A method for preparing a surface modified organic pigment includes the steps of a) reacting the organic pigment in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent with a surface modifying reagent to form a surface modified organic pigment; and b) washing and drying the surface modified organic pigment; wherein the surface modifying reagent is represented by Formula (I):

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new class of surface modified organic pigments, a process for their preparation and non-aqueous inks including at least one such surface modified pigment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In industrial ink jet systems, there is a constant demand for increased printing speeds in combination with high image quality. This requires an excellent dispersion quality and stability of the inks in order to guarantee continuous printing without production loss due to nozzle or engine failures. The new print heads designed for increasing printing speed only operate with very low viscous inkjet inks which generally exhibit inferior shelf life stability. In addition, the reduction of pigment particle size for image quality also tends to result in more critical shelf life stability.
Polymeric dispersants are substances for promoting the formation and stabilization of a dispersion of pigment particles in a dispersion medium. They typically contain in one part of the molecule so-called anchor groups, which adsorb onto the pigments to be dispersed. In a spatially separate part of the molecule, polymeric dispersants have polymer chains compatible with the dispersion medium, thus stabilizing the pigment particles in the dispersion medium.
In aqueous pigment dispersions, the polymeric dispersants generally contain hydrophobic anchor groups exhibiting a high affinity for the pigment surface and hydrophilic polymer chains for stabilizing the pigments in the aqueous dispersion medium. Thermally stable non-aqueous dispersions with submicron particles are much more difficult to prepare, especially for pigments having a non-polar surface.
Several methods to improve the dispersibility of organic pigments are disclosed in The Chemistry of Inkjet Inks. Edited by MAGDASSI, Shlomo. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co., 2010. p. 111-119.
Often commercially available polymeric dispersants are used as general purpose dispersants for all pigment types. However, it is known in the art that several pigments cannot be milled down to the required particle size for high end ink jet applications using only general purpose dispersants. In a first approach to optimize the dispersion quality of these pigments, dedicated dispersants have been designed, containing structural moieties, having a structural similarity with the pigment to be dispersed. Such dispersant designs have been disclosed in WO 2007/089859 (CABOT), WO 2007/006634 (AGFA), WO 2007/006635 (AGFA), WO 2007/006636 (AGFA), WO 2007/006637 (AGFA), WO 2007/006638 (AGFA) and WO 2007/006639 (AGFA). However this approach, though very effective, requires the design of a dedicated dispersant for each class of pigments, leading to high costs making this approach less attractive from an economical and industrial point of view.
In a second approach, so called dispersion synergists have been developed to improve the dispersibility of specific pigments in combination with general purpose dispersants. Dispersion synergists are especially useful to disperse pigments with a hydrophobic surface in a non-aqueous dispersion medium by modifying the pigment surface to a hydrophilic surface. Several dispersion synergists have been commercialized, such as Solsperse™ 5000 from Lubrizol. WO 2007/060254 (AGFA) discloses quinacridone derivatives having carboxylic acid groups for modifying the surface of quinacridone pigments. Other dispersion synergists are disclosed in WO 2007/060255 (AGFA), WO 2007/060259 (AGFA), WO 2007/060264 (AGFA), WO 2007/060265 (AGFA) and WO 2007/060265 (AGFA). As dispersion synergists generally show a certain molecular similarity with the pigments to be dispersed, this approach also requires the development of a specific dispersion synergist for each pigment class, leading again to a high additional cost and an economically less attractive option.
In a third approach, the pigment surface is modified by direct chemical reaction introducing polar or acid groups on the pigment surface, which should enhance the interaction with the dispersants used in the milling process.
Diazonium technology has been successfully used both on carbon black and different organic pigments to introduce functional groups as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,280 (CABOT) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,045 (CABOT). However, this technology requires an aqueous environment, making it difficult to extend the technology to solvent based and UV based inks.
Surface sulfonation has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,840 (HUBER), US 2003134938 (DAINICHISEIKA COLOR) and EP 2316886 A (AGFA). Sulfonation leads to highly acidic pigment surfaces, which are incompatible with cationic radiation curable formulations or vinyl ether containing free radical radiation curable formulations, unless specific precautions are taken. Vinyl ethers, such as vinylether acrylates disclosed by EP 997508 A (AGFA), are of special interest for preparing low viscous radiation curable ink jet inks suitable for the new print heads designed for increasing printing speed.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to design carboxylation technology for surface modification of organic pigments, making the modified pigments compatible with vinyl ether containing radiation curable formulations by design.
Surface carboxylation through hydrolysis has been disclosed in WO 2008/034472 (AGFA) and WO 2004/094534 (CABOT). However, this technology is restricted to organic pigments comprising hydrolysable groups in their structure. Several industrially interesting pigment classes cannot be surface modified using this technology.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,733 (CIBA) discloses surface modification with a formaldehyde precursor in combination with aromatic carboxylic acids in a strong acidic medium. Strong acids are not easy to remove from pigments filter cakes by washing. Traces of strong acid catalysts render the pigment incompatible with vinyl ether containing radiation curable formulations.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,831,194 (COLUMBIAN CHEMICALS) uses cyclic anhydrides in combination with Lewis acids to introduce gamma keto carboxylic acids on the pigment surface. Also Lewis acids have to be removed to the last trace to render the pigment compatible with vinyl ether containing radiation curable formulations.
Hence there is still a need for carboxylation technology, applicable on a broad range of pigments, without the need for significant amounts of strong acids or Lewis acids as catalysts.

Surface modified pigments and non-aqueous inks therewith

Abstract: wherein,X is selected from the group consisting of O, S and N—R3; Y is selected from the group consisting of —O—, and NR4; R1 to R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a -aralkyl group, an alkaryl group, and an aryl group and s heteroaryl group; with the proviso that when Y—R1 is different from OH that at least one of R2 to R4 is substituted by at least one functional group having a pKa between 2.5 and 9.


A sensor for measuring a liquid viscosity includes at least one piezo-electrical element in the form of a resonator, at least one first exciting electrode, and a second exciting electrode. At least the first exciting electrode is arranged on the sensitive surface of the sensor and, in order to reduce measuring time at predefined temperatures, the sensor is provided with a heating electrode for heating a measurable liquid.

Viscosity measurement using microacoustic components is known in the art. In these components, mechanical or acoustic oscillations can be induced in a piezoelectric element by applying alternating electric voltages to electrode configurations situated on the same piezoelectric element. In general, piezoelectric crystals (such as quartz), but also piezoelectric ceramics, are used as piezoelectric materials. In the case of crystals, it is possible to induce preferably shear oscillations on at least one crystal surface via an appropriate selection of the used crystal orientation (known as crystal section) during excitation with an alternating voltage at appropriately applied electrodes. In the case of piezoelectric ceramics, the direction of polarization is to be selected in a similar manner. The term "shear oscillation" describes oscillating deformations of the surface formed preferably in the plane of the crystal surface (i.e., not perpendicularly to the surface). If a crystal surface oscillating in this way is brought into contact with a viscous liquid, a damped acoustic shear wave is induced in the liquid. If the acoustic component is designed as a piezoelectric resonator, the damping and the resonance frequency of the resonator will change due to this contact with the liquid as a function of the density and viscosity of the liquid (see, for example, S. J. Marlin, G. C. Frye, K. O. Wessendorf; "Sensing Liquid Properties with Thickness-Shear Mode Resonators," Sens. Act. A, vol. 44. p. 209-218, 1994). These two changes result in corresponding changes in the electrical parameters of the electric equivalent circuit for the resonator impedance, which may be detected using suitable electronic analyzer circuits. The viscosity of the liquid may thus be electronically measured.
Microacoustic components using shear-polarized acoustic surface waves are based on a similar principle (see, for example, B. Jakoby, M. J. Vellekoop, "Properties of Love Waves: Applications in Sensors," Smart Mater. Struct, vol. 6, p. 668-679, 1997). Also in this case, shear waves which modify the electrical properties of the component are induced in the liquid. These components may also be designed as resonators, but alternatively also as delay lines. In this case the damping and the propagation time, i.e., phase of the delay line, change with the viscosity and density of the liquid.
Published U.S. patent application US 2002/0170341 A1 (Jakoby et al.) describes a measuring system for the viscosity measurement of liquids. Based on the problem that in measuring the viscosity of aggressive or corrosive liquids the sensitive surfaces of the sensors used are sealed using gaskets and the stress by the gaskets affecting the measurements, published U.S. patent application US 2002/0170341 A1 describes a piezoelectric sensor device which is completely immersed in the liquid to be measured. A cylinder-shaped sensor having two starting electrodes is described, the sensor being situated in a container through which the liquid to be measured flows.
Since the viscosity of a liquid generally varies considerably with the temperature, typically viscosity-temperature (VT) characteristics are measured. This requires an additional unit for exact temperature control of the liquid, which often substantially increases the required space and the price of the overall measuring device. As a further disadvantage, many liquids have a high specific heat, resulting in a relatively long heating time depending on the size of the required sample volume.


