A non-magnetic one-component developer is provided. This non-magnetic one-component developer includes toner particles and an external additive containing inorganic particles that adhere to the surface of each of the toner particles. In accordance with an emission analysis method utilizing fusion coupling plasma, the rate of free external additive that is determined by the ratio of the number of particles emitting light only from elements of the external additive to one toner particle is 9% or less by number. With such a non-magnetic one-component developer, the external additive will not be welded to the blade of a developing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to non-magnetic one-component developers used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic printers and copying machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-magnetic one-component developer that can restrict the welding to peripheral equipment during a printing operation over a long period of time, and can prevent burring in printing and a decrease in image density.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms a latent image on a photosensitive drum by giving uniform electrostatic charges and then emitting light onto the surface of the photosensitive drum as a latent image carrier. The latent image is then materialized by the use of a developer containing coloring particles called toner, thereby forming a toner image. This toner image is then transferred and fixed onto a recording medium such as paper or transparent film.
To supply a developer onto the photosensitive drum in an image forming apparatus, a developing roller for transporting the developer is disposed adjacent to the photosensitive drum. This developing roller is provided with a blade for restricting the developer within a predetermined thickness.
The developer described above does not include carriers and is used for development only with toner particles. Such a developing technique is called a one-component developing technique. There are two types of toners used in the one-component developing technique: one is magnetic toner that has magnetism, and the other is non-magnetic toner that does not have magnetism. It is easier to simplify the structure of apparatus by a non-magnetic one-component developing technique using the non-magnetic toner. For this reason, intensive studies on the non-magnetic toner are being made these days.
However, there is a problem that the non-magnetic one-component developer often causes welding and adhesion to a blade of a developing apparatus. During a printing operation over a long period of time, the non-magnetic one-component developer is repeatedly brought into contact with the blade. As a result, the non-magnetic one-component developer adheres to the blade. Sometimes, the non-magnetic one-component developer even turns into lumps on the surface of the blade, and hinders the formation of a toner image on the developing roller. These lumps of the non-magnetic one-component developer cause white lines and unevenness in image density.
In order to solve the welding problem, many solutions have been suggested. For instance, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 4-368959 discloses a developer containing prescribed styrene-acrylic resin and propylene-1-butene copolymer. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 5-61245 discloses the use of positively charged additive particles. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 4-145448 discloses a technique of externally adding improved hydrophobic silica. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 5-107804 discloses a developer using a polymer containing acrylic acid nitrile. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 5-142857 discloses a toner having special surface properties.
The prior arts disclosed in the above references all concern improvements of the toner particles or the fine particles attached to the surface (hereinafter referred to as an xe2x80x9cexternal additivexe2x80x9d) of each toner particle so as to control the charging properties and fluidity of the toner particles. In other words, all the inventions disclosed in the above references are to obtain a non-magnetic one-component developer that solves the welding problem.
However, all the prior arts have not succeeded to eliminate the welding problem completely. In order to solve the welding problem, the inventors of the present invention conducted a long-time printing test on a conventional non-magnetic one-component developer so as to find out the causes of the welding problem. More specifically, the elements constituting the welded substance adhering to the blade ware analyzed in great detail. Based on the results of the elemental analysis, it was found that the welded substance adhering to the blade contained more elements originating from the external additive than the non-magnetic one-component developer did. Although the cause of this is not clear, it is thought that many of the external additive particles were detached from the toner particles (those detached external additive particles will be hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cfree external additivexe2x80x9d). The inventors assumed that it was the free external additive that caused adhesion to the blade. On this assumption, the inventors aimed to reduce the amount of free external additive that is detached from the toner particles, and have developed the present invention.
In order to make a more detailed analysis of the adhering substance, the inventors employed an emission analysis method using fusion coupling plasma. Examples of conventional quantifying techniques for free external additive particles include a technique of quantifying the amount of free external additive by subjecting toners dispersed in water to ultrasonic wave of predetermined power (disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-176232), and a technique of separating the external additive by performing air separation (disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 6-25836). According to either of those analyzing techniques, the external additive is forcibly separated from the surface of each toner particle. However, actual analysis of the condition of the non-magnetic one-component developer used in an image forming apparatus has not been made yet.
In view of this, the inventors of the present invention employed an emission analysis method using fusion coupling plasma, so as to analyze the developer having a condition closer to the actual condition of actual image formation. Based on the results of the emission analysis method, a more preferable non-magnetic one-component developer was obtained.
A general object of the present invention is to provide non-magnetic one-component developers in which the above disadvantages are eliminated.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a non-magnetic one-component developer of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that does not cause welding to a blade during a printing operation over a long period of time and accordingly enables excellent image formation. The present invention is also to provide a developing apparatus using the non-magnetic one-component developer.
The above objects of the present invention are achieved by a non-magnetic one-component developer comprising:
toner particles; and
an external additive containing inorganic particles that adhere to a surface of each of the toner particles,
wherein, in accordance with an emission analysis method utilizing fusion coupling plasma, a proportion of free external additive particles that is determined by the number of detection events, in which light only from elements of the external additive is detected, is 9% or less by number.
With this non-magnetic one-component developer, an image having neither white lines nor uneven image density can be obtained, even after a long-time printing operation. The welding can be effectively prevented by the non-magnetic one-component developer. If the proportion of the free external additive particles exceeds 9% by number, such an excellent effect cannot be expected.
The above objects of the present invention are also achieved by a developing apparatus comprising:
a developing roller that transports the non-magnetic one-component developer of the present invention in a predetermined direction; and
a metal blade that faces the surface of the developing roller and restricts the non-magnetic one-component developer within a predetermined thickness.
With this developing apparatus, excellent image formation can be carried out without causing welding, even after a continuous image forming operation over a long period of time.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Non-magnetic one-component developer and developing apparatus using said developer


An interconnect adapter is used in operational environment testing of a printed circuit assembly unit. The interconnect adapter includes a main base assembly, a probe plate assembly and an engagement unit. The main base assembly includes an attachment structure for attaching the printed circuit assembly unit to the main base assembly. The printed circuit assembly unit, when attached to the main base assembly, is in position to be connected to a host device. The probe plate assembly is attached to the main base assembly and includes pins for electrical connection to test points for an integrated circuit on the printed circuit assembly unit. The engagement unit is for engaging the pins of the probe plate assembly in position to make electrical connection with the test points.

The present invention concerns testing of printed circuit assemblies and pertains particularly to an interconnect adapter to a printed circuit assembly used for performing testing in an operational environment.
When producing printed circuit assembly (PCA) units, such as network interface products, some portion of the PCA units that are built inevitably do not function as desired. Often defective PCA units can be detected when tested as part of an assembly line. In some cases, however, some PCA units are best tested in an "operational environment" that is, the PCA units need to be attached to a host device and exercised in a manner as the PCA units are intended to be used.
When tested in an operational environment, the PCA unit is attached to the host device. The microprocessor which controls the PCA is typically disabled and an emulator is used during the testing. The emulator is typically attached using test clip adapters. These test clip adapters are available for fine and extra-fine pitch surface mount components.
There are several disadvantages to using the currently available conventional test clip adapters for operational testing. For example, the test clip adapters that are available for large ASICs are difficult to attach properly and are easily dislodged. In addition, the pins of the test clip adapters can get bent such that they do not make reliable connections. Also it is possible to install the test clip adapters in a wrong orientation thus resulting in incorrect connections. Additionally, existing test clip adapters are expensive.
Additionally, while conventional test clip adapters, despite their disadvantages, are functional for connection to typical ASIC packages which utilize lead frames around the peripheral of the package for connection, they cannot be used with packaging technologies such as ball-grid arrays (BGAs) which use solder balls under the ASIC package for electrical connections to a printed circuit board (PCB).

Interconnect adapter to printed circuit assembly for testing in an operational environment


A pedicure spa having a self-cleaning retractable basin provides a consistently cleaned and sanitized basin for use during a pedicure treatment. A cleansing chamber in the pedicure spa accepts the basin for a self-cleaning procedure. Cleansing products may be dispensed from one or more supply components for application to the basin by one or more cleansing devices. The self-cleaning procedure may proceed according to one or more predefined stages, which may include a drying stage provided by one or more dryers within the cleansing chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to pedicure spas, and in particular to pedicure spa with a self-cleaning retractable basin.
2. Related Art
Pedicure treatments have been a popular form of grooming nearly throughout history. Various tools, such as files, clippers, and pumice stones have been developed to provide improved pedicures. Today, pedicures are often provided to clients via an apparatus known as a pedicure spa. In general, a pedicure spa helps properly position a client for a treatment while providing a comfortable seat upon which the client may relax during a treatment.
As can be seen however, these tools are client oriented in that they aid in improving the quality of pedicure treatments that a client receives. With ever growing popularity there is a need for tools that assist pedicure specialists in preparing and providing pedicure treatments.
From the discussion that follows, it will become apparent that the present invention addresses the deficiencies associated with the prior art while providing numerous additional advantages and benefits not contemplated or possible with prior art constructions.

