An embodiment relates to a sensing device comprising: a housing; a stator disposed within the housing; and a rotor disposed within the stator, wherein the stator comprises a body and a stator tooth coupled to the body, the housing comprises a first surface corresponding to a bottom surface of the stator tooth, and the first surface comprises a curved surface protruding toward the stator tooth. Accordingly, noise can be reduced by reducing the amount of contact between the stator and the housing.

An electronic power steering system (hereinafter referred to as "EPS") operates a motor in an electronic control unit according to operating conditions to ensure the turning stability and provide a high degree of resilience, thereby allowing the driver to drive safely.
In order to provide proper torque, the EPS includes a sensor assembly configured to measure torque of a steering shaft, a steering angle, and the like. The sensor assembly may include a torque sensor configured to measure torque acting on the steering shaft, an index sensor configured to measure an angular acceleration of the steering shaft, or the like. Also, the steering shaft may include an input shaft connected to a handle, an output shaft connected to a wheel-side power transmission configuration, and a torsion bar configured to connect the input shaft and the output shaft.
The torque sensor measures a degree of torsion of the torsion bar to measure the torque acting on the steering shaft. Also, the index sensor detects rotation of the output shaft to measure the angular acceleration of the steering shaft. In the sensor assembly, the torque sensor and the index sensor may be arranged together and integrally configured.
The torque sensor may include a housing, a rotor, a stator, and a collector to measure the torque.
Here, when the torque sensor is assembled to the EPS, contact may occur due to assembly tolerance between the housing and the stator. For example, one surface of the stator may come in surface contact with a bottom surface of the housing. Accordingly, there is a problem in that, during rotation of the stator, noise occurs due to the surface contact.
Also, in a case in which the amount of surface contact between the stator and the housing is increased to minimize clearance to induce safety with respect to the function of the torque sensor, there is a problem in that the noise is further increased.
Further, there is a problem in that noise is increased due to a material difference between a stator ring of the stator and the housing.

Sensing device for reducing contact amount between a stator and a housing to reduce noise


The present invention relates to substituted pyrazolopyrimidinylamino-indazole compounds of formula I, below, as described and defined herein, to methods of preparing said compounds, to intermediate compounds useful for preparing said compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising said compounds and to the use of said compounds for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease, in particular of a hyper-proliferative and/or angiogenesis disorder, as a sole agent or in combination with other active ingredients