Methods and apparatus for reducing replays in the recording of live musical performances, and for other recording purposes, are disclosed. The apparatus includes novel audio frequency electrical signal processing devices which can be incorporated in re-recording systems by means of which "flat" recordings of original "live" instrumental and musical performances are re-recorded via effects boxes and instrument amplifiers which are different or differently set than the equipment used in making the original "live" recording, and thus the resulting re-recordings have the same apparent sound quality as recordings originally made "live" through the same effects boxes and instrument amplifiers set in the same way. The disclosed signal processing device of the invention includes an output trim control and a ground lift switch. Also disclosed are re-recording systems of the invention, and re-recording methods of the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
My present invention relates to the recording of live musical performances, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for reducing replays in the recording of live musical performances, and for other recording purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical prior art recording system for the recording of a live performance on an electric musical instrument is comprised of a matching transformer connected to the output terminals of the electric musical instrument, a recording/playback console receiving the output signals from the matching transformer, a tape recorder connected to output and input terminals of the recording/playback console, and monitoring speakers receiving output signals from output terminals of said recording/playback console, as modified for balance and equalization by manipulating controls of said recording/playback console.
Other prior art recording systems used for the same purpose substitute for the matching transformer an instrument amplifier, a loudspeaker, a microphone and a recording/playback console. In these other prior art recording systems output terminals of the electric musical instrument being used by the performer are connected to input terminals of the instrument amplifier, which in turn drives the loudspeaker. The sound produced by the loudspeaker is picked up by the microphone, and output terminals of the microphone are connected to input terminals of the recording/playback console.
In making recordings with such prior art recording systems, the performer is required to repeat and frequently re-repeat a musical piece or passage while the recording engineer adjusts microphone placement, equalization and recording level by means of the controls of the recording/playback console in order to produce the desired recording qualities.
Such repetitions of the same particular piece or passage by the performer are undesirable, given the temperament of many recording artists, and the cost of the performing time of major recording artists and studio musicians.
It is believed that the documents listed in the Information Disclosure Statement filed herewith contain information which is or might be considered to be material to the examination hereof.
A copy of each document listed in said Information Disclosure Statement is supplied to the United States Patent and Trademark Office herewith.
No representation or admission is made that any of the documents listed in said Information Disclosure Statement is part of the prior art, or that no more pertinent information exists.
The term "prior art" as used herein or in any statement made by or on behalf of applicant means only that any document or thing referred to as prior art bears, directly or inferentially, a date which is earlier than the effective filing date hereof.

Recorder to instrument amplifier interface apparatus and method


A method and system are disclosed for providing standalone built-in self-testing of a transceiver chip. The transceiver chip includes packet generators for generating test packets and packet checkers for comparing received packets with expected packets. The transceiver chip may be configured for testing through at least two wraparound test paths—a first test path that includes an elastic FIFO of a transmit path of the transceiver chip, and a second test path that includes an elastic FIFO of a receive path of the transceiver chip. During testing, the test packets are generated by packet generators within the transceiver chip and routed through the at least two wraparound test paths to packet checkers within the same transceiver chip. The packet checkers compare the returned packets to the expected packets. If the returned packets are inconsistent with the expected packets, the transceiver chip is defective.

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate generally to testing optical networking hardware, and more particularly to a system and method for performing standalone self-testing.
High-speed digital communication networks over copper and optical fiber are used in many network communication and digital storage applications. Ethernet and Fiber Channel are two widely used communication protocols used today and continue to evolve to respond to the increasing need for higher bandwidth in digital communication systems.
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model (ISO standard) was developed to establish standardization for linking heterogeneous computer and communication systems. The OSI model includes seven distinct functional layers including Layer 7: an application layer; Layer 6: a presentation layer; Layer 5: a session layer; Layer 4: a transport layer; Layer 3: a network layer; Layer 2: a data link layer; and Layer 1: a physical layer. Each OSI layer is responsible for establishing what is to be done at that layer of the network but not how to implement it.
Layers 1 to 4 handle network control and data transmission and reception. Layers 5 to 7 handle application issues. Specific functions of each layer may vary to a certain extent, depending on the exact requirements of a given protocol to be implemented for the layer. For example, the Ethernet protocol provides collision detection and carrier sensing in the data link layer.
The physical layer, Layer 1, is responsible for handling all electrical, optical, and mechanical requirements for interfacing to the communication media. The physical layer provides encoding and decoding, synchronization, clock data recovery, and transmission and reception of bit streams. Typically, high-speed electrical or optical transceivers are the hardware elements used to implement this layer.
As data rate and bandwidth requirements increase, 10 Gigabit data transmission rates are being developed and implemented in high-speed networks. Pressure exists to develop a 10 Gigabit physical layer for high-speed serial data applications. Transceivers for 10 G applications are needed for the 10 G physical layer. The specification IEEE P802.3ae draft 5 describes the physical layer requirements for 10 Gigabit applications and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
An optical-based transceiver, for example, includes various functional components such as clock data recovery, clock multiplication, serialization/de-serialization, encoding/decoding, electrical/optical conversion, descrambling, media access control, controlling, and data storage. Many of the functional components are often implemented each in a separate IC chip.
Testing of IC chips often involves applying inputs and capturing outputs by an external source. The external source then compares the captured outputs against expected outputs that are known to be accurate. Defective IC chips are detected when the captured outputs are inconsistent with the expected outputs.
Testing an IC chip by application of inputs and capturing of outputs by an external source becomes difficult as the data rate of the IC chip increases. The external source must apply the inputs and capture the outputs at the data rate of the IC chip. As stated above, IC chips in optical transceivers may be required to operate with data at rates of 10 Gbps.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

On-chip standalone self-test system and method


The disk recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a magnetic head which ascends or descends between a descent position proximate to a disk recording medium housed in a cartridge and an ascent position which is separate from the medium, an ascending/descending control lever which controls ascent/descent of the magnetic head, a driving section which drives the ascending/descending control lever, and an ejecting operation section which couples with the ascending/descending control lever and can move between a position where the cartridge is allowed to be ejected out of the apparatus and a position where the cartridge is disabled from being ejected in accordance with the movement of the ascending/descending control lever, wherein the length of movement of the ascending/descending control lever is greater than the length of movement of the ejection operation section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk recording/reproducing apparatus having an ascending/descending mechanism for moving a magnetic head used to record and/or reproduce an information signal on a disk recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk, closer to or away from the disk recording medium.
2. Related Background Art
A disk recording/reproducing apparatus which uses a magneto-optical disk as a recording medium enabling an information signal to be recorded using a light beam emitted from an optical pickup apparatus and action of an external magnetic field applied from a magnetic head is conventionally available.
When recording an information signal on a magneto-optical disk, this type of disk recording/reproducing apparatus slides and moves the magnetic head closer to the principal surface of the magneto-optical disk provided with a signal recording area. On the other hand, when reproducing an information signal recorded on the magneto-optical disk, no external magnetic field needs to be applied from the magnetic head, and therefore the magnetic head is moved to a position away from the principal surface of the magneto-optical disk.
Thus, moving the magnetic head away from the magneto-optical disk when the magnetic head need not be used prevents the magnetic head and the magneto-optical disk from mutually sliding over each other and thereby causing the magnetic head and magneto-optical disk to wear out, which improves durability of the magnetic head and magneto-optical disk.
The disk recording/reproducing apparatus which uses as a recording medium a magneto-optical disk for enabling an information signal to be recorded consists of a main body of the apparatus including a disk rotation driving mechanism and an optical pickup apparatus which constitutes recording/reproducing means and a holder supported in a rotatable manner by the main body of the apparatus for loading a disk cartridge in the recording/reproducing position on the main body side. This disk recording/reproducing apparatus is constructed such that a magnetic head is attached to one end of a head support arm which extends over the holder and the head support arm is rotated and operated in accordance with the rotation and operation of the holder.
When recording an information signal, the disk recording/reproducing apparatus including the head support arm for supporting the magnetic head extended on the holder which is supported in a rotatable manner by the main body of the apparatus allows the magnetic head to go into the holder through an opening for insertion of the magnetic head provided in the holder and be loaded (slid over the magneto-optical disk) in the recording/reproducing position. In the case of this disk recording/reproducing apparatus, inserting or removing the disk cartridge while the magnetic head remains in the holder may cause the disk cartridge to collide with the magnetic head, thereby resulting in damage to the magnetic head.
Thus, when inserting or removing the disk cartridge into or from the holder, this type of disk recording/reproducing apparatus moves the magnetic head from the position at which the information signal recorded on the magneto-optical disk is reproduced to an ascent position outside the holder in order to ensure that the disk cartridge is prevented from colliding with the magnetic head.
The disk recording/reproducing apparatus which uses as a recording medium a magneto-optical disk for enabling an information signal to be recorded is structured to control the ascending and descending of the position of the magnetic head according to a recording mode in which an information signal is recorded on the magneto-optical disk and a reproducing mode in which it is possible to eject the magneto-optical disk loaded in the recording/reproducing position and the information signal recorded in the magneto-optical disk is reproduced. This ascending/descending control of the magnetic head is carried out by moving and operating an ascending/descending control lever, which operates the ascending and descending of an ascending/descending operation member to operate the ascending/descending of the magnetic head, using a driving motor. The ascending/descending operation member and the ascending/descending control lever are coupled by a coupling member.
In order to control the ascending and descent positions of the magnetic head according to various operation modes, the disk recording/reproducing apparatus detects the position of the ascending/descending operation lever or coupling member, detects the position of the magnetic head and drives and controls the driving motor according to the detected position of the magnetic head.
A conventional disk recording/reproducing apparatus has three positions of the magnetic head, i.e., recording mode position, reproducing mode position and eject position, and ascends or descends the magnetic head by driving the magnetic head ascending/descending operation member using a cam which is often provided on the coupling member. However, in order to ascend the magnetic head, which is biased by a biasing member or the like at the descent position, against the biasing force, the ascending/descending operation is performed with a limited amount of movement of the ascending/descending operation lever to avoid upsizing of the disk recording/reproducing apparatus, which makes the angle of the cam shaper, requires a driving source (motor) with a large driving force or a deceleration mechanism to obtain the driving force, making it further difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus.