Pedicure spa with self-cleaning retractable basin


Disclosed is time keeping system for an employer. The system includes one or more time-keeping network appliances. Each of these appliances includes a small web server. The system also includes some form of employee interface which enables the employee to submit, and the time keeper to receive, identification information regarding the employee. One embodiment uses at least one of a card reader, punch key pad, bar code reader, or proximity badge reader. These devices are used to clock employees in and out. The system also optionally includes an audio-output device to give the employee audio feedback during clock in and an LCD to give the employee visual feed back. If a second network device is included in the system, it is automatically set up as a client of the original time keeper introduced into the system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of monitoring and maintaining the time worked by employees. More specifically, the present invention is directed using computer networks to keeping employee time, notifying supervisors of timekeeping regularities.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, employee worked time was recorded manually. Later, punch in/punch out systems were developed. These systems comprised an electronic device which included a clock. When an employee clocked in, he or she would take a card, insert it into the device, and the "in" time would be stamped on a designated spot on the card. Anytime that employee would leave the work place, he our she would clock out by stamping a designated "out" portion on said card with the time at which the employee departed the place of work. At a predesignated time, typically at the end of the week, a personnel manager would take all of the employee's time cards, manually calculate the time worked by each, and determine pay. Any irregularities would be difficult to detect. This is because the manager would have to have detailed knowledge of each employee's normal work, schedule, work time authorizations, and other specifics to identify any irregularity. Thus, because the task would be so arduous, oftentimes errors, e.g., an employee working unauthorized overtime, would be overlooked.
Later, sophisticated software systems were created. These software applications would be loaded on existing computers in a facilities computer network and would use an automated clock in clock out system. These systems, however, are very expensive and must be loaded onto the clients in the network.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an automated time and attendance system which does not have the aforementioned disadvantages.


A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die disposed over a substrate. The semiconductor die and substrate are placed in a chase mold. An encapsulant is deposited over and between the semiconductor die and substrate simultaneous with bonding the semiconductor die to the substrate in the chase mold. The semiconductor die is bonded to the substrate using thermocompression by application of force and elevated temperature. An electrical interconnect structure, such as a bump, pillar bump, or stud bump, is formed over the semiconductor die. A flux material is deposited over the interconnect structure. A solder paste or SOP is deposited over a conductive layer of the substrate. The flux material and SOP provide temporary bond between the semiconductor die and substrate. The interconnect structure is bonded to the SOP. Alternatively, the interconnect structure can be bonded directly to the conductive layer of the substrate, with or without the flux material.

Semiconductor devices are commonly found in modern electronic products. Semiconductor devices vary in the number and density of electrical components. Discrete semiconductor devices generally contain one type of electrical component, e.g., light emitting diode (LED), small signal transistor, resistor, capacitor, inductor, and power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). Integrated semiconductor devices typically contain hundreds to millions of electrical components. Examples of integrated semiconductor devices include microcontrollers, microprocessors, charged-coupled devices (CCDs), solar cells, and digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs).
Semiconductor devices perform a wide range of functions such as signal processing, high-speed calculations, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, controlling electronic devices, transforming sunlight to electricity, and creating visual projections for television displays. Semiconductor devices are found in the fields of entertainment, communications, power conversion, networks, computers, and consumer products. Semiconductor devices are also found in military applications, aviation, automotive, industrial controllers, and office equipment.
Semiconductor devices exploit the electrical properties of semiconductor materials. The structure of semiconductor material allows its electrical conductivity to be manipulated by the application of an electric field or base current or through the process of doping. Doping introduces impurities into the semiconductor material to manipulate and control the conductivity of the semiconductor device.
A semiconductor device contains active and passive electrical structures. Active structures, including bipolar and field effect transistors, control the flow of electrical current. By varying levels of doping and application of an electric field or base current, the transistor either promotes or restricts the flow of electrical current. Passive structures, including resistors, capacitors, and inductors, create a relationship between voltage and current necessary to perform a variety of electrical functions. The passive and active structures are electrically connected to form circuits, which enable the semiconductor device to perform high-speed operations and other useful functions.
Semiconductor devices are generally manufactured using two complex manufacturing processes, i.e., front-end manufacturing, and back-end manufacturing, each involving potentially hundreds of steps. Front-end manufacturing involves the formation of a plurality of die on the surface of a semiconductor wafer. Each semiconductor die is typically identical and contains circuits formed by electrically connecting active and passive components. Back-end manufacturing involves singulating individual semiconductor die from the finished wafer and packaging the die to provide structural support and environmental isolation. The term "semiconductor die" as used herein refers to both the singular and plural form of the words, and accordingly, can refer to both a single semiconductor device and multiple semiconductor devices.
One goal of semiconductor manufacturing is to produce smaller semiconductor devices. Smaller devices typically consume less power, have higher performance, and can be produced more efficiently. In addition, smaller semiconductor devices have a smaller footprint, which is desirable for smaller end products. A smaller semiconductor die size can be achieved by improvements in the front-end process resulting in semiconductor die with smaller, higher density active and passive components. Back-end processes may result in semiconductor device packages with a smaller footprint by improvements in electrical interconnection and packaging materials.
FIG. 1a shows a conventional semiconductor die 10 with bumps 12 formed over contact pads 14 on active surface 16. A flux material 18 is deposited over bumps 12. Substrate 20 includes contact pads 22 formed on surface 24 of the substrate. A flux material 26 is deposited over surface 24 of substrate 20. In FIG. 1b, semiconductor die 10 is bonded to substrate 20 with bumps 12 covered by flux material 18 electrically and metallurgically connected to contact pads 22 covered by flux material 26 on substrate 20. Residual flux material 18 and 26 are removed by a cleaning process. In FIG. 1c, an underfill material 28 is deposited between semiconductor die 10 and substrate 20. The bonding of semiconductor die 10 to substrate 20 occurs during a separate processing step as compared to depositing underfill material 28 between the semiconductor die and substrate.
FIG. 2a shows a conventional semiconductor die 30 with bumps 31 formed over contact pads 32 on active surface 33. A flux material 34 is deposited over bumps 31. Substrate 35 includes contact pads 36 formed on surface 37 of the substrate. A flux material 38 is deposited over surface 37 of substrate 35. In FIG. 2b, semiconductor die 30 is bonded to substrate 35 with bumps 31 covered by flux material 34 electrically and metallurgically connected to contact pads 36 covered by flux material 38 on substrate 35. Residual flux material 34 and 38 are removed by a cleaning process. In FIG. 2c, a mold underfill material 39 is deposited over and between semiconductor die 30 and substrate 35. The bonding of semiconductor die 30 to substrate 35 occurs during a separate processing step as compared to depositing mold underfill material 39 between the semiconductor die and substrate.
FIG. 3a shows a conventional substrate 40 with contact pads 41 and insulating layer 42 formed over a surface of the substrate. A non-conductive paste 43 is deposited over contact pads 41 and insulating layer 42. FIG. 3b shows semiconductor die 44 with bumps 45 formed over contact pads 46 on active surface 47. A heat tip 48 is attached to a back surface of semiconductor die 44. In FIG. 3c, semiconductor die 44 is bonded to substrate 40 with bumps 45 electrically and metallurgically connected to contact pads 41 on substrate 40 using thermocompression or reflow bonding with the aid of heat tip 48. Non-conductive paste 43 is distributed between semiconductor die 44 and substrate 40. The bonding of semiconductor die 44 to substrate 40 occurs during a separate processing step as compared to depositing non-conductive paste 43 over the substrate.
Each of the molding and bonding processes described in FIGS. 1-3 require separate manufacturing steps, which increases time and cost and introduces the potential for handling defects.

Semiconductor device and method of simultaneous molding and thermalcompression bonding


A mud motor bearing assembly for use in drilling a hydrocarbon well. The bearing assembly includes a bearing section containing stationary bearing rigs and rotating bearing rings in stacked arrangement. The bearing rings have wedge-shaped projections. The wedge-shaped projections of two adjacent stationary bearing rings form a recess to accommodate the projection of a rotating bearing ring in sliding engagement. The bearing assembly is capable of bearing both radial and axial loads.

