Provided is a plasma processing apparatus including: a circular waveguide connected with a vacuum vessel, and through which a circularly polarized wave of an electric field for plasma formation propagates; a processing chamber which is arranged below the circular waveguide, and in which plasma is formed; a circularly polarized wave generator, which is arranged in the waveguide; a circularly polarized wave adjuster which is connected with the circular waveguide below the circularly polarized wave generator; a circularly polarized wave detector which is below the circularly polarized wave adjuster; and a controller which adjusts an operation of the circularly polarized wave adjuster according to an output from the circularly polarized wave detector, in which the circularly polarized wave adjuster adjusts a length of a protrusion of a dielectric stub into the circular waveguide based on a signal from the controller.

The present invention relates to a plasma processing apparatus that processes a substrate-like sample such as a semiconductor wafer arranged in a processing chamber in a vacuum vessel using plasma formed in the processing chamber, and relates to a plasma processing apparatus in which an electric field propagating in a waveguide arranged above the vacuum vessel is introduced into the processing chamber to form the plasma.
As an apparatus that produces a semiconductor integrated circuit element (a semiconductor device) from a substrate-like sample such as a semiconductor wafer, the above-described plasma processing apparatus has been conventionally used. In a process of manufacturing such a semiconductor wafer, miniaturization of the element has been advanced in order to achieve a request such as improvement of performance of the element and cost saving.
In the conventional miniaturization of the semiconductor devices, the number of elements that can be manufactured per one sheet of the semiconductor wafer is increased by two-dimensionally miniaturizing a structure of the circuit of the device to reduce the cost required for manufacturing one element, while improvement of performance such as a decrease in a required time for the device to calculate or input/output signals, or power consumption has been plotted by shortening a wire length. However, it is said that such the two-dimensional miniaturization of the structure of the circuit of the device has been approaching the limit and other technologies such as an application of a new material or a three-dimensional element structure have been under development in recent years. Meanwhile, with such the change of the material or the structure of the circuit, difficulty in manufacturing semiconductor devices is increased, and an increase in the manufacturing cost becomes a serious problem.
Therefore, to achieve cost saving in manufacturing, an expansion in a diameter of the semiconductor wafer used in manufacturing of the device from 300 mm to 450 mm has been considered. An area of the wafer having the diameter of 450 mm is 2.25 times the area of the wafer having the diameter of 300 mm and, as a result of the fact that a larger number of wafers can be manufactured, the manufacturing cost per one device can be reduced assuming the manufacturing cost per one sheet is equivalent.
In realizing the manufacturing of the device using the semiconductor wafer having such a large area, a technology that realizes uniform processing of the semiconductor wafer in a larger region than before is required for the plasma processing apparatus. Especially, a decrease in non-uniformity in a radial direction and a circumferential direction of plasma formed in the processing chamber, which should be made larger to accommodate the semiconductor, wafers having a larger diameter, is required.
Technologies using a circularly polarized wave as an electric field for forming plasma to decrease such non-uniformity of distribution of density and intensity of the plasma in the processing chamber are conventionally known. As examples of such conventional technologies, technologies disclosed in JP-A-2011-077292 and JP-A-2011-176146 are known.
In these prior-art documents, a circularly polarized wave generator is disclosed, which can optimally adjust an axial ratio of a circularly polarized wave, even if a reflection wave is returned to the circularly polarized wave generator from the plasma having a change in its characteristic due to a change in a voltage, or the density or the intensity of the plasma that is a dielectric as a load formed in the processing chamber, corresponding to the change. Here, the axial ratio of the circularly polarized wave means a ratio of a minimum value to a maximum value of an electric field of a circularly polarized wave, which rotates during one cycle period of the circularly polarized wave of a specific frequency. Further, JP-A-2011-077292 discloses that a monitor unit which detects an axial ratio of a circularly polarized wave is provided and the axial ratio of the circularly polarized wave is optimally adjusted according to an output from the monitor unit.
Further, JP-A-2003-110312 discloses an invention in which a matching box is arranged on a waveguide path (a waveguide) between a circularly polarized wave generator and a processing chamber so that the reflection wave originated as being emitted from an end portion of the waveguide, then being reflected on the processing chamber side, and being returned to the waveguide is prevented from entering the circularly polarized wave generator; it discloses that prevention of the reflection wave by the matching box can prevent deterioration of the axial ratio of the circularly polarized wave.
Further, JP-A-H02-230728 discloses a technology in which a plurality of rod-like members made of a conductor, insertion lengths of which into a circular waveguide are variably adjustable are arranged and the distribution of the electric field in the processing chamber is adjusted by appropriately adjusting the insertion lengths of these rod-like members, so that non-uniformity of distribution of an etching rate of a sample is decreased. Especially, this prior-art document discloses that conductor rods inserted at a plurality of different locations with respect to a traveling direction of the microwave are provided in an axial direction of the circular waveguide and reflection of the electric field traveling from the waveguide to the processing chamber on the processing chamber side is suppressed, so that the non-uniformity of processing can be improved.


A combination fluid dispensing bottle and scrubbing brush. The scrubbing brush is releasably secured to the bottle by a collar which has a first passage sized to be fit over and secured to a bottle cap covering the open spout of a plastic squeeze bottle, and a second passage sized to accept and secure a handle of a scrubbing brush in relative proximity to the sidewalls of the plastic bottle. The collar comprises a separable first and second clamping pieces which can be drawn together or spread apart according to the operation of a quick release device, to respectively secure the brush to the bottle or release the brush therefrom. Also the fluid dispensing bottle and brush may be provided with communicating passageways in order to directly dispense the fluid from the bottle into direct proximity of the brush bristles.

There are numerous residential and commercial surfaces and materials which require cleaning. Many of these surfaces and materials are difficult to clean and require specific cleaning implements, for instance specialty shaped brushes. For professional cleaning of certain construction materials, in particular the tile grout in seams between tile, such cleaning is typically carried out manually due to the nature of the tile and grout materials. It is well known that grout, which is used to secure and fill the thin, elongate spaces or seams between tiles, or between tiles and another building material, usually fills the spaces or seams at a level below that of the plane defined by the top surface of the tile. Once properly applied between the tiles, the grout in the seam is essentially slightly depressed or sunken below the top surface of the tile, and even slightly concave in nature relative to the plane along which such tile and grout is laid.
Because of the relatively thin nature of the seam between tiles, relative to the planar tile surface, the seam and grout therein becomes a particularly difficult spot to clean. For example, on a tile floor a cleaning device such as a semi-automated sweeper, or even a conventional mop, tends to traverse the plane of the floor as defined substantially by the top surface of the tiles. The cleaning device which may adequately clean the top surface of the tiles making up the floor, can miss, i.e., pass over or span the seam, and due to the depressed, sunken and even concave nature of the grout, miss the grout completely, thus failing to clean the grout. In many cases the depressed nature of the grout even acts as a trap, ensnaring dirt and debris therein which cannot be easily cleaned. Furthermore, the porous nature of certain grouts also traps dirt and debris therein so that even if the surface of the grout is cleaned, the dirt and debris remains imbedded in the grout, and the grout appears dirty, dingy and uncleaned.
In order to properly clean grout it is generally necessary to manually apply a grout cleaning solution and then manually scrub the applied cleaning solution into the grout to lift out the imbedded dirt and debris. This operation is usually accomplished by a worker working on their hands and knees traversing the floor while applying the requisite cleaner from a bottle and then, with a separate brush, vigorously scrubbing the grout to remove the dirt and debris.
Generally, to really get tile grout clean it must be cleaned manually, and there are few alternatives. As discussed above, a worker utilizes a cleaning solution in a hand held bottle and applies a desired amount of cleaning solution to an area of grout to loosen any dirt, grime, mold or other debris located therein and then scrubs the grout with a brush. A grout cleaning brush as known in the art is generally provided with an elongate handle between about 4 to 14 inches in length and more preferably about 8 to 12 inches long. At one end of the brush a set of bristles is attached to the handle in a similar manner to that of a toothbrush. The bristles may be made of varying materials for example nylon or even metal wire bristles having various stiffnesses, but in any event, the bristles are stiff enough to provide an adequate scrubbing of the grout. However as is also known, the bristles have a finite life due to the intensity of the scrubbing which must be done to adequately clean grout and, therefore, after a certain period of time of a brush be discarded and replaced.
Bottles which are used to hold cleaning solution by the worker scrubbing the grout are also known in the art. The bottles generally hold about 6–64 ounces of cleaning solution, and being about 2 to 6 inches in diameter, and more preferably about 3 to 4 inches in diameter, can be easily held in the workers hand. It can be readily appreciated that in cleaning tile grout the cleaning solution need only be applied to the grout, rather than to the tile surface(s). In order to facilitate the appropriate dispensing of the cleaning solution only on the grout in the seam between the tiles, the bottle is provided with a nipple which has an opening at the dispensing end sized to permit only a desired about of cleaning solution out of the bottle and to apply the cleaning solution only along the grout. Too large an opening and the cleaning solution is apt to be dispensed all over the tile surfaces and cause the worker to have undertake an inordinate amount of clean up.
With the separate cleaning solution bottle and scrubbing brush as is known in the art, a worker who is cleaning floor tile grout is usually working on their hands and knees. Because of this physical working position it is necessary to have both knees on the floor, and at least one hand on the floor to support the workers upper body. The worker's other hand is then free to use the bottle, or the brush as necessary. In view of the fact that only one hand is free to perform such work, the worker must first dispense a desired amount of cleaning solution along the grout line and then put the bottle down and pick up the scrubbing brush to scrub the grout. This known method and apparatus for cleaning is greatly inefficient as the wasted motions of putting down one implement, or the other, take time and may place the necessary implements out of reach as the worker moves along the grout line scrubbing and cleaning. These inefficiencies have led workers to, for example, tape the handle of the scrubbing brush to the bottle so that the brush bristles are aligned radially outward relative to the circumference of the bottle. In this manner by using only one hand, the worker can not only dispense the cleaning solution, but can also immediately, or even simultaneously in some cases, scrub the tile grout with the brush without having to put down, and pick up one or the other cleaning implements.
The problem with taping the handle to the bottle is that the brush handle is not as rigidly fixed to the bottle as necessary to adequately scrub the grout. Held on merely by tape, the brush has a tendency to wobble, twist or move relative to the bottle, especially in view of the soft, squeezable plastic of which the bottle is manufactured. Additionally, the brushes wear out, in particular, the bristles wear down and become irreparably misaligned and thus must be replaced after a number of hours of use. The tape must then be torn off the bottle and brush and a new brush put on and new tape applied. If a sufficient amount of tape is used to adequately hold the brush to the bottle, it becomes a difficult job to maintain the alignment of the brush and remove the tape to replace the brush.