Disk recording/reproducing apparatus provided with magnet head ascending/descending mechanism


A system for operating a sports gaming event using a graphical interface of a computing device application, the system including: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive sports data about a sporting event via a network; access a database of historical statistics relating to the sporting event and to players playing in the sporting event; select at least one betting scenario from a betting scenario database based on the sports data and the historical statistics; calculate an initial probability of the betting scenario occurring based on the sports data and the historical statistics; generate an initial price of the betting scenario based on the initial probability; display the betting scenario and the initial price on the graphical interface; and receive a response to the betting scenario from at least one user.

Online gaming has increased in popularity, especially after the Supreme Court of the United States ruling that individual states could legalize sports gambling within their states. Online gaming players (e.g., users) can engage in online sports gaming through an application operating on a computing device. The application may include, but is not limited to, social media platforms, media streaming platforms, mobile device applications. The computing devices may include, but are not limited to, personal computers, mobile smart phones, or tablets. Using the various mediums, players can place bets on the final outcome of sporting events. In addition, bets or selections can be made in the context of fantasy sports, where the user is attempting to select a roster or portfolio of players. Players can submit bets using real money or with fake money generated within the computing device application.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and therefore, it may contain information that does not form prior art.

System and method for sports wagering using dynamic real-time pricing and trading


An inline macerating method and apparatus for treating pieces of meat with a liquid wherein the pieces of meat are first injected with the liquid and then drawn by suction through a duct in which the piece of meat is incised by cutting edges extending into the path of the pieces of meat as they traverse the duct. The pieces of meat then pass into a paddle massager or tumbler in which the liquid is massaged into the tissue.

In the commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,405,630, 5,362,507, 5,564,332, 5,436,017, 5,449,524 and 5,505,972, there are described processes and machines for introducing solutions of various compounds into pieces of meat, including poultry breasts and pieces of red meat, pork products and the like.
These solutions, which can be termed marinades, pickles, tenderizing solutions and the like, can be injected by needle and generally are massaged into the piece of meat by, for example, a paddle massager and/or a rotating-drum tumbler. Reference may be had in this connection to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,405,630 and 5,564,332.
Details of the types of solutions which may be used can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,362,507 and 5,436,017 and, where poultry carcasses are injected, differential introduction of the solution is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,449,524 and 5,505,972.
We have found that earlier systems for treating pieces of meat, regardless of the animal source and even regardless of the shape, size, nature of the muscle tissue and like factors, can be improved by additionally incising the piece of meat and/or by subjecting the pieces of meat, after injection, alternately to compression and expansion.

Method of and apparatus for the treatment of meat


A low-cost sprag retainer is disclosed which is particularly useful in high volume applications. The retainer is formed of two generally linear wire portions which are spaced by a first distance. Cross members are placed across the linear members, spanning the first distance and then secured to the linear members. The linear members are then rolled upon themselves such that their ends meet in abutting contact to form rings. The ends are then welded together. The method of the present invention reduces production complexity for sprag retainers in high volume applications.

This application in general relates to low-cost retainer for sprag clutches, and more particularly to a simplified method of forming such low-cost retainers.
Sprag clutches are known in the art and used to selectively transmit rotation between two shafts. A first shaft is connected to an inner race received at an inner periphery of a clutch assembly, and a second shaft is connected to an outer race at the outer periphery. The clutch assembly consists of a number of transmission members, commonly known as sprags, which selectively transmit rotation between the inner and outer races. A sprag retainer may receive the sprags and maintain them in a proper position. In the prior art, sprag retainers have often been punched from metal, and have been relatively complicated to produce.
The prior art discloses the concept of welding cross members to ring members to form a sprag retainer. This type of method is still somewhat complex, however, and it is desirable to achieve a simpler method of forming such sprag retainers.


A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a photographing unit configured to photograph the shape of a face; a detector is configured to detect a direction and angle of the face shape; a transformer is configured to mix the photographed face shape and a 3D face model and to transform the mixed face shape by using the detected direction and angle of the face shape; and an output interface is configured to output the transformed face shape.

1. Field
The exemplary embodiments relate to a display apparatus and a control method thereof. More particularly, the exemplary embodiments relate to a display apparatus and control method that can adjust the eyes of a photographed user.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the development of electronic technology and communication technology, electronic devices that can perform a variety of functions have been developed. For example, old TVs only had the ability to output broadcast programs by receiving broadcast signals. However, recent TVs can perform additional functions, such as internet connections, video calls, etc.
A TV may be provided with a camera for video calls. In general, the camera is disposed around the edges of a display unit (e.g. a top edge) of the TV, and a user making video calls looks at other party displayed on a screen rather than viewing the camera. Accordingly, because the camera captures the user with the users eyes directed downward, the user with their eyes direct downward is displayed on the TV of the other party to the video call. Likewise, the user's TV also displays the other party whose eyes are directed downwardly. Accordingly, inconsistency in eyes occurs between the user and the other party, and the inconsistency in eyes works as an element which interferes with the parties immersion during the video calls.
In the past, in order to solve this inconsistency related to the eyes of the parties, mechanical methods, image processing methods, etc. have been used. However, depending on the size of the display device, the mechanical methods to solve such problems are limited. The image processing methods calibrate the direction of gaze of the eyes of a user. However, because the image processing methods of the related art only compensate for the eye areas of a user, there is a problem that a face and the eye of the user are not naturally matched, depending on an angle of the user's face staring at the display apparatus.
Accordingly, the need for technology that can naturally process the captured eyes of the user, regardless of the angle of the users face, has emerged.

Display apparatus and control method for adjusting the eyes of a photographed user


Various embodiments partition map data into discrete portions of map data based on predetermined boundaries, and individual map data portions (e.g., shards) are assigned to individual computing nodes in a plurality of computing nodes that service geographic routing requests. A routing component associated with the plurality of computing nodes directs the geographic routing request to one or more computing nodes. The computing nodes adaptively cache geographical map data based on, for example, data relating to past geographic routes. Once cached at a computing node in a plurality of computing nodes, the computing node services current and future geographic routing requests using its assigned portion of map data and one or more portions of map data adaptively cached at the computing node, thereby reducing chances of more than one computing node getting involved in servicing a request.

Sharding can be used by geographic routing services to make large map data sets more useable and manageable and to overcome memory/data storage constraints of individual computing nodes. For example, using sharding, a large map dataset is broken up (e.g., horizontally partitioned) into several smaller data portions (or data shards) of the large map dataset, where each data shard does not generally overlap with any other data shard. Generally, the map data shards are distributed to individual computing nodes that collectively service one or more geographic routing requests (from a transportation or delivery service arrangement application on a client device). By distributing the resulting shards to individual computing nodes, geographic routing requests can be directed to one or more individual computing nodes based on the relevancy between the requested geographic route and the map data shards assigned to and used by the one or more individual computing nodes. This can improve response times for geographic routing requests (e.g., improve over a single computing device that loads and uses the entire map dataset) and may also provide load balancing of geographic routing requests.
The headings provided herein are merely for convenience and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the terms used.

Adaptive geographical data caching based on a route pattern


The invention relates to a connecting rod for an internal combustion engine, comprising a center rod having a first and a second end, the first end being provided with a big eye and the second end being provided with a connecting piece; wherein the big eye comprises a first and a second cap for taking up a bearing in between, the first cap being arranged on the center rod; at least one endless fiber loop wrapped around the whole connecting rod; and a tensioner arranged over the first cap, the at least one fiber loop being placed between the tensioner and the first cap, the tensioner being connected to the second cap by the fastening elements under assembling together the first and second caps and tensioning the at least one fiber loop.

