carrier gas. The hydrogen peroxide vapor is introduced and maintained at a predetermined concentration selected to optimize the sterilization cycle. The system includes a dryer to dehumidify the recirculating flow, preferably to at least about 10% relative humidity, and thereby prevent moisture build-up resulting from the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide vapor over time. By eliminating moisture build-up, the system can maintain the sterilization chamber at higher concentrations of vapor phase hydrogen peroxide sterilant for longer periods of time (i.e., the predried gas will accept more of the sterilant vapor). Further, to avoid condensation of the sterilant, the relative humidity in the chamber is preferably reduced (e.g., to at least about 10%) prior to introducing sterilant vapor. After decontamination is complete, the enclosure may be rehumidified or conditioned if desired for the selected application.
The foregoing methods and systems are effective at sterilization and/or provide an enhanced sterilization cycle. There exists, however, a need for further improvement or a more efficient sterilization.

Continuous-operation, closed loop decontamination system and method


A method and apparatus for forming attachment pads in an inner body panel for the precise attachment of an outer body panel thereto. The apparatus positions a fixed anvil at a predefined net reference position while a face plate simultaneously “finds” the panel and is mechanically locked into position. Thereafter, the apparatus forms the inner body panel between a forming die and the fixed anvil. The face plate maintains the location of the surface metal around the die, resulting in the formation of a raised pad the outermost surface of which is at the predefined net reference position. A single such apparatus can form raised pads having different predefined net reference positions for different attachment locations. A reciprocating punch having a variable stroke length selectively provides either a hole or a slot in the raised pad.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the precise attachment of a first member to a second member, and provides a method of and apparatus for reforming the second member by a variable magnitude depending on the actual position of the second member relative to a predefined net reference position. The invention relates, in particular, to the precise attachment of an outer body panel member of an automotive vehicle to an imprecisely located element of an inner body panel structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the automotive industry, the assembly of vehicles involves the attachment of outer body panels to inner body panels or body structures. It is therefore important that the inner body panel attachment positions be precisely located with respect to predetermined three-dimensional coordinates so that variations thereof are not translated through the attachment of the outer body panels so as to be visible to the customer.
W. S. Zaydel, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,971, describes a method of and apparatus for attaching, at a precise location, a plastic automotive body panel to a relatively imprecisely located element of an inner body panel structure. According to the teachings of this patent, plastic-filled metal attachment blocks or pads are welded at selected locations to the inner body panel structure. The inner body panel structure is then positioned within a locating and machining fixture and each of the plastic-filled attachment blocks is milled to a precise position, the distance between the inner body panel structure and the milled face of the plastic-filled attachment blocks varying with the position of the inner body panel structure. The plastic outer body panel member is then attached to the milled face of the plastic-filled attachment block, after drilling a hole in the plastic-filled attachment block to receive a threaded fastener or a fastener attached to the inside of the plastic outer body panel member. By this method and apparatus, each such plastic outer body panel member is mounted in a precisely determined and in precise surface alignment with each adjacent plastic panel.
The method and apparatus of the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,971 does lead to precision in the positioning of plastic outer body panels to a relatively imprecisely positioned automotive inner body panel structure, but it requires the attachment of the plastic-filled attachment blocks to the inner body panel structure which adds to the material and processing costs. Additionally, the subsequent milling of the plastic-filled attachment blocks generates scrap which is a mixture of a metal and the plastic filler material which, for the disposition of such scrap in an environmentally acceptable manner, involves additional expense and, in any case, the milling of the plastic-filled attachment blocks generates dust corresponding, mainly, to the composition of the plastic filler. This is also objectionable on environmental and workplace health and safety grounds, unless strict precautions are followed in performing the milling and drilling of the plastic-filled attachment blocks.