In the drilling of oil and gas wells, a mud motor may be used for drilling tasks such as straight hole, horizontal, directional and short radius drilling. Mud motors are connected to the drill string to rotate and steer the drill bit. Mud motors typically include a power section and a bearing assembly. Rotation is provided by the power section that may be a positive displacement motor driven by drilling fluid (mud) circulation. The bearing assembly takes up the axial and radial loads imparted on the drill string during drilling.
The power section of conventional mud motors has a transmission housing, a stator secured within the transmission housing, and a rotor rotatable within the stator. The stator may have a helically contoured inner surface. The rotor may have a helically contoured outer surface. Together, they define a positive displacement fluid pump having a helically shaped progressive cavity.
The bearing assembly of typical mud motors is threadedly connected to the power section. The bearing assembly includes a bearing housing, a rotatable drive shaft secured within the bearing housing for coupling the rotor to the drill bit, and a transmission shaft for connecting the rotor to the drive shaft. The drive shaft extends downwardly through the bearing housing and is supported within the bearing housing by multiple sets of bearings. The drive shaft is fitted with the drill bit at its lower end.
Drilling fluid or mud is pumped from the well surface through the drill string or drill pipe to the mud motor. The drilling fluid or mud flows through the cavity formed between the rotor and the stator, through the portion of the transmission housing surrounding the transmission shaft, into the inlet ports provided on the drive shaft, through the drive shaft, and out through the outlet port to flush cuttings from the borehole and cool the drill bit. The drilling fluid drives the rotor to rotate within the stator, with the rotor orbiting around the inner surface of the stator. The transmission shaft transmits the rotational movements of rotor to the drive shaft. The drive shaft rotates concentrically within the bearing housing to drive the drill bit.
If the drill bit is not in contact with the bottom of the borehole, the high pressure drilling fluid applied through the drill pipe to the mud motor exerts a downwardly-directed axial thrust load to the rotor, transmission shaft, drive shaft and drill bit relative to the bearing housing. This is referred to as an off-bottom thrust load. When the drill bit is brought into contact with the bottom of the borehole, the weight of the entire drill string is imposed on the drill bit. As a result, an upwardly-directed axial thrust load is exerted on the drill bit and drive shaft. This is referred to as an on-bottom thrust load.
Conventional mud motors use a combination of radial bearings and thrust bearings in order to restrict the radial and axial movement of the motor's drive shaft. A cross-sectional view of a typical prior art bearing assembly 1 is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Conventional bearing assembly 1 contains three sets of bearings: upper radial bearings 2; thrust or axial bearings 3; and lower radial bearings 4.
Common radial bearings used in downhole drilling applications are journal bearings, also known as sleeve bearings. A journal bearing is formed from a plain cylindrical sleeve that carries a rotating shaft. Sometimes, journal bearings are also referred to as fluid film bearings because of the presence of a thin film of lubricant formed between the cylindrical sleeve and the rotating shaft. The coefficient of friction experienced by the rotating shaft is dependent, in large part, on whether a fluid film is fully developed. In essence, a fully developed fluid film creates a hydrodynamic pressure sufficient to float the shaft and its respective load relative to the sleeve or journal. The result of a fully developed fluid film is that there is no physical contact between the rotating shaft and the journal during operation. Proper development of a fluid film is generally dependent on adequate lubrication of the bearing journal.
Rolling element-type bearings, such as ball rollers or angular contact rollers, are often used as thrust bearings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,681 to Turner et al. discloses an example of ball rollers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,204 to Livingston et al. discloses an example of angular contact rollers. Typically, these rolling element-type bearings are lubricated by the drilling fluid (mud) or by clean oil when encased in a sealed oil chamber. Rolling element-type bearings are not tolerant of abrasives and thus wear quickly when exposed to mud lubrication. Once wear occurs, loads between the individual balls become uneven and wear rates accelerate. For the oil-lubricated bearings, once the seals fail, wear occurs in a similar way. Due to the high loads, pressure, and abrasive conditions, bearing life is typically only several hundred hours.
Another type of thrust bearing used in downhole drilling motors is a hydrodynamic or sliding surface type. U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,014 to Geczy discloses an example of this hydrodynamic bearing type, which uses rigidly mounted pads manufactured of industrial diamond. The diamond pads are mud-lubricated and slide against each other. These bearings, however, are extremely expensive and only marginally increase service life.
Bearings in the bearing assembly are exposed to harsh conditions. The bearings are subjected to extreme forces and loads. The bearings also encounter abrasives contained within the drilling mud or other lubricants. Bearings have a limited service life due to operational conditions, regardless of the type of thrust bearings used. Failure of the bearings often results in the thrust load being absorbed by the bearing housing as it contacts the drill shaft. Such metal-on-metal contact causes degradation of the bearing housing. Therefore, when the bearings fail, the entire drill string must be removed from the wellbore so that the mud motor can be replaced. The cost to repair and maintain conventional mud motors is significant. Typical mud motors contain numerous components requiring a skilled technician to undertake the repairs. The mud motors may be out of service for extended periods due to the number of components that must be examined or replaced.


A paint container retainer and convertible pump assembly cart for portable painting equipment. The retainer is adapted to support one of two differently sized paint containers in a generally upright position for providing a supply of paint for the sprayer. The paint container retainer also serves as a supporting foot and is interchangeable with a cart handle to convert the cart from a vertical to a horizontal orientation of the pump assembly.

Airless sprayers for spraying liquid spray products, such as paints, stains, lacquers and the like, may be comprised of relatively large and heavy equipment. It is often necessary to move such equipment both to and from a job site and around different locations at the job site, and it is often desirable to be able to move a paint supply reservoir along therewith.
Also, depending on the requirements of the particular job, the liquid spray product may be available in relatively smaller sized containers, such as one gallon paint cans, or relatively larger sized paint containers, such as five or ten gallon paint cans or even larger drums.
Commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/697,753, filed May 9, 1991, of which this application is a continuation-in-part, describes a convertible cart for such portable paint spraying equipment, designed so that a cart can readily be converted from an upright to a horizontal position while supporting a pump assembly of the paint sprayer. The present invention discloses a novel modification of the cart disclosed in Ser. No. 07/697,753, as will be more completely described further herein, which is provided with a novel paint container retainer.

Paint container retainer for portable painting equipment


A packaging container for elongate electrical connectors includes a base and a cover. The base has a plurality of parallel connector receiving channels. Each channel has a width suitably sized and shaped to receive a row of connectors in an adjacent side-by-side orientation and a length suitably sized and shaped to receive a column of rows of connectors in an adjacent end-by-end orientation. A spacing section between each connector receiving channel and at the outsides of exterior connector channels are provided to allow an unloader's thumb and fingers to be inserted at two of the spacing sections to grasp a row of the connectors with one grasping operation to remove the row of connectors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a packaging container and, more particularly, to a packaging container for electrical components.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,407 to Brutosky discloses a tray for card edge connectors having multiple parallel rows that can be stacked with other trays. U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,925 to Gallagher, Sr. discloses slidably housing components inside a base and cover. U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,049 to Nohara et al. discloses a magazine with division plates to change the working length of a groove. Other relevant art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,940,156; 4,483,442; 4,842,137; 4,632,246; 4,454,949; 3,208,589; and 3,435,949.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a new and improved packaging container for electrical components.


A monolithic RF amplifier circuit (10) suitable for use in the 0.8-2 GHz frequency range comprises, on-chip (12'), a gateable oscillator (24) running at about 2-5 times the amplifier input frequency or higher, coupled to a rectifier (30) and a low pass filter (34) for producing a DC signal which is fed via a bias/gain control circuit (46) to a bias/gain inputs (56, 58) of one or more amplification stages (60, 62) (e.g. GaAs FET) to provide bias therefore to ensure safe operation, and a priority control circuit (42) responsive to the bias. The priority control circuit (42) operates a power switch (18) that couples the amplification stages (60,62) to a power supply, only when bias is present on their bias/gain inputs (56,58) This protects the amplification stages (60,62) against overcurrent operation. A separate external port (68) to the bias/gain control circuit (46) adjusts the magnitude of the bias to permit amplifier gain and power output to be adjusted. By gating the oscillator ON and OFF, high speed burst mode operation of the amplifier is achieved.

Field Effect transistors (FETs) and other semiconductor devices are much used as high frequency amplifiers. A non-limiting example of semiconductor device materials suitable for such applications is III-V semiconductor material, as for example, GaAs. Various types of semiconductor devices including FETs can be constructed in this and other semiconductor materials. Other non-limiting examples of semiconductor devices are MESFET, HEMT, PHEMT, MOSFET, JFET and Bipolar devices.
With FETs, it is often the case that such devices are depletion mode devices, that is, in the absence of applied bias, they are in a conductive or "ON" state and bias must be applied to the control terminal to control their conductance and turn them OFF. When they are operated as linear or quasi-linear amplifiers, especially when full drain swing is needed, it is usually necessary to provide a bias to the control terminal in order to ensure proper operation. A further difficulty is that when a voltage of a given polarity (e.g., positive) is to be applied to the device to provide power, the control bias required for proper operation must often be of the opposite polarity (e.g., negative). Thus, there is frequently a need to provide a control terminal bias supply having the opposite polarity than the main circuit supply. For convenience of explanation in describing the construction and operation of such amplifiers, and not intended to be limiting, it is assumed that the main circuit supply is positive and the bias supply is negative. Persons of skill in the art will understand that other choices of main circuit supply and bias supply polarity can also be made depending upon the types of devices being employed.
In many portable applications it is desired to operate from a single power supply. In this situation, if the main circuit supply is positive and the bias supply is negative, then the negative bias potential must be generated from the positive potential. In the prior art this has conventionally been done using charge pump system or an oscillator and rectifier arranged to produce a negative output. Unfortunately, these prior art charge pumps or oscillator-rectifier supplies have been relatively bulky and difficult or impossible to integrate, especially, on the same integrated circuit chip or other monolithic assembly as the amplifiers themselves. Thus, there continues to be a need for an improved negative bias supply for control of such high frequency amplifiers.