A lock (1, 30) having a box body (2) with a faceplate (3), a latch (4) co-operating with an elastic element (5) adapted to keep the latch normally protruding from the faceplate (3) and with a moving element (6) associated to a handle (M) to be actuated by the user and a mechanical adjustment unit (7) adapted to change the length of the portion (4a) of the latch (4) protruding from the faceplate (3). The mechanical adjustment unit (7) having a plurality of seats (8) made in the latch, (4), a cylindrical pin (9) adapted to be received in each of the seats (8) and adjustment apparatus (10) accessible from outside and acting on the pin (9) to constrain it in the corresponding seat (8) or release it therefrom.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved spring latch lock.
2. Prior Art
It is well known that spring latch locks are devices to close and open doors, main entrances, gates and the like, generally comprising a box body with a front plate and a sliding latch actuated by a handle.
Inside the box body there are the actuating mechanisms for the spring latch that can be reached and operated from outside through a handle which is inserted in a corresponding hole made on one or both sides of the box body. The locks are arranged hidden inside a corresponding housing made in the thickness of the door, entrance or gate, the actuating handle of the latch protruding from at least one side thereof.
Reliability of operation of the above mentioned locks is generally recognised as well as their functional limits with regard to the different applications for which said locks may be intended.
A first recognised limitation is the constructional form of the latch having a fixed length so that its portion protruding from the faceplate cannot be modified.
This involves that the same lock cannot be used for different applications, when each application requires a different protrusion of the latch from the corresponding faceplate.
Thus, for instance, the same lock cannot be indifferently applied to a door, a main entrance or a gate having different penetrations of the latch in the frame. The same happens for instance in rooms provided with doors identical to each other to which however different penetrations of the latch in the frame should be carried out whereby it is necessary to use locks with the same box body but having different performances with different latch protrusion.
Moreover identical locks but having different latch protrusions are not interchangeable.
In order to make easier closure of the door, main entrance or gate to which the lock is applied the protruding end of the latch has a bevel that during the closing operation is forced against the frame promoting the elastic return of the latch inside the box body.
When the closing operation is ended, the latch comes out automatically from the box body and is inserted into the rabbet of the frame.
This involves the further drawback that the same lock cannot be applied indifferently to door, entrances or gates having either right hand or left hand closures so that a lock provided with a right hand bevelled latch cannot be applied to doors with left hand closure and viceversa.
In order to overcome the above mentioned limitations, locks are made provided with adjusting means allowing to change the length of the latch protruding portion and to rotate the latch so that the bevel is always facing the frame irrespective of the fact that the lock is applied to a door, entrance or gate having either a right hand or left hand closure.
These locks, however, have the drawback that said adjustments are difficult to be carried out.
More particularly the locks having the possibility to change the orientation of the latch bevelled portion relative to the frame, show a greater constructional difficulty because the latch must be made in two coaxial parts that can be mutually blocked through screws, where the latch protruding portion can be turned relative to the part lodged inside the box body.
Another drawback consists in that, in order to change the latch protrusion, the lock must be taken out from its housing, the box body must be opened in order to act on the adjusting means to define the required protrusion of the latch.
After having carried out such an adjustment, the box body is again closed, the lock is again assembled and it is also necessary to check whether the length of the protruding portion meets the requirements.
If the length of the protruding portion is not satisfactory, the above mentioned operations should be repeated.
Therefore, it is clear that such an adjustment is a long and difficult operation. Moreover such an adjustment must be carried out by persons having at disposal proper tools and with specific professional skill.


An underwater propulsion device includes a number of modules allowing it to be used in a range of configurations including a tow/pull type scooter 300, a thigh strap configuration 700, a calf strap configuration 1100, a push configuration 1200, a tank mount configuration 1300. The device may include an underwater changeable battery canister 1600, a hand controller 216 that senses movement about the radius bone to generate direction and speed control signals and/or a front mounted headlight 224.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,813 ("Mazin") discloses a leg mounted propulsion device for swimmers and divers. Propulsion units are attached to the diver's legs. A battery pack is either attached as a weight belt or as a cylinder beside the air tank. A controller is attached to the belt beside the buckle on the stomach of the diver.
Mazin may suffer from a number of disadvantages including lack of adequate sealing for the battery pack, lack of modularity, difficulty of access to the controller (especially when the diver's hands are already holding other equipment), lack of flexibility in control, and/or lack of user friendliness and difficulty of user servicing.
There is also a range of other propulsion devices known in the art. For example tow type designs disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,996,938 and 5,469,803; different kinds of body strap designs disclosed in International patent publication numbers 02072382 and 2004062744, French patent numbers 2608441 and 2763512, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,635,188 and 4,700,654; push type designs strapped between the knees; and tank mounted designs disclosed in International patent publication numbers 8602613, 2004050473 and 2005080194, U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,868, US patent publication number 2006243188 and Australian patent number 8070794.
It would be desirable to provide a submersible or underwater propulsion device which overcomes one or more of these disadvantages and/or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.


A hydrogen generator (1), particularly for supplying a fuel cell, is described comprising a supply (3, 29) of a fuel, i.e. a chemical hydride, which can be hydrolyzed to be reacted in a reaction chamber (14, 33) communicating with the first supply (3, 29) to produce hydrogen gas and an at least partially liquid exhaust reaction product, the reaction chamber communicating with outlet pathways (16, 17) for the hydrogen gas and for the exhaust reaction product, the latter (17) leading to a supply of an absorbent material (21) suitable for immobilizing the exhaust reaction product.

It is known that hydrogen is generated by hydrolysis of a solid chemical hydride reacting with and acidic, aqueous reagent see US 2005/0238573.
Also known is a corresponding fuel in aqueous solution, reaction being promoted by a catalyst. In this prior art, in a volume exchange cartridge the decreasing of the fuel compensates the increasing volume of the reaction products see U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,033.
In the prior art, there is the problem of separating the useful gaseous hydrogen from the exhaust liquid product, and of handling the latter, particularly if the generator is an orientation insensitive device.


An aerodynamic actuator latch for a disk file uses a fringe field from permanent magnets of the actuator assembly to generate a reverse bias torque, in lieu of a separate return spring. The latching mechanism includes a stop arm portion which cooperates with an actuator arm portion to ensure that the head of a disk file locked in a landing zone when the storage disk is not rotating. The reverse bias torque is preferably provided to the actuator mechanism via cooperation of a ferromagnetic slug within the stop arm portion and the fringe field of the actuator magnets.