It is also known in the prior art that a relatively imprecisely located automotive inner body panel element can be built up to provide for the attachment thereto of an outer body panel element at a more precisely determined location by attaching one or more metal shims to the surface of the inner body panel element to which the outer body element is to be attached, the number of such shims to be attached based on the original position of the inner body panel element. However, this is a time-consuming and expensive procedure, and the attachment of such shims adds to the weight of the vehicle, an undesirable feature especially since it detracts from fuel economy.
Dacey, Jr., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,760,633 and 4,884,431 disclose a method and apparatus for body panel attachment which reforms a portion of an inner panel member to a precise location. This method and apparatus employs an anvil that is moved into a known position defining the desired precise location of the inner panel attachment surface. Floating support members engage and thereby locate the inner panel, and are then locked in a fixed position.
A hydraulic ram is actuated and moves a pad forming member mounted thereon under force against the inner panel to deform a portion of the inner panel between the floating support members into engagement with the anvil. This results in an attachment pad being formed in the inner panel whose surface is located at the precise location desired for attachment to another member, such as an outer body panel. While the pad forming member is still in engagement with the anvil, a punching operation is performed to form an aperture in the pad. A punch is moved by a separate hydraulic cylinder through the pad to form the aperture.
While Dacey, Jr. does provide an alternate method for precisely assembling an outer body panel to an imprecisely located inner body panel, both patents rely on hydraulic actuation of the ram and punch. Hydraulic equipment generally suffers from the disadvantages of significantly increased cost and maintenance requirements, slow operation, and auxiliary cooling requirements. Additionally, hydraulic devices include a pressurized fluid, typically oil, that occasionally leaks as a result of long term use within the environment of an assembly operation. Hydraulic leaks are messy, carcinogenic, environmentally unacceptable, and present a serious fire hazard. Finally, the heating and consequent expansion of the hydraulic fluid must be taken into consideration for precise control of variable speed and/or variable stroke hydraulic ram devices.
Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,206 discloses a method and apparatus for forming a portion of a panel member to a predetermined reference position. The apparatus includes a sensing device that locates the actual position of a panel member. Next, an extendible and retractable rod positions a holding means including a first and second pair of arms at the actual located position of the panel member established by the sensing device. A drive means is then actuated to move the first and second pair of arms into engagement with the panel member to hold adjacent sides of the portion of the panel member to be reformed to the predetermined reference position.
After locating and holding the panel member, a forming means including a fourth pair of arms is moved to urge a forming member into the panel member to reform the portion of the panel member to the predetermined reference position. An aperture is optionally pierced in the reformed portion of the panel member by sequentially urging a piercing pin mounted on the end of a third pair of arms into the reformed portion of the panel member.
The invention disclosed by Jackson also includes the steps of camming the first and second pair of arms between the first and second positions, as well as camming the third and fourth pair of arms from a first position spaced from the panel member to a second position such that the forming member and piercing pin engage the panel member. The step of camming the holding means from the first to the second positions is initiated before the step of camming the forming means is initiated so as to bring the holding means into engagement with the panel member before the forming means engages the panel member.
The Jackson invention identifies the same problem addressed by Dacey, Jr., and teaches an apparatus adapted to provide the same solution taught by Dacey, Jr. Although Jackson alleges an improved apparatus, the only support provided for such allegation is that the apparatus employs a single actuation device for holding the inner body panel in a fixed position. The Jackson invention, however, remains problematic for the following reasons.
The apparatus taught by Jackson is excessively complex and thus unnecessarily expensive and subject to failure. More specifically, Jackson incorporates numerous moving components including a positioning means having an extendible and retractable rod, a hydraulic or pneumatic drive means responsive to the output of a sensor device, and four pair of adjustable arms each having a cam device wherein each moving component gives rise to an additional mode of failure.
Furthermore, Jackson discloses a complex sensor device adapted to locate the panel member and transmit a corresponding output signal to the drive means that is controlled thereby. This sensor device is a critical feature of the disclosure whereby any imprecision thereof is proportionally translated to the attachment pad formed on the inner body panel, and potentially gives rise to a visibly misaligned outer body panel. As the effectiveness of the Jackson apparatus is predicated on the sensor device maintaining a high degree of precision over numerous cycles, the device becomes increasingly expensive. Finally, Jackson does not disclose a device for analyzing the precision of the sensor device for purposes of error proofing, whereby loss of precision thereof will likely result in numerous defectively assembled automobiles before it can be identified and addressed.