Normally, connecting rods for connecting a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine with a piston are generally subjected to compressive loads so that the connecting rods should have a sufficient stability against buckling. This especially applies for modern Diesel engines with high cylinder pressures and at the same time comparatively low engine speeds. However, in the case of very high rotational speeds significant tensile loads may appear as a result from inertia forces.
In special internal combustion engines, however, the connecting rods may underlie even higher or predominantly tensile loads. From U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,443 a two-stroke internal combustion engine having opposed cylinders is known. Each cylinder has a pair of opposed pistons, with all pistons connected to a common central crankshaft by connecting rods. The loads are transmitted from the outer pistons to the common crankshaft via connecting rods of a substantial length, and these connecting rods predominantly underlie tensile loads. Because of their length these connecting rods are of a substantial weight.
Additionally, it is known from the German Patent No. DE 34 16 011 C2 to use an endless tensioning tape extending around the whole connecting rod. The tensioning tape taken up by a groove is mounted in such a manner that between the tape and the big eye a space is left which for tensioning purposes is filled by a high viscous liquid which after introduction is brought into its solid state. The tensioning band is not constricted to the shank part of the connecting rod so that the connecting rod occupies a corresponding space.
Further, it is known from published German patent application No. DE 37 20 065 A1 to compose a shank forming the center part and one half of the big eye of a connecting rod of a multitude of laminated plates and to use a tensioning tape extending around the shank. The tensioning tape is held close to the shank by a corresponding cap secured by collars. The ends of the tensioning tape are taken up by an additional holder on the side of the big eye opposite to the shank and tensioning takes place by a tensioning wedge to be actuated by screws. This holder and its wedge occupy additional space.

Connecting rod for an internal combustion engine


A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate spacer adjacent to a sidewall of the gate stack; thinning the gate spacer; and forming a secondary gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate spacer after the step of thinning the gate spacer.

The scaling of VLSI circuits is a constant effort. Smaller integrated circuits allow more devices to be formed in one semiconductor chip. Additionally, power consumption and performance are also improved. With circuits becoming smaller and faster, however, the distance between devices decreases. The gap-filling between neighboring devices thus suffers from problems. The gap-filling problem may be explained using FIGS. 1A through 1D. Referring to FIG. 1A, gate stacks 4 and 14 are formed close to each other. Gate spacers 6 and 16 are formed on sidewalls of gate stacks 4 and 14, respectively. Referring to FIG. 1B, gate spacers 6 and 16 are thinned, so that their thickness T1 as shown in FIG. 1A is reduced to thickness T1′ as in FIG. 1B. In FIG. 1C, contact etch stop layer (CESL) 8 is formed over gate stacks 4 and 14, wherein CESL 8 extends into gap 5 between gate stacks 4 and 14. Next, as shown in FIG. 1D, dielectric material 18 is formed to fill gap 5.
During the step shown in FIG. 1B, the thinning of gate spacers 6 and 16 causes the reduction of the aspect ratio of gap 5, wherein the aspect ratio of gap 5 may be defined as the ratio of height H to width W. Accordingly, in the structure shown in FIG. 1D, better gap-filling can be achieved. However, with the further reduction of the scale of integrated circuits, the aspect ratio of gap 5 continuously rises. Accordingly, even with the thinning of gate spacers 6 and 16, voids 19 may still form in dielectric material 18. Particularly, for gate-last approaches, hard masks are formed on gate stacks, causing the increase of height H of the gate stacks 4 and 14. This further causes the aspect ratio of gap 5 to be increased. Accordingly, a new method for forming MOS devices with improved gap-filling ability is needed.

Spacer shape engineering for void-free gap-filling process

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A sub-system is provided to a discrete event simulator (DES) to expedite simulation execution by first detecting a non-quiescent steady-state condition in the simulated system, and when the steady-state condition is detected, the simulator determines a state, and subsequently simulates the system at a skip-ahead time using this determined state, or a predicted state based on the determined state. Convergence analysis is used to determine whether the system is at, or approaching, a steady-state condition. This convergence skip-ahead process achieves faster analysis by avoiding the computation that would conventionally be required to simulate the system behavior during the time interval that is skipped.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of simulation, and in particular to the enhancement of a simulator's performance via convergence-detection.
2. Description of Related Art
Simulators are commonly used to determine and/or verify the expected operation of a system, often before the system is built. A description of the system is encoded as a simulation model, along with a description of example initial conditions and subsequent input stimuli that are to be applied to the system. The simulator initializes the model based on the given initial conditions, and then proceeds to apply the sequence of input stimuli to the model. As the initial conditions and subsequent stimuli are applied, the simulator determines the effects of these events on each component within the system, and allows the user to view these effects using, for example, graphic plots of output waveforms, histograms, state diagrams, and the like. By modeling the system and simulating its performance given sample input stimuli, the operation of the system can be determined or verified without having to actually build the system.
Another widespread use of simulators is to determine the effects that might result from proposed changes to a system. The virtual system environment provided by simulators is often necessary, invaluable, and widely used for developing and evaluating proposed additions to a system's architecture. OPNET Technologies, Inc. provides a suite of simulation products to describe a communications system using networking components, technologies, and protocols. Modeling and simulation also allow a user to determine, for example, the effects of potential component failures in the system, and to evaluate the improvements that a proposed fail-safe configuration may provide. Simulations are also considered essential as tools for validating proposals in system environments characterized by heterogeneity, and/or in large-scale topologies. Simulations also allow for a determination of the effects that proposed changes might have to alleviate bottlenecks and other system deficiencies. Such simulations and evaluations are often used to provide a cost versus benefits analysis for determining whether or not a proposed change to the system will provide sufficient benefit to justify the cost of the change. Other prospective applications include deployment of network devices, configuration of devices, test design of new protocols and so on.
In the circuit and system design field, simulators are used to verify the proper operation of an intended design, before the circuit or system is built. A schematic or net-list defines the interconnection of components forming the circuit or system. A user specifies a set of input stimuli, and the simulator propagates the effects of these stimuli through the components to produce a corresponding set of output events. Alternatively, the simulator may be configured to determine a set of input stimuli that achieves a particular goal, such as a set of input stimuli that facilitate an optimal detection of potential faults in the circuit or system.
Because a computer-based simulation of a modeled system or component may consume more, or less, time than the operation of an actual system or component, a virtual time-base is used within a simulator. That is, a user may specify that input events E1, E2, E3, etc. occur at times T1, T2, T3, etc., and the simulator may report output events corresponding to these input events occur at times T1+D1, T2+D2, T3+D3, etc., without regard to the real-time required by the simulator to determine and report the output events. Unless otherwise noted below, the times associated with simulated events correspond to the virtual time-base that is used by the simulator to model events and corresponding outputs, and the term "clock" refers to the time-keeping used to maintain this virtual time-base.
To optimize the performance of a conventional simulator, the simulator is structured to be event-driven. When a specified input event occurs, the components that are directly affected by this input event are reevaluated with this event as an input. If the output of a component changes in response to this reevaluation, the components that are directly affected by this changed output event are reevaluated. This reevaluation of components continues until no further changes occur, that is, until all of the effects of the input event occur, and the system reaches a quiescent state corresponding to this input event. When the system reaches a quiescent state, the simulator is configured to "advance its clock" to the next scheduled input event, because it is known that once the system reaches a quiescent state, it will stay in this quiescent state until something forces a change. In this manner, although an output may be continually produced corresponding to this quiescent period, the simulator is not actually consuming real-time or resources reevaluating the components during this period. Thus, the effective real-time required to perform the simulation is substantially reduced, compared to a simulator that is configured to reevaluate each component at each unit of time. Typically, performance improvements in the order of hundred-fold or thousand-fold can be achieved via an event-driven simulator with quiescent-state advancement of its clock.
Unfortunately, the performance improvements provided by a quiescent-state clock-advance can only be achieved for simulated systems that regularly achieve a quiescent-state. That is, for example, in a typical digital circuit design, the design is configured to achieve a quiescent-state prior to each clock transition, so that an unchanging logic value will be present at each clocked device's input, thereby assuring repeatable and reliable performance. In the simulation of such systems, when the effects of a clock transition are completed and the simulated system is in a quiescent state, the simulation time is advanced to the next clock transition. Many systems, however, rarely achieve a quiescent state. An analog audio system, for example, receives a continuously changing input signal, and produces a continuously changing output signal. Similarly, in a networking system, typically designed for continuous and/or bursty-traffic, the relationship between traffic dynamics and protocol interactions creates unpredictable fluctuations in the system behavior. While simulating these complex systems, the simulators may not reach a quiescent state and, thereby, may incur long run-times to predict the behavior of the actual systems being modeled.

Simulation with convergence-detection skip-ahead


The side wall portion of a plastic article, as a plastic container, is opaque and includes a transparent portion, as a view stripe. The opaque portion limits viewing the inside of the article, whereas the transparent portion permits viewing the inside of the article therethrough. A method for forming the plastic article is also disclosed.