The assignee of the present invention has pioneered the concept of an aerodynamically released actuator latch for hard disk drives. By way of examples, the reader's attention is directed to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,193 for "Aerodynamically Released Safety Latch for Data Transducer Assembly in Rotating Rigid Disk Data Storage Device". The disclosure of the referenced patent is incorporated herein by this reference. The reader's attention is further directed to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,997 for "Aerodynamic Latch for Disk File Actuator"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,829 for "Magnetically Biased Aerodynamically Released Integral Safety Latch for Rigid Disk Drive"; and, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/839,870 for "Airflow Generator Spindle Hub for Aerodynamically Released Disk Drive Actuator Latch", now abandoned; the disclosures of which are also incorporated herein by reference.
Aerodynamically released shipping latches of the type described in the reference patents have proven very successful in operation. The distinct advantage of an aerodynamically released shipping latch and its manner of operation are explained in these prior patents. Several drawbacks of aerodynamically released shipping latches in accordance with the inventions described in the cited patents have remained unsolved until the present invention. One drawback has been associated with the use of mechanical hair springs which are required in order to provide a sufficient reverse bias force to the latch in order to cause it to engage the rotary data transducer assembly in order to lock the transducer at inner landing zone regions of the data surfaces of the storage disks. Installation of the delicate hair springs during drive assembly has proven to require a difficult manual procedure which has not been well suited to automatic or robotic assembly procedures for high volume production. Also, the reverse bias force applied by mechanical hair springs has tended to be substantially constant, irrespective of the degree of angular deflection caused by air flow from the rotating disks, which has required that the bias force be sufficiently high to overcome any static friction associated with the moving aerodynamic latch member and the base or frame of the device to which such moving member is journalled.
Another drawback of the prior aerodynamic latches has been associated with use over a substantial range of angular displacement. It was heretofore believed that the shipping latch should rotate over a fairly substantial angle in response to air flow in order to be assured that the air flow generated by disk rotation was sufficient to sustain the data transducers in "flying" formation closely above the data surfaces of the disks before they were permitted to depart from their respective landing/parking zones. Also, a substantial degree of rotation of the latch was required in order to permit the latch to be installed after the disk stack has been mounted to the drive spindle during disk drive assembly.
One more drawback has been associated with the use of a separate counterweight which has required additional parts and steps in the latch/drive manufacturing process. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,829 describes a safety latch for a storage device, for locking the transducer carriage to restrain the data transducer to a predetermined latching zone during non-rotation of data storage disks and for releasing the carriage in reponse to airflow generated by disk rotation. The latch mechanism includes a moveable airvane disposed between two disks for being deflected by airflow generated by rotations of the disks and latching member responsive to the deflection of the airvanes to release the carriage. In this patent, the latch includes a magnetic spring comprising two outboard magnets for providing a magnetic bias spring for providing a predetermined bias by magnetic field deflection to the latch in order to urge the latch into engagement with the carriage in the absence of airflow sufficient to deflect the airvane to overcome the bias and thereby release the latch. The magnetic spring in this patent included two small plastic magnets 62 and 64 to have north poles on major surfaces facing each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The magnet 62 is seated in a shallow recess 66 formed in the latching portion 50 of the member 32, and the magnet 64 is seated in a similar recess 68 formed in the inside of the sidewall 12 of the frame. The magnets 62 and 64 are flat and shallow, and present their oppositely facing, like pole faces in a manner which generates maximum repulsion when the member 32 is maximally deflected due to air flow. The two forces create a state of equilibrium, and in operation, the two magnets 62, 64 do not actually contact each other. The sizes, locations and magnetic field strength characteristics of the magnets 62 and 64 are selected to provide suitable reverse bias force to the member so that it will be positively and reliably urged to engage the notch 54 when airflow from disk rotation diminishes to a point that the reverse bias from the magnets 62, 64 exceeds the airflow force. The above described magnetic bias spring arrangement, although effective in operation, has not proven to be cost effective and has seen diminished practical utility as hard disk drives become smaller. For example, in a 31/2" form factor hard disk drive, this type of magnetic bias spring requires special attention to mounting arrangements and methods for installing the opposed-field permanent magnets, and has obviously required additional components and expenses associated therewith.
A torsion spring has also been utilized on a molded plastic air lock barrel as a bias against the deflection of the latch assembly, see e.g. FIG. 2 of referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,997. These springs can be relatively costly compared to the overall cost of the disk drive. In addition, the torsion spring tends to wander up the airlock barrel and fall off. In this type of arrangement, assembly of the spring, which comprised wrapping the spring around the barrel, was difficult. Finally, vendors are unable to consistently produce torsion springs with the required angular tolerances.
A need has risen for an aerodynamically released shipping latch that does not require the additional bias magnetic spring, mechanical hair spring or torsion spring associated with prior art. The present invention addresses such a need.

Aerodynamic actuator latch with magnetic return spring for hard disk drive


A surface treatment method and apparatus permitting the treatment of a film with plasma with a high treatment speed and a high efficiency without uselessly complicating the construction of a device for realizing it are disclosed. The area where the counter electrode is in contact with the plasma is sufficiently larger than the area where the rotating electrode is in contact therewith. The ratio of the areas is preferably not smaller than 1.5 and the etching speed may be increased to a value more than ten times as great as that obtained by a prior art method.

This invention relates to a plasma surface treatment method and apparatus for treating a film surface by using plasma with a high efficiency.
There are known techniques for reforming the surface of a substrate made of various materials by making gas in a plasma state act on the surface. For example, for polymers, as discussed in an article entitled "Plasma niyoru Kobunshi Zairyo no Hyomen Shori (Surface Treatment of polymer materials by using plasma)" (Kogyo Zairyo (Industrial Materials), Vol. 32, p.24-30 (1982)), various kinds of applications are conceived, such as techniques, by which hydrophilic radicals are introduced in the surface by making oxygen plasma act thereon in order to improve the adhesivity of paints, plasma etching techniques using ion energy and reactions of active radicals, etc.
If it were possible to effect continuously such a plasma surface treatment on a long film, productivity thereof would be considerably increased. For this reason a continuous plasma surface treating apparatus has been proposed, as disclosed e.g. in JP-A-57-18737.
Also, as known apparatuses similar thereto, there are known continuous plasma surface treating devices disclosed in JP-A-59-91128 and JP-A-59-91130. In these kinds of apparatuses film is rolled on a rotating cylindrical treating drum disposed in a vacuum chamber and continuous plasma surface treatment for the film is effected by supplying electric power to a counter electrode disposed adjacent the side surface of the treating drum to produce plasma, while forwarding the film in one direction in synchronism with the rotation of the treating drum.
In this case, in order to increase the efficiency of the plasma surface treatment, conditions of the atmosphere for projecting high energy ions to the film are necessary. However, according to the prior art techniques described above, the treating drum is grounded and the potential difference between the treated surface and the plasma is at most only several tens of volts, even if a high frequency voltage of 13.56 MHz, which is a commercial frequency, is applied to the counter electrode to produce plasma. If the treating drum is not grounded and a negative high voltage is applied thereto, positive ions in the plasma are accelerated and in this way it is possible to increase the efficiency of the plasma surface treatment by using this energy. However, in the case where a high voltage is applied to the rotating treating drum, it gives rise to problems that (1) the mechanism becomes complicated, because a high voltage is applied to a rotating body, that (2) there is a fear that unnecessary discharge is produced, because parts other than the treated portion of the rotating drum are raised to the high voltage and that ( 3) when a metal film is disposed on the film, the metal film itself should be raised to the high voltage, and for this reason the feeding and rewinding mechanism is also raised to the high voltage, which complicates the insulating scheme therefor.

Plasma surface treatment method and apparatus


A variable width waveguide scanner includes a pair of spaced apart waveguides defined by U-shaped sleeves each having an open end. A U-shaped plunger having spaced apart parallel first and second arms is coupled to the waveguides such that the arms are received by the open ends of the sleeves and are reciprocatingly slidable in the sleeves. A plurality of radiating elements in the form of spaced apart slots are formed in an end wall of each waveguide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to beam scanning antennas, and more specifically relates to waveguide scanners. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to variable width waveguide scanners.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Variable width waveguide scanning antennas are well known in the art. They were first developed during World War II and were commonly referred to Eagle scanners. A beam scan of .+-.30 .degree. was achieved with the original Eagle scanners by mechanical variation of the a-dimension of an end-fed waveguide from which microwave energy was coupled using probes to a series of radiating dipoles. The Eagle scanner was based on the principle that variation of the waveguide a-dimension caused a variation of velocity of propagation within the waveguide. This change in waveguide velocity resulted in a corresponding change in the element-to-element phase shift which "scanned" the beam.
The Eagle scanner described above was composed of two principal elements, as shown in FIG. 1. The first element is a movable "waveguide squeeze" section which produced the variation in the microwave propagation within the waveguide. This section employed two nested L-shaped sections 2 which were moved relative to each other (in the direction of the arrows) to reduce the effective a-dimension of the waveguide structure formed between them. Waveguide chokes in the form of quarter wave slots 4 were formed in the smaller leg portion 6 of each L-section to reduce leakage of microwave energy through the gaps between the two L-sections.
The second principal element of the basic Eagle scanner was the structure which was employed to couple energy from the waveguide squeeze section out to form the desired scanning beam. A row of waveguide probes 8 were employed for this purpose. The probes 8 were mounted in the larger leg portion 10 of one of the L-sections defining the broad wall of the waveguide and extend into the waveguide squeeze section, i.e., into the waveguide cavity. Each probe was terminated in a dipole radiator (not shown) which acted in conjunction with the other dipole radiators to form the microwave beam. The Eagle scanning technique has been described in the following references, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference: MIT Radiation Laboratory Series, Book 26- "Radar Scanners and Radomes", McGraw-Hill, 1948; L. W. Alverez, "Microwave Linear Radiators", Radiation Laboratory Report No. 366, Jul. 31, 1942; and R. M. Robertson, "Variable Width Waveguide Scanners for Eagle and GCA", Radiation Laboratory Report No. 840, Apr. 30, 1946.
A fundamental problem with the waveguide squeeze technique and, in particular, the Eagle scanner described above is the variation in the amount of coupling to the waveguide probes as the a-dimension is changed. In the Eagle scanner described above, the effective coupling may vary by a factor of 10:1 as the a-dimension is changed for a practical range of operating values. This results in poor scanning performance.
Second, the probe coupling technique used on the Eagle scanner is not practical at millimeter wave frequencies because of the precision required to manufacture, install and adjust the individual probes.

Millimeter wave variable width waveguide scanner


A costume mask has a mask body shaped to fit over the face of the user. The mask body has an inflatable sack positioned thereon such that inflating the inflatable sack causes a feature to protrude to an extended position. The inflatable sack and the feature are preferably both made of a very thin and lightweight material to enable the inflatable sack to inflate and deflate quickly, thereby causing the feature to leap quickly outward at the observers for startling effect. The costume mask further includes a means for retracting the feature, preferably a coil spring that connects the feature to the mask body, biasing the feature to a retracted position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a costume mask designed to be worn over a user's face, and more particularly to a costume mask having features that jump outwardly to startle observers.
2. Description of Related Art
Costume masks are well known in the prior art. Various costume masks that change their appearance in humorous ways have also been devised. Sterrick, U.S. Pat. No. 885,802, discloses a toy mask having facial features that can be expanded by blowing air into a rubber bladder under the facial feature. Similar devices are disclosed in Edwards, U.S. Pat. No. 2,203,562, and Mafko, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,606,324, 2,666,204, and 2,666,205 all disclose masks having facial features that can be distorted when the user blows air into a chamber behind the facial feature. Mafko also discloses the use of a noise-maker as part of the mask. Similar inventions are disclosed in Edwards, U.S. Pat. No. 2,203,562, Wolf, U.S. Pat. No. 2,748,528, and McClary, U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,982. More recent patents include Han, U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,943 and Gattamorta, U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,508.
The prior art teaches various masks having facial features that can be altered in humorous ways by the user. However, the prior art is limited to features that slowly bulge in a humorous way. The movement of the features is always limited to the elasticity of the material of which the feature is constructed. The prior art does not teach an inflatable sack that is retracted by a separate means for retraction, preferably a coil spring. This flexibility enables a movable facial feature that leaps outwardly to startle observers. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.


Molding apparatus and method for continuous molding of features integral with a base, such as in the production of fastener elements for hook-and-loop type touch fasteners, e.g. by the Fischer process, employs a mold roll formed of rings that have coolant passages formed within the ring components themselves for substantially direct contact with cooling liquid. Axial tie rods compress the mold rings together, contributing to the sealing of the coolant passages and the stiffness of the mold roll. Other types of sealing are disclosed. Mold cavities and cooling passages formed by photo-chemical etching, laser machining and other techniques are disclosed. Various machines and methods taking unique advantage of these features are disclosed, including ring alignment methods.

This invention relates to continuous molding of synthetic resin to produce features that are integral with a base sheet, and has particular application to the production of fastener elements for touch fasteners and the like.
Hook elements for hook-and-loop touch fasteners and other products are effectively produced by the machine and method of Fischer U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,028. In commercial production, a mold roll is formed by a large number of thin, disk-shaped mold rings and spacer rings which are stacked concentrically about a central barrel. At the periphery of the mold rings are cavities for molding the hook elements. In current production machines each cavity of a mold ring has been formed, one at a time, by wire electro-discharge machining (EDM).
In practice of the Fischer method, molten resin is forced into the mold cavities, tending to raise the temperature of the mold rings. A fluid coolant is circulated through cooling passages within the barrel on which the rings are mounted to remove the heat from the rings. In this way an appropriate temperature of the mold cavities is maintained so that the product becomes sufficiently solid that it can be withdrawn on a continuous basis, typically without opening the mold cavities.
The Fischer technique has proven successful commercially and has represented an important advance over prior proposals in this field such as Menzin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,619.

Continuous molding of fasteners and other features


A probe card which solves a problem involved in conventional probe cards in that the yield of the LSIs is reduced because non-defectives can be misjudged as defectives, which is due to failure of test signal application to LSIs owing to a contact failure between probe needles and bonding pads, which in turn due to the lack of needle pressure resulting from the lack of thickness of the probe needles in the conventional probe cards. The present probe card device includes units, each of which has a plurality of probe needles juxtaposed on a first insulating sheet, and separated by second insulating sheets with a thickness of about 10 .mu.m. The units are stacked in multilayer and fixed to a probe card substrate. The first insulating sheet has many grooves to which the second insulating sheets can be inserted. The grooves are formed on the first insulating sheet at intervals smaller than the thickness of the probe needles, and the second insulating sheets are inserted into the grooves at intervals corresponding to the thickness of the probe needles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a probe card used for testing semiconductor devices (called LSIs below).
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional semiconductor test system and a test method of an LSI using the test system. In this figure, the reference numeral 1 designates a tester, 2 designates the main body of the tester, 3 designates a test head provided in the tester 1, 4 designates an interface board 4, 5 designates a connecting ring 5, 6 designates a probe card, 7 designates probe needles attached to the probe card 6, 8 designates signal lines connecting the main body 2 of the tester with the test head 3, 9 designates POGO pins connecting the test head 3 with the interface board 4, 10 designates POGO pins connecting the interface board 4 with the connecting ring 5, and 11 designates POGO pins connecting the connecting ring 5 with the probe card 6. The reference numeral 12 designates a wafer placed on a chuck top not shown, 13 designates an LSI formed in the wafer 12, and 14 designates bonding pads formed on the LSI 13. Incidentally, although FIG. 5 shows only two probe needles 7 for the simplicity of the drawing, many probe needles are attached on the probe card 6 in practice.
The test head 3 generates test signals, and compares response signals from the LSI 13 with expected values. The main body 2 of the tester adjusts the timings of the test signals, determines the patterns of the test signals, stores the expected values, and functions as a power supply.
The conventional semiconductor test system with such an arrangement applies the test signals generated by the test head 3 to the LSI 13 through the interface board 4, connecting ring 5 and probe card 6, with the tips of the probe needles 7 contacting the bonding pads 14. The response signals from the LSI 13, on the other hand, are applied to the test head 3 through the probe needles 7, probe card 6 and connecting ring 5.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a conventional probe card, which schematically illustrates a cross-section passing through the center line of the probe card and perpendicular to a surface of the probe card substrate. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the A region enclosed by broken lines in FIG. 6. In these figures, the reference numeral 15 designates a probe card substrate, 16 designates a resin for fixing the probe needles 7 on the probe card substrate 15, 17 designates electrode lands disposed on the probe card substrate 15, and 18 designates an opening in the center of the probe card substrate 15. Although the electrode lands 17 are depicted only on the side of the probe card substrate 15 to which the probe needles 7 are attached in FIG. 6, they are actually attached on the opposite side of the probe card substrate 15. The electrode lands 17 attached on the side to which the probe needles 7 are attached and the electrode lands on the opposite side are connected through wires provided in the probe card substrate 15 but not shown in this figure.
The plurality of probe needles 7 of the conventional probe card 6, which are thus fixed on the probe card substrate 15 using the resin 16, have a multilayer structure in order to prevent adjacent probe needles 7 from being short-circuited. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the probe needles 7 arranged in a four multilayer structure. In FIG. 7, the reference symbol 7a designates a first layer probe needle, 7b designates a second layer probe needle, 7c designates a third layer probe needle and 7d designates a fourth layer probe needle. Each probe needle is worked out in a tapered shape in such a manner that its thickness gradually reduces towards its tip, and is bent near the tip such that the tip substantially perpendicularly contacts the bonding pads 14 formed on the LSI 13. In addition, each probe needles 7 is fixed to the electrode lands 17 at its supporting end.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of the probe needles in a section taken along the line 8--8 in FIG. 6. In this figure, the reference character X designates the thickness of the probe needles 7, Y designates the gap between the adjacent probe needles 7 in the same layer, and Z designates the pitch of the bonding pads 14. The gap Y between the adjacent probe needles 7 in the same layer must be set at least about 100 .mu.m when the probe card 6 is fabricated in the state of the art method in which the probe needles 7 are disposed manually.
In the conventional probe card 6 with such a arrangement, when the pitch Z of the bonding pads 14 is 50 .mu.m, and the probe needles 7 have the four multilayer structure, the pitch between the probe needles 7 in the same layer becomes 4Z=200 .mu.m. If the gap Y between the adjacent probe needles 7 in the same layer is set 100 .mu.m in this case, the thickness of the probe needles 7 becomes 4Z-Y=100 .mu.m. The probe needles 7 with a thickness X of 100 .mu.m, however, cannot achieve needle pressure strong enough to break impurities such as aluminum oxide covering the surface of the bonding pads 14, even if an overdrive is applied in order to bring the tips of the probe needles 7 into contact with the bonding pads 14. This may cause a contact failure between the probe needles 7 and bonding pads 14, resulting in the failure of applying the test signals to the LSI 13. This presents a problem of misjudging a non-defective LSI device as defective, thereby reducing the yield. Such a problem arises not only with the conventional probe card 6 in which the probe needles 7 are arranged in the four multilayer structure, but also with the conventional multilayer probe card in which the thickness X of the probe needles must be set thin.

Probe card and LSI test method using probe card


An apparatus and method for performing matrix calculations is provided. The apparatus comprises a computer system having a linearly connected array of processors. Each processor has three inputs, two of which receive data along the linear array. The processors are configured to perform certain multiply-add operations. The methods permit speeded up solution of systems of linear equations and matrix inversion. The methods involve manipulating the matrices and the unknown vector values such that the problem can be solved using vector orthogonalization techniques.

Linear equations occur frequently in all branches of science and engineering, and effective methods are needed for solving them. Furthermore, many science and engineering problems lead not to a single equation, but to a system of equations. The object of solving the system is to find values of all unknowns that satisfy all equations simultaneously.
The values of the solution set of a system of linear equations depend on the coefficients, a.sub.ij, of the system. The rectangular array of these coefficients in their m rows and n columns is called an m.times.n matrix A. Various methods for solving systems of linear equations use various operations on matrices, such as addition of or multiplication by a scalar, a vector, or another matrix. These methods have varying degrees of complexity, and the simpler methods are often limited to special cases or well conditioned matrices.
Another calculation involving matrices is matrix inversion. The conventional method of matrix inversion treats the matrix as a system of linear equations, but has a solution complexity of O(n.sup.3).
In performing calculations with matrices, especially when working with a large number of coefficients, it is desirable to use a computer to take the place of human calculations. Criteria for solution methods include processing speed and the number of processors required by a desired solution.
Processing speed is related to the ability to "parallelize" a calculation. Parallelization means that multiple operations may be performed simultaneously, thereby reducing the time required to obtain the desired result. Yet, many existing parallel methods involving matrix calculations are limited to well conditioned matrices. Another problem with existing methods is a susceptibility to round off errors.
Furthermore, existing parallel processing methods have sizable hardware demands. Thus, although some methods have reduced calculation complexity to 0(n) and 0(n.sup.2), they require a large number of processors. Other methods permit the calculation to be decomposed for a fixed number of processors, but invite decomposition penalties.
Thus, there is a need for a parallel processing system that speeds up calculations involving matrices. The processing system should accommodate general cases and permit the use of robust algorithms. For calculations with large matrices, the processing system should also not demand a large number of processors and permit decomposition without penalties. Finally, the system should maximize the speedup obtainable for a given number of processors.

Methods for using a processor array to perform matrix calculations


A system for performing frequency response health monitoring of a servo valve prior to flight of an aircraft may comprise: the servo valve; and a brake controller in electrical communication with the servo valve, the brake controller configured to: determine the brake controller is powering up, supply a variable current to the servo valve to perform the frequency response health monitoring to the servo valve in response to determining the brake controller is powering up, and determine a health status of the servo valve based on the frequency response health monitoring.

Many aircraft include landing gear having wheel assemblies to allow the aircraft to travel along the ground during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Over service life, servo valves may experience performance degradation in frequency characteristics due to wear and tear, as well as operating in brake fluid that becomes dirtier over time. Particles may cause slip inside a sleeve/spool assembly and lower a servo valve performance, causing a change in static and dynamic characteristics of servo valves. The control of servo valves may degrade in response to these changes in static and dynamic characteristics causing oscillations due to the coupling of the control characteristics and servo valve dynamics.

Health monitoring systems and methods for servo valves


There is provided an electroconductive resin composition comprising: (a) a polyamide resin, (b) a polyphenylene ether resin, and (c) a fine carbon fiber dispersed in the resin component, wherein a graphite-net plane consisting solely of carbon atoms forms a temple-bell-shaped structural unit comprising closed head-top part and body-part with open lower-end, 2 to 30 of the temple-bell-shaped structural units are stacked sharing a common central axis to form an aggregate, and the aggregates are connected in head-to-tail style with a distance to form the fiber. The composition has a high electroconductivity while upholding a high moldability, mechanical property and durability in the polyamide-polyphenylene ether resin.

Crystalline polyamide resins as typified by nylon 6 and nylon 66 are widely employed as an engineering plastic due to their excellent mechanical properties and easiness of melt molding; however, a deficiency in heat resistance and a defective stability of dimension by absorbing water are pointed out. On the other hand, a polyphenylene ether resin excels in a heat resistance and a dimensional stability; however, the presence of problems is also pointed out, for example, a viscosity as molten is high and a molding processability and a chemical resistance are extremely inferior. For this reason, a technology of blending a polyamide resin and a polyphenylene ether resin has previously proposed (Patent document 1; JP-A-562-270654), and a study has been made on the creation of a new material combining the excellent properties that respective resins intrinsically have.
In order further to take advantage of an excellent molding processability, mechanical property, chemical resistance and dimensional stability which a polyamide-polyphenylene ether resin composition has, a study has also been made on an addition of an agent imparting electroconductivity for an application with a large size requiring an electrostatic coating step such as an automotive exterior part and the like (Patent document 2: JP-A-H02-201811).
Since by employing a polyamide resin produced by employing oxalic acid as a dicarboxylic acid component, the resin has a higher melting point and a lower percentage of water absorption in comparison with other polyamides with the same concentration of a amino group (Patent document 3: JPA-2006-57033), the resin is expected to be utilized in the field where it is difficult to use the conventional polyamides having defects in a heat resistance and a dimensional stability upon absorbing water.
It is well known that an electroconductive filler is kneaded and dispersed into an electrically insulative resin in order to impart electroconductivity for antistatic and other purposes, which in turn, an electroconductive resin is made. As an electroconductive filler to be kneaded into a resin, an ionic electroconductive organic surfactant, a metal fiber and powder, an electroconductive metal oxide powder, a carbon black, a carbon fiber, a graphite powder and the like are generally utilized. By molding and processing an electroconductive resin composition wherein this filler has been molten, kneaded and dispersed into a resin, a molded article having a volume resistance value of 10−1 to 1012Ω·cm can be obtained.
In terms of an electroconductive filler, a relatively small amount of blending can also impart an electroconductivity to a resin by using a material with a high aspect ratio (length/outside diameter) in a flake form, a whisker form or a fibrous form. This is because an electroconductive filler with the higher aspect ratio forms the more effective linkage between fillers in the same amount of blending, which allows for obtaining an electroconductivity in the smaller amount.
However, a metallic filler is inferior in a corrosion resistance and a chemical resistance. An inorganic electroconductive filler requires a large amount of blending more than 50% by mass relative to the total mass of a composition because it is generally granular. Thus, its resin properties degrade and molding becomes difficult. Blending with a carbon black in 15% by mass or less allows for a high electroconductivity because the Ketjen Black and an acetylene black are available, which form an electroconductive circuit with a chain-like structure. However, these are difficult to the control of dispersion into a resin and a distinct formulation and mixing technologies are required to obtain a stable electroconductivity. Even if a sufficient electroconductivity is obtained, not only a processability extremely degrades but also the physical properties of an electroconductive resin composition such as a tensile strength, a flexural strength and an impact resistance strength extremely degrade in comparison with the original physical properties of a resin free from an electroconductive filler.
When the carbon fibers with different fiber diameters are blended in the same amount of mass, the fiber with the smaller fiber diameter is more excellent in imparting an electroconductivity due to the more facile formation of an electroconductive circuit network among fibers. A hollow extra-fine carbon fiber, the so-called carbon nanotube has been recently disclosed, which has a fiber diameter smaller in two to three digits than that of conventional carbon fibers, and its blending into various resins, rubbers and the like has been also proposed as an electroconductive filler (Patent document 4: JP-A-H01-131251, Patent document 5: JP-A-H03-74465, Patent document 6: JP-A-H02-235945), which is regarded as an effective electroconductive filler solving the defects of the conventional electroconductive fillers.
These conventional ultrafine carbon fibers collectively called as carbon nanofiber or carbon nanotube can be generally categorized into the following three nanostructured carbon materials based on their shapes, configurations and structures:
(1) Multilayer carbon nanotube (multilayer concentric cylindrical graphite layer)(non-fishbone type);
Japanese publication of examined application Nos. H03-64606 and H03-77288
Japanese Laid-Open publication No. 2004-299986
(2) Cup stack type carbon nanotube (fishbone type);
U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,091
M. Endo, Y. A. Kim etc.: Appl. Phys. Lett., vol 80 (2002) 1267 et seq.
Japanese Laid-Open publication No. 2003-073928
Japanese Laid-Open publication No. 2004-360099
(3) Platelet type carbon nanofiber (card type)
H. Murayama, T. maeda: Nature, vol 345 [No. 28] (1990) 791 to 793
Japanese Laid-Open publication No. 2004-300631.
In a (1) multilayer carbon nanotube, conductivity in a longitudinal direction of the carbon nanotube is high because electron flow in a graphite network plane (C-axis) direction contributes to conductivity in a longitudinal direction. On the other hand, for inter-carbon-nanotube conductivity, electron flow is perpendicular to a graphite network plane (C-axis) direction and is generated by direct contact between fibers, but it is believed that within a resin, since inter-fiber contact is not so contributive, electron flow by electrons emitted from the surface layer of a conductive filler plays more important role than electron flow in fibers. Ease of electron emission involves conductivity performance of a filler. It is supposed that in a carbon nanotube, a graphite network plane is cylindrically closed and jumping effect (tunnel effect hypothesis) by π-electron emission little occurs.
In an ultrafine carbon fiber having a (2) fishbone or (3) card type structure, an open end of a graphite network plane is exposed in a side peripheral surface, so that conductivity between adjacent fibers is improved in comparison with a carbon nanotube. However, since the fiber has a piling structure in which C-axis of a graphite network plane is inclined or orthogonal to a fiber axis, conductivity in a longitudinal fiber-axis direction in a single fiber is reduced, resulting in reduced conductivity as the whole composition.
The so-called carbon nanotubes described above have also difficulty in uniform dispersion into a resin, and they are far from satisfactory because there are problems such as unspinnability (broken thread), filter occlusion at the discharge part of a molding machine, deterioration in the mechanical strengths such as the impact resistance of a molded article and its surface appearance due to the residue of the undispersed portion of carbon nanotubes as an aggregate in a resin. For this reason, blending and mixing the especial compositions and the particular surface modification treatments are needed, for example, surface modification treatment of carbon nanotube (Patent document 7: JP-A-2004-323738), and the restriction on the kind, composition and the like of resins, thus, further improvements are demanded.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An airless tire has a tread ring having a footprint, a hub positioned on a radially inner side of the tread ring and formed to be fixed to an axle, and a spoke connecting the tread ring and the hub and having a tread connection portion connected to an inner-circumferential surface of the ring and a hub connection portion connected to an outer-circumferential surface of the hub. The ring and the tread connection portion of the spoke satisfy 0≦E1≦0.5, 0<E2≦1.0 and 0≦E3<0.3, where E1, E2 and E3 represent ratios of first, second and third regions on the inner-circumferential surface of the ring and the first, second and third regions are divided based on a tire axial component length of the tread connection portion measured at a point in a circumferential direction of the ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an airless tire with improved vibration reduction performance.
2. Description of Background Art
Conventionally, airless tires, for example, tires with a solid inner rubber structure, have been used mainly for industrial vehicles. Since tires with a solid inner rubber structure have greater mass and a low ability to absorb impact, they have not been employed in passenger cars, which prioritize riding comfort.
To improve the riding comfort of those airless tires and to make them suitable for passenger cars, a structure is proposed, such as radially arranging multiple fin-type spoke blades to connect a tread ring and a hub (hereinafter may be referred to as a "spoke structure") (for example, see Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application 2008-260514). The entire contents of this publication are incorporated herein by reference.


Embodiments of the invention include compositions and methods related to non-VSV rhabdoviruses and their use as anti-cancer therapeutics. Such rhabdoviruses possess tumor cell killing properties in vitro and in vivo.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to virology and medicine. In certain aspects the invention relates to oncolytic viruses, particularly non-VSV oncolytic rhabdoviruses and oncolytic rhabdoviruses comprising a non-VSV glycoprotein.
II. Background
A number of viruses have been shown to replicate in and kill a wide variety of tumor cells in vitro (Sindbis virus (Unno et al., 2005); Sendai virus (Kinoh et al., 2004); Coxackie virus (Shafren et al., 2004); Herpes simplex virus (Mineta et al., 1995); Parvovirus (Abschuetz et al., 2006); Adenovirus (Heise et al., 2000); Polio virus (Gromeier et al., 2000); Newcastle disease virus (Sinkovics and Horvath, 2000); Vesicular stomatitis virus (Stojdl et al., 2000); Meales virus (Grote et al., 2001); Reovirus (Coffey et al., 1998); Retrovirus (Logg et al., 2001); Vaccinia (Timiryasova et al., 1999); and Influenza (Bergmann et al., 2001)). In addition, such viruses have demonstrated efficacy in treating animal models of cancer.
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a well known and well studied rhabdovirus, has been shown to kill tumor cell lines in cell culture experiments, and has demonstrated efficacy in a variety of rodent cancer models (Stojdl et al., 2000; Stojdl et al., 2003). However, VSV does not kill all cancer cells.


A transfer molding method includes an insertion step of inserting a resin sheet between a first die and a second die, which are disposed opposite each other, a sandwiching step of sandwiching the resin sheet between the first and second dies while a transfer surface of a transfer member is brought into contact with at least one of surfaces of the resin sheet, and a transfer molding step of heating at least one of the first and second dies to melt at least a surface portion of the resin sheet with which the transfer surface of the transfer member is brought into contact, and exhausting residual air remaining in a recess through a groove portion connected to the recess when a thick portion is formed by the recess formed in the transfer surface.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a transfer-molding die structure, a transfer molding apparatus, a transfer molding method, an optical member, an area light source device, a liquid crystal display device, and a mobile device.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-310286 discloses a transfer-molding die structure, which is incorporated in an optical-product transfer molding apparatus. The optical-product transfer molding apparatus heats and pressurizes a resin film between a first die and a second die using a transfer plate to perform the transfer molding of a finely irregular pattern. The optical-product transfer molding apparatus includes: the transfer plate that includes a transfer surface used to perform the transfer molding to a transferred portion of the resin film; an elastic plate that presses a peripheral portion located around the transferred portion of the resin film; and a transfer-plate heating mechanism and a transfer-plate cooling mechanism, which are provided in at least one of the first die and the second die.
However, in the conventional die structure, it takes a long time to remove a bubble generated in the transfer molding. Particularly, in the case that a projecting portion is formed in the surface of the resin sheet, a large amount of air remains in a recess, which is provided in the transfer plate (a transfer member) in order to form the projecting portion, and it takes a longer time to remove a residual air, which degrades productivity.
As illustrated in FIG. 8A, in the case that plural arc regions (a bold dotted line) including tapered surfaces are continuously arrayed in an inner edge portion of the recess of the transfer member, a flow rate of a molten resin is not homogenized. Therefore, a region of fast flow rate of the molten resin differs from a region of slow flow rate of the molten resin in a deformation amount of the residual air (a bold solid line), and the residual air is deformed from an even width to different shapes (FIGS. 8B to 8E). As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 8F, a boundary bubble that is generated by separating part of the residual air remains in a molding product to degrade a yield ratio.

Die structure, transfer molding apparatus, transfer molding method, optical member, area light source device, liquid crystal display device, and mobile device


A communication system equipped with a communication apparatus for transmitting a transmission signal to another communication apparatus via a communication medium, includes: transmission means for transmitting the transmission signal to the other communication apparatus via the communication medium; detection means for detecting a propagation signal propagated through the communication medium each time a predetermined amount of the transmission signal is transmitted from the transmission means; signal collision judgment means for judging from the propagation signal detected by the detection means whether a signal collision occurs on the communication medium between the transmission signal transmitted from the transmission means and another signal transmitted from the other communication apparatus; and control means for controlling transmission of the transmission signal from the transmission means in accordance with a judgment result by the signal collision judgment means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system, a communication apparatus and method and a program, and more particularly to a communication system, a communication apparatus and method and a program capable of suppressing a communication process speed from being lowered by signal collision.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional communication system, as signals are transmitted from a plurality of transmission apparatus at the same time to the same communication medium, a signal collision occurs so that a reception apparatus cannot receive signals correctly in some cases. Particularly in the case wherein devices respond to a request transmitted from one device through broadcasting, there is a high possibility that response timings of the devices become coincident with each other, and a probability of signal collision occurrence becomes high.
For example, in a non-contact type IC card system for short distance wireless communications, when a reader/writer requests identification information from IC cards existing in a communicable range, the reader/writer transmits the request through broadcasting (transmits the request to many and unspecified IC cards). If there exist a plurality of IC cards in the range communicable with the reader/writer, each IC card responds to the request and transmits its identification information. However, since a possibility of coincident transmission timings becomes high, there is a high fear that the reader/writer cannot acquire correctly each identification information piece, because of signal collision occurrence.
In this connection, for example, there is a method of avoiding a signal collision by assigning a specific code and frequency to each device. However, if the number of devices (in this case, IC cards and a reader/writer) is large such as in a non-contact type IC card system for short distance wireless communications, codes and frequencies to be assigned become insufficient.
In this connection, there is a method of intentionally shifting timings of signal transmissions from devices by providing a communication process with time slots (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-317042). Namely, one signal transmission process is provided with a plurality of temporal transmission timings (time slots). When a signal is transmitted, each device generates a random number, and transmits the signal at the timing (time slot) corresponding to the generated random number. In this manner, it becomes possible to suppress a signal collision occurrence, because signal transmission timings are dispersed.

Communication collision avoidance system


A developing device includes a developing housing which faces an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is carried and stores a developer which contains toner and magnetic carrier; a developer carrier that is disposed apart from the image carrier in the developing housing and carries and transports the developer; a developing bias applying unit that is disposed between the image carrier and the developer carrier and applies a developing bias comprising an AC component and a DC component which is superposed to a DC component; a volume resistivity detecting unit which detects a volume resistivity of the developer on the developer carrier; and a developing bias adjusting unit which sets the AC component of the developing bias to a reference value when the volume resistivity of the developer detected by the volume resistivity detecting unit falls within a given range, and corrects the AC component of the developing bias such that an image quality evaluation parameter falls within an allowable range when the volume resistivity of the developer exceeds the given range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing device which is used in a copying machine, a printer or the like, and more particularly to a developing device which enables an acquisition of an image of high image quality by adjusting a developing bias at the time of developing and improvement of an image forming apparatus which uses the developing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or the like which adopts electrophotography, there has been known a developing method which uses a two-component developer containing toner and carrier and a photoreceptor is directly developed with a magnetic brush of a developer. In such a developing method, when the developing is continuously performed, the density of toner in the developer or the like is changed and hence, an image quality of an output image is changed.
To the contrary, even when the change of toner density is simply detected and the toner is replenished in response to the detection of the change, it is difficult to obtain the proper image quality due to a change with time in the fluidity and the charging property of the developer per se.
Further, in general, to obtain the high image quality, there has been known a technique which superposes an AC component on a DC component which constitutes a developing bias. By superposing the AC component to the developing bias, it is possible to obtain an advantage that the image density of a solid portion (a matted portion), fogging of a background (a non-image portion), fine-line reproducibility, graininess and the like are enhanced. Accordingly, there has been proposed a method which aims at the maintenance of image quality by changing amplitude and frequency of an AC component of a developing bias in conformity with the use history or the like of the developing device.
In the method described above, the frequency of an AC component of a developing bias is changed based on the input image information, the output image information, and the use environment information of a developing device. By preliminarily obtaining the relationship between the frequency and the gradation of an output image (density level of an output image) and by changing the frequency corresponding to the change of the charging property, it is possible to obtain the image which sufficiently ensures the gradation of the output image. Further, according to the method described above, the use environment information of the developing device includes the use history information such as the number of developing times, the change of the charging property of the toner and the like.
Further, according to another technique, the use history of a developer is estimated based on the number of times that the developing is performed, a developing time, a charging property change of a photoreceptor and the like, or the use history of a developer is detected based on the change of toner charging property or the resistance change of a carrier, and an amplitude of an AC component of a developing bias is changed in response to an estimated value or a detected value to perform the correction with respect to a change with time in the fluidity of the developer, whereby the transfer performance of the toner can be maintained.
Surely, according to the above-mentioned methods, compared to a method which holds the AC component of the developing bias at a fixed value, the gradation and the transfer performance may be maintained for a long period. However, in these methods, a developing amount when the developer per se is changed (for example, a developing amount being different substantially due to the change of easiness of mobility of toners in the developer) and the relationship between banding (stripe-like density irregularities which appear in a half tone portion of an image) or the like and the developing bias are not taken into consideration at all. Further, even when a current change of the developing bias is detected as described above, the method merely detects the influence which are relevant to both of the developer and the photoreceptor and does not directly detect the change of the developer thus giving rise to a drawback that the maintenance of proper image quality becomes insufficient.
Usually, along with the use of the developer, a rate of toner amount in the developer may be changed, the toner and the carrier may be changed, and the degree of concentration of the developer may be changed. Accordingly, it is extremely important to properly grasp changes of characteristics of the developer and to maintain the proper image quality.

Developing device with toner and magnetic carrier, and image forming apparatus using the developing device


A method for configuring and operating a read/write unit connected to an industrial control device in a system including multiple transponders having unique identification numbers, the read/write unit. During a recognition phase, a plurality of the transponders are detected, at least two of the transponders are repeatedly detected, and during each detection, the unique identification number of each detected transponder and a number of features relating to each detection of that transponder are registered. During an evaluation phase, the registered features are evaluated statistically for each detected transponder, statistical variables are determined for each detected transponder, and the statistical variables are respectively filtered using filter criteria. The unique identification number of one of the detected transponders that meets the filter criteria is reported to the industrial control device as a detected transponder to provide unambiguous identification of the closest transponder to the read/write unit, even in densely packed surroundings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for implementing and operating a read/write unit in a system that includes multiple wirelessly readable transponders, and to such a read/write unit implementing the said method.
2. Description of the Related Art
By means of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, RFID labels, which are commonly designated transponders or "tags", are registered and read wirelessly by read/write units ("readers"). The transponders are normally activated by an electromagnetic field, which is generated by a read/write unit by emitting a carrier wave with sufficient transmitted power, and are typically also supplied with energy (passive transponders). Transponders are also known in which the energy supply of the transponder is provided by a dedicated power supply, such as batteries (i.e., active transponders).
RFID technology is generally used where objects, such as workpieces or dispatch items, are intended to be registered and identified unambiguously via radio in the surroundings or proximity of a read/write unit. For this purpose, a read/write unit is able to store information, which comprises at least one unique identification number, on the transponder via radio and to re-read the stored information. In a working environment, e.g., in industrial automation systems, the read/write unit is often connected to a control unit (e.g., an industrial controller "PLC" or personal computer).
In particular, when RFID technology is used in industrial production plants, there is often a need to identify unambiguously exactly that object and therefore exactly that transponder which is located in the immediate vicinity of the read/write unit, in order to then perform appropriate fabrication steps on the object. On the other hand, in such industrial automation surroundings, remote-field RFID systems, as they are known, are frequently used, which systems typically permit the detection of transponders located within a range or area of several meters around a read/write unit. In densely packed surroundings, when a plurality of objects with their associated transponders are located close to one another, it frequently therefore occurs that an RFID read/write unit simultaneously detects a plurality of transponders in its acquisition range. Consequently, in addition to the transponder located closest to the read/write unit and the antenna of the read/write unit, still additional transponders are detected. In this case, an unambiguous assignment of the object to be processed or to be handled at this time is no longer possible, so that errors can occur in downstream processes.
In order to solve this problem, it is known to reduce the transmitted power of the read/write unit such that, on account of the lower range associated with the reduction in transmitted power, only a maximum of one single transponder is recognized. In such cases, it has proven to be disadvantageous that the transmitted power falls to such an extent or has to be reduced to such an extent that, in many cases, the desired ("correct") transponder can no longer be reliably detected and recognized. Particularly where, because of the process, there is a relatively long time interval between reading and writing data to and from the same transponder, it is not possible to ensure that the "correct" transponder is recognized/detected clearly at both times and that unambiguous communication with this particular transponder is possible in each case.
A similar solution, which is often associated with a reduction in the transmitted power as described, is to configure the radio range with insulating plates and reflectors such that the radio range is restricted to the appropriate workstation, and thus the undesired detection of objects further away and the transponders thereof is prevented. However, this is often difficult to effect in the specific instance and commonly leads to higher costs.
Another strategy for solving the above-described problem resides in permitting simultaneous detection and simultaneous operation of a communications relationship with a plurality of transponders. Here, by means of a control device with which the read/write unit is linked, appropriate evaluation logic is implemented, by which the multiplicity of simultaneously existing communications relationships are managed and by which it is ensured that the operations assigned to the "correct" (i.e., normally the closest) transponder are performed at an appropriate processing station or the like. However, the disadvantage of this is that the corresponding processing logic for concurrently managing a plurality of communications relationships must be integrated into the logic of a process control system and, these systems often being proprietary in nature, such processing logic must be implemented in the corresponding control device on a case-by-case basis matched to the specific situation.

Method for implementing and operating, and a read/write unit, for a system including multiple wirelessly readable transponders


The present invention concerns itself with methods and systems for just intonation tuning of a digital/electrical piano in real time. A simple and economical solution is presented, which makes use of a PLC (i.e., Programmable Logic Controller), having 13 inputs (an octave plus one input for the pedal) and 22 outputs (22 possible frequencies per octave), relays, and parallel connections between octaves and PLC inputs, as well as, between PLC outputs and relays.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to piano tuning and particularly to digital/electric just intonation tuning in real time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pianos are impossible to be tuned harmonically. They are always slightly out of tune. Different approaches have been put forward but none have been able to make all the notes completely sound in tune at the same time. The presently used in the art tuning method (i.e., equal temperament) distributes the inharmonicity evenly throughout the musical scale making pianos sound always out of tune which can be heard in the form of beats when two or more notes are played.
While giving a solution to mechanical pianos is unpractical, if not impossible, a solution to this problem on digital/electric pianos is viable. By the use of a processor and a program with a set of logic instructions to determine, really fast (i.e., in the range of a few milliseconds) appropriate tones (i.e., frequencies), that would yield a harmonic ratio between keys being played, real time harmonic tuning of a digital/electric piano may be achieved.
Approaches for tuning a digital piano, including real time and just intonation tuning, are known in the art to overcome the out-of-tune problem. For example, applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,130 issued on Mar. 26, 1996 to Gannon, et al., which describes an apparatus for adjusting the tuning of a musical instrument to cause the instrument to sound in just intonation while the instrument is being played. The apparatus comprises a data base in memory for storing an array of just intonation tone identifiers. The tone identifiers in the array are arranged by key, chordal root and tone according to just intonation relationships defined by the ratios of a scale selected by the musician. A selector unit is provided for enabling a musician to select a key and/or a chordal root, as a result of which a CPU retrieves from the array a set of tone identifiers in just intonation corresponding to the selected key or chordal root and transmits them to the sounding means of the instrument.
Applicant is further aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,964 issued on May 8, 1979 to Waage, which describes a keyboard controlled just intonation computer for electronic organs which automatically responds to correct the larger tuning errors of equal temperament as each interval or chord is played. The logic circuit for this purpose has twelve inputs corresponding to the twelve notes of the chromatic scale. When the logic circuit is turned off the instrument remains tuned to equal temperament.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,734 issued on Sep. 12, 2006 to Tucmandl, which describes the use of a sound sample library storage unit. In order to manage the sound samples stored in the above-mentioned storage unit, a bidirectional sound parameter storage unit is provided, which is bidirectional or multidirectional data-flow and data-exchange connected at least to the processor unit and to the sequencer. Each of the sound samples stored in the sound sample storage unit are assigned to said bidirectional sound parameter storage unit, which contains sound definition parameters enabling access to sound samples.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 7,514,620 issued on Apr. 7, 2009 to Friedman, legal representative, which describes a method and apparatus for shifting pitches of audio signals to achieve desired pitch relationships between the audio signals. The audio signals may be in either a digital or analog format. One of the input audio signals is selected to be a reference signal. For each of the other audio signals, the pitch of the other audio signal is compared with the pitch of the reference signal to determine a relative pitch relationship. For each of the other signals, an adjustment is determined to bring the relationship to a desired pitch relationship. Based on the adjustment, the pitch of at least one of the audio signals is adjusted to achieve the desired pitch relationship between the audio signals. The desired pitch relationship between the pitch of the reference signal and the pitch of the audio signal other than the reference signal may be based on a just intonation.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20010037196 published on Nov. 1, 2001, which describes an apparatus for generating an additional sound signal on the basis of an input sound signal, which comprises: an input device adapted to receive control information for controlling a pitch of an additional sound; and a processor device coupled with the input device. The processor device is adapted to: obtain pitch information of the input sound signal; obtain scale note pitch information of an additional sound to be generated; determine a scale note pitch nearest to a pitch indicated by the pitch information of the input sound signal; modify the additional sound to be generated; and generate an additional sound signal with the modified pitch.
The problem with the prior art is that the approaches it describes are really complex and unpractical solutions to the very challenging problem presented here. To illustrate, it may be worth noting that the applicant has not seen a just intonated piano in stores yet. Thus, an unaddressed need for a simplified, and therefore practical, solution to this problem exists. As it will be later described herein, the use of parallel connections between octaves, PLC (i.e., Programmable Logic Controller) and relays, and the use of other simplifying approaches, can overcome the inadequacies and deficiencies of the prior art.
The problems and the associated solutions presented in this section could be or could have been pursued, but they are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches presented in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their presence in this section of the application.

Method and system to harmonically tune (just intonation tuning) a digital / electric piano in real time


A method and apparatus for determining a speech interaction satisfaction are provided. The method includes: acquiring a speech interaction feature, the speech interaction feature including objective data of speech interaction and subjective data of the speech interaction, and the objective data and the subjective data being data for a given topic; evaluating the objective data to obtain an objective evaluation, and evaluating the subjective data to obtain a subjective evaluation; and obtaining a speech interaction satisfaction outputted by a satisfaction evaluation model by using the objective evaluation and the subjective evaluation as an input of the satisfaction evaluation model. Some embodiments may provide an authentic and comprehensive evaluation of the speech interaction.

With the development of artificial intelligence technology, the research and development and the use of smart speech interactive product have been paid many attention. Smart speech interaction is an interactive mode based on a voice input. A user may input his request by voice, and the product may respond with corresponding content on the basis of the intent of the request.
In the field of speech interaction, in order to better manufacture and update the smart speech interactive product, it is very important to evaluate a speech interaction satisfaction with the product. Because the evaluation of the speech interaction satisfaction can feed back whether the speech interaction function of the product may be accepted by the user. In the existing technology, the satisfaction evaluation is mainly conducted by using the intent of a single request of the user and the content of a terminal response as the evaluation processing data, calculating an association between the intent and the content using text processing techniques, and annotating the satisfaction or the user with the terminal response.
However, the approach to acquiring the satisfaction of the user only through the association between the content returned by the terminal and the intent of the user cannot acquire the authentic and comprehensive user evaluation of the speech interaction. Thus, it is difficult to evaluate the satisfaction with the speech interaction in the existing evaluation approach.

Method and apparatus for determining speech interaction satisfaction

Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.


A system has a compressor having a compression path between a suction port located to receive a working fluid and a discharge port located to discharge the working fluid. The system has means for controlling a flow of at least one of additional working fluid and lubricant responsive to changes in at least one pressure parameter.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to compressors, and more particularly to screw-type compressors.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Screw-type compressors are commonly used in air conditioning and refrigeration applications. In such a compressor, intermeshed male and female lobed rotors or screws are rotated about their axes to pump the working fluid (refrigerant) from a low pressure inlet end to a high pressure outlet end. During rotation, sequential lobes of the male rotor serve as pistons driving refrigerant downstream and compressing it within the space between an adjacent pair of female rotor lobes and the housing. Likewise sequential lobes of the female rotor produce compression of refrigerant within a space between an adjacent pair of male rotor lobes and the housing. The interlobe spaces of the male and female rotors in which compression occurs form compression pockets (alternatively described as male and female portions of a common compression pocket joined at a mesh zone). In one implementation, the male rotor is coaxial with an electric driving motor and is supported by bearings on inlet and outlet sides of its lobed working portion. There may be multiple female rotors engaged to a given male rotor or vice versa.
When one of the interlobe spaces is exposed to an inlet port, the refrigerant enters the space essentially at suction pressure. As the rotors continues to rotate, at some point during the rotation the space is no longer in communication with the inlet port and the flow of refrigerant to the space is cut off. After the inlet port is closed, the refrigerant is compressed as the rotors continue to rotate. At some point during the rotation, each space intersects the associated outlet port and the closed compression process terminates. The inlet port and the outlet port may each be radial, axial, or a hybrid combination of an axial port and a radial port.
As the refrigerant is compressed along a compression path between the inlet and outlet ports, sealing between the rotors and between the rotors and housing is desirable for efficient operation. Compressor lubrication and cooling may also be important for compressor life and efficiency. Lubricant (e.g., oil) may be introduced to lubricate bearings and/or the rotors and housing. The oil may also provide levels of sealing and cooling. All or a portion of the oil may become entrained in the refrigerant and may be recovered downstream of the compressor.


The invention relates to polymer blends which can be used both in foamed and unfoamed states as a replacement for conventional EPDM and other elastomers. The composition of the blend includes a single-site catalyzed polyolefin resin having a density of below 0.878 g cm.sup.-3 and up to 40 weight percent a polyolefin including ethylene and propylene. The polymer blend is cross-linked. The polymer blends are formable and foamable. The use of sulfur to vulcanize the polymer blend is not necessary. The polymer blends can be used to make foam for floatation or for making gaskets.

The invention relates to cross-linked polymer blends including single-site initiated polyolefin resins and polyolefins including ethylene and propylene.
Polymer blends that can be formed (i.e., thermoformed or pressure-formed) are useful in a number of applications, particularly, when the polymer blends have good flexibility properties, high thermal stability, and are foamable. For example, these materials can be used as components in floatation devices for water sports or as sealing or gasket components in, e.g., the automotive industry. Traditionally, the physical properties required by these types of applications suggest the use of high density foams.
In general, polymer blends with these properties are based, in part, on cross-linked ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) terpolymers or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers. These materials generally contain other additives, such as plasticizers, to add to their flexibility. Thermal stability is typically achieved by sulfur vulcanization of the compositions. However, plasticizers can leach out of the materials over time which can make the materials less flexible and the sulfur additives can make the material less desirable for environmental reasons.