The present invention relates to chemical compounds that inhibit MKNK1 kinase (also known as MAP Kinase interacting Kinase, Mnk1) and/or MKNK2 kinase (also known as MAP Kinase interacting Kinase, Mnk2).
Human MKNKs comprise a group of four proteins encoded by two genes (Gene symbols: MKNK1 and MKNK2) by alternative splicing. The b-forms lack a MAP kinase-binding domain situated at the C-terminus. The catalytic domains of the MKNK1 and MKNK2 are very similar and contain a unique DFD (Asp-Phe-Asp) motif in subdomain VII, which usually is DFG (Asp-Phe-Gly) in other protein kinases and suggested to alter ATP binding [Jauch et al., Structure 13, 1559-1568, 2005 and Jauch et al., EMBO J25, 4020-4032, 2006]. MKNK1a binds to and is activated by ERK and p38 MAP Kinases, but not by JNK1. MKNK2a binds to and is activated only by ERK. MKNK1b has low activity under all conditions and MKNK2b has a basal activity independent of ERN or p38 MAP Kinase. [Buxade M et al., Frontiers in Bioscience 5359-5374, May 1, 2008]
MKNKs have been shown to phosphorylate eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding protein A1 (hnRNP A1), polypyrimidine-tract binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF), cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and Sprouty 2 (hSPRY2) [Buxade M et al., Frontiers in Bioscience 5359-5374, May 1, 2008].
eIF4E is an oncogene that is amplified in many cancers and is phosphorylated exclusively by MKNKs proteins as shown by KO-mouse studies [Konicek et al., Cell Cycle 7:16, 2466-2471, 2008; Ueda et al., Mol Cell Biol 24, 6539-6549, 2004]. eIF4E has a pivotal role in enabling the translation of cellular mRNAs. eIF4E binds the 7-methylguanosine cap at the 5′ end of cellular mRNAs and delivers them to the ribosome as part of the eIF4F complex, also containing eIF4G and eIF4A. Though all capped mRNAs require eIF4E for translation, a pool of mRNAs is exceptionally dependent on elevated eIF4E activity for translation. These so-called "weak mRNAs" are usually less efficiently translated due to their long and complex 5′ UTR region and they encode proteins that play significant roles in all aspects of malignancy including VEGF, FGF-2, c-Myc, cyclin D1, survivin, BCL-2, MCL-1, MMP-9, heparanase, etc. Expression and function of eIF4E is elevated in multiple human cancers and directly related to disease progression [Konicek et al., Cell Cycle 7:16, 2466-2471, 2008].
MKNK1 and MKNK2 are the only kinases known to phosphorylate eIF4E at Ser209. Overall translation rates are not affected by eIF4E phosphorylation, but it has been suggested that eIF4E phosphorylation contributes to polysome formation (i.e. multiple ribosome on a single mRNA) that ultimately enables more efficient translation of "weak mRNAs" [Buxade M et al., Frontiers in Bioscience 5359-5374, May 1, 2008]. Alternatively, phosphorylation of eIF4E by MKNK proteins might facilitate eIF4E release from the 5′ cap so that the 48S complex can move along the "weak mRNA" in order to locate the start codon [Blagden S P and Willis A E, Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 8(5):280-91, 2011]. Accordingly, increased eIF4E phosphorylation predicts poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients [Yoshizawa et al., Clin Cancer Res. 16(1):240-8, 2010]. Further data point to a functional role of MKNK1 in carcinogenesis, as overexpression of constitutively active MKNK1, but not of kinase-dead MKNK1, in mouse embryo fibroblasts accelerates tumor formation [Chrestensen C. A. et al., Genes Cells 12, 1133-1140, 2007]. Moreover, increased phosphorylation and activity of MKNK proteins correlate with overexpression of HER2 in breast cancer [Chrestensen, C. A. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 282, 4243-4252, 2007]. Constitutively active, but not kinase-dead, MKNK1 also accelerated tumor growth in a model using Ep-Myc transgenic hematopoietic stem cells to produce tumors in mice. Comparable results were achieved, when an eIF4E carrying a S209D mutation was analyzed. The S209D mutation mimicks a phosphorylation at the MKNK1 phosphorylation site. In contrast a non-phosphorylatable form of eIF4E attenuated tumor growth [Wendel H G, et al., Genes Dev. 21(24):3232-7, 2007]. A selective MKNK inhibitor that blocks eIF4E phosphorylation induces apoptosis and suppresses proliferation and soft agar growth of cancer cells in vitro. This inhibitor also suppresses outgrowth of experimental B16 melanoma pulmonary metastases and growth of subcutaneous HCT116 colon carcinoma xenograft tumors without affecting body weight [Konicek et al., Cancer Res. 71(5):1849-57, 2011]. Screening of a cohort of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients by immunohistochemistry showed that eIF4E phosphorylation correlated with disease grade, early onset of disease and worse prognosis. In addition it was suggested based on preclinical in vitro findings that the MNK/eIF4E pathway represents an escape route utilized by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells to withstand chemotherapeutic treatments (e.g Gemcitabine) [Adesso L, et al., Oncogene. 2012 Jul. 16]. Furthermore, it was observed that Rapamycin activated MKNK1 kinase activity in multiple myeloma cell lines and primary specimens by a MKNK-dependent mechanism. Pharmacological inhibition of MKNK activity or genetic silencing of MKNK1 prevented a rapalog-induced upregulation of c-myc IRES activity. Although Rapamycin, used alone, had little effect on myc protein expression, when combined with a MKNK inhibitor, myc protein expression was abrogated. These data provide a rationale for therapeutically targeting MKNK kinases for combined treatment with mTOR inhibitors [Shi Y et al., Oncogene. 2012 Feb. 27]. In summary, eIF4E phosphorylation through MKNK protein activity can promote cellular proliferation and survival and is critical for malignant transformation. Inhibition of MKNK activity may provide a tractable cancer therapeutic approach.
WO 2006/136402 A1 and WO 2007/059905 A2 (Develogen AG) disclose thienopyrimidin-4-amines and their use for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases which can be influenced by the inhibition of the kinase activity of Mnk1 and/or Mnk2.
WO 2010/023181 A1, WO 2011/104334 A1, WO 2011/104337 A1, WO 2011/104338 A1 and WO 2011/104340 A1 (Boehringer Ingelheim) relate to thienopyrimidin-4-amines for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases which can be influenced by the inhibition of the kinase activity of Mnk1 and/or Mnk2.
WO 1996/040142 A1 dislcoses heterocyclic ring-fused pyrimidine derivates as inhibitors of the erbB family of oncogenic and protooncogenic protein tyrosine kinases such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The general formula I generically covers pyrazolopyrimidinylamino-indazoles. However, the specific compounds disclosed in WO 1996/040142 A1 are pyrrolopyrimidines, triazolopyrimidines, pyridopyrimidines, pyridopyrimidones, and purines, but no pyrazolopyrimidines.
WO 2004/065392 A1 discloses condensed pyridines and pyrimidines and their use as ALK-5 receptor ligands. The general formula I generically covers pyrazolopyrimidinylamino-indazoles. However, WO 2004/065392 A1 does not specifically disclose any pyrazolopyrimidine.
However, the state of the art described above does not describe the pyrazolo-pyrimidin-4-amine compounds of general formula (I) of the present invention as defined herein or, a stereoisomer, a tautomer, an N-oxide, a hydrate, a solvate, or a salt thereof, or a mixture of same, as described and defined herein, and as hereinafter referred to as "compounds of the present invention", or their pharmacological activity.
It has now been found, and this constitutes the basis of the present invention, that said compounds of the present invention have surprising and advantageous properties.
In particular, said compounds of the present invention have surprisingly been found to effectively inhibit MKNK1 kinase and may therefore be used for the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases of uncontrolled cell growth, proliferation and/or survival, inappropriate cellular immune responses, or inappropriate cellular inflammatory responses or diseases which are accompanied with uncontrolled cell growth, proliferation and/or survival, inappropriate cellular immune responses, or inappropriate cellular inflammatory responses, particularly in which the uncontrolled cell growth, proliferation and/or survival, inappropriate cellular immune responses, or inappropriate cellular inflammatory responses is mediated by MKNK1 kinase, such as, for example, haematological tumours, solid tumours, and/or metastases thereof, e.g. leukaemias and myelodysplastic syndrome, malignant lymphomas, head and neck tumours including brain tumours and brain metastases, tumours of the thorax including non-small cell and small cell lung tumours, gastrointestinal tumours, endocrine tumours, mammary and other gynaecological tumours, urological tumours including renal, bladder and prostate tumours, skin tumours, and sarcomas, and/or metastases thereof.