It is commercially desirable to provide opaque, hollow plastic articles, as plastic containers. These can be provided with attractive coloring so that they make a pleasing appearance on a store shelf. However, a disadvantage of an opaque container is that the opaque or colored outside wall limits viewing inside the container so that one cannot readily see the contents of the container.
It would be desirable to provide an opaque, hollow plastic article, as a plastic container, which has attractive external coloring that limits viewing therethrough, while at the same time providing a transparent external portion which permits viewing therethrough. It would be particularly desirable to provide an article or container as aforesaid which can be injection molded or injection stretch blow molded. A discrete view stripe in such an article or container would be particularly desirable.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an opaque, hollow plastic article that includes a transparent portion thereof, wherein the opaque portion limits viewing the inside of the article and the transparent portion permits viewing the inside portion therethrough.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an article as aforesaid which is a plastic container, particularly a container that can be injection molded and/or injection blow molded.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

Plastic article and method for obtaining same


A quick-release cam lock for selectively locking the relative position of a hydraulic cylinder and a piston. The quick-release cam lock permits speedy unlocking and repositioning of the hydraulic cylinder and its accompanying piston and oversleeve, thus allowing for speed in repositioning, assembly or disassembly while also providing a secure positive positioning lock between the hydraulic cylinder, piston and oversleeve while the quick-release cam lock is engaged.

Presently available excavating equipment permits digging rapidly so that excavation work can be done and the excavation immediately filled. However, installations which require personnel to enter into the excavation (which can be rather deep and through unstable soil) have the potential for cave-ins. Such cave-ins of the excavation not only interfere with the maintenance or construction operations, but also may cause serious injury or even loss of life to working personnel. There are various types of devices at this time in the field which are utilized in these maintenance and construction trenches or excavation shoring operations to support be placed against the walls of the excavation. Samples of shoring devices generally known in the field include shoring shields, skeleton boxes, walers, vertical shores, and four-way manhole braces.
The various types of shoring devices generally incorporate hydraulic cylinder arrangements which are used for shoring the sides of trenches or excavations. It is common for devices such as these to utilize one or more horizontally disposed vertically spaced hydraulic cylinder/piston units that are connected at their opposite ends to shoring rails which extend vertically and which will be held against the opposite sides of the trench when the hydraulic cylinder/piston units are expanded. Another common shoring device uses one or more horizontally disposed, horizontally spaced, hydraulic cylinder and piston units connected pivotally at their opposite ends to horizontal shoring rails which butt against the excavation walls, shoring timbers or sheeting which may be vertically disposed at the opposite sides of the trench. Each of these types of shoring devices operate so that the cylinder and piston units act as cross-braces extending across the trench. Once the shoring devices are inserted into the trench, hydraulic fluid is pumped into the cylinders to force the pistons to extend and thereby to jack the shoring rails apart to the desired extent, and thereby hold the shoring rails or shoring boards tightly against the opposite walls of the trench to prevent sloughing of the material behind the boards or to prevent such dangers as cave-ins. Often, oversleeves are placed so as to surround and cover the piston to protect it from dirt and the like. The oversleeve slides over the cylinder when the hydraulic piston is retracted and extends with the piston exposing the cylinder.
Currently, there exists various types of hydraulic jacking units which are provided with assorted positive supporting mechanisms to lock the jack into extended position and to fix the relative position of the piston and cylinder units so as to prevent retraction of the piston into the cylinder even in the event of pressure loss or release from the cylinder. Such devices generally utilize either a pin, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,914 to Aihara; 3,224,201 to Brunton; 3,851,856 to Berg; and U.K. Patent No. 2,095,719, or a threaded piston with a locking screw, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,279 to Yadon; 4,787,781 to Bradberry; 3,766,740 to Teegan; 4,449,734 to Cory; 3,321,182 to Elenberg; 4,247,082 to Sjolund and Japanese Patent No. 1,459,090.
Unfortunately, the above referenced devices generally fail to provide for rapid and simple operator activation positioning and engagement during set up, operation, and breakdown of the shoring device and additionally fail to provide for the flexibility of linear locking. Further, the prior art devices often allow for exposed threads, where threads are used, as part of the positioning or locking mechanism utilized with the shoring device, such threads being easily damaged and clogged with dirt, concrete or other foreign matter which is often utilized in conjunction with trenching operations. Still further, these devices can be properly locked only after the device is in the trench, whereas the present invention provides the alternative of linear locking prior to placing the shoring device or hydraulic cylinder into a trench or other end use location.
Accordingly, the quick-release cam lock of the present invention provides a means for quickly and easily locking a hydraulic cylinder/piston arrangement at any desired width by means of a positive locking cam mechanism while also providing for a quick-release mechanism for ease of operability during repositioning of the hydraulic cylinder/piston arrangement. Notwithstanding the various devices referred to above, various other problems associated with devices for preventing the retraction of the piston into the cylinder, even in the event of pressure loss or release from the cylinder, are solved in the new and improved quick-release cam lock for hydraulic cylinders of the present invention.


A device for transporting substrates through a vacuum system has a flat, parallel piped, plate-shaped substrate holder with upper and lower holder areas that are moveable in a vertical position along a transport path through the system. The upper part of the substrate holder is supported without contact and is movably guided by a magnetic arrangement.

The present invention relates to a fixing and transport device for transporting substrates into and through a vacuum treatment system comprising several stations.
The substrate holders to be used are either plate-shaped with cut-outs that accommodate the substrates, or frames with braces to which the workpieces or substrates to be processed are fixed.
A known device, for example, is described in the European patent application EP 0 544 995. A solid bottom part with two sets of wheels that correlate with one rail and one support bearing, holds a top part that is designed as a substrate holder. The bottom part serves as the base for the top part which has no other support and which is part of the transport system that transports the substrates through the vacuum treatment system. The substrate holder is only supported by this bottom part and is to be moved together with its upper part across walls and built-in parts such as laterally arranged coating sources at a constant distance.
The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the bottom part must be a very heavy construction, that it takes up much space and thereby greatly increases the height of the overall system.
Another disadvantage is that for vertical stabilization of the substrate holder the supporting component of the transport system requires a certain minimum distance to the overturning point of the substrate holder. This greatly enlarges also the vacuum chamber. In addition, such unilaterally supported transport systems have very narrow tolerances with respect to the perpendicularity of the substrate holder in relation to the process components.
The utilization of two rollers for driving and mechanical guidance of the supporting element for the substrate holder according to EP 0 544 995 has the additional disadvantage that abrasion particles are generated. Although the place where they are generated is located below the substrates, they can nevertheless penetrate into the coating zone.

Transport device for workpieces in a vacuum system


An image capturing apparatus includes: an image sensor; a focus adjusting unit configured to adjust a focus state of the subject image; an acquisition unit configured to acquire luminance signals of colors from signals obtained from a plurality of unit focus detection areas; a normalization unit configured to normalize the acquired luminance signals of the colors of the unit focus detection areas; a calculation unit configured to calculate normalized focus evaluation values of the colors that indicate a focus state of the subject image; and a determination unit configured to determine a driving direction of the focus adjusting unit based on magnitude relations of a first normalized focus evaluation value that corresponds to a first color and a second normalized focus evaluation value that corresponds to a second color.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus such as a digital still camera or a digital video camera that performs focus adjustment using an image signal obtained by an image sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital cameras and video cameras often use a so-called contrast detection autofocus (hereinafter, abbreviated as "AF"), which is an AF method for focusing on a subject by detecting, using output signals from an image sensor such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, a signal depending on the contrast of the subject.
In the contrast detection AF, contrast evaluation values are obtained while changing the focal position of an imaging optical system, and the focal position at which the contrast evaluation value is the local maximum value is detected as an in-focus position. Accordingly, there is the problem that the focus adjustment direction to approach the in-focus position is unclear at the start of focus adjustment in a defocus state. If focus adjustment is started in the state in which the focus adjustment direction is unclear, the focus adjustment is likely to be performed in a wrong direction. In this case, based on a reduction in the contrast evaluation value, the fact that the focus adjustment is being performed in a wrong direction can be detected, but the focus adjustment requires a longer time.
In order to solve such a problem, a method for detecting a focus adjustment direction to approach an in-focus position at the start of focus adjustment, using chromatic aberration caused by an imaging optical system has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-103800). In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-103800, image sensors that respectively receive beams of light that have different wavelengths are provided, and a focus adjustment direction to approximate an in-focus state can be detected based on a difference between outputs of the image sensors. At that time, in order to correspond to the spectral distribution of a subject image, output signals of the wavelengths are normalized with a difference between the maximum and minimum values of luminance values in a focus detection area, and the normalized output signals are used to detect the focus adjustment direction. Accordingly, even if the spectral distribution of the subject image is uneven and the subject has, for example, a reddish color, it is possible to detect the focus adjustment direction by comparing the normalized contrast evaluation values of the wavelengths.
Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-103800, reliability determination whether or not the focus adjustment using chromatic aberration can be performed with accuracy is performed, based on a difference between the maximum and minimum values of the luminance values in the focus detection area. Accordingly, if it is considered that the focus adjustment using chromatic aberration is less reliable, normal contrast detection type focus adjustment will be performed, making it possible to ensure the focus adjustment accuracy.
However, depending on the spectral distribution of the subject image, there is a case where it is not possible to correctly detect the focus adjustment direction to approach the in-focus position. For example, if a tone is varied in the focus detection area, namely, for example, a part of the focus detection area is green and another part thereof is red, the focus adjustment direction cannot correctly be detected by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-103800. This is because a difference between the maximum and minimum values of the luminance values in the focus detection area cannot express the spectral distribution in the focus detection area correctly.
Furthermore, for the same reason, there is the risk that reliability determination using a difference between the maximum and minimum values of the luminance values in the focus detection area is made erroneously.

