The invention is a fin for surfboards with a variable stiffness function. This is accomplished by means of a central disc that can be rotated to give different degrees of mechanical support to the fin when rotated to different angles, thus providing variable flexibility.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an adjustable surfing fin, which enables a surfer to adjust the fin's flexibility in order to achieve different surfing experiences.
2. Description of Related Art
Many watersports and aquatic activities use water-borne vessels having fins or keels beneath the surface of the vessel, adapted to allow steering of the vessel. Surfboards, windsurfing boards, and numerous other aquatic vessels use fins attached beneath the vessel in order to adjust or use the water flow beneath the vessel for steering and/or stability.
The characteristics of the fin, such as its level of flexibility, its size, its curves and its surface area all affect the water flow beneath the vessel and how the vessel reacts to steering operations.
Due to variability in the conditions of the high seas and different personal preferences of surfers, various fins have been developed in order to affect water flow differently, and thus to steer vessels differently and create different surfing experiences.
Surfboards manufactured today provide a base beneath the board, upon which a desired fin may be reversibly mounted. If a surfer desires a different fin, as a result of changing conditions or a different surfing style, the attached fin must be dismounted, and an alternative fin be mounted in its stead. Thus, a surfer wishing to change the flexibility or any other attribute of their fin must not only spend time and effort replacing a fin every time they wish to change their surfing experience, they must also carry around alternate/replacement fins. This may be true every time a surfer goes to surf, partially due to the inability to predict which fin they will need during the entirety of the surfing session.
Additionally, the surfer may not notice the unsuitability of their fin until reaching a certain distance from shore (e.g. where the waves are peaking), which would then require them to return to shore in order to replace said fin. Acquiring a set of fins for different surfing experiences may be expensive, as well as bulky when traveling.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,570 B1 describes a fin for a watersport board, which includes a substantially rigid core covered by a flexible core covering.
EP 79,113 A1 describes a fin for buoyant support suitable for a surf board, dinghy or wind sailing board or the like, formed of a resiliently flexible material such as solid urethane, reinforced with a stiffening insert which incorporates means for attachment to the surf board or the like.
What is common to the above inventions is that the fin allows for a fixed degree of flexibility and must be replaced every time a different flexibility is required.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,496 describes a novel fin for surfboards and watercraft that includes a pivoting rudder-like section that swings out when a turn is commenced, enhancing the maneuverability of the surfboard by reducing the resistance of the fin as it moves sideways through the water in a turn and by redirecting the water flow through the pivoting rudder section in the direction of the turn. Although said fin does provide left-right maneuverability, it does not provide the ability to change other aspects, such as flexibility, of the fin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,970 discloses a fin which is able, given the material that is used in its manufacturing process, to provide extra flexibility. This invention, however, relates to a fin manufactured by a specific process, and does not providing different levels of flexibility.
WO 2,011,143,695 describes a fin for a surf craft. Said fin is able, given the material that is used in its manufacturing process, to provide extra flexibility. This invention however does not providing different levels of flexibility.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,718 describes a keel or fin for a watercraft such as a surfboard that is conventional in shape with a major portion fixed to the board by peg and a minor, flexible, trailing portion fixed to the major portion. This invention however relates to a single adjustable fin which is comprised of an adjustable piece attached to it, giving it minimal flexibility.
None of the methods found provide for variable flexibility, and hence an improved method for variable flexibility in a surfing fin is still a long felt need.


A thermoplastic elastomer compound includes polyolefin elastomer, high softening point tackifier, and, optionally, styrenic block copolymer. When styrenic block copolymer is present, the weight ratio of polyolefin elastomer to styrenic block copolymer is no less than about 1:1. The polyolefin elastomer has a POE Tan Delta Peak Temperature, the styrenic block copolymer has a SBC Tan Delta Peak Temperature, and the thermoplastic elastomer compound has a Compound Tan Delta Peak Temperature. The Compound Tan Delta Peak Temperature is greater than the POE Tan Delta Peak Temperature. When styrenic block copolymer is present, Compound Tan Delta Peak Temperature is also greater than the SBC Tan Delta Peak Temperature. The thermoplastic elastomer compound exhibits useful damping properties at or above room temperature and can be formed into plastic articles, including foamed plastic articles and/or crosslinked plastic articles, which can be useful for a variety of damping applications.

Demand exists in a variety of applications for materials that exhibit damping properties. In general, damping is the dissipation of mechanical energy from a system. Damping can be important in applications such as electronics, sound isolation, automotive and transportation, building and construction, household appliances, industrial equipment, firearms, healthcare and medical devices, and personal and/or sports protection.
The capacity of a material for damping is related to its peak temperature of the tangent of delta (Tan Delta Peak Temperature), which can be determined by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as described, for example, by M. P. Sepe in "Thermal Analysis of Polymers", Rapra Review Reports, Vol. 8, No. 11, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference. The tangent of delta (Tan Delta) of a material is the ratio of its loss modulus (E″) to its storage modulus (E′). Consequently, as the value of Tan Delta increases, the response of the material is relatively more viscous than it is elastic, which thus provides greater damping. When graphically depicted against temperature, a Tan Delta curve includes a prominent peak at a particular temperature, which is the Tan Delta Peak Temperature and also can be representative of or comparable to the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the material. In general, a material with a Tan Delta Peak Temperature which is relatively nearer to an application temperature, such as at or above room temperature, will possess better damping properties than a material with a Tan Delta Peak Temperature which is relatively lower than the application temperature.
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), which are polymer materials that exhibit elasticity while remaining thermoplastic, can be used for damping applications. Thermoplastic elastomers can include styrenic block copolymers (SBC), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), thermoplastic olefins (TPO), copolyesters (COPE), thermoplastic urethanes (TPU), copolyamides (COPA), and olefin block copolymers (OBC).
Recently, damping thermoplastic elastomer compounds including certain styrenic block copolymers (SBC) have been described in publications including United States Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2016/0230000 and International Appl. Pub. Nos. WO 2016/130627; WO 2016/130630; WO 2016/130631; and WO 2016/130639; all of which are commonly owned by PolyOne Corporation. Although such described SBC-based damping thermoplastic elastomer compounds can be very useful for a variety of applications, certain limitations still exist.
For example, SBC-based damping thermoplastic elastomer compounds can be less suitable for applications involving exposure to oil because SBC can be relatively more sensitive to oil than other types of TPE.
Further, for example, SBC-based damping thermoplastic elastomer compounds can be less suitable for further processing by certain techniques such as high speed extrusion, which can be used to make certain tapes and films, or fiber spinning, which can be used to make fibers for performance textiles and apparel.
Finally, for example, SBC-based damping thermoplastic elastomer compounds can be relatively more expensive because certain SBC can have a relatively higher cost as a raw material than other types of TPE.
However, like most conventional SBC, other types of TPE as neat polymers typically have a Tan Delta Peak Temperature that is significantly below room temperature. Therefore, such other types of TPE generally are not considered useful for damping applications at or above room temperature.


An exposure apparatus for scanning an exposure spot in an exposure allocated area and for exposing a desired pattern by controlling power of the exposure spot in accordance with an exposure pattern, includes an exposure unit for arranging plural fine exposure elements, for forming plural exposure spots F1 to F9 on an object to be exposed, and for previously defining the exposure allocated areas SA11 to SA19 respectively corresponding to the plural exposure spots F1 to F9, an exposure allocated area adjuster for adjusting the exposure allocated areas SA12 and SA15 in accordance with directions and sizes of offsets (offset amount vectors V2 and V5) of the exposure spots F2 and F5 from a reference position, and an exposure spot controller for controlling the power of the exposure spot in accordance with the exposure pattern corresponding to actual positions of the exposure spots F1 to F9.