The current invention describes an automatically locking leg support system for portable water and fuel towers. The system automatically locks a wedge into a support leg to support a water tower, once the tower reaches the desired elevated position, and holds the support leg in the desired position. When the tank is to be lowered, the tower is emptied and a hydraulic system disengages the automatic locking device so that the tower can be lowered.

The automatic support locking device for portable towers and tanks, hereafter referred to as "Auto-Lock"™ is a device that is used with a Porto-Tower® or any other extensible tube or leg device that is used to support a platform or a tank that has either cylindrical or square legs. The Porto-Tower® is lifted from the vehicle chassis, located at ground level, to an elevated position in order to provide a gravity feed for the liquid stored inside the tank. The auto-lock automatically penetrates into the tubes or legs of the portable tower securing the raised tank to a predetermined height and locks the elevated tank preventing inadvertent raising or lowering of the tower from the selected position due to operator error or mechanical failure.
The auto-lock is a locking device that engages into a desired position by using a spring and wedge combination device as the leg is raised or lowered through an opening within the leg or tube. The platform or tank will then be prevented from being raised or lowered, provided the auto lock wedge is in place.
The auto lock wedge can only be released by using either hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure or electric solenoid operation. The hydraulic or pneumatic pressure is injected into the cylinder which compresses the auto lock spring. This then removes the wedge or pin from the tube or leg, allowing the platform or tank to be either raised or lowered into an alternate position.

Automatic support locking device for portable towers and tanks


A fuse-receiving housing is capable to receive selectively one of a mini-fuse and a low height fuse and is provided in an electrical junction box. The housing has a common insertion-limiting part on the inner walls of its cavity. The inner walls are opposed to narrow opposite end surfaces of the received fuses. The common insertion-limiting part is a pair of engagement ribs that has at sloping top surfaces at the upper part thereof that inclines downward and approaches to each other to provide a tapering gap. The engagement ribs locate the low height fuse in the housing when lower surfaces of stepped portions of the fuse body engage the top surfaces. Likewise, the engagement ribs locate the mini-fuse in the housing when lower end edges of a fuse body of the mini-fuse engage the top surfaces.

This invention relates to a fuse-receiving structure and to an electrical junction box having such a fuse-receiving structure, such as a junction box, a fuse box or the like that is mounted on a motor vehicle, and more particularly relates to a fuse-receiving structure useful in an electrical junction box that can contain fuses having different sizes in height.
Many fuses are accommodated in an electrical junction box to be mounted on a motor vehicle. Each fuse typically comprises a fuse element including an input terminal, an output terminal spaced from the input terminal in the longitudinal direction of the fuse, a fusible portion disposed between the input and output terminals, and an insulation resin fuse body embedding the fuse element therein. The input and output terminals project from lower surfaces of the fuse body at the longitudinal ends thereof.
Recently, a so-called low height fuse has been provided in order to reduce the size of fuses. The low height fuse has input and output terminals that do not project from the lower-most surface of the fuse body but project from opposite ends of a central portion of the T-shaped fuse body, so that the terminals are disposed in parallel and hardly extend below the fuse body, thereby reducing the vertical size of the fuse.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. JP-A-2002-313212 discloses a fuse-receiving housing that accommodates such a low height fuse. This structure is illustrated in FIG. 4. A fuse-receiving housing 1 includes press contact tabs 4 that project into a cavity 3 enclosed by peripheral side walls 2. Each of the press contact tabs 4 is formed by bending a bus bar of an internal circuit. A low height fuse 8 includes a fuse body 5, an input terminal 6 and an output terminal 7 that extend at the opposite ends of the central portion of fuse body 5. The low height fuse 8 is inserted into the cavity 3 so that the press contact tabs 4, which have narrow-mouthed slots, are pressed onto the input and output terminals 6 and 7.
However, although the fuse-receiving housing disclosed in JP-A-2002-313212 can accommodate the low height fuse, it cannot accommodate a standard fuse (known as mini-fuse) that has been generally used and has input and output terminals projecting from a lower surface of a fuse body. That is, a fuse engagement section provided on a fuse-receiving housing engages a fuse body to locate and hold a fuse. However, because the input and output terminals are attached to different positions on the fuse bodies of the low height fuse and the mini-fuse, it is impossible to use the same fuse-receiving housing for both fuses.
The low height fuse has not been used widely but is expected to be widely used in the future in accordance with the desired application of fuses. It will take a very high cost to prepare electrical junction boxes including different fuse-receiving housings for the low height fuse and the mini-fuse. Accordingly, it has been required to provide a separate fuse-receiving housing that can accommodate the low height fuse and mini-fuse selectively.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. JP-A-2002-124175 discloses a fuse-receiving structure compatible with both a mini-fuse and a low-height fuse. A cavity contains tabs to contact the fuse terminals. To limit the depth of insertion of the low height fuse, the structure has a stop member projecting upwardly between the tabs, to engage the lower end of the central portion of the low height fuse.

Fuse-receiving structure and electrical junction box using fuse-receiving structure


A funnel with the ability to receive and secure one or more inverted source containers for transferring fluids to a receiving container, without requiring the assistance of a user.

This disclosure relates to a device for use in transferring fluids from a source container to a receiving container. In one of its more specific versions, the invention relates to a device for use in dispensing oil from oil containers to an oil fill port.
At one time or another almost every individual who owns a vehicle or lawn mower with an internal combustion engine has had the experience in which they have had to pour fluids, such as gasoline or oil from a can to a port or other filler opening. Normally, a conventional funnel is utilized to facilitate the transfer of fluid from the source container to the receiving container in an effort to reduce spillage.
Conventional oil funnels are provided with a bowl-shaped receiving portion defining an opening which tapers towards a nozzle which is inserted within the filler opening of the receiving container or the oil fill port of the engine block. The opening and nozzle portions are typically of various shapes and sizes, and are systematically unstable and inconsistent when utilized. For example, when adding oil to a combustible engine, the user must first place the conventional funnel into the oil port of the engine. Sometimes the oil port can be placed in a hard to reach place compounding the awkwardness of effectively pouring oil manually by hand into the funnel. Frequently, when the user initially pours the oil from the container, the forceful flow of the fluid contacting the funnel will shift the position of or even worse, knock the funnel over and out of the fluid receiver resulting in spillage. In some instances, overflows are only an inconvenience, however, in others, such as where hydrocarbon fuels are being added to vehicles, the spill results in environmental contamination and a waste of natural resources.
Moreover, some funnel users have a difficult time accurately holding, aiming and pouring the fluid until the fluid is exhausted from the container to the funnel, further resulting in spillage of the fluid. The entire process can take up to several minutes. Furthermore, conventional funnels typically limit users as to the number of containers they are able to pour at the same time, resulting in a process that is laborious and time consuming.


A transfer member includes a substrate sheet, a mold release layer of a belt-shaped pattern laminated on the substrate sheet, an ionizing radiation curing layer laminated all over a surface on mold release layer, a patterned layer laminated all over a surface or partially on the ionizing radiation curing layer, and an adhesive layer laminated on the patterned layer only partially in a portion where the adhesive layer overlaps with the mold release layer.