Image capturing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium


The present invention relates to a method of producing a biodegradable resin composition, which includes step (1) of mixing a biodegradable resin, a plasticizer, and a crystal nucleating agent with one another at the melting point (Tm) of the biodegradable resin or more, wherein the crystal nucleating agent is an aliphatic compound having, in its molecule, two or more of at least one group selected from an ester group, a hydroxyl group and an amide group, and step (2) of thermally treating the resulting biodegradable resin composition at a temperature of from the glass transition temperature (Tg) to less than Tm of the composition, as well as a biodegradable resin composition, which contains a biodegradable resin, a plasticizer, and the above crystal nucleating agent, and which satisfies the following conditions: the haze thereof with a thickness of 0.5 mm after thermal treatment at 60° C. for 36 or 60 hours is 20% or less; the storage elastic modulus (E′) at a temperature of 25° C. and a frequency of 50 Hz is 1×108 to 2×109 Pa; and the storage elastic modulus (E′) at a temperature of 60° C. and a frequency of 50 Hz is 1×107 to 1×109 Pa.

General-purpose resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene produced from petroleum as the starting material have been used in various fields such as daily sundries, household appliances, automobile parts, building materials and food packaging, because they are lightweight and excellent in processability, physical properties and durability. However, the excellent durability of these resin products is problematic in disposal after fulfilling their roles and makes them inferior in degradation in the nature, and thus they can exert an adverse influence on the biological system.
To solve this problem, biodegradable polyester resins such as polylactic acid, lactic acid/other aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid copolymers, aliphatic polyesters derived from aliphatic polyvalent alcohols and aliphatic polyvalent carboxylic acids, and copolymers containing these units, have been developed as biodegradable polymers made of thermoplastic resin.
These biodegradable polymers, when placed in soil, seawater or an animal body, initiate degradation in a few weeks by the action of enzymes produced by microorganisms living in the nature and will disappear in about 1 year to several years. Their decomposed products are those nontoxic to humans, such as lactic acid, carbon dioxide, water etc. Among aliphatic polyesters, the polylactic acid-based resin is characterized in that it is produced inexpensively due to production of L-lactic acid in a large amount by fermentation from sugars obtained from potato, sweet potato, etc., its starting material is a natural crop from which the amount of total carbon oxides discharged is very small, and the performance of the resulting polymer is highly rigid and excellent in transparency, and thus the application of the polylactic acid-based resin is expected at present to be promising and is used in flat yarns, nets, horticultural materials, seedling pots etc. in the fields of agriculture and civil engineering, as well as in envelopes with a window, shopping bags, compost bags, writing materials, sundries etc. In the case of polylactic acid, however, its applicable field is limited to rigid moldings because of its brittleness, rigidness, and lack of pliability, and the polylactic acid when formed into a film is problematic due to insufficient flexibility and whitening on bending and is thus not used at present in the field of soft or semi-rigid products. As techniques of application to the field of soft and semi-rigid products, various methods which include adding plasticizers have been proposed. For example, techniques that include adding plasticizers such as tributyl acetyl citrate, diglycerin tetraacetate etc. have been disclosed. Polylactic acid when blended with these plasticizers can attain excellent flexibility upon extrusion molding etc. into a film or sheet; however, there is a problem that the polymer is in a noncrystal state, thus undergoing significant change in flexibility (temperature sensitivity) upon a change in temperature in the vicinity of glass transition point, and is poor in thermal resistance at high temperatures, thus changing physical properties depending on the season and cannot be used under a high-temperature environment. To solve this problem, a method of improving the thermal resistance etc. of polylactic acid, which includes adding a crystal nucleating agent such as talc to crystallize the polylactic acid is proposed (JP-B 3410075).
JP-B 3411168 discloses a method of producing an aliphatic polyester-molded product having both transparence and crystallizability, which includes molding an aliphatic polyester composition containing a transparent nucleating agent such as an aliphatic carboxylic acid amide having a melting point of 40 to 300° C. and then thermally treating it during or after molding.
WO-A 2003/042302 discloses a lactic acid-based polymer composition containing an amide compound having a specific structure, a plasticizer, and a lactic acid-based polymer, as well as a method of producing a molded product thereof.


Methods are provided for conducting specific binding assays to determine the concentration or presence of at least one analyte in a sample. Dendrimer-reagent preparations with particular analyte specificities are mixed in solution with a sample to form dendrimer-reagent-sample complexes. The complexes are then immobilized on a solid phase. Immobilization is facilitated by coupling specific binding assay reagents such as polypeptide receptors or analytes with water soluble polymers. Such water soluble polymers, for example star polymers such as dendrimers, provide production advantages of lot-to-lot uniformity and homogeneity, and can enhance sensitivity due to low non-specific binding to the solid phase.

In vitro diagnostic assays may be used to measure amounts of an analyte found in a body fluid sample or tissue sample. The analyte must be distinguished from other components found in the sample. Analytes may be distinguished from other sample components by reacting the analyte with a specific receptor for that analyte. Assays that utilize specific receptors to distinguish and quantify analytes are often called specific binding assays.
The most common receptors are antibodies and specific binding proteins such as Intrinsic Factor or Folate Binding Protein. Receptors are characterized by having a reversible specific binding affinity for an analyte or an analogue of that analyte. As used herein, an analogue generally is an analyte derivative carrying a detectable marker such as an enzyme, fluorescent molecule or other known label. The analogue is capable of binding to a receptor with about the same specificity and affinity as the analyte.
In heterogeneous specific binding assays described in the technical and patent literature, the receptor or other assay reagent of the specific binding reaction is often immobilized on a solid phase. Immobilization of the reagents is required to separate the bound components (for example an analyte bound to a receptor) from the unbound components.
The various methods by which a receptor or other reagent can be immobilized on a solid phase include adsorption, absorption or covalent bonding. However, many of the solid phase supports used in such assays are not inert and may sequester proteins and other substances from the sample by non-specific binding. Although glass is a relatively inert substrate, generally it has been found to be unsatisfactory for use in solid phase binding assays. See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,653 for a discussion of inadequacies of glass substrates.
Recently, however, procedures have been described for immobilizing an essentially soluble immunocomplex of a reagent and antiserum to the reagent on an inert glass fiber solid phase support. These procedures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,288, incorporated by reference herein.
In these immunological immobilization procedures, soluble immunocomplexes are prepared by combining at least two immunochemically reactive substances with one another in solution. At least one of such immunochemically reactive materials is selected for its immunochemical specificity for an analyte of interest. For example, if the soluble immunocomplex is to be used in an immunoassay for the detection of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), then one component of the immunocomplex is selected for its immunochemical specificity for TSH. A typical example would be an antibody with specificity for TSH, i.e., an anti-TSH antibody. The second component of the immunocomplex could comprise an antibody preparation directed against the anti-TSH antibody. Antiserum to anti-analyte antibodies, for example to mouse anti-TSH antibodies, can be prepared by injecting purified mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) into a host animal (i.e., goat), and thereafter harvesting the antiserum to the mouse IgG. The mouse anti-TSH antibody and the goat antiserum to mouse IgG are thereafter worked up as standard stock solutions.
Having prepared these stock solutions, a portion of each is combined in a buffered medium, The resulting immunocomplex, in an appropriate volume of buffer, may be spotted onto a delimited area of a glass fiber filter. Alternatively, the two components of the immunocomplex may be applied to the filter as separate buffered solutions and allowed to react in situ. In both instances, the point of application of the immunocomplex defines a reaction zone within the solid phase. The applied immunocomplexes become adsorbed and entrapped within the interstices of the beds of fibers within the glass fiber filter. The method of application can include dispensing of the immunocomplex solution with a manual or automated pipette, or with other automated equipment including assay analyzer instruments. Subsequent to application of the immunocomplex to the solid phase and the elapse of a suitable incubation period, the solid phase is dried under controlled conditions thereby yielding a stable reactive reagent which can be used in any one of a number of solid phase specific binding assay protocols.
Immunological immobilization, although useful in a variety of assay formats, has been noted to include a number of inherent disadvantages. Such factors as temperature, salt, pH and protein concentration have an influence on the formation of the double immunocomplex. These conditions can be difficult to optimize in order to effectively form the double immunocomplex. The presence of the additional immunoglobulins on the filter (e.g., antiserum to anti-analyte antibodies) can lead to nonspecific binding of proteinaceous and other biological materials. This can significantly decrease the assay sensitivity and overall performance. Moreover, given the inherent variability of IgG preparations from separate immunizations of the same or different host animals, lot-to-lot variability in titer, purity, specificity and affinity of IgG preparations must be accounted for in manufacturing procedures. Similarly, variability in the production of solid phase reagents may be encountered due to the tendency of immunocomplexes to become inhomogeneously distributed within stock solutions. That is, such immunocomplexes, while substantially soluble, may not remain completely soluble and may undergo some settling out of solution over time. Even with periodic mixing of stock solutions, gravitational influences, temperature gradients and other physical influences can cause subtle inhomogeneities within solutions applied to the solid phase reagents. These inhomogeneous solutions, resulting from protein aggregations, can cause blockage of the manufacturing lines used to spot the immunocomplex on the solid phase and other difficulties.
Some specific binding assays have been automated. A majority of the currently available automated assay systems, however, allow the detection of only one analyte in each cycle. Thus, in order to analyze more than one analyte in a single sample, one must wait for the testing cycle of a first analyte to be completed before a second analyte in the same sample can be tested and quantified. For most automated instruments a cycle time is usually at least 40minutes. Alternatively, the sample to be analyzed could be aliquoted into multiple testing samples and analyzed simultaneously to obtain the desired quantification information. This second approach not only requires a greater amount of the patient sample, but also necessitates additional capital expenditure in order to operate multiple analyzers simultaneously.
A limited number of random access enzyme immunoassay (EIA) systems utilize a unit dose concept in order to analyze more than one analyte in a given sample. In these systems, all the required reagents such as the immobilized antibody, antibody-enzyme or drug-enzyme conjugate and the substrate required for the generation of the signal, are packaged together in a single packet and each packet contains reagents sufficient for a single analysis. This single packet system is more expensive than bulk storage and packaging. The added expense reflects, for example, the cost of separately packaging each component required for an assay, specific requirements of the packaging material allowing maximum stability of the reagents, and the extra storage space needed for each unit dose. In addition, the time required for incubations at different steps of the assay causes the over-all time for generation of results to be longer for random access assay systems.