The present invention relates to a maskless exposure apparatus that does not use a photo-mask to expose a wafer etc., and more particularly to a maskless exposure apparatus that arranges plural fine exposure means.
While the mainstream exposure apparatus projects the entire photo-mask pattern onto the wafer in manufacturing semiconductors, various types of prospective apparatuses have been attempted for a high throughput without the photo-mask. One example is a maskless exposure apparatus that independently controls positions and intensities of plural electron beams using plural electronic optical systems. Another example is a maskless exposure apparatus that arranges fine optical shutters and corresponding fine lenses in an array, opens and closes the shutters while scanning the array, and exposes a desired pattern. Still another example is a maskless exposure apparatus that brings an array of plural fine electrodes into contact with an object to be exposed, or scans the array located above and apart from the object by an extremely small distance, and exposes the object by emitting electrons from fine electrodes.
Commonly to these maskless exposure apparatuses, an exposure unit is formed which arranges plural one-dimensional or two-dimensional exposure means for exposing fine areas, and predetermined exposure areas allocated to these individual fine exposure means. The typical manufacturing process for these maskless exposure apparatuses previously measures an offset of a steady position of each fine exposure means from a reference position.
FIG. 10 is a view showing one illustrative conventional maskless exposure apparatus. FIG. 11 is a top view of a shutter lens array SLA. LS is a light source that generates collimated light. SLA is a shutter lens array that combines shutters and lenses one by one. W is a resist applied wafer. STG is a stage that is mounted with the wafer W and movable in the horizontal and height directions. CTR is a controller that holds pattern information PTN, runs a control program PGM1, and controls opening and closing the shutter and actions of the stage.
B1 is the collimated light generated by the light source LS. S1 is a shutter, which is fixed onto a top plate P1 via a hinge HG1 and opened and closed by a driving mechanism (not shown). A perforation hole H1 extends under the shutter. As the shutter S1 opens, the collimated light B1 reaches the lens L1 and is condensed on the wafer W. The lens L1 is fixed onto a lower plate P2. The shutter lens array SLA is provided with shutters S2 to S9 and lenses L2 to L9 having similar structures, and forms a 3×3 matrix. In FIG. 10, the shutter S3 opens and the condensed beam B2 reaches the wafer W.
A fundamental operation will be described with reference to FIG. 12. SU denotes a unit exposure area on the wafer W, which can be exposed by scanning of the shutter lens array SLA. F1 to F9 are exposure spots of condensed beams available as the shutters S1 to S9 open. SA01 to SA09 are exposure allocated areas corresponding to the shutters S1 to S9, where it is assumed that the exposure spots F1 to F9 have no positional offsets. The exposure allocated area that has no positional offset is referred to as an ideal exposure allocated area. Each of the exposure allocated area SA01 to SA09 is divided into 4×4 pixels, and exposed by arranging the exposure spot of the condensed beam at each pixel position. The exposure allocated area SA01 in FIG. 12 shows this state. For each pixel, a positional offset amount of the exposure spot is measured and the exposure spot is scanned.
In order to arrange the exposure spot of the condensed beam at a desired position, the shutter lens array SLA is moved zigzag along a unit driving curve R. The controller CTR opens and closes the shutters S1 to S9 in accordance with stored exposure pattern information PTN, exposing an arbitrary pattern in the unit exposure area SU. The control program PGM1 obtains data of the unit exposure area SU from the exposure pattern PTN based on the current position on the wafer W, and the data is divided into nine segments corresponding to the exposure allocated areas SA01 to SA09. The control program PGM1 opens and closes the shutters at proper timings based on the divided data while moving the shutter lens array along the unit driving curve R. Since each exposure allocated area is divided into 4×4 pixels, the total number of openings becomes 16. The wafer stage STG is driven along a global driving curve RG whenever the unit exposure area SU is exposed, thereby exposing the entire wafer W. This is the fundamental operation process.
A description will now be given of a positional offset of an exposure spot. A cause of this positional offset includes manufacture (or arrangement) errors of the shutter lens array, such as inclined attachment positions of the lenses L1 to L9. For example, as shown in FIG. 13 where it is assumed that the exposure spots F2 and F5 have positional offsets, the exposure spot F2 shifts by one pixel in the Y direction and the exposure spot F5 shifts one pixel in each of the X and Y directions. Then, the shutter opening/closing control timing as that used for no positional offset exposure results in the defective exposure. For example, the exposure spot F5 shifts from the original position the pattern that is to be exposed on the exposure allocated area SA05 and part of the pattern overlaps the exposure allocated area SA08. Accordingly, when the positional offset of the exposure spot is found beyond the permissible range, the exposure unit is disposed or reassembled to reduce the offset amount and prevent defective exposure.
Prior art includes PCT National Phase Application No. 2003-515255, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,637.
As discussed, the conventional maskless exposure apparatus needs a disposal or a reassembly of the entire unit when the exposure means contains a large offset amount, lowering the yield and increasing the cost of the exposure apparatus. When the arrangement of the exposure means offsets due to the time variations, the entire exposure unit is also disposed or reassembled. Therefore, there is a demand for an exposure apparatus that can maintain the highly precise exposure even when each exposure means has a positional offset, and does not require a disposal and reassembly of the exposure unit.

Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method


An angle measurement tool includes first and second elongate members, one of the first and second longitudinal members having an aperture defined by an inner circumference shaped as an outer circumference of an eight-pointed star polygon, the other one to the first and second elongate members having a fixing means adapted for engagement in the aperture of the first elongate member so as to fix the first and second elongate members at a predetermined angle relative to each other.

The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is prior art to this invention.
Angle measurement tools with adjustable angles are used in the construction profession including finish carpentry, piping layouts, floor and ceiling installations and cabinetry. Known angle measurement tools with adjustable angles include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,047,655 and 4,446,627. These angle measurement tools require a relatively large number of individual parts and their manufacture is thus associated with corresponding costs.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved angle measurement tool that is simple to manufacture and easy to use.


A combination memorial and columbarium having a headstone, and a base supporting the headstone. At least one chamber for holding a cremation urn and/or the cremated remains of an individual is formed either in the headstone or the base. The chamber has an opening which is sealed either permanently or with a removable seal. In certain embodiments, the chamber is located in the headstone, and the opening may be plugged with a removable seal, or the opening may be sealed by the base of the monument. In another embodiment, the chamber is formed in the base, and the bottom portion of the headstone forms the seal for the chamber when the headstone is placed on the base. In an embodiment of the invention, one deceased person is interned in the earth ahead of the headstone, and the cremated remains of another deceased are secured in the chamber. The chamber may also be adapted to hold a DNA sample of the cremated individual for future family medical reference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to memorial park monument, and more particularly to a memorial monument comprising a combined burial headstone and base, where either the headstone or the base includes a columbarium compartment adapted to hold an urn, tube or other container-like structure encasing the cremated remains of a deceased person, or other formerly living creatures. The combination of the present invention contemplates that at least one person will be interned in the ground ahead of the monument, while the remains of another person or formerly living creature are maintained in the urn or tube.
The present invention provides a solution to the problem that arises when one or more family members desire to be buried through internment, while other family members desire to be cremated, and all family members desire to lie in their eternal rest in the same plot of land.
2. Prior Art
Previously, grave monuments have been created for the purpose of a headstone marking the location of an individual interned in the earth ahead of the monument, with recessed or cut-out portions in the monument to display items such as flowers, photographs, memorabilia of the deceased, and even video displays describing salient features of the life of the deceased.
In addition, columbaria of various constructions provide a resting place for urns holding the cremated remains of a deceased loved one. These columbaria normally combine shelves in vertical extending walls forming niches for placement of many cremation urns, indoors or outdoors, some having glass covers over the niches so the urn may be viewed. No columbarium has previously been devised that allows the cremation urn of one family member to be placed at or near the resting place of another family member that chose earthen internment.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,124,143 to Long discloses a transparent monument for use as a headstone, having a transparent casting or plate disposed in an opening in the monument. The casting or plate has identifying indicia applied thereto. There is no teaching in the Long patent of lodging the cremated remains of an individual in the monument structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,710 Barry discloses a customized memorial structure comprising recessed portions formed in the front wall of the monument. The Barry patent indicates that these recesses could be used to contain items such as molded figures, sports objects, and pet likenesses. There is no teaching in the Barry patent that the monument can be constructed to commemorate the lives of two individuals, one cremated whose remains are lodged in the monument, and one who chose earthen internment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,292 to Kawa discloses a cremains container that extends above the ground to provide a grave marker identifying the cremated individual. The cremains container can also hold memorabilia of the deceased. In the Kawa patent, the marker only identifies the single cremated remains. This patent does not teach a monument for identifying the deceased individuals, one whose cremated remains are disposed in the monument, and the other whose remains were interned in the earth.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D89,766 to Hull discloses a burial monument with a compartment for removably holding a portrait and vases. There is no disclosure in the Hull reference that the monument comprises structure to securely house the cremated remains of one individual who is identified on the monument, and to identify a second individual who chose earthen internment with the monument holding the cremated remains also functioning as a headstone identifying the second individual.
As a review of the prior art reveals, monuments or headstones that mark the eternal resting place of two individuals, the monument holding the cremated remains of one individual in the monument and identifying both the cremated and earthen interned individual adjacent to the monument, art not found in the prior art.


A variety of circuits, methods and devices are implemented for providing an adjustable resistance. According to one such implementation an adjustable resistive device includes a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having a gate, a drain, a source, and a body. First circuitry controls a resistance from drain to source by applying a gate voltage that is a function of a variable control input. Second circuitry adjusts a voltage at the body according to a drain voltage and a source voltage, whereby the resistance from drain to source is substantially linear for a given value of the variable control input and over a voltage range.

Resistive elements are used in a wide range of applications. One such application relates to signal-conditioning and/or filtering. Signal-conditioning and filtering applications often use resistive elements as part of a signal-conditioning circuit. The responses of the signal-conditioning circuits depend upon the resistive values of the resistive elements. Thus, the signal-conditioning circuits are designed with resistive elements having values that are tailored towards the specific applications.
The true resistive value for resistive elements varies according to specific manufacturing parameters, which can lead to resistive mismatches for a signal-conditioning circuit with tight design parameters. The resistive value can also vary according to temperature, which can adversely affect the signaling-conditioning circuit. Moreover, devices are continuing to be used in applications that require tighter constraints on the signal-conditioning circuits. Further complicating the issue, some devices use a variety of different signals, which can each require a different set of signal-conditioning parameters. Coupled with increasing demand for smaller, faster, cheaper, and less power-hungry devices, a standard/static resistive element is often inadequate.
Accordingly, various circuits use resistors with adjustable resistances. The use of adjustable resistors allows for both wider ranges of applications, for fine tuning of the actual resistive value and for feedback circuits that control the resistive value.
A particular type of an adjustable resistor is implemented using CMOS transistors as the resistive element. Important aspects of such adjustable resistor can include the linearity of the resistance and range of adjustable resistive values.