Conventionally, as a method for decorating the surface of a resin molded article, there has been a method of transfer simultaneous with molding. The method of transfer simultaneous with molding is a method for providing decoration by placing, in a metal mold, a transfer member having transfer layers including a release layer, a patterned layer, an adhesive layer, and so on are laminated in order on a substrate sheet injecting and stuffing a resin into a cavity, making the transfer member adhere to a surface of a resin molded article simultaneously with obtaining the resin molded article by cooling, and thereafter peeling off the substrate sheet and transferring the transfer layers onto the surface of the resin molded article.
In general, the transfer member used for the method of transfer simultaneous with molding is formed by printing the layers on an elongated substrate sheet in accordance with the width of the roll of a printing machine and used by being cut (slit) into an appropriate width in accordance with the size of an object to receive transfer (object to which transfer layers of the transfer member are to be transferred), and thereafter transferred.
In this case, there has been a drawback of the occurrence of a foil flaking phenomenon in which ink film flakes 131 constituted of a peel layer 104, an anchor layer 107, a patterned layer 105, an adhesive layer 106, and so on peel off the surface of a mold release layer 103 formed on the substrate sheet 102 at the slit portion of the transfer member which is caused by an impact occurring when the blade 130 hits at the time of slitting as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. This is because not only the portion subjected to transfer but also the portion that is not subjected to transfer have excellent peelability between the substrate sheet and the transfer layers of the transfer member. The foil flaking has occurred more significantly as the thickness of the transfer layers is increased as in the case where there are many patterned layers as transfer layers, in the case where a vapor deposition layer is required to be provided as a patterned layer, in the case where the peel layer cannot help being thick as in the case of a hard coat transfer member, in the case where there is many function layers, and in similar cases.
As a result, it has occasionally been the case where the ink film flakes have adhered again to the transfer member and entered between the object and the transfer layers during transfer. Furthermore, carrying out the transfer simultaneous with molding with an ink film flake adhered to the back surface of the transfer member has caused the adhesion of the ink film flakes to the cavity surfaces of the metal mold, occasionally causing a dint (called a dent) due to the ink film flake on the surface of the molded article.
Accordingly, there is a transfer member in which the mold release layer 103 is provided in a belt-like pattern excluding a portion to be brought in contact with a slit portion 108 when the mold release layer 103 is provided on a substrate sheet, and in which transfer layers including a peel layer 109, a patterned layer 105, an adhesive layer 106, and so on are provided on the mold release layer 103 in order to prevent the occurrence of foil flaking during slitting (refer to FIG. 4 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-58584).
Moreover, it can be considered to provide all the transfer layers in a pattern instead of providing the mold release layer 103 all over the surface and constitute the transfer member 101 so that the slit blade does not come in contact with the transfer layers during slitting (see FIG. 5).
However, there has been an issue that, when a metal mold 111 having a side gate 113 is used in the case where the transfer simultaneous with molding is carried out by using the transfer member 101 of the construction shown in FIG. 4, a runner portion 113a for the molding resin communicating with a cavity 112 as shown in FIG. 10 is brought in contact with the neighborhood of the slit portion 108 of the transfer member 101 (Note that in FIG. 10, reference numeral 80 denotes a region where the mold release layer 103 is provided, and 81 denotes a region where the mold release layer 103 is not provided), and the sprue runner for the molding resin fuses to the adhesive layer 106 of the transfer member 101 (as shown in FIG. 11, in an injection molding state, a portion for peeling-off is only a portion 84 which is an interface of the mold release layer 103 and the peel layer 104 for peeling-off after transfer, and peeling-off can not be performed at the other portion, and there is provided the adhesive layer 106 on the sprue runner side of the molding resin portion 120, there is no peel portion on this side, and thus the sprue runner for the molding resin fuses to the adhesive layer 106), failing in carrying out continuous molding as a consequence of the break of the transfer member 101 or other trouble (see FIG. 6). Particularly when carrying out the transfer simultaneous with molding on both sides of the molded article by using two transfer members 101 as shown in FIG. 10, the molding resin flows in contact with the edge portion of either transfer member 101, and therefore, the aforementioned phenomenon occurs more easily.
Moreover, in the transfer member of the construction shown in FIG. 5, an ionizing radiation curing resin is used as the peel layer 109 when the surface strength of the transfer molded article is desired to be improved. However, the thickness of the ionizing radiation curing resin has been limited when formed by being partially patterned by a printing method, and this therefore has led to an issue that a sufficient surface strength has not been able to be obtained.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned issues and provide a transfer member capable of being continuously formed by a method of transfer simultaneous with molding and obtaining a molded article having excellent surface strength.


A semiconductor structure includes: a channel layer; an active layer over the channel layer, wherein the active layer is configured to form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) to be formed in the channel layer along an interface between the channel layer and the active layer; a gate electrode over a top surface of the active layer; and a source/drain electrode over the top surface of the active layer; wherein the active layer includes a first layer and a second layer sequentially disposed therein from the top surface to a bottom surface of the active layer, and the first layer possesses a higher aluminum (Al) atom concentration compared to the second layer. An HEMT structure and an associated method are also disclosed.

Due to high current density, high breakdown voltage, and low ON resistance, High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) are suitable for use in power applications. An HEMT structure includes a channel layer and an active layer. A two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is generated in the channel layer, adjacent to an interface with the active layer. The 2DEG is used in the HEMT structure as a charge carrier. An issue of the HEMT structure is charge trapping at the drain side of the gate, which can result in a phenomenon known as "current collapse" under high-voltage operation. As such, what is needed is a device with a low on-resistance, as well as low current collapse and improved interface trap density and linear drain current degradation. The embodiments of the present disclosure at least answer these needs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor structure, HEMT structure and method of forming the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.


The present invention refers to a method and to an apparatus for obtaining a random code useable in a device for unique identification of a product wherein the apparatus comprises a sliding path of a continuous strip arranged along which is at least one drilling station for obtaining a plurality of holes on the strip, the plurality of holes forming the random code and it is wherein the drilling station is of the random type generating a plurality of holes according to a random and deterministically irreproducible process.

It is currently widespread the phenomenon related to selling identical copies of products of particularly renowned trademarks, such as for example clothes and bags, but also high technology products, such as cellular phones, palmtops, laptops, computer accessories and so on.
Such phenomenon has reached greater levels following the growing need of transferring production to suppliers capable of operating at lower costs of labour and thus provide the required products at lower prices.
As a matter of fact, in such manner the suppliers entrusted with production are capable of acquiring complete knowledge regarding the process of producing the ordered products, thus being capable of creating absolutely identical copies to be simultaneously introduced into the market.
Up to date, attempts to end or, at least, reduce such phenomena provide for using particular devices for identifying products that are difficult to reproduce, applied directly on the product or on the labels in turn fixed onto the product.
Currently known for example is the solution of applying to the product silver-coated threads having a magnetic band, or made using labels bearing codes printed in manner that is difficult to counterfeit or identify, such as for example watermarks, holograms, micro-writing, laser codes, or prints using fluorescent ink or comprising pigments sensitive to the light of particular lamps.
The presence and authenticity of the devices for identifying products is thus verifiable by the dealers and by the end purchasers when purchasing goods or even at a later stage, possibly being able to track back to the supplier of the counterfeited goods in case the identification device is not authentic.
The reliability offered by the devices for identifying products is strictly linked to the reproducibility of the same by the counterfeiter.
Should the work required to create an identical copy of such identification device require commitment both in terms of resources and time such to make the copying operation less profitable, a possible counterfeiter would then be strongly discouraged from doing so.
Currently known devices for identifying products are not capable of guaranteeing high degree of reliability over time although they have complex structures that are difficult and expensive to produce.
As a matter of fact, recent technological developments have made it possible, even for small-scale producers, to make—within a reasonable period of time—identical copies of the devices for identifying products currently used, thus depriving such devices of their ability to distinguish and identify the original of a particular product.
Furthermore, the codes made on the currently known identification devices are usually of the serial, progressive and unique type, thus they do not represent efficient solutions against counterfeit.
For example, known are identification devices which comprise a perforated membrane, where the space distribution of the holes obtained on the same defines a code.
In particular, the membranes are perforated defining—ex ante—a random distribution of microholes identifying a code and reproducing such distribution by obtaining microholes on the membrane through a controlled spatial displacement of suitable means for engraving or removing material.
Commonly used as engraving means is the laser which is driven by means of a microprocessor in such a manner to reproduce the shape and positioning of each and every hole.
On the other hand, commonly used as means for removing material are photosensitive masks designed using electronic processing means according to the codes to be reproduced and subsequently used for the selective removal of material by using suitable acids.
Both engraving or removal means known for reproducing holes codes on a membrane are subjected to approximation limits due to the discrete definition of the shape and positioning of the single holes performed by electronic means that drive and make them.
A discrete positioning, just like the discrete shape of the holes provide a finite number, no matter how large it is, of combinations which can thus be calculated and foreseen by means that reproduce the code.
A perforated member thus obtained is thus easily reproducible through electronic detection of the positioning and of the discrete shapes of the holes before driving analogous engraving or removal means in such a manner to reproduce the positions and shapes in an identical manner.
The perforated membrane devices for identifying a product obtained through the currently known apparatus are thus reproducible in an identical manner without the possibility of distinction between an authentic device and a counterfeit device.

Apparatus and method for obtaining a random code useable in a device for unique identification of a product


A lock circuit for indicating a locked/unlocked condition of phased lock loops circuits, which uses a reference clock signal input to a good-cycle counter and to a bad-cycle counter to signal a set/reset latch to output a signal indicating whether or not the phase of the output signal and input clock are in phase. Phase detector inputs are XOR gated to produce a pulse when the phase locked output clock is in a bad cycle indicated by the phase locked output clock not being in-phase with its input clock. Pulses on the XOR gate output on a bad cycle feed a single cycle counter reset circuit. The single cycle counter reset circuit on every cycle resets one of the bad and good counters based on its detection of a bad cycle pulse from the XOR gate. The good-cycle counter's output is to the SET input of the set/reset latch, and the bad-cycle counter's output is to the RESET input of the set/reset latch . We enable specific cycling of both the good and bad counters.