Copeman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,912 discloses an apparatus adapted to form a workpiece to a net position and pierce a hole in the workpiece. The apparatus generally includes an inner and an outer slide assembly. The outer slide assembly includes a hydraulic form cylinder slidably mounted to a base, the form cylinder has a form punch mounted thereon via a pair of outer slide rails. The inner slide assembly includes a hydraulic pierce cylinder, including a form back-up and is coupled to a form cylinder rod end via a cylinder mounting block extension.
The workpiece is positioned between the form back-up of the inner slide assembly and the form punch of the outer slide assembly. Actuation of the form cylinder compels the cylinder mounting block extension along with the entire inner slide assembly toward the workpiece until the form back-up contacts the workpiece. A slave cylinder connected to the inner slide assembly is fillable through a one way valve so that when the form back-up of the inner slide assembly contacts the workpiece, the slave cylinder locks the form back-up in place.
The form cylinder continues to push the form cylinder rod end thereby moving a form punch and an anvil, connected via the outer slide rails, toward the workpiece. The form cylinder extends a predetermined amount to emboss the workpiece to a net position. After the workpiece has been embossed, a pierce cylinder of the inner slide assembly actuates a punch to pierce a hole in the workpiece. The use of hydraulic cylinders by Copeman present the same disadvantages for this device as set forth with regard to the device of Dacey, Jr.
The inventions of Dacey, Jr., Jackson and Copeman disclose similar devices. Jackson claims to require fewer steps than Dacey, Jr., and Copeman claims to be more compact, however, the devices accomplish the same objective in much the same way. One of the common features of Dacey, Jr., Jackson and Copeman includes an actuation device having constant velocity and stroke. More sophisticated programmable punching and forming motions including variable velocity and stroke are advantageous for a number of reasons described in detail hereinafter.
Variable velocity punching and forming devices reduce cycle time by varying the speed of the ram over the cycle with a rapid ram advance and retraction combined with slower speeds as the work piece is approached as well as during actual punching or forming. Variable velocity allows for a broader working range in that a single actuation device can accommodate a variety of different size dies and/or punches, and can form and/or punch a variety of different materials and material configurations.
Variable stroke forming devices permit positive depth control of a formed feature. Variable stroke punching devices are capable of making a variety of different sized and shaped holes with a single cutting tool. This is accomplished by, for example, providing a cutting tool having an initial cutting surface and a secondary cutting surface a predetermined axial distance therefrom, wherein the effective diameter of the secondary engagement surface is necessarily larger than that of the initial engagement surface. A variable stroke device incorporating such a cutting tool can form a small hole using a short stroke such that the secondary cutting surface does not contact the material to be punched. The same device can also form a larger hole by using a longer stroke such that both the initial and secondary cutting surfaces pass through the material to be punched.
Finally, an apparatus having a programmable punching motion in combination with a linear transducer provides automatic error proofing of the process to ensure that a hole has been punched. As is well known in the art, the current signature provided by the linear transducer is representative of punch/metal resistance, as the resistance encountered by the punch greatly increases during engagement with the metal panel, a current spike is generated. Accordingly, a current spike indicates a successful punching operation, and conversely the absence of a current spike indicates the desired punching operation was not performed (i.e. the punch broke and did not engage the panel).
From the above, it can be appreciated that the prior art methods and apparatuses for precisely positioning and attaching a first member to an imprecisely located second member by forming a portion of the second member to a predetermined net reference position are not fully optimized. Therefore, what is needed is a punching and forming apparatus having variable velocity and stroke, which does not rely on hydraulic actuation, that is simple, reliable and inexpensive as well as environmentally acceptable.

Programmable apparatus and method for body panel attachment