Facilitating access to an online sales channel may involve receiving information describing one or more items for sale by each of multiple sellers, facilitating a sale of the items through one or more online sales channels, and facilitating fulfillment of sold items through one or more fulfillment centers controlled by a connection provider. At least one fulfillment center is operated with respect to the sold items according to one or more parameters tailored to a common feature of the sold items.

The following description relates to providing access to online marketplace services, for example, to allow sellers of property or merchandise to sell goods or items through an online auction. An online auction is an auction that occurs via one or more web sites in which people and organizations from all around the world can buy and sell goods and services. Among other goods and services, collectibles, books, jewelry, appliances, computers, tickets, sporting goods, furniture, equipment, vehicles, and vacation packages are listed on auction web sites, and bought and sold daily through the online auctions.
Participants in online auctions may include individuals, small companies, large corporations, or other types of organizations. In general, the term "organization" may refer to a company, enterprise, business, government, educational institution, or the like. The term "organization" can also refer to a group of persons, such as an association or society.
Some participants in online auctions may have business-to-business (B2B) relationships with other participants that may tend to focus on a vertical market, such as healthcare or automotive. Participants in a B2B auction can liquidate unwanted capital assets, dispose of excess inventory, and buy or sell equipment, goods, and services. Other participants in online auctions may have business-to-customer (B2C) or customer-to-business (C2B) relationships. A business may sell goods and services to the consumer market in a B2C online auction. In a C2B auction, consumers can determine what they're willing to pay for goods and businesses can decide whether or not to accept. Some other participants may have customer-to-customer (C2C) relationships, in which individuals can buy and sell goods and services with other individuals.
In one example of an online marketplace, eBay Inc. of San Jose, Calif. provides online services in which buyers and sellers can browse, buy and sell various goods and services in a web-based marketplace. eBay provides online auction services, in which eBay typically may not directly handle or own the goods. Instead, eBay can facilitate the listing of the goods and services, like want-ads in a newspaper, and facilitate transactions of trading activities between buyers and sellers. Among other operations, eBay can provide listing features beyond what can be offered in a newspaper, such as a dynamic pricing structure.
Online auctions can offer a dynamic pricing structure where buyers can compete for the goods and services. The online marketplace can provide flexible selling features to allow sellers to use multiple product categories, various auction start and end dates, different branding and listing approaches, and multiple pricing formats, including different types of auctions. Some of the various types of auctions may include normal, dutch, reverse, lots, and others. In a dutch auction, for example, a seller may offer multiple copies of the same item, and the winning bidders pay the amount of the lowest winning bid. In a reverse auction, sellers can bid against each other to win a buyer's business. For example, Priceline.com Inc. of Norwalk, Conn. sells airline tickets, hotel rooms, and additional products based on the price the consumer is willing to pay.
The online marketplace may also provide a fixed-priced format for selling goods and services. For example, the online marketplaces of eBay, Amazon.com, Inc. of Seattle Wash. and Buy.com, Inc. of Aliso Viejo, Calif. provide fixed-priced selling, in which the seller offers goods at a fixed, predetermined price. The price of the good may be a factor of the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), and/or the price of the same good from other sellers.
Online marketplaces represent a sales channel—that is, an avenue for selling goods or services—that has become popular only recently. More traditional sales channels include "brick-and-mortar" storefronts, for example, a department store in which a good (e.g., a shirt) can be sold to buyers of the good. Other sales channels include catalog sales, door-to-door sales, and telemarketing sales. A seller may use multiple sales channels to sell its goods or services—e.g., retail stores and an online sale channel such as a web site with similar product offerings. In the case of an online sales channel, a seller may either set-up and maintain its own dedicated web-site that sells only its own merchandise or the seller may use an online marketplace web-site (e.g. eBay, Amazon.com or Buy.com) that sells merchandise owned by several different sellers. As used herein, "online sales channel" encompasses both dedicated, single-seller online sales channels as well as multiple-seller online sales channels.


The present invention relates to an estrogen receptor co-regulator and to antibodies specific therefor. The invention further relates to methods of screening test compounds for their suitability as estrogen receptor modulators and to methods of using same in disease treatment.

The biological actions of estrogens and antiestrogens are manifest through two distinct high affinity receptors, estrogen receptor α (ERα) and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) (Kuiper et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:5925 (1996), Mosselman et al, FEBS Lett. 392:49 (1996)). Estrogens are potent activators of both receptor subtypes and, with respect to ERα are known to play a critical role in the development and progression of ERα positive breast cancers. In this regard, antiestrogens, such as tamoxifen, which compete with estrogen for binding to the receptor effectively inhibit the growth of breast tumor cells (Katzenellenbogen et al, Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 44:23 (1997)). However, these cells ultimately become refractory to antiestrogen therapy, an event that is believed to stem from the ability of tamoxifen and other antiestrogens to display tissue selective agonist activity (Bertelli et al, Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 12:307 (1988), Love et al, New Engl. J. Med. 326:852 (1992), Kedar et al, Lancet 343:1318 (1994)). In particular, tamoxifen, which is an effective antagonist of ERα action in the breast, is a partial ERα agonist in the uterus, bone and cardiovascular systems (Bertelli et al, Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 12:307 (1988), Love et al, New Engl. J. Med. 326:852 (1992), Kedar et al, Lancet 343:1318 (1994)). These findings have led to the reclassification of tamoxifen and other antiestrogens as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) (Sato et al, FASEB J. 10:905 (1996)).
The molecular mechanism underlying the tissue restricted agonist activity of SERMs remains elusive. However, it is widely believed that a complex network of tissue specific co-regulatory proteins determines this specificity. Recent studies have identified a multitude of protein factors that interact with and modify the transcriptional activity of the C-terminal ligand-inducible activation function-2 (AF-2) (Robyr et al, Mol. Endocrinol. 14:329 (2000)). Relatively little is known about how the N-terminal activation function-1 (AF-1) signals. The present invention is based, at least in part, on the isolation of a novel ERα co-regulator that interacts with the ERα N-terminal domain. In particular, this protein, denoted RTA, for repressor of tamoxifen transcriptional activity, specifically inhibits tamoxifen mediated partial agonist activity. The identification of RTA makes possible methods of screening compounds for their use in the treatment of estrogen dependent diseases and disorders.


The washing machine of the present disclosure includes an improved pulley for reducing the noise generated in the pulley. When the shaft is inserted into the shaft insertion hole, at least a part of the shaft is closely contacted with the shaft insertion hole to minimize the tolerance between the shaft and the shaft insertion hole, and the rotation shaft of the pulley and the center axis of the shafts may be made to coincide with each other, so that the noise generated by the rotation of the pulley can be effectively reduced. In addition, the spoke of the pulley includes the curved portion, thereby reducing the friction with the air and effectively reducing noise due to friction with air.

Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus for washing laundry by performing washing, rinsing and spin-drying.
Washing machines are classified into a pulsator type in which a rotary plate having small blades is disposed on a lower side of a washing tub and rotated to generate water current, thereby washing laundry, an agitator type in which a large agitator having blades is disposed in the center of a washing tub and alternately rotated to generate water current at a regular interval, thereby washing laundry, and a drum type in which laundry is placed inside of a drum and the laundry is washed by an impact caused by the rotation of the drum and the detergency of a detergent.
The washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub installed in the cabinet to store washing water, a washing tub rotatably provided in the tub and in which laundry is accommodated, a driving device configured to drive the washing tub, a water supply device configured to supply water to the tub, and a drain device configured to discharge washing water from the washing tub to the outside of the cabinet when the washing is completed.
In the drum washing machine, a pulley configured to transmit a torque of a motor to a drum is provided to rotate the drum. However, when the pulley is rotated at a high speed in association with the rotation of the motor through a belt, there may be a problem of noise caused by friction of air and a separation, which is generated during the assembly.


A print control unit, a control method of the print control unit, a print control program, and a computer readable recording medium are disclosed, The print control unit that performs print control of document data includes: an intermediate data generating unit for generating intermediate data containing print setup information of the document data, and drawing information for a printer to draw the document data; a setup screen display unit for causing a display unit to display a setup screen for setting up a common setup that is commonly applied to one or more sets of the intermediate data, which are objects to be displayed; a print setup unit for applying the common setup to each set of the intermediate data; and a printing data generating unit for generating printing data that can be processed by the printer based on the intermediate data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a print control unit, a control method thereof, a print control program, and a recording medium, and especially relates to a print control unit, a control method thereof, a print control program, and a recording medium for controlling a printing job of document data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a printer driver is available, the printer driver being capable of storing printing information of document data as an intermediate file in a data format that can be easily operated from other applications when printing of the document data is directed, in addition to outputting the printing information of the document data as printing data in, e.g., PDL form that can be interpreted by a printer.
Further, software that provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for displaying a print preview and performing a print setup of the stored intermediate file is available (for example, Patent Reference 1).
Using the software, a user can perform a print setup anew of two or more intermediate files (printing jobs), and can perform printing.