A PLL (Phase Locked Loop) produces an output clock which is in phase with the input clock and whose frequency is greater than or equal to the input frequency. The lock circuit in the PLL detects when the output clock is in phase with the input clock and sets its lock bit accordingly (`1` when locked). The existing lock circuit used for the purpose as illustrated in FIG. 1 provides a specific way to set the lock bit, so the designer knows the exact condition which must be satisfied before the lock bit turns on. The problem with the existing circuit is the process of unsetting the lock bit which is very unpredictable. As a result, when the circuit unlocks, the designer cannot identify a specific condition which must have existed for it to do so, and this persisting problem is addressed by our invention.

International Business Machines Corporation


An editing apparatus includes at least a processor and a memory that cooperate to function as a display control unit to cause a display device to display information for editing. A specifying unit specifies a processing area of the displayed information for editing the information in accordance with a user's operation. A determining unit determines an end point based on the user's operation for specifying the processing area of the displayed information. A setting unit sets an instruction portion, on the information displayed on the display device, for providing an instruction to select a type of editing to be performed on the specified area. The instruction portion is set on a position based on the determined end point. An editing unit executes the type of editing selected via the instruction portion, in accordance with a user's operation on the specified processing area of the displayed information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program for implementing the method, and a storage medium storing the program. In particular, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that perform image processing such as editing, correction, and processing on image data, a program for implementing the method, and a storage medium storing the program.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional image processing apparatus displays an image corresponding to image data on a screen on a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) constituting a user interface, designates a predetermined processing range on the image displayed on the screen, and performs image processing such as trimming and color correction on the image in the designated processing range.
FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of the layout of a screen on the LCD of the conventional image processing apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 29, to define a predetermined rectangular processing range 9001 on an image displayed on a display screen 9000 (hereinafter referred to as "the window") on the LCD, first, a starting point 9001a is designated using a mouse as a pointing device of the image processing apparatus, and then an ending point 9001b is designated at a cursor position of the mouse which has been moved. It should be noted that a shape that defines the predetermined processing range 9001 should not necessarily be rectangular, and may be other shapes, but should be set in advance to one kind of shape.
Then, to determine what kind of image processing is to be performed on an image in the predetermined processing range 9001, an indicating point 9002 (cursor) of the mouse is moved to, for example, an "Edit" button 9003 among a plurality of menu buttons displayed on a menu selecting screen fixedly displayed at an edge of the window, and a desired menu item such as "Cut" or "Copy" is selected from among edit menus displayed as a result of the cursor movement.
In the above conventional image processing apparatus, to define the predetermined processing range 9001 over a wide range, the cursor of the mouse needs to be widely moved. If the cursor of the mouse is widely moved, the ending point must be designated far away from the menu selecting screen when the starting point lies at a position close to the menu selecting screen because the menu selecting screen is fixedly displayed at an edge of the window. On the other hand, to make the ending point closer to the menu selecting screen, the starting point must be designated at a position far away from the menu selecting screen. In either case, the cursor of the mouse must be moved by a longer distance than in designation of the predetermined processing range 9001.
It should be noted that the need to widely move the cursor of the mouse as mentioned above can be eliminated by applying a document editing process performed by an image processing apparatus, described later, to image processing performed by the conventional image processing apparatus.
Regarding the above-mentioned image processing apparatus, a technique of carrying out the document editing process in which a document is edited has been proposed (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H05-189149, for example).
FIG. 30 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on a LCD when the conventional image processing apparatus carries out the document editing process.
In carrying out the document editing process on the screen of FIG. 30, a range including a character string to be subjected to document editing on the screen displayed on the LCD is designated using a stylus pen 9004 as a pointing device. Then, a menu selecting screen 9005 including a plurality of menu items indicative of editing function types is popped up in the vicinity of the designated range, and a menu item corresponding to a desired editing function is selected from among the plurality of menu items on the menu selecting screen 9005.
In a data editing apparatus that edits a plurality of types of data such as characters and figures, when designating a starting point and an ending point of a processing range to be edited, the shape of the processing range is changed to a suitable one according to the type of data existing in the processing range or at the starting point (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H08-297668, for example). As a result, the shape of the processing range is a shape of a line or lines for character data and a rectangular shape for figure data.
Further, in a document editing apparatus that edits document data, when an indicating point on a touch-sensitive panel is moved along a trace of a specific shape in a display range, it is determined that an instruction for editing the processing range, i.e. data displayed in a range drawn by the trace has been given, and as the contents of the editing instruction, a predetermined processing command is selected from among a plurality of processing commands according to the pattern of the trace (see Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. H08-014822, for example).
Also, a variety of methods have been proposed to detect an area including predetermined information on a person's face from image data (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications (Kokai) Nos. H08-063597, 2001-216515, and 2001-183731, for example).
In the above image processing apparatus, however, it is necessary to designate the starting point 9001a and the ending point 9001b of the predetermined processing range 9001 before determining the type of image processing to be performed on an image, and hence the shape that defines the predetermined processing range 9001 needs to be set in advance to only one kind such as a rectangular shape. That is, the shape that defines the predetermined processing range 9001 cannot be changed once the starting point 9001a and the ending point 9001b of the predetermined processing range 9001 have been designated.
Since the predetermined processing range 9001 can be defined by only one kind of shape such as a rectangular or circular shape, although it is preferred that when image processing is to be performed on the entire image that represents a person's face, the shape of the processing range 9001 is rectangular, and when image processing is to be performed on a partial image such as a spot or mole on the skin of a person, the shape of the processing range 9001 is circular, it is necessary to set the shape of the processing range 9001 at least once so as to perform both types of image processing.
In the image processing as mentioned above, a plurality of types of processing can be ordinarily applied to a designated processing range, and the user can select a desired one from the plurality of types.
In the case where the method described above referring to FIG. 29 according to the prior art or the method disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H05-189149 is applied to the image processing, a menu with the same format is displayed each time, and hence the user has to select a desired type from the menu each time after designating the processing range.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H08-297668, the processing range is selectively designated on a line basis or in a rectangular shape according to the type of data existing in the processing range, but the type of editing processing applied to the processing range is not taken into account. Therefore, in the case where the type of data to be edited is limited to image data, both character data and figure data included in the processing range are edited as image data, and as a result, it is impossible to change the way of designating the processing range according to whether the type of data is figure data or character data.
In the method described in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. H08-014822, the processing range and the type of editing processing can be designated at the same time, and hence the user does not have to perform an operation for selecting the type, but has to memorize the patterns (shapes) of traces of an indicating point in association with a plurality of types.

Image processing apparatus for editing data in accordance with an user operation, image processing method, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program


A method for C-Terminal degradation of peptides and proteins involves forming a thiohydantoin derivative of the C-Terminal amino acid and then cleaving the derivatized amino acid by reaction with methoxide or methiolate ions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the C-terminal degradation of peptides and proteins. More particularly, the invention relates to an efficient method of cleaving a C-terminal thiohydantoin amino acid from a derivatized peptide or protein. The method allows regeneration of the carboxy terminus on the shortened peptide and is effective for multiple reaction cycles. The method results in the production of a hydantoin derivative of the cleaved amino acid which can be detected, e.g., by HPLC. Thus, the method is useful in C-terminal sequencing, as well as other procedures in which controlled degradation from the C-terminus is desired.
2. Background
U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,540, which was issued to Jerome M. Bailey on Oct. 22, 1991 (incorporated herein by reference), traces the development of methods for the sequential degradation of peptides and proteins from the carboxy terminus and contains a review of pertinent literature. That patent describes the use of (1) alkali metal salts of lower trialkylsilanols and (2) trialkylamine-N-oxides as reagents for cleaving C-terminal thiohydantoin amino acids from derivatized peptides and proteins.
While the use of trimethylsilanolate in alcohol has become a preferred method for sequential cleavage of C-terminal amino acids, it nevertheless suffers from certain disadvantages. For example, this reagent is not suitable for an extended number of degradation cycles. Moreover, the method is attended by problems when used in automated sequencing machines, as a result of the formation of precipitates that can clog valves and lines.
Accordingly, a need still exists for an efficient method of cleaving a C-terminal thiohydantoin amino acid from a derivatized peptide or protein.