Rapid detection of analytes with receptors immobilized on soluble submicron particles


A method for recycling concrete waste includes the steps of: a) heating the concrete waste to provide a measure of fragility to the concrete waste; b) milling and sieving the heated concrete waste to separate coarse aggregate from the concrete waste; and c) milling and sieving a remaining portion of the concrete waste remaining after separation of the coarse aggregate to separate the remaining portion of the concrete waste into a cement-containing fraction and fine aggregate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for recycling concrete waste, particularly to a method for recycling concrete waste to make regenerated cement.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, concrete is primarily composed of cement clinker, coarse aggregate (such as gravel), and fine aggregate (such as sand). The cement clinker is mixed with water to form a cement paste which bonds with the coarse and fine aggregate as the cement solidifies due to the hydration reaction between the cement and water. Therefore, a variety of constructional structures, such as floors, wall slabs, and the like, can be built thereby.
However, when the structures are torn down, concrete waste is required to be processed so as to avoid causing an environmental pollution problem. Conventionally, the concrete waste is crushed and milled directly, and is then sieved to separate and recover the aggregate from cement lumps. However, since the recovered aggregate may have cement adhered thereon, the value for reusing the aggregate is lowered. Additionally, the recovered cement lumps cannot be reused.


A rotatably alternating air or water cooled two-stroke internal combustion engine comprising a cylindrical casing, and a rotor comprising two radially extending vanes affixed to a shaft rotatably mounted within the casing upon two end plates. Two longitudinally extending walls affixed to the casing. Sealing strips provided between said walls, the shaft, the vanes, the casing and the end plates respectively. The casing and/or the end plates equipped with plurality of ports which communicate with interior chambers formed between the vanes and the walls, allowing for intake of combustible air-fuel mixture and exhaust thereafter. Ignition means delivering a spark at the end of each working cycle. An extendable and adjustable connecting rod assembly converting the oscillating bi-directional rotary motion of the output shaft into a continuous unidirectional motion of the main shaft. A self lubricating mechanism incorporated into the engine.

This invention is related to application Ser. No. 10/762,783, with a filing date 01/23/2004, now abandoned.
This invention relates to a rotatively reciprocating vane internal combustion engine having few moving parts, high efficiency, and a low weight-to-power ratio.
In an age of environmental concerns and waning natural resources, a lightweight, highly efficient, low fuel consumption engine has been vigorously sought.
In the past, attempts have been made to improve on reciprocating piston engines but their inherent complexity and high weight-to-power ratio has proven limiting. Also rotary or Wankel design engines have become relatively highly developed, they still exhibit daunting problems in rotor sealing and cost parameters. For example, the Wankel engine is difficult to manufacture, it has a short life, it has a problem of loosing its lubrication and seizing up. It has poor gas mileage, high oil consumption and high exhaust level. For every three turns of the working piston there is only one rotation of the main power output shaft which results in an excessive friction inside the working chamber between the piston and the casing.
Some attempts have been made to provide rotary vane engines, which abate some of the aforementioned problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,976 to Meuret discloses the utilization of spherically shaped chamber and accordingly shaped vanes, which are used to sequentially compress and expand a combustive mixture. It should be noted, however, that the patented system has the following disadvantages.
In Meuret patent the ratio between the volume of the chamber and the diameter of the vanes is constant. If the volume of the sphere chamber changes it automatically and proportionally changes the radius of the vanes. In a cylindrical chamber the volume of the chamber can be changed either by simply changing the length of the cylinder or by changing the radius of the cylinder. In each case there is going to be a different output even thought the volume is the same. A cylindrical engine is much easier to manufacture and seal, and to open and repair.
Another example of a prior art attempt to overcome some of the disadvantages of existing engines is the U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,532 to Tan, which teaches an extremely complex swinging piston internal combustion engine. While Tan has made certain admirable advantages, his device suffers from the following disadvantages.
The Tan engine is big and bulky. There is no power-to-weight ratio advantage over the conventional engine. It would be difficult to manufacture and repair it. It would be difficult to balance it and it would only work as a diesel engine.
A further example of a prior art attempt is the U.S. Pat. No. 1,346,805 issued to Barber. Barber discloses a rotatably reciprocating vane internal combustion engine comprising: a water jacketed, double-walled cylindrical casing allowing for cooling fluid to pass through it; the casing equipped with longitudinally extending walls affixed to it; vanes affixed to a shaft rotatably alternating in back and forth fashion; the shaft mounted upon double-walled end plates; four working chambers inside the casing, each chamber experiencing an intake, a compression, an ignition-expanding and lastly an exhaust cycle; four sets of ports, each set for intake of combustible fluid and exhaust thereafter; and four ignition means, one for each chamber.
However, Barber engine is a four stroke engine only. Barber fails to disclose ports for intake of combustible fluid and lubricating oil, seal strips and external valving means with an appropriate cam shaft.
Unlike the prior art systems, the present invention provides essentially only one moving element, its rotably reciprocating vane piston. Because of pressure balancing on opposite sides of the vane members they may be constructed of lightweight material and the need for heavy bearing and counter-balancing means are virtually eliminated. The invention is capable of running on multiple types of conventionally available fuel and may conceivably be operated on four chamber two stroke cycles, two chamber two stroke cycles, one chamber two stroke cycles, or diesel cycles.

Rotary valveless internal combustion engine


A method of defining, monitoring, and managing performance, influencing behavior, and aligning behaviors to strategic objectives involves determining with clarity, simplicity and materiality the why, the expectations, the levels of performance, and the projected response, to a set behaviors, accomplishments, and results. For individuals or groups, important behaviors, accomplishments and results are identified, prioritized, and a certain number selected and placed on an RPM matrix and weighted. The RPM matrix lists the weighting as well as specifying levels of performance. After completion of a measurement period, the RPM matrix calculates an RPM score for the individual or group. This RPM score is then used to determine an appropriate reward or response, and can be fed into web-based reporting software.

This disclosure relates to a method for preparing a rapid performance management matrix, and in particular a method for promoting behaviors that provide accomplishments that produce results desired by an organization, and analyzing the performance of members of the organization in achieving those behaviors, accomplishments and results.
Corporations and other organizations often struggle to achieve specific results. Management theoretically seeks to direct the efforts of those working for the organization to achieve the desired results. Previously, there have been various methods used to direct those efforts.
Perhaps the most common previous method was no system at all. That is, individual managers used their own methods, ad hoc ideas and processes, or no specific processes, to evaluate employees. Although some organizations have achieved positive results despite a lack of any systematic management approach, such an approach cannot be relied upon in any given fact situation.
Another prior system is based on individual goals of each employee and a manager's subjective sense of the quality of each employee. Typically, the manager categorizes each employee as good, very good, not good, needs improvement, or other such subjective measures. Unfortunately, these systems do not typically have a direct relation to the strategic goals of the organization, and thus whatever efforts are achieved may or may not have any bearing on the results of the organization.
Other prior systems involved numerous convoluted corporate indicators that were too complex and far-removed to influence individual behavior, or systems that did not equitably apply to employee. The employee may be praised, or receive an award for fulfilling objectives, but there is no connection between the award and the performance. The employee may not have cared, the reward may not be worth the effort, or whatever was measured did not translate to enough value for the employee to bother to complete the task. Frequently these systems use after-the-fact measurements, not ongoing movement, as the success criteria. Thus, a method of managing an organization based on promoting behaviors that accomplish desired results throughout an organization while providing an ongoing sense of movement would be very useful.