Print control unit, a control method thereof, a print control program, and a recording medium for converting document data into printing data


The present invention is directed to methods for assaying a test compound's ability to alter the expression of novel receptor for galanin which has been designated as galanin receptor 2. The invention also encompasses both the receptor protein as well as nucleic acids encoding the protein. In addition, the present invention is directed to additional methods and compositions which rely upon either GAL-R2 proteins or nucleic acids.

Galanin is a small (29-30 amino acid) neuroendocrine peptide which does not belong to any known peptide family (Bedecs et al., Int. J. Biochem. Cell. Biol. 27: 337-349 (1995)). It is widely distributed in the central nervous system and other tissues, and has been reported to have a large number of diverse biological and pharmacological activities. Galanin has been reported to: (a) promote growth hormone release (Bauer et al., The Lancet 2:192-195 (1986)); (b) inhibit glucose-induced insulin release (Ahren et al., FEBS Lett. 299:233-237 (1988)); (c) regulate motility in the gastrointestinal tract (Fox-Thelkeld et al., Gastroenter-ology 101:1471-1476 (1991)); (d) stimulate feeding behavior (Crawley et al., J Neurosci 10:3695-3700 (1990)); and (e) impair cognitive function (Mastropaolo et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85:9841-9845 (1988)).
Of particular pharmacological interest are galanin's analgesic effects (Post et al., Acta Physiol. Scand. 132:583-584 (1988)). In the spinal cord, galanin inhibits nociceptive reflexes and potentiates the analgesic effect of morphine (Wiesenfeld-Hallin et al., Neurosci. Lett. 105:149-154 (1989)). Target administration of galanin hyperpolarizes dorsal horn neurons and chronic administration of a galanin receptor antagonist after axotomy has been reported to markedly increase autonomy in rats (Verge et al., Neurosci. Lett. 149:193-197 (1993)). These observations indicate that galanin, like morphine, has strong anti-nociceptive actions in vivo. Thus, the known pharmacological effects of galanin suggest potential therapeutic applications as an anesthetic or analgesic in animals and humans.
Galanin exerts its effects by binding to membrane-bound receptors. The cDNA for one such receptor ("GAL-R1") has been cloned from both humans and rats (Habert-Ortoliet et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 91:9780-9783 (1994); Burgevin et al., J. Mol. Neurosci. 6:33-41 (1995)). High levels of rat GAL-R1 mRNA have been found in the ventral hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, and medulla oblongata of the brain and in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (Burgevin et al., supra). Pharmacological data obtained using galanin fragments, agonists and antagonists have suggested that more than one type of receptor may be responsible for galanin's actions (for a review, see Valkna et al., Neurosci. Lett. 187:75-78 (1995)). The isolation and characterization of new receptors for galanin would be highly desirable to assist in the discovery and development of therapeutic agents for altering galanin activity in vivo.

Methods for assaying expression of novel galanin receptors


A sound system includes a seat including a seatback having a first dipole subwoofer, a second dipole subwoofer, a first speaker, and a second speaker; and a seat bottom having a third speaker. The first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and/or the third speaker may be configured to receive audio signals from a receiver and provide sound corresponding to the audio signals toward an occupant position of the seat. The third speaker may be directed toward the seat back. The first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and/or the third speaker may be configured to provide a sound zone for said occupant that facilitates (i) hearing of the sound by said occupant, and/or (ii) limiting transmission of the sound beyond the seat.

This background description is set forth below for the purpose of providing context only. Therefore, any aspect of this background description, to the extent that it does not otherwise qualify as prior art, is neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the instant disclosure.
Some sound systems may not allow for efficient communication, may involve excessive background noise, and/or may be complicated to use.
There is a desire for solutions/options that address, minimize, and/or eliminate one or more challenges or shortcomings of sound systems. The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate examples of the present field and is not a disavowal of scope.


A semiconductor memory integrated circuit is provided, which is capable of simultaneously applying voltage stress to normal signal lines and spare signal lines, thereby reducing the time required for performing a test. The semiconductor memory integrated circuit includes a memory cell array having a plurality of normal signal lines for selecting a memory cell, a redundant cell array including three or more of odd number of spare signal lines for compensating for defectiveness in the memory cell array, a decoder for decoding an address signal to select a normal signal line, a spare decoder, which is activated when a defective address signal is inputted, for decoding the defective address signal to select a spare signal line, and a test control circuit for controlling the decoder and the spare decoder to perform a test of applying voltage between adjacent signal lines in the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines. The test control circuit sets electric potential levels in a signal line group including the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines so that at the time of a test, electric potential levels of adjacent signal lines are opposite to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor memory integrated circuit, such as DRAMs and, more particularly, to facilitating a burn-in test for a semiconductor memory integrated circuit employing a redundant circuit system for compensating for defectiveness.
2. Description of Related Art
In a large-scale semiconductor memory circuit, a number of signal lines are provided to a memory cell array. For example, a 256 Mbit DRAM includes 128K word lines, 512K pairs of bit lines, and 2K column selecting lines. Among these signal lines, those used for the same purpose are arranged adjacent to each other by using the same wiring layer.
Addresses are assigned to these signal lines in the memory cell array. Generally, a signal line having an odd-numbered address is arranged adjacent to a signal line having an even-numbered address. In a semiconductor memory circuit employing a redundant circuit system, besides a normal memory cell array, a redundant cell array is provided. Addresses are assigned to a plurality of spare signal lines in such a redundant cell array so that an odd-numbered address is adjacent to an even-numbered address, separate from the normal signal lines in the memory cell array.
A redundant cell array is provided so as to be adjacent to a memory cell array, or sandwiched between sub-blocks of a memory cell array. In both the cases, normal signal lines of the memory cell array and spare signal lines of the redundant cell array are not distinguished from each other in the physical layout, but are successively arranged.
Before shipment of a semiconductor memory circuit, a burn-in test is carried out so as to screen out initial failures. A burn-in test often includes applying a voltage between adjacent signal lines so as to carry out an accelerated test of potential short circuits. In this voltage-applying accelerated test, the amount of time required for applying voltage stress between adjacent lines in a number of signal lines, possibly numbering as many as several hundred thousand, is of vital importance. Whether this time can be reduced is a factor in cost-reduction.
If even-numbered addresses and odd-numbered addresses are alternately assigned to signal lines of a DRAM or the like, as mentioned previously, it is possible to simultaneously apply voltage stress between a number of pairs of signal lines adjacent to each other by activating, e.g., the signal lines having the even-numbered addresses. If normal signal lines and spare signal lines are successively arranged, and if the numbers of both the signal lines and the spare lines are even numbers, it is possible to simultaneously apply voltage stress between adjacent lines in the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines by assigning an even-numbered address and an odd-numbered address to each pair of adjacent signal lines.
However, there are cases where there are an odd number of spare signal lines in a redundant cell array. The reason for this is that since the number of spare signal lines is determined by a trade-off between chip size and defect density, sometimes an odd number of lines is selected as the optimum number. In this case, even if it is intended to simultaneously apply voltage stress between adjacent lines of all the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines by selecting all the odd-numbered addresses or all the even-numbered addresses, it is not possible to do it since there may be a portion at a boundary between the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines where both adjacent two signal lines have odd-numbered addresses or even-numbered addresses. In such a case,it is not possible to prevent increases in test time and test costs.
Given the above-described circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor memory integrated circuit which can simultaneously apply voltage stress to all the normal signal lines and spare signal lines to achieve the shortening of test time.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor memory integrated circuit is provided which comprises: a memory cell array in which a plurality of normal signal lines for selecting a memory cell are arranged; a redundant cell array in which three or more odd number spare signal lines for compensating for defectiveness in said memory cell array are arranged; a decoder for decoding an address signal to select a normal signal line; a spare decoder, which is activated when a defective address signal is inputted, for decoding the defective address signal to select a spare signal line; and a test control circuit for controlling the decoder and the spare decoder to carry out a test of applying a voltage between adjacent lines in the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines, at the time of performing a test, said test control circuit setting potential levels in a signal line group including the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines so that potential levels of two adjacent signal lines are opposite to each other.
In the semiconductor memory integrated circuit of the first aspect according to the present invention, potential levels of two adjacent signal lines in a signal line group including normal signal lines and spare signal lines are set to be opposite to each other. In this way, it is possible to simultaneously apply voltage stress to the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines, thereby reducing the time required for testing a semiconductor memory circuit, and/or the cost involved in carrying out such a test.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor memory integrated circuit is provided which comprises: a memory cell array in which a plurality of normal signal lines for selecting a memory cell are arranged; a redundant cell array in which three or more odd number spare signal lines for compensating for defectiveness in said memory cell array are arranged; a decoder for decoding an address signal to select a normal signal line; a spare decoder, which is activated when a defective address signal is inputted, for decoding the defective address signal to select a spare signal line; and a test control circuit for controlling the decoder and the spare decoder to carry out a test of applying a voltage between adjacent lines in the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines, at the time of performing a test, said test control circuit assigning addresses to successively arranged signal lines included in a signal line group so that even-numbered addresses and odd-numbered addresses are alternately assigned.
In the semiconductor memory integrated circuit of the second aspect according to the present invention, even-numbered addresses and odd-numbered addresses are alternately assigned to a group of successively arranged signal lines including normal signal lines in a memory cell array and spare signal lines in a redundant cell array. In this way, it is possible to simultaneously apply voltage stress to the normal signal lines and the spare signal lines, thereby reducing the time required for testing a semiconductor memory circuit, and/or the cost involved in carrying out such a test.