Method for C-terminal degradation of peptides and proteins


The present invention relates to organopolysiloxanes comprising polyhydroxyorganyl radicals, especially sugar radicals or sugar-derivative radicals, and polyoxyalkylene radicals, to processes for their preparation and to their use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to organopolysiloxanes comprising polyhydroxyorganyl radicals, especially sugar radicals or sugar-derivative radicals, and polyoxyalkylene radicals, to processes for their preparation and to their use.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reaction products of siloxanes and sugars and/or sugar derivatives, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in surfactant applications in the production of glass fibers, or for modifying contact lenses, are known. Various synthesis paths for the linking (hydrophilic) sugar radicals to appropriate functional siloxanes by way of hydrolysis-stable Si--C bonds are described in the technical and patent literature.
AT-A-393 509, for example, describes the synthesis of saccharide-modified siloxane compounds by hydrosilylating organohydridosiloxanes with saccharides that contain C--C multiple bonds. This method, however, has the disadvantage that the reaction proceeds selectively only in the presence of protective groups.
A reaction of amino-functional polysiloxanes with sugar lactones is the subject of DE-A-43 18 539. The resulting linkage via an amide bond, however, is of only limited stability to hydrolysis when these materials are used in aqueous media.
FR-A-2 646 672 describes the reaction of epoxy-functional polysiloxanes with sugar derivatives, such as gluconic acid. Here again, the use of these materials in aqueous media is limited by the sensitivity of the ester bond to hydrolysis.
A further option starts from hydroxyalkylsiloxanes, which are reacted with saccharides in an acid-catalyzed glycosidation reaction as described, for example, in DE-A-43 06 041. In this described mode of reaction, however, it is necessary to operate with an excess of hydroxyalkylsiloxane in order to obtain the defined products with low degrees of glycosidation. The excess hydroxyalkylsiloxane cannot be separated off and remains in the product, where under certain circumstances it may adversely affect the desired properties of the sugar siloxane. In addition, the use of the acidic catalyst induces degradation reactions on the siloxane chain.
DE-A-43 18 537 claims various routes for preparing siloxanyl-modified polyhydroxylated hydrocarbons, such as the hydrosilylation of propynyl glucoside with SiH-sil(ox)anes or the reaction of epoxy-functional di- and trisiloxanes with sugar amines, such as glucamine. The synthesis routes indicated here again have the problem that it is necessary first of all to overcome the pronounced difference in polarity between the (hydrophilic) sugar radical and the (hydrophobic) siloxane radical. For this purpose a description is given of multistage synthesis paths, having recourse, inter alia, to known protective-group chemistry. The reaction times required to modify even siloxane compounds of low functionality and low molecular mass are already long, even if high temperatures, autoclave pressures and considerable amounts of solvent are used. As the molecular weight of the siloxanes increases, the problems in compatibility mount up in such a way that the reaction rates that can be achieved become negligibly small. Consequently, although the methods described might possess some preparative significance, their conversion to the industrial production scale appears impracticable for the reasons set out above.
The principle known from DE-A-43 06 041 is utilized by U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,142 to prepare silicone-based glycosides by reacting polyethersiloxanes in this case, as starting materials, with saccharides or saccharide derivatives in the presence of an acidic catalyst. Here, the reaction of the OH group of the polyether with the saccharide results in linkage via an acetal group, but with the polyether radical functioning only as a spacer between the siloxane skeleton and the sugar. This modification gives materials which possess good emollient properties, are substantive with respect to the hair and skin, and have inverse cloud points.
The methods of DE-A-43 06 041 have additional disadvantages. For instance, the methods described in this patent for preparing siloxane glycosides are characterized by low rates of reaction, as are commonly observed in the case of polyethersiloxanes containing long-chain and/or terminally secondary OH-functional polyether radicals. This leads to uneconomical long reaction times or to high temperature stresses, both of which impair the color and properties of the resulting products. Here again, the use of the acidic catalyst may induce degradation reactions on the siloxane chain. In addition, the method indicated is restricted to only OH-functional silicone polyethers as starting materials. Reactions with terminally capped silicone polyethers, which are modified at the ends and carry, for example, a polar ester or ether group, are in principle not possible.
The task was to overcome the disadvantages described above, and the various further disadvantages known from the prior art, in relation to the synthesis of siloxane-sugar derivatives.

Organopolysiloxanes comprising polyhydroxyorganyl radicals and polyoxyalkylene radicals


A display device includes a display panel driver and a DC-DC converter. The display panel driver divides one frame into a plurality of periods and outputs a control signal to generate an analog supply voltage, a first power voltage, and a second power voltage for driving pixels. The DC-DC converter receives the control signal from the display panel driver through a single wire. The DC-DC converter includes an analog supply voltage generator, a first power voltage generator, and a second power voltage generator. The analog supply voltage generator generates the analog supply voltage during a first pulse period. The first power voltage generator generates the first power voltage during a second pulse period. The second power voltage generator generates the second power voltage during the third pulse period.

1. Field
One or more embodiments described herein relate to a display device and an electronic device having a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of flat panel displays have been developed. Examples include liquid crystal displays, field emission displays, plasma display panels, and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. OLED displays have a wide viewing angle, rapid response speed, are thin, and have low power consumption. An OLED display may have a DC-DC converter that converts external power into internal power for driving the pixels of the display and a display panel driver.

Display devices and electronic devices having the same


A dispensing system for an additive manufacturing includes a powder source that contains powder to form an object, and an array of nozzles positioned at a base of the powder source over a top surface of a platen where the object is to be formed. The powder flows from the powder source through the nozzles to the top surface. A respective powder wheel in each nozzle controls a flow rate of the powder. Each wheel has multiple troughs on surface of the wheel. When a motor rotates the wheel, the troughs transport the powder through the nozzle. The rotation speed of the wheel controls the flow rate. For solid parts of the object, the wheel rotates and allows the powder to be deposited on the top surface. For empty parts of the object, the wheel remains stationary to prevent the powder from flowing to the surface.

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as solid freeform fabrication or 3D printing, refers to a manufacturing process where three-dimensional objects are built up from successive dispensing of raw material (e.g., powders, liquids, suspensions, or molten solids) into two-dimensional layers. In contrast, traditional machining techniques involve subtractive processes in which objects are cut out from a stock material (e.g., a block of wood, plastic or metal).
A variety of additive processes can be used in additive manufacturing. Some methods melt or soften material to produce layers, e.g., selective laser melting (SLM) or direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), while others cure liquid materials using different technologies, e.g., stereolithography (SLA). These processes can differ in the way layers are formed to create the finished objects and in the materials that are compatible for use in the processes.
AM systems typically use an energy source for sintering or melting a powdered material. Once all the selected locations on the first layer are sintered or melted and then re-solidified, a new layer of powdered material is deposited on top of the completed layer, and the process is repeated layer by layer until the desired object is produced.

Selective powder delivery for additive manufacturing


A patch for the transdermal delivery of pharmaceutical drugs. The patch is characterized by having a single mass of elastomer in which the active drug and a percutaneous absorption enhancer are homogeneously dispersed throughout. The patch is especially well suited to delivering the beta.sub.2 adrenergic agonist drug albuterol.