Rapid performance management matrix method


A closure for a bottle opening comprising a cap for the bottle opening, the cap adapted to be securely but removably fastened to the bottle opening, a seal underlying the cap and being sealed to the rim of the bottle opening and sealing the bottle opening to the cap, the seal having a rupturable portion for receiving a straw, and further wherein the bottle cap is removable with contents of the bottle being sealed to the environment by the seal which remains on the bottle rim when the bottle cap is removed, the seal being selectively releasable from the bottle rim, the user having the option of removing the seal from the bottle rim or inserting a straw through the rupturable portion to dispense the contents of the bottle.

The present invention relates to a sealed closure, and in particular, to a sealed closure for a bottle. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a removable sealed closure for a bottle which includes a closure top and an opening in the seal thereof for a straw, i.e., a drinking straw. The bottle remains sealed even after the bottle top is removed, but allows a straw to be inserted at the appropriate time as desired by the user.
Various patents are known for providing seals on bottles and also for dispensing liquids from the bottles. U.S. Pat. No. 3,230,587 to Griffin et al. discloses a bottle with a self-contained drinking straw. Once the bottle top is removed, the contents of the bottle are exposed to the environment through the self-contained telescoping straw in the bottle.
U.S. Pat. No, 3,392,895 to Fischer discloses a perforable self-sealing container closure. The closure includes a cap element which is perforated by score lines to guide and locate tube penetration for removal of the contents of the bottle without removal of the cap from the bottle. A seal element is provided which is perforable or penetrable so that the tube can break the seal. A sleeve-like region of the seal provides a new seal joint against the tube. The device of this reference does not allow the user the option of removing the contents both through a tube or by drinking the contents directly from the bottle container.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,686 discloses a paint container having a multi-laminate seal including pre-stressed films designed to enable a slit to be made in the seal surface permitting access to the paint. The device of this reference relates to wide rimmed containers such as paint containers and not to narrow mouth bottles or containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,699 to Nicko discloses a combination cap and capping plug for spouts, bottles or the like. This device includes a sheet metal cap having a central opening affording access to a central diaphragm located below the cap. A rubber plug is mounted against the underside of the top wall of the cap and has an outwardly projecting flange adapted to form a seal between the cap the bottle. The plug has a downwardly projecting stopper portion on which the central diaphragm is disposed. A tapping pipe is adapted to penetrate the diaphragm. The plug also has an upwardly projecting annular flange extending around the diaphragm and received in the opening in the cap. A layer of adhesive is disposed between the upper side of the plug and the top wall of the cap. A stopper portion of the plug is adapted to tightly receive the tapping pipe which is disposed through the opening in the cap and the rupturable diaphragm. This reference is similar to the Fischer reference in that the tapping pipe is inserted through a hole in the metal cap, which is not removed.
Other patents of interest include U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,009 to Sawatani for a straw-insertable lid for a paper cup; U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,947 to Leone for a single dose beverage cup and rectangular cross-section straw assembly; U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,946 to Glanz for a safety bottle with a cover having a cut through its top to create an integral one-way valve; U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,459 to Bettle, Jr. et al. for a gable-top beverage container with a dispensing means; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,471 to Wendt for a production piece with partible port and production method therefor.
None of the references provide a simple seal for a bottle cap which seal remains in place after the bottle cap is removed and which affords the user two options in dispensing the contents of the bottle after the cap is removed, namely, penetrating the seal at a prescribed location to allow insertion of a straw or the removal of the seal to allow drinking of the contents of the bottle directly.

Sealed bottle closure with opening for straw


A drive device for aligning a theodolite with a target, in which the theodolite is mounted rotatably in the horizontal direction on a theodolite foot. Provision is made of a control knob and an encoder connected thereto, the encoder emitting control signals in accordance with the rotary movement at the control knob to a downstream control circuit. The circuit drives a positioning motor. The rotary table is arranged at the theodolite foot and carries the control knob. Provided between the theodolite and the rotary table is an electric contact which ensures the electrical connection between the encoder and the positioning motor.

Modern theodolites as described, for example, in the printed publication "Prospekt, Vermessungsinstrumente, Leica AG, Liste G1 916d, Schweiz 1993" [Brochure, Measuring instruments, Leica AG, List G1 916d, Switzerland 1993] are distinguished by a high setting precision in the horizontal and vertical directions. Depending on the precision class of the respective theodolite, it is possible, in this case, to achieve standard deviations of up to 0.3". This corresponds to a setting precision of <0.2 millimeter at a distance of 100 meters.
It becomes clear from this example that these precisions can be achieved only by an extremely high outlay on precision mechanics. In order to ensure this, a transition has been made to equip the manually controlled positioning drive, which is a rotating knob as a rule, with an encoder. The encoder signals are used to drive a setting motor. The manual alignment of the theodolite is therefore no longer done by a purely precision-mechanical gear, but by using a combination having electronic and mechanical drive elements.
Such drives have proven themselves in practice. However, vibrations and twisting movements are transmitted to the theodolite when the rotating knob is actuated. Exact sighting of the target is rendered difficult by such vibrations and twisting movements, particularly in the case of theodolites of the highest precision class.
The problems identified are not intended to be exhaustive but are among the many that reduce the precision of theodolites. Other problems may also exist. However, those presented above should be sufficient to demonstrate that currently known solutions are amenable to worthwhile improvement.


A method includes the steps of: implanting boron into a surface region of a silicon substrate to form a p+ diffused region; implanting indium into the surface of the p+ diffused region, to form an indium-implanted layer; forming a contact metal layer on the indium-implanted layer; and reacting silicon in the silicon substrate including the indium-implanted layer with metal in the contact metal layer to form a titanium silicide layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device that is suitable as a device including contact plugs having a barrier metal layer made of high-melting-point metal, and also to a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In most semiconductor devices, the interconnection layers lying above the silicon substrate are connected to the silicon substrate, by using contact plugs including a barrier metal layer. A conventional method for manufacturing a semiconductor device will be described, with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E
First, as shown in FIG. 5A, boron is implanted into a specified surface region of a silicon substrate 11, at a dosage of 3×1015/cm2, thereby forming a p-type, heavily-doped diffused region (p+ diffused region) 14. Then, as depicted in FIG. 5B, an insulating film 15 made of silicon oxide (SiO2) is formed on the silicon substrate 11 that includes the p+ diffused region 14. Subsequently, a contact hole 17 is formed, which penetrates the insulating film 15 to reach the p+ diffused region 14.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, boron is implanted into a surface region of the p+ diffused region 14 at a dosage of 3×1015/cm2 and an acceleration energy of 5 keV. A p-type-impurity dosed layer 27 is thereby formed in the vicinity of the bottom of the contact hole 17.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5D, a contact metal layer 18 is formed in the contact hole 17 and on the insulating film 15. The contact metal layer 18 is made of titanium and has a thickness of about 10 nm. The resultant structure is subjected to a heat treatment for about one minute, in a nitrogen gas ambient, while maintaining the substrate 11 at about 700° C. As a result, a titanium silicide layer (not shown) is formed at the interface between the silicon substrate 11 and the contact metal layer 18.
Then, as depicted in FIG. 5E, a barrier metal layer 19 is formed, which is made of titanium nitride (TiN) and which has a thickness of about 10 nm. A tungsten film 20 is then formed on the barrier layer 19 including the internal of the contact hole 17. Subsequently, a CPM process is performed, by removing a part of the tungsten layer 20, a part of the barrier metal layer 19 and a part of the contact metal layer 18 from top of the insulating film 15, thereby leaving a contact plug 21 within the contact hole 17. Further, an upper interconnection layer 16 is formed on the insulating film 15 and on the contact plug 21 by using a method known in the art. A semiconductor device 200 having the structure shown in FIG. 5F is thus manufactured.
In the method described above, boron is used as a dopant to form the p-type-impurity dosed layer 27 in the p+ diffused region 14. The p-type-impurity dosed layer 27 is formed in order to prevent boron from diffusing from the p+ diffused region 14 into the contact metal layer 18 when the substrate 11 undergoes a heat treatment performed at about 700° C. If boron diffuses into the contact metal layer 18 during the heat treatment, the concentration of boron in the p+ diffused region 14 will decrease, inevitably increasing the contact resistance between the p+ diffused region 14 and the contact plug 21. The p-type-impurity dosed layer 27 can inhibit an increase in the contact resistance between the p+ diffused region 14 and the contact plug 21.
In recent years, semiconductor devices have become smaller and smaller and more highly integrated. Thus, the contact holes in the semiconductor devices have become smaller in diameter. Here arises a problem in that if the diameter of contact holes decreases to about 0.2 μm, the contact resistance can hardly be reduced. To reduce the contact resistance, p-type impurities may be implanted at such a high dosage as 1×1016/cm2, after the contact holes have been made, to thereby form a p-type-impurity region having a high impurity concentration. However, the resistance has not been decreased to a desired value in the conventional technique. A method for forming p-type-impurity regions having a high impurity concentration is described in, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publication No. 1-233726.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same