Semiconductor memory integrated circuit employing a redundant circuit system for compensating for defectiveness


When the sub-scanning beam position does not fall within a target range by the last directive value, the drift direction of a galvanomirror is estimated on the basis of the last directive value. A directive value is provided to the galvanomirror and then changed so that the sub-scanning beam position is shifted in the estimated direction in steps from the position corresponding to the last directive value. A decision is then made as to whether the directive value in the galvanomirror has reached a predetermined value. When the predetermined value is reached, the galvanomirror is directed to shift the beam position in the direction opposite to the estimated direction in steps from the position corresponding to the last directive value. As a result, a great load is prevented from being imposed on the galvanomirror during the laser beam sub-scanning direction position control.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-274880, filed Sep. 28, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus which forms an image using multiple laser beams and more specifically to a multi-beam control method for controlling the positions in the sub-scanning direction of the laser beams on a photosensitive drum with galvanomirrors and an image formation apparatus which uses the control method.
A multi-beam optical system is equipped with a plurality of laser beam sources and a single polygon mirror and is required to perform beam position control in order to prevent image misalignment due to the relative displacement of beams in the image plane. In this specification, xe2x80x9cbeam positionxe2x80x9d refers to the position of each beam in the sub-scanning direction that is scanned across the image plane, such as the surface of the photosensitive drum, in the main scanning direction.
Methods of controlling the positions of beams in the sub-scanning direction include a method of setting the spacing between each beam through the use of a plurality of galvanomirrors each having its reflecting surface (mirror) arranged to be rotatable in any direction as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-76704 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2000-147398.
In the sub-scanning control in the multi-beam optical system, coarse adjustment is made first. The coarse adjustment is intended to, when a beam is greatly off a target course and hence does not pass over a photosensor, in which case beam fine adjustment can not be made, shift the beam over the photosensor.
In general, in the coarse adjustment, a directive value, for example, a lower limiting directive value, is set in the galvanomirror and then the setting value is changed in large steps toward an upper limiting directive value to shift the transit position of a beam in the sub-scanning direction. For example, a step size of 100 bits results in a change of 176 xcexcm in the image plane position. As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, a beam reflected by the galvanomirror is directed onto the surface of the photosensitive drum to form a latent image on it. The latent image is developed and then transferred onto paper. The sensor surface and the paper surface are set equidistant from the galvanomirror. The amount by which the beam position is displaced on the sensor surface appears on paper as it is. Thus, the beam position on the sensor surface is also called the image plane position.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart for the conventional coarse adjustment. This coarse adjustment is made automatically by the apparatus. First, of four beams, a beam to be adjusted is turned on (step S110). Next, a determination is made as to whether horizontal synchronization (HSYNC) is established (step S101). If established, then the coarse adjustment of the next beam is made.
If synchronization is not detected in step S101, then a lower limiting directive value is first set in the galvanomirror so that it is turned below the image plane at the maximum swing angle and then the setting value is increased in steps of 100 bits (corresponding to about 176 xcexcm) (step S106).
The above operation is repeated until HSYNC has been established for all the beams. The control is repeated in the order of, for example, beam 1, beam 2, beam 3, beam 4, beam 1 and so on. If there are beams for which adjustment has been made, they are skipped and the control is repeated in the order of, for example, beam 1, beam 3, beam 4, beam 1 and so on. When, even if the setting value is changed until the upper limiting value is reached, no HSYNC is detected, repair is needed. In this case, the necessity for service call is displayed on the apparatus.
After the termination of the coarse adjustment for all the beams, fine adjustment is made. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for the conventional fine adjustment. The fine adjustment is made to drive the beam which has been allowed to pass over the sensor surface by the coarse adjustment into a target range of xc2x110 xcexcm of a target value. The fine adjustment is essential in obtaining correct output images.
As with the coarse adjustment, only a beam to be controlled is turned on (step S110). The beam position information in the sensor is read (step S111). A determination is made as to whether the position over which the beam passes is within the target range (step S112). If the beam position lies within the target range, then the adjustment is terminated; otherwise, the galvanomirror is instructed so as to change the beam position on the sensor surface in small steps, thereby driving the beam position into the target range (step S113).
FIG. 20 shows a plot of output versus input of the galvanomirror. The input to the galvanomirror is given in voltage. Voltages from xe2x88x9210.6 to +10.6V are made correspond to 0EB8H to 3333H in hexadecimal notation. These hexadecimal numbers are handled as input values to the galvanomirror. These input values are converted into voltages by a D/A converter and then applied to the galvanomirror. The input values below 0EB8H or above 3333H correspond to voltages in the vicinity of supply voltages (xc2x112V). For these input values, the output of the A/D converter is not proportional to the input. Thus, these input values are not generally used.
That is, 1 bit corresponds to an input voltage of 16 mV. The output is given in swing angles of the galvanomirror from xe2x88x9239.46 mrad to +39.46 mrad. In correspondence to these swing angles, the image plane position changes from xe2x88x928.68 mm to +8.68 mm. Namely, when the input value is changed by 1 bit, the beam position on the image plane is changed by 1.76 xcexcm.
For countermeasures against the galvanomirror being heated, the use of 5% portions of the driving range at both ends thereof is prohibited by software. Thus, the actual input ranges from xe2x88x9210.1 to +10.1 V and the output ranges from xe2x88x9237.49 to +37.49 mrad (the amount by which the image plane position is changed from xe2x88x928.25 to +8.25 mm).
FIG. 21 illustrates the direction of operation of the galvanomirror, variations in the beam direction, and input data (0EB8H to 3146H) and input voltages (xe2x88x9210.1 to +10.1V) to the galvanomirror. When the input value is changed from 0EB8H to 3146H, the input voltage changes from xe2x88x9210.1V to +10.1V and the direction of the beam changes upward by 74.98 mrad.
The galvanomirrors have characteristics that greatly vary from galvanomirror to galvanomirror. As shown in FIG. 22, the amount by which the image plane position is changed per unit change (1 bit) in the input varies from 1.23 to 2.22 xcexcm, the maximum distance moved by the image plane varies from 12.11 to 21.86 mm, the swing angle per unit change in the input varies from 6.22 to 11.23 xcexcrad, and the maximum swing angle varies from 55.04 to 99.38 mrad. Thus, the galvanomirrors contain an individual difference of about xc2x130% in their characteristics.
The time of response to input of a directive value greatly varies from galvanomirror to galvanomirror if only the mixing ratio of dumping materials varies slightly. FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 show response characteristics when the mixing ratio is 1:1.1, 1:1.2, and 1:1.3, respectively. The time (mS) is shown on the horizontal axis and the amount (xcexcm) by which the image plane position is changed is shown on the vertical axis. A change in the image plane position about 10 mS, the data sampling interval in conventional control, after the galvanomirror has been given a directive value is about 130 xcexcm in FIG. 23, about 100 xcexcm in FIG. 24, and about 80 xcexcm in FIG. 25. It will therefore be seen that a little change in the mixing ratio results in variations in the response characteristic of the galvanomirror.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2000-147398, the galvanomirror used in sub-scanning control is composed of a magnet fixing base, a magnet, a bobbin, a yoke, a coil, a torsion bar, and a mirror. The mirror and the torsion bar are glued together at four points. For this reason, a great movement of the mirror may result in the glue peeling off and the reduced life of the galvanomirror.
The problems with the conventional control are listed below.
In the conventional control, since the maximum voltage (xe2x88x9210.1V) is applied to the galvanomirror, the load on the galvanomirror increases.
The coarse adjustment is made in order to search for the sensor which should be able to be found with close to the directive value (close to 0V) used in the last control. However, the lower limiting value (xe2x88x9210.1V) is set in the galvanomirror and the beam is then moved in units of 100 bits until it comes to pass over the sensor. That is, the conventional control method is performed in such a way as to search for a nearby object from the distance, which involves waste of time.
The conventional control is not performed so as to accommodate the individual difference among galvanomirrors in the change in the image plane position per unit change (1 bit) in the directive value. That is, the same control is performed on a galvanomirror for which the change in the image plane position per unit change in the input is a minimum of 1.23 xcexcm and a galvanomirror for which the change in the image plane position per unit change in the input is a maximum of 2.22 xcexcm. For example, when an attempt is made to move the image plane position by 176 xcexcm (corresponding to 100 bits for the average product), the change in the image plane position is as small as 123 xcexcm for the minimum product and as large as 222 xcexcm for the maximum product. Thus, further movement is needed in either case, involving waste of time. In addition, with the maximum product, there is the possibility that the image plane may jump over its target position and become uncontrollable.
The conventional control is not performed so as to accommodate the individual difference among galvanomirrors in the response time since a directive value was applied. That is, the same control is performed on a galvanomirror for which the degree of achievement about 10 mS after a directive value has been given is 80%, a galvanomirror which is 70% in the degree of achievement, and a galvanomirror which is 60% in the degree of achievement. For example, if control is performed on the assumption that the degree of achievement is 70% and the actual degree of achievement is 80% or 60%, then overshoot or shortage of movement will occur, which requires further movement and involves waste of time.
As described above, with the conventional control, since the characteristics of individual galvanomirrors, such as the change in the image plane position per unit change in an input directive value and the response time, are unknown, the time of control cannot be estimated and a large time margin has to be ensured. In general, after having been warmed up, the drum continues rotating during control of the optical system, resulting in increased idle running time of it.
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to prevent a heavy load from being imposed on galvanomirrors during laser beam sub-scanning direction position control.
It is a second object of the present invention to eliminate useless control during laser beam sub-scanning direction position control.
It is a third object of the present invention to perform a control operation to conform to differences among galvanomirrors in change in the image plane position to thereby reduce the required control time.
It is a fourth object of the present invention to perform a control operation to conform to differences among galvanomirrors in response time to thereby reduce the required control time.
It is a fifth object of the present invention to grasp the differences among galvanomirrors, reduce margin in galvanomirror control, and reduce the required time of control.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling the sub-scanning direction beam position, for use with an image forming apparatus including multiple laser sources, a single polygon mirror, galvanomirrors, and a laser beam position detecting optical sensor, comprising the steps of: controlling the galvanomirror with the last galvanomirror directive value when sub-scanning beam position control was performed in the last operation of the image forming apparatus; a first decision step of deciding whether the sub-scanning direction beam position has reached a target range by referring to an output value of the sensor; estimating the drift direction of the galvanomirrors on a basis of the last directive value, when the sub-scanning direction beam position has not reached the target range with the last directive value; providing directive values to the galvanomirror so that the sub-scanning direction beam position is moved in steps from the position controlled by the last directive value in the estimated direction; determining whether the directive value provided to the galvanomirror has reached a predetermined value; and providing directive values to the galvanomirror so that the sub-scanning direction beam position is moved in steps from the position controlled by the last directive value in the direction opposite to the estimated direction, when the directive value have reached the predetermined value.
Thus, when the beam position does not fall within a target range, the beam is shifted always in either plus or minus direction from the directive value in the last operation, preventing a heavy load from being imposed on the galvanomirrors. A drift in the last operation is estimated and the beam is shifted from the direction to correct the drift, thus eliminating useless control during the beam sub-scanning direction position control.
According to another aspect the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling the sub-scanning direction beam position, for use with an image forming apparatus including multiple laser sources, a single polygon mirror, galvanomirrors, and a laser beam position detecting optical sensors, comprising the steps of: measuring an movement amount of a beam after predetermined directive value has been provided to the galvanomirror at regular time intervals using changes in outputs of the sensors; determining a final movement amount of the beam and response times of the galvanomirror for the directive value from the measurements of the movement amount of the beam; and controlling the beam position in the sub-scanning direction using the final movement amount of the beam and the response times.
Further, the step of controlling the beam position includes a step of making fine adjustment of the beam position, and the fine adjustment step further includes a step of turning on a beam to be controlled and scanning the beam in the main scanning direction, a step of deciding the sub-scanning direction position of the beam by reading the outputs of the optical sensors, a step of, when the sub-scanning direction position is not within a target range, calculating a specific directive value on the basis of the final movement amount of the beam for the directive value and providing the specific directive value to the corresponding galvanomirror, and a step of deciding the sub-scanning direction position of the beam to be controlled after the response time for fine adjustment since the specific directive value was provided to the galvanomirror.
Thus, the movement amount and the response time for the directive value are determined for each galvanomirror and, using the movement amount and the response time, the fine adjustment of the beam position is made. Therefore, the control time can be reduced, the total control time can be estimated, and the overall efficiency of the beam control can be increased.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.


A superconducting magnet system and a cyclotron using the same. The superconducting magnet system includes a cryogenic device, a superconducting device and a protecting module. The cryogenic device includes a refrigerating machine and a cryogenic container assembly. The cryogenic container assembly includes a first container end, a connecting tube and a second container end. The first container end is communicated with the second container end through the connecting tube. The superconducting device includes a superconducting coil arranged in the first container end and immersed in a liquid or gaseous cooling medium. The protecting module is connected to the superconducting coil and is configured to protect the superconducting coil if the superconducting coil suffers a quench.

Compared to conventional radiotherapy, proton therapy can more precisely target tumors to maximize the proton beam energy delivered to the tumor and minimize the dose to surrounding normal tissues. Cyclotron is a core part of a proton therapy instrument, which can accelerate heavy charged particles and increase the particle energy. Inside the cyclotron, a superconducting magnet system is employed to provide a confining magnetic field for particle acceleration. Compared to ordinary magnets, the superconducting magnet system can significantly reduce the size of the cyclotron and make the overall structure more compact. Under the same ring radius, an extracted energy of the cyclotron with the superconducting magnet system can be magnified several times. In addition, the superconducting magnet system can also bring less power consumption and lower operation cost. Therefore, the superconducting magnet technology has long attracted a lot of attention.
Regarding the existing superconducting magnet systems, a refrigerating machine is generally arranged close to a magnet, and thus the refrigerating machine is susceptible to magnetic interference. In view of this, a magnetic shielding structure is required, making the superconducting magnet system more structurally complex.

Superconducting magnet system for cyclotron and cyclotron comprising ihe same

HEFEI CAS ION MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL DEVICES CO., LTD.

HEFEI INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


The invention enables a compiler (during its first compilation pass) to insert identifiers during an early optimization phase into machine-independent code. The identifiers are used for identifying specific instructions of the machine-independent code. The compiler may use a table to record the assignment of identifiers and their corresponding portion of machine-independent code. During subsequent optimization phases of the first compilation pass, portions of machine-independent code are transformed into portions of machine-dependent code, and the machine-dependent code inherits identification associated with the portions of machine-independent code that were used to generate the portions of machine-dependent code. After the first compilation pass, executable code is made to interact with test data to generate statistical execution data which is collected by previously inserted counters. The collected counter data is consolidated so that it relates to the instructions of the machine-independent code. During a second compilation pass of the compiler, the compiler reads the machine-independent code, the collected or captured counter data, an indication of the association between the identifiers and the instructions (which can be stored in a table). Subsequently, the compiler begins locating instructions of the machine-independent code relative to other instructions of the machine-independent code during an early or first optimization phase of the second compilation pass.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is depicted a compilation environment 100 including source code 102, compiler 104, assembler code 106 or 108, and respective executable code 116 or 118. Compiler 104 compiles source code 102 to generate either assembler code 106 or 108 depending upon optimization routines used by compiler 104. Source code 102 includes computer programmed instructions written in a computer programming language such as Java, C++ or FORTRAN. Source code 102 is machine independent, which means that the source code includes generic programmed instructions 110A, 110B, 110C which are not yet in a form that is executable by any specific Central Processing Unit (CPU). Advantageously, compiler 104 compiles source code 102 to generate assembler code 106 or 108 which is executable by a specific type of CPU (sometimes referred to as a machine). Compiler 104 generates either assembler code 106 or 108 depending on the programmed instructions of the optimization routines used by compiler 104 when compiler 104 optimizes the instructions included in source code 102.
Compiler 104 performs several optimization phases to achieve several objectives. During the optimization phases, the instructions of source code 102 are replaced with machine-level instructions that are executable by a specific CPU and the machine-level instructions are repositioned, shuffled, or relocated with respect to other machine-level instructions in an attempt to produce executable code which is capable of being, for example, quickly executed or to produce minimized file size of the executable code for reducing dependency on computer memory (or a combination of both). After machine-level code 106 or 108 (sometimes referred to as assembler code) is generated, compiler 104 completes its task by generating a respective machine-executable code 116 or 118.
Assembler code 106 includes assembler-level computer instructions 112A to 112F that are machine dependent which means the assembler-level instructions can instruct a specific type of CPU. Compiler 104 uses the assembler code 106 to generate executable code 116 that can be executed. When compiler 104 uses one type of optimization routine, code 106 is generated having instructions 112A to 112F ordered or placed in the sequence depicted in FIG. 1. When compiler 104 uses another type of optimization routine, code 108 is generated having instructions 114A to 114F ordered or placed in the sequence depicted in FIG. 1 which is a different sequence of instructions when compared to code 106.
Executable code 116 includes an arrangement of contiguous portions (not depicted) corresponding to executable code of the assembler-level instructions 112A to 112F. The arrangement of the contiguous portions of executable code cannot be rearranged once the executable code 116 is generated by compiler 104. For the case when instruction 112C is executed more frequently than instruction 112E, it is advantageous to position or place instruction 112C in an execution fall through path immediately after instruction 112B, and to place instruction 112E offset from instruction 112B because execution time is not wasted in performing a branching operation for an instruction having a very high possibility (statistically) of being executed. However, for the case where instruction 112E is executed more frequently than instruction 112C, then it would be advantageous to position instruction 112E in the fall through path immediately after instruction 112B (which is the desirable ordering as depicted in code 108), and instruction 112C is placed offset from instruction 112B.
It will be appreciated that if code 106 were to be executed for the second case, then disadvantageously the execution fall through path proceeds, jumps, or branches from instruction 112B to instruction 112E on a frequent basis which will then require additional CPU processing time. It is a known problem that CPUs require extra time when executing branching instructions. For the second case, it would be highly desirable to place instruction 112E in an position adjacent to instruction 112B and locating instruction 112C offset from instruction 112B. It will be appreciated that code 108 is the preferred code for the second case, and code 106 is the preferred code for the first case. It is desirable to avoid spending time performing branching instructions whenever possible.
During optimization phases of a compiler, the compiler changes or transforms machine-independent code (also known as high-level code) into machine-dependent code (also known as low-level code or assemble code). From an optimization phase to a subsequent optimization phase, the compiler attempts to relocate or position units of transformed code relative to other units of transformed code by following known optimization algorithms. Transformed code is also known as intermediate representation (IR) code.
For a compilation pass of a compiler, the compiler reads machine-independent code and generates computer-executable, machine-dependent code via a series of optimization phases. During a first optimization phase of the compiler, profile directed feedback (PDF) counters (also known generically as 'counters') are inserted into machine-dependent code generated or created during a later or last optimization phase. Executable code, generated as a result of completing the first optimization pass, is made to interact with test data to subsequently generate statistical execution data which is captured by the inserted counters. It will be appreciated that the statistical execution data is related to the machine-dependent code that was formed during the latter or last optimization phase.
During a second compilation pass of the compiler, the compiler reads the machine-independent code and the captured counter data, optimizes the code during its optimization phases, and uses the captured counter data to specifically optimize code during the latter or last optimization phase. The captured counter data relates to the machine-dependent code (and is not related to the machine-independent code). An improved optimizing compiler is desired.

Using identifiers and counters for controlled optimization compilation

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of operating a data compression device includes analyzing data using an analyzer and generating a result of the analysis, while the data is buffered by an input buffer, and selectively compressing the buffered data according to the result of the analysis. A data compression device includes a data pattern analyzer configured to analyze data transmitted to an input buffer, and generate an analysis code based on the analysis of the data; and a data compression manager configured to selectively compress the data in the input buffer based on the analysis code.

1. Field
Example embodiments of inventive concepts relate to data compression technology, for example, data compression devices capable of analyzing data and determining whether to compress the data based on a result of the analysis, methods of operating data compression devices, methods for compressing data, and/or data processing apparatuses including a data compression devices.
2. Description of Conventional Art
Data compression refers to a technology to more efficiently store data in smaller storage spaces and actual applications of this technology. Conventional data compression includes an encoding and a decoding process. During an encoding process, the size of data is reduced. During a decoding process, encoded data is restored to an original data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Data compression devices, operating methods thereof, and data processing apparatuses including the same


The present invention relates to the case hardening, tempering and coating of a medium carbon alloy chain pin. A medium carbon alloy chain pin is provided and is case hardened to a selected radial depth. The case hardened chain pin is quenched and then tempered to introduce a gradient from the surface of the chain pin inwardly in carbon content and hardness. The chain pin is then coated with an electroless nickel and fluorinated carbon co-deposition to increase surface hardness.

The present invention relates generally to roller chain and, more particularly, to roller chain pins that are carburized and otherwise heat treated to allow for subsequent coating of a hardened electroless nickel enhanced with a fluorinated carbon as a co-deposit without the sacrifice of requisite metallurgical properties of the roller chain pin.
As will be described in more detail in the detailed description of the present invention, roller chain is normally made up of five components. These components include alternating inside and outside links. The inside links are press fit over bushings and are usually called roller links. The outside links are typically press fit over pins and hence are typically called pin links. Cylindrical rollers are provided outside the bushings leaving the rollers free to turn for a rolling action as the roller chain enters and exists the driving sprockets.
Typically, all high quality components of roller chain, including pins, bushings and rollers, are carburized or case hardened Link plates are thru-hardened. The carburizing process allows the outside of the parts to be transformed to a hard, wear resistant surface whereas the inner core retains the tough and ductile properties of the metal to absorb normal shock loading. In most applications, this combination provides the necessary engineered balance between wear resistance, durability and strength. In efforts to improve the overall performance of roller chain, including improvements in wear life, galling resistance and overall lubricity of the roller chain pins various types of coatings were reviewed. After reviewing the constraints of the design of the roller chain product, performance and manufacturing techniques available, the use of electroless nickel as an autocatalytic deposition was settled on as most desirable to provide corrosion protection on carbon and alloy steel roller chain pins. This was found to be superior to electroplating because of potential for embrittlement in electroplating. Further, tooling treatments such as titanium nitride were viewed as inappropriate due to the manner of application and the labor intensive requirements. Further, flame spraying and ion implantation have similar undesirable restrictions on roller chain manufacture.
Further, a co-deposit of a material to provide lubricity was also desirable. Various components such as silicon carbide, fluorinated carbon and polytetrafluoroethylene were all reviewed. It was decided that the polytetrafluoroethylene or other similar proprietary coatings available today were best suited as a co-deposit with the electroless nickel for the roller chain pins.
The major problem faced in the electroless nickel operation is the need to harden the electroless nickel fluorinated carbon co-deposition at temperatures in the neighborhood of 600.degree.-750.degree. F. to achieve maximum hardness and wear resistance. As most roller chain pins are tempered at 300.degree.-350.degree. F., such subsequent hardening of the electroless nickel coating would result in a reduction of the pin core hardness and strength.


An apparatus includes an optical waveguide and an optical filter positioned to receive light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes a sequence of alternating first and second stripes. The sequence runs along a propagation direction in the optical waveguide. The first and second stripes are formed of different polarization states of a group III-nitride semiconductor. The optical filter removes light of a preselected frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to non-linear optical devices, and more particularly, to optical frequency-converters.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Herein, optical frequency-conversion refers to a process that directly converts light of one frequency into light of another frequency without intermediate conversion of the light into electrical signals. Materials with large cross sections for certain nonlinear optical processes are able to produce optical frequency-conversion. Lithium niobate has large cross sections for such processes and thus, has been used to construct optical frequency-converters.
Unfortunately, lithium niobate also has properties that are not desirable in optical frequency-converters. In particular, standard lithium niobate has iron as an impurity. Due to the iron impurities, the intense illumination needed for frequency-conversion causes a photorefractive effect that can spatially modulate the refractive index of lithium niobate. The refractive index of lithium niobate will be spatially modulated during optical frequency-conversion unless special precautions are taken. Such uncontrolled spatial refractive index modulations would interfere with the quasi-phase matching required for optical frequency-conversion. To avoid the iron-induced refractive index modulations, special precautions are taken to maintain lithium niobate at a high temperature during optical frequency-conversion.
It is desirable to have optical frequency-converters that efficiently generate light without the need for special precautions during operation.

Optical frequency-converters based on group III-nitrides


A transmission having input and output shafts, planetary gearsets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4), and additional shafts and shifting elements. A ring gear of set (RS4) and the input shaft define shaft (1). A carrier of (RS3) and the output define shaft (2). The sun gears of (RS1, RS4) define shaft (3). A ring gear of (RS1) forms shaft (4). A ring gear of (RS2) and a sun gear of (RS3) define shaft (5). A carrier of (RS1) and a ring gear of (RS3) form shaft (6). A sun gear of (RS2) and a carrier of (RS4) define shaft (7). A carrier of (RS2) forms shaft (8). A first element (A) couples shaft (3) to the transmission housing. A second element (B) couples shaft (4) to the housing. A third element (C) couples shafts (1, 5) to one another. A fourth element (D) couples shafts (2, 8) or (6, 8) to one another. A fifth element (E) couples shafts (5, 7), (7, 8) or (5, 8) to one another.

In the state of the art, automatic transmissions, particularly for motor vehicles, comprise planetary gearsets that are shifted by way of friction elements or, as the case may be, shifting elements, such as clutches and brakes, and are usually provided with a starting unit that is subject to a slip effect and optionally provided with a convertor lock-up clutch, such as a hydrodynamic torque converter or a fluid clutch.
In the Applicant's DE 101 15 983 A1, for example, a multi-speed transmission is described that has an input shaft that is connected to a front-mounted gearset, an output shaft that is connected to a rear-mounted gearset, and a maximum of seven shifting elements that can be selectively engaged to create at least seven forward gears without range shifting. The front-mounted gearset consists of a shiftable or non-shiftable planetary gearset or a maximum of two non-shiftable planetary gearsets that are connected to each other. The rear-mounted gearset is configured as a two-carrier, four-shaft transmission with two shiftable planetary gearsets and has four free shafts. The first free shaft of this two-carrier, four-shaft transmission is connected to the first shifting element, the second free shaft to the second and third shifting elements, the third free shaft with the fourth and fifth shifting elements, and the fourth free shaft is connected to the output shaft. For a multi-speed transmission with a total of six shifting elements, the invention proposes that the third free shaft or the first free shaft of the rear-mounted gearset be connected to a sixth shifting element. For a multi-speed transmission with a total of seven shifting elements, the invention proposes that the third free shaft be additionally connected to the sixth shifting element and the first free shaft additionally connected to a seventh shifting element.
Several other multi-speed transmissions are known, for example, from the Applicant's DE 101 15 995 A1, which discloses four shiftable planetary gearsets that are connected to each other, and six or seven fictional shifting elements. The selective engaging of which transmits rotational speed of an input shaft of the transmission to the output shaft of the transmission in such a way that nine or eleven forward gears and at least one reverse gear can be implemented. Depending on the gearbox diagram, two or three shifting elements are engaged in each gear, whereby during shifting from one gear into the next higher gear or the next lower gear, only one engaged shifting element is disengaged and a previously non-engaged shifting element is engaged respectively in order to avoid range shifting.
In addition, the Applicant's generic, unpublished patent application DE 10 2005 002 337.1 proposes a multi-speed transmission with an input shaft, an output shaft, four individual planetary gearsets that are connected with each other, and five shifting elements, in which eight forward gears can be realized without range shifting, i.e., in such a way that, when changing from a forward gear into the next higher or lower forward gear, only one of the previously engaged shifting elements is disengaged, and only one of the previously engaged shifting elements is engaged. The multi-speed transmission also discloses one reverse gear. In all forward gears and in the reverse gear, three shifting elements are engaged respectively. Regarding the kinematic coupling of the four planetary gearsets to each other and to the input and output shaft, it is provided that one carrier of the fourth planetary gearset and the input gear are connected to each other and form a first shaft of the transmission; a carrier of the third planetary gearset and the output shaft are connected to each other and form a second shaft of the transmission; a sun gear of the first planetary gearset and a sun gear of the fourth planetary gearset are connected to each other and form a third shaft of the transmission; a ring gear of the first planetary gearset forms a fourth shaft of the transmission; a ring gear of the second planetary gearset and a sun gear of the third planetary gearset are connected to each other and form a fifth shaft of the transmission; a carrier of the first planetary gearset and a ring gear of the third planetary gearset are connected to each other and form a sixth shaft of the transmission; a sun gear of the second planetary gearset and a ring gear of the fourth planetary gearset are connected to each other and form a seventh shaft of the transmission; and a carrier of the second planetary gearset forms an eighth shaft of the transmission. Relating to the kinematic coupling of the five shifting elements to the four planetary gearsets and to an input and output shaft, it is provided that the first shifting element is arranged in the direction of power flow between the third shaft and a housing of the transmission, the second shifting element between the fourth shaft and a housing of the transmission, the third shifting element between the first and fifth shafts, the fourth shifting element either between the eighth and second shafts or between the eighth and sixth shafts, as well as the fifth shifting element either between the seventh and fifth shafts or between the seventh and eighth or between the fifth and eighth shafts.
Automatically shiftable motorvehicle transmissions in planetary construction have, therefore, in general, been described many times in the state of the art and are subject to continuous further development and improvement. These transmissions should, therefore, have a sufficient number of forward gears and one reverse gear and a transmission ratio that is very well suited to motor vehicles that have a high total ratio spread and favorable gear steps. In addition, they should allow a high starting ratio in a forward direction, contain a direct gear, and be suitable for use in both private and commercial vehicles. In addition, these transmissions should need only simple construction, in particular a small number of shifting elements, and should avoid double shifts by way of a sequential shift mode, so that only one shifting element is engaged or disengaged during shifting within the defined gear ranges.
The present invention is based on the task of proposing a multi-speed transmission of the type cited at the beginning that has at least eight forward gears that are free of range-shifting and at least one reverse gear, which by using a total of four planetary gearsets, requires the smallest possible number of shifting elements. In addition, the transmission should have a large spread with comparatively harmonic gear-stepping and, at least in the main drive gears, a favorable degree of efficiency, i.e., relatively low drag or gearing losses.


The present application provides a package sealing structure, a preparation method thereof and a flexible packaging battery. In a package peripheral region of the package sealing structure, the insulating heat sealing layers of the two layers of packaging film face each other and are melted into one body to form an insulating fusion layer which seals and bonds the two layers of the packaging film together. The insulating fusion layer is formed with an overflow portion that overflows from the package peripheral region of the package sealing structure to the outer end surfaces of the core metal layers of the two layers of packaging film and covers completely the outer end surfaces of the core metal layer of the two layers of packaging film, so that the outer end surfaces of the core metal layers are insulated from the peripheral environment.

In prior art, as shown in FIG. 1, conventional package sealing structure 1 of a battery includes two layers of packaging films 11 that are heat sealed together, each layer of packaging film 11 includes an insulating protective layer 111 located outside, an insulating heat sealing layer 112 located inside, and a core metal layer 113 laminated between the insulating protective layer 111 and the insulating heat sealing layer 112. Among them, in a package peripheral region 12 of the package sealing structure 1, the insulating heat sealing layers 112 of the two layers of packaging film 11 face each other and are melted into one body to form an insulating fusion layer 13 which seals and bonds the two layers of the packaging film 11 together. Then, the end surfaces of the corresponding core metal layers 113 of the package peripheral region 12 are pasted with an insulating adhesive S to prevent the battery from short-circuiting with the peripheral environment. However, such package sealing structure 1 is only suitable for the adhesion and covering of the sealing edge of the package peripheral region 12 which is straight. For the L-shaped or round-shaped profiled edge seal, it is difficult to achieve the adhesion and covering of the insulating adhesive S. In addition, pasting with the insulating adhesive S may increase the overall width of the cell, resulting in a loss of energy density and an increase in the material cost of the cell.

Package sealing structure, preparation method thereof and flexible packaging battery


A method for detecting a clog in a suspect portion of an ink conduit of an ink delivery system, includes the steps of pumping a slug of ink of a known volume into the ink conduit, attempting to pump the slug past the suspect portion, and detecting the presence of ink at a position beyond the suspect portion.

Inkjet printers frequently include an inkjet print head mounted on a carriage that is moved back and forth across print media, such as paper. As the print head is moved across the print media, a control system activates the print head to deposit or eject ink droplets onto the print media to form images and text.
The print head typically includes a fluid reservoir that is fluidically coupled to a substrate that includes ink passageways and is attached to the back of a nozzle layer containing one or more nozzles through which fluid is ejected. The substrate includes energy-generating elements that generate the force necessary for ejecting the fluid held in the reservoir. Two widely used energy-generating elements are thermal resistors and piezoelectric elements. The former rapidly heats a component in the fluid above its boiling point to cause ejection of a drop of the fluid. The latter utilizes a voltage pulse to generate a compressive force on the fluid resulting in ejection of an ink drop.
Ink is provided to the print head by a supply of ink that is either carried by the carriage or is mounted to the printing system and does not to move with the carriage. Where the ink supply is carried with the carriage, referred to as "on-board" or "on-axis" ink supply, the ink supply can be integral with the print head, such that the entire print head and ink supply is replaced when ink is exhausted.
Alternatively, printers have been developed having moving print heads that are connected to stationary ink supplies. This development is called "off-axis" printing and allows the ink supply to be replaced as it is consumed, without requiring the frequent replacement of the costly print head containing the fluid ejectors and nozzle system. Where the ink supply is separately replaceable, the ink supply is replaced when exhausted, and the print head need not be replaced until the end of print head life.
Naturally, it is desirable that the ink supply provide a reliable supply of ink to the inkjet print head. Clogs in ink conduits and passageways and/or changes in ink viscosity can impede this reliability. The ink itself is a mixture including pigments or dyes and other substances carried in a solvent base. The precise mixture of a given ink is carefully designed to provide certain desired qualities of appearance, durability, etc. after the ink is applied to a substrate and dries. The characteristics of the liquid ink are also important because they can affect the accuracy and efficiency of the ink delivery system. For example, the viscosity of a liquid ink is one parameter that can affect the pump metering accuracy of the delivery system, and thereby affect printing quality. Similarly, a high negative pressure on the inlet side of a peristaltic pump, e.g. caused by a clog, can also affect pump metering accuracy.
One challenge that must be dealt with in an ink delivery system is the potential for clogs in ink conduits and passageways, including the nozzles of the print head orifice plate. After an extended idle period, ink within an ink delivery system can gradually lose solvent, such that it either forms a solid obstruction, thereby preventing flow, or produces an increase in viscosity such that dynamic flow losses affect the pump metering accuracy. In a multi-color ink delivery system, such as a color printer that draws ink from multiple reservoirs of different colors, an obstruction or flow reduction associated with just one of the ink colors and one of the pens can significantly affect print quality, and/or result in substantial down time, lost productivity and expense while the problem is corrected.
Some proposed solutions for clearing clogs involve the activation of portions of existing pump recharge and purge cycles. However, because pump metering accuracy is likely affected while a flow obstruction is in place, portions of a pump cycle may be unsuccessful, potentially causing loss of backpressure in the print head or other problems.

Clog detection and clearing method for ink delivery system

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.