The present invention comprises a transdermal patch for the administration of drugs percutaneously. In particular, the invention is useful for the administration of the drug albuterol, a .beta..sub.2 adrenergic agonist, which is useful, among other things, in the treatment of asthma by virtue of its action of inducing bronchodilation.
The practicality of administering a given drug percutaneously on a continuous basis depends upon the concentration of drug in the blood that is required to provide the desired pharmacologic effect, the degree to which the skin is permeable to the drug, and the amount of skin surface area that is available for drug administration.
The skin surface area which is available for drug administration, while theoretically being unlimited, is, for practical reasons, typically confined to a range of from about five square centimeters to about 100 square centimeters. With the available skin surface area fixed within this range, the matter then narrows as to whether sufficient drug will pass through that much skin surface area to provide the desired therapy. If it will, then it may not be difficult to effectively administer the drug percutaneously. If, however, the inherent permeability of the skin to the drug is so high or so low that too much or too little drug will pass through that area of skin, then the rate of administration of the drug to the skin must be controlled, or the permeability of the skin to the drug must be increased, as the case may be, to make percutaneous administration practical.
The present invention involves a drug delivery system in which the percutaneous administration of the active drug component is enhanced by the presence of a diffusion enhancer.
Systemically active drugs are conventionally administered either orally or by injection, with the primary objective of either mode being to achieve a given desired blood level of drug in circulation over a period of time.
These prior conventional methods of administering drugs to patients, however, possess certain shortcomings resulting in the failure to this goal.
The oral route of drug administration, for example, is inadequate for several reasons, even if the drug is administered to the patient at periodic intervals according to a well-defined schedule.
The rate of absorption of drug through the gastrointestinal tract is affected by both the contents in the tract and the passage of time as the drug travels through the small intestine. Therefore, such variables as whether the drug is administered before or after eating, and the type and quantity of food eaten, for example, high or low fat content, or whether the drug is administered before or after a bowel movement, affect the rate of absorption of the drug which takes place in the small intestine.
Additionally, the time of passage of drug through the small intestine is affected by the rate of peristaltic contraction, adding further uncertainty.
Also important is the rate of circulation of blood to the small intestine, and the fact that many drugs administered by this route are rendered inactive by gastric acid and digestive enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract or liver, where the drug can be metabolized to an inactive product.
These factors make it difficult to achieve a desired time course of concentration of drug in the blood.
The most widely-used dosage form of albuterol, an orally-administered, instant-release (IR) tablet, is administered to a patient every 6 hours. The controlled-release (CR) albuterol tablet is administered to a patient ever 12 hours.
A significant disadvantage associated with the oral administration of albuterol is that orally-administered albuterol undergoes extensive first pass metabolism, probably in the gastrointestinal tract, with the result that the bioavailability of the drug formulation is reduced from a potential bioavailability of 100 percent to as low as 10 percent.
The most inevitable result of the oral administration of drugs through the gastrointestinal tract is that the level of drug in circulation surges to a peak level at the time the drug is administered, followed by a decline in drug concentration in the blood and body compartments. Thus, a plot of a drug in circulation versus time after the administration of several tablets of the drug per day will have the appearance of a series of peaks which may surpass the toxic threshold of the drug, and valleys which may fall below the critical point needed to achieve the desired pharmacologic or therapeutic effect of the drug, rather than a horizontal straight line indicating a steady-state concentration (C.sub.ss) of the drug in circulation.
The administration of drugs by injection likewise entails certain disadvantages. For example, very strict asepsis must be maintained in order to avoid infection of the blood, the vascular system and the heart. Drug administration by poor intravenous injection technique may result in perivascular injection, when that was not intended. The typical result of injection of a drug into the blood is a sudden rise in the blood concentration of the drug followed by an uncontrollable decline in drug concentration. Additionally, administration of drugs by injection is inconvenient and painful.
Other dosage forms for systemic administration of drugs, such as rectal suppositories and sublingual lozenges, also produce non-uniform levels of the therapeutic agent in circulation. These dosage forms require great patient cooperation and have low patient acceptability, resulting in decreased patient compliance with a prescribed drug regimen, which is the most common failure of drug therapy.
To avoid the problems discussed above, a new branch of drug delivery has developed in which systemically-active drugs are administered through the skin or mucosa of a patient. Uncertainties of administration through the gastrointestinal tract, and the inconvenience of administration by injection, are decreased or eliminated by this system of drug administration. The ease of application, and simplicity of removal, of such a drug delivery system produces a desirable psychological effect on the patient. This means better patient cooperation, resulting in more effective therapy. Because a high concentration of drug never enters the body, problems with pulse entry (varying levels of drug in the patient's circulation, depending upon the time of drug administration) are overcome.
Despite these advantages of administering systemically-active drugs through the skin, many problems exist with prior art devices designed for this purpose. Many such devices do not provide a continuous administration of drug to the patient, or a continuous delivery rate. Also, many such devices are irritating to the patient's skin or mucosa and/or have limited application to a relatively narrow group of therapeutic drugs. Frequently, new application systems must be designed for drugs which are incompatible with prior art application systems.
The release of a drug from a topical preparation can be materially affected by the vehicle in which it is applied. Correct formulation of a topical agent will ensure that it exerts its maximal activity, while an incorrect formulation of the agent may reduce its activity, or even render a potent drug essentially ineffective.
The primary requirement for topical drug therapy is that a drug incorporated in a vehicle reach the skin surface at an adequate rate and in sufficient amounts. The drugs must then penetrate the outer horny layer of the skin.
Drug penetration through the skin depends upon release of the drug from the topical delivery device and transport of the drug across the skin barrier. In most cases, the rate-limiting step is skin transport. However, formulation changes can affect both of these steps.
Transport of drug substances through the skin is affected by a variety of factors. For diffusion to occur, the drug must be in solution. Thus, solubility of the drug in the fluids in and around the epidermal cells is of great significance.
The polarity of the drug molecules must also be considered. When hydrated, the stratum corneum contains approximately 75% water, 20% protein and 5% lipid. During hydration, water accumulates near the outer surface of the protein filaments. Polar molecules are believed to pass through this aqueous layer, while nonpolar molecules probably dissolve in, and between, the protein filaments.
The oil-water partition coefficient is also important. If a substance is more soluble in the stratum corneum than in the vehicle in which it is dissolved, then transfer to the former will be favored. In vitro and in vivo studies support the postulate that the release of a drug will be facilitated by using vehicles having a low affinity for the penetrant. Thus, in formulation, care is necessary to ensure that the benefits of drug solubility in relation to skin penetration are not reduced by the use of excipients which have too high an affinity for the drug.
A further factor which has been shown to influence drug effectiveness, and which can be manipulated by the formulator, is the level of hydration of the stratum corneum. Hydration results from water diffusing from underlying epidermal layers or from perspiration that accumulates under an occlusive vehicle. In general, increasing the moisture content of the stratum corneum increases the rate of passage of all substances which penetrate the skin.
Researchers working in the art have conducted studies of the effects of vehicles containing substances which materially affect skin penetration. A range of agents has been recorded as having accelerant action, in particular propylene glycol, surface active agents, dimethylsulfoxide, and dimethylacetamide. These substances, however, have certain drawbacks, including skin irritation potential. Their use to date has been limited.
B. Idson, Cosmetics and Toiletries 95, 59 (1980), has concluded that the factors affecting drug penetration into the skin and, consequently, in most cases effectiveness, are complex. The vehicle that provides ideal conditions for one drug may prove unsatisfactory for another.
The present invention seeks to overcome prior problems with the continuous administration of a drug to a patient, and with the delivery rate of the drug in general, and has been found to work particularly well with adrenergic agonists, and especially well with albuterol, a selective .beta..sub.2 adrenergic agonist.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device for the administration of albuterol to a patient in a reliable and easily-applied device for continuously administering the drug to the patient in controlled quantities through the patient's intact skin or mucosa.
Another object of this invention is to provide for such a drug delivery device which will cause little, if any, dermal or mucosal irritation to the patient.
Another object of this invention is to provide a drug delivery device which will be especially useful and acceptable in pediatric patients and geriatric patients.
A further object of this invention is to provide for a unitary, non-lamellar, single-layered drug delivery device.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a drug administration device which will provide a continuous dosing of the drug to the patient over a 24-hour period.
The transdermal drug administration patches of the present invention generally provide a continuous administration of drug to the patient. In addition, these patches generally cause little or no dermal or mucosal irritation to the patient. Both of these qualities are significant advantages of the patches of the present invention in comparison with many of the transdermal drug administration systems known in the art. Many of the prior art devices designed to deliver systemically active drugs through the skin or mucosa of a patient fail to provide a continuous administration of the drug to the patient, and/or do not provide a continuous delivery rate of the drug to the patient. Even if a transdermal patch does administer a particular drug appropriately through the skin or mucosa of a patient, the patch will not be a desirable form of administration for the drug if the patch is irritating to the patient's skin or mucosa.
Prior to the invention of the transdermal albuterol patches described herein, researchers working in the field were unable to successfully deliver albuterol to a patient by means of a transdermal patch.
The transdermal albuterol patches of the present invention feature, in addition to the benefits already described above, a 100% skin bioavailability of drug to a patient, a good margin of safety in pediatric and geriatric patients and ease of administration.
Albuterol administered transdermally through a patch of the invention is useful for actual asthma therapy, rather than merely for prophylaxis. It is also useful in both pediatric age groups and geriatric populations, both of which require simple-to-administer regimens that do not rely on the responsibility or memory of the patient to comply with several daily dosage administrations of the drug, as is often needed with conventional tablets or capsules of albuterol. Transdermal albuterol therapy would also be useful after the treatment of an acute asthma attack to prevent the exacerbation of such an attack. Clinically, it would also be useful either as a substitute for intravenous therapy or as an improvement over oral therapy.
In addition to being convenient, transdermal albuterol therapy has a significant margin of safety. Significantly, an on-going therapy, such as with sustained-release oral formulations, could be interrupted if the average plasma level of the drug were too high. Once the patient was stabilized at a lower plasma level of drug, the transdermal albuterol patch would be beneficial to maintain consistent plasma levels of albuterol at a more desirable lower level.
Additionally, albuterol can be used transdermally as a tocolytic (obstetric) agent. Preterm labor occurs in approximately 10% of pregnancies. Commonly, beta-mimetic agents are employed for preterm labor. Albuterol is currently used for preterm labor, with the plasma albuterol levels needed for uterine relaxation being 8 to 33 nanograms of drug per milliliter. Such levels are within the range of albuterol delivered by the transdermal albuterol patches of the present invention.
The albuterol patches of the present invention also have the potential advantage of safety over the intravenous route of drug administration, and the further advantage of a more uniform dosing of the drug to the patient in comparison with the oral route of drug administration, during the sensitive and critical period during which labor occurs. Such a use of an albuterol patch of the invention may be adjunctive with bed rest and intravenous and oral agents, or may be primary therapy as a substitution for intravenous beta-mimetic agents.
Additionally, a transdermal albuterol patch of the invention may find usage as an emergency therapy for the treatment of urticaria (hives).
The usefulness of albuterol as a bronchodilator is not limited to the treatment of asthma. Albuterol can also be used as a bronchodilator in the treatment of bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Single layer transdermal drug administration system