Abstract: wherein R1a, R1b, R1c, and R2 are defined herein.


A lithographic apparatus comprises an illumination system for providing a projection beam of radiation. A support structure is provided for supporting a patterning device, the patterning device serving to impart the projection beam with a pattern in its cross-section. A substrate table holds a substrate, while a projection system projects the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The illumination system comprises a field defining element arranged to define an illuminating field in the plane of the patterning device or in a plane conjugate thereto, the field being off-axis with respect to the optical axis of the illuminating system.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a target portion of a substrate. Lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that circumstance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern corresponding to an individual layer of the IC, and this pattern can be imaged onto a target portion (e.g. comprising part of, one or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer) that has been coated with a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively exposed. Known lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion in one go, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through the projection beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction.
FIG. 1 schematically depicts an example lithographic apparatus. The apparatus comprises:                an illumination system (illuminator) IL for providing a projection beam PB of radiation (e.g. UV radiation).        a first support structure (e.g. a mask table) MT for supporting patterning device (e.g. a mask) MA and connected to first positioner PM for accurately positioning the patterning device with respect to item PL;        a substrate table (e.g. a wafer table) WT for holding a substrate (e.g. a resist-coated wafer) W and connected to second positioner PW for accurately positioning the substrate with respect to item PL; and        a projection system (e.g. a refractive projection lens) PL for imaging a pattern imparted to the projection beam PB by a patterning device MA onto a target portion C (e.g. comprising one or more dies) of the substrate W.
As here depicted, the apparatus is of a transmissive type (e.g. employing a transmissive mask). Alternatively, the apparatus may be of a reflective type (e.g. employing a programmable mirror array of a type as referred to above).
The illuminator IL receives a beam of radiation from a radiation source SO. The source and the lithographic apparatus may be separate entities, for example when the source is an excimer laser. In such cases, the source is not considered to form part of the lithographic apparatus and the radiation beam is passed from the source SO to the illuminator IL with the aid of a beam delivery system BD comprising for example suitable directing mirrors and/or a beam expander. In other cases the source may be integral part of the apparatus, for example when the source is a mercury lamp. The source SO and the illuminator IL, together with the beam delivery system BD if required, may be referred to as a radiation system.
The illuminator IL may comprise adjusting means AM for adjusting the angular intensity distribution of the beam. Generally, at least the outer and/or inner radial extent (commonly referred to as σ-outer and σ-inner, respectively) of the intensity distribution in a pupil plane of the illuminator can be adjusted. In addition, the illuminator IL generally comprises various other components, such as an integrator IN and a condenser CO. The illuminator provides a conditioned beam of radiation, referred to as the projection beam PB, having a desired intensity distribution and a desired angular distribution in its cross-section.
The projection beam PB is incident on the mask MA, which is held on the mask table MT. Having traversed the mask MA, the projection beam PB passes through the lens PL, which focuses the beam onto a target portion C of the substrate W. With the aid of the second positioner PW and position sensor IF (e.g. an interferometric device), the substrate table WT can be moved accurately, e.g. so as to position different target portions C in the path of the beam PB. Similarly, the first positioner PM and another position sensor (which is not explicitly depicted in FIG. 1) can be used to accurately position the mask MA with respect to the path of the beam PB, e.g. after mechanical retrieval from a mask library, or during a scan. In general, movement of the object tables MT and WT will be realized with the aid of a long-stroke module (coarse positioning) and a short-stroke module (fine positioning), which form part of the positioners PM and PW. However, in the case of a stepper (as opposed to a scanner) the mask table MT may be connected to a short stroke actuator only, or may be fixed. Mask MA and substrate W may be aligned using mask alignment marks M1, M2 and substrate alignment marks P1, P2.
The depicted apparatus can be used in the following preferred modes:                1. In step mode, the mask table MT and the substrate table WT are kept essentially stationary, while an entire pattern imparted to the projection beam is projected onto a target portion C in one go (i.e. a single static exposure). The substrate table WT is then shifted in the X and/or Y direction so that a different target portion C can be exposed. In step mode, the maximum size of the exposure field limits the size of the target portion C imaged in a single static exposure.        2. In scan mode, the mask table MT and the substrate table WT are scanned synchronously while a pattern imparted to the projection beam is projected onto a target portion C (i.e. a single dynamic exposure). The velocity and direction of the substrate table WT relative to the mask table MT is determined by the (de-)magnification and image reversal characteristics of the projection system PL. In scan mode, the maximum size of the exposure field limits the width (in the non-scanning direction) of the target portion in a single dynamic exposure, whereas the length of the scanning motion determines the height (in the scanning direction) of the target portion.        3. In another mode, the mask table MT is kept essentially stationary holding a programmable patterning device, and the substrate table WT is moved or scanned while a pattern imparted to the projection beam is projected onto a target portion C. In this mode, generally a pulsed radiation source is employed and the programmable patterning device is updated as required after each movement of the substrate table WT or in between successive radiation pulses during a scan. This mode of operation can be readily applied to maskless lithography that utilizes programmable patterning device, such as a programmable mirror array of a type as referred to above.
Combinations and/or variations on the above described modes of use or entirely different modes of use may also be employed.
EP1372034 describes a microlithography system which is able to generate fields of variable size for illuminating a reticle. This is desirable in order to accommodate different applications and different semiconductor die dimensions. More specifically, EP1372034 describes a system in which a collimated light beam generated by a laser is received by a first diffractive optical element. The purpose of this element is to generate an appropriate range of light angles. A zoom lens (and axicon) is placed behind the first diffractive optical element and can be adjusted so as to change the light angle range appropriate to the particular reticle and application. A second diffractive element placed behind the zoom lens acts to define the "field" which illuminates the reticle (or a conjugate plane) and to smooth variations across that field. Further optics including reticle masking blades and a ReMa lens direct the light onto the surface of the reticle. In one arrangement, the second diffractive element is changeable in order to allow the size of the reticle illuminating field to be varied. The system of EP1372034 is illustrated in FIG. 2. It is noted that in a number of alternative system architectures, the smoothing function of the second diffractive element is performed by a so called "Integrator-rod". This Integrator rod is a long rectangular transparent rod in which the light is transported by total internal reflections. However a limitation of the Integrator rod is that it can only transport mirror-symmetric pupils (due to the total internal reflections), making the arrangement of EP1372034 a useful alternative in certain circumstances.

Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method


A system includes a first database to associate a sub-interface identifier with customer information, a second database to store a history of customer usage records, and a first device. The first device may receive information from a routing device, where the information includes the sub-interface identifier for a sub-interface of the routing device and information identifying an amount of network traffic received at or transmitted from the sub-interface over a time period, use the sub-interface identifier to obtain the associated customer information from the first database, associate the customer information with the information identifying an amount of network traffic received at or transmitted from the sub-interface over a time period to create a new customer usage record, and store the new customer usage record in the second database.

Networks, such as the Internet, have become an increasingly important part of our everyday lives. Millions of people now access the Internet on a daily basis to, for example, shop for goods and services, obtain information of interest (e.g., movie listings, news, etc.), access desired files (e.g., word processing documents, movie files, music files, etc.), and communicate with friends, family, and co-workers (e.g., via e-mail or instant messaging). As a result, a vast amount of traffic traverses a network, such as the Internet, on a daily basis.


A cutting tool has a substrate of cemented carbide including WC and a binder phase. The cutting tool has a gradient surface zone with a thickness of between 50-400 μm having a binder phase gradient with the lowest binder phase content in the outermost part of the gradient surface zone and wherein the cutting tool also includes free graphite. The present disclosure also relates to a method of making a cutting tool according to the above. The cemented carbide body shows improved resistance towards chemical wear when used for machining non-ferrous alloys such as Ti-alloys and Ni-based alloys.

Cutting tools made of cemented carbide are well known in the art for machining Ti-alloys and Ni-alloys. One problem that can occur when machining these types of work piece materials is chemical wear.
Chemical wear is common for machining Ti-alloys. Therefore, the solubility and reactivity with the work piece material is found to be very important when selecting an insert for machining Ti-alloys. The extremely low thermal conductivity of Ti causes heat transfer to the insert and enhanced chemical reactivity.
The impact of the carbon content on the cemented carbide structure is known in the art. A shortage of carbon leads to the formation of eta phase, e.g. W6Co6C, W3Co3C, whereas an excess of carbon leads to precipitation of free graphite. The carbon content is usually balanced so that either eta phase or graphite is formed. Both eta phase and graphite are considered to be something to avoid.


A surface cleaning device including a body having a bottom, an upper end extending in parallel with the bottom, and a boss extending perpendicular to a bottom and the upper end. A handle is threadingly engaged at one end with the boss. A hollow chamber extends the length of the body. A single edge surface engaging part is provided on the upper end of the body. A surface clearing part is provided on the bottom of the body. A pump spray device is engaged with the other end of the handle and extending into the hollow chamber for pumping and spraying fluid contained in the hollow chamber. In one embodiment, single edge surface engaging part on the upper end of the body is a scraper blade; and the surface clearing part on the bottom of the body is a brush. In another embodiment, the single edge surface engaging part on the upper end of the body is a squeegee blade; and the surface clearing part on the bottom of the body is a sponge.

The present invention relates to a deicing and scraping broom for removing ice and snow from vehicle windshields and other surfaces where it is formed. During the winter season, motorists experience much difficulty in removing ice and snow from off the windshield and window glass. In particular, the present invention relates to a high output pump spray dispensing device that allows deicing fluid to flow through the handle of the snow broom causing the ice to melt. The problem with the ice on the vehicle windshield is that it is very hard to remove.


Provided is a device for removing coating on an optical fiber. The device has a cutting depth limiting surface disposed on a receiver body and a cutting blade attached between a pusher body and a fixing block. The cutting blade is made from plastics and has a specified bending elasticity. An optical fiber is inserted between the cutting blade and the limiting surface. During operation, the cutting blade cuts into a covering on the optical fiber. A high precision in arranging the cutting blade is not required.

In the prior art, an optical fiber is known which has an optical fiber main body including a core of crystal and a clad, the optical fiber main body is covered with a non-peeled-off layer (or primary coating) of ultra-violet ray-setting resin (UV resin), thermo-bridged resin or the like, which is further covered with a primary and a secondary covering layers.
When such an optical fiber is connected to a connector or the like, the primary and the secondary covering layers are removed but the non-peeled-off layer is left not removed to prevent the optical fiber main body.
By the way, in the device for removing the covering of an optical fiber of the prior art, a metal cutting blade is fixed to an attachment plate and the like. The cutting blade is set beside an optical fiber, and then the cutting blade is cut into the covering layers. Then, the optical fiber is pulled along the elongate direction of the optical fiber with the cutting blade being cut into the covering layers, thus, the covering layers are removed.
However, the device of the prior art has following problems to be solved:
Since the device for removing the covering of an optical fiber of the prior art has a rigid cutting blade made from metal, the cutting depth in the covering layers must be precisely selected. If the cutting depth is too large the cutting blade may contact with the optical fiber main body and may damage the non-peeled-off layer. On the other hand, if the cutting depth is too small, the covering layers may not be cut apart, and part of the layers may remain on the periphery of the optical fiber main body, which may result in non-uniform outer diameter, and which may spoil efficiency in connecting work using V-grooves, ferules and the like.
Therefore, precise positioning and fixing of the cutting blade on the attachment plate and the like for fixing the cutting blade is required. However, it may be difficult to assure sufficient preciseness especially in a case where the cutting blade is replaced on the construction site. If the cutting blade were ground to maintain the high precision, the manufacturing cost would become very high. In addition, the blade edge would become opt to stain, which might result in defective cutting.
The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above, and an object of this invention is to provide a device for removing covering of an optical fiber without damaging the optical fiber main body or the non-peeled-off layer, eliminating needs for high precision in cutting blade arrangement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Device for removing coating on optical fiber


The invention is a composition comprising a) one or more organotitanates having four ligands wherein the ligands are hydrocarbyl, optionally containing one or more functional groups having one or more heteroatoms selected from the group comprising oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur wherein two or more of the ligands may form a cyclic structure; b) one or more mercaptosilanes; c) one or more polyaminosilanes; d) one or more secondary aminosilanes; and e) a solvent which dissolves the components of the composition. This composition is referred to as a clear primer hereinafter. In another embodiment the invention is a system for bonding glass to a substrate which comprises a clear primer according to the invention; and an adhesive comprising an isocyanate functional prepolymer and a catalyst for the cure of the isocyanate functional prepolymer.

Glass installation is typically a three-stage process. First, a clear silane primer is applied to the glass to clean and prepare the surface for bonding. Second, a primer, which is essentially a carbon black dispersion which also contains a compound having silane and/or isocyanate functionality, often referred to as "black-out primer", is then applied over the top of the clear primer. Third, an adhesive is applied to the primed glass which is then installed into the structure. See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,905, incorporated herein by reference. The black-out primer can mar surfaces of a structure or vehicle on to which the black-out primer may be dripped during installation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,944 discloses a single-step primer system. The primer comprises an aqueous primer solution containing a silane coupling agent which is used to facilitate adhesion of a polymer to a non-porous inorganic substrate such as metal or glass. The silane coupling agent has an amino or a mercapto functional group which is capable of reacting with functional groups of the polymer and also has one or more hydrolyzable groups which reacts with the free-hydroxyl groups on the surface of the substrate. This system requires long dry times before an adhesive can be applied. For many commercial operations, such long dry times are unacceptable. This is especially true in automotive assembly plants wherein each operation needs to be completed in a short period of time.
Yao et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,752 discloses the method for adhering a polyurethane based adhesive to a substrate which comprises applying an aqueous primer solution onto the substrate which comprises water, an amino titanate compound, and preferably, an epoxy silane having at least one epoxy group and at least two alkoxy groups. Thereafter, a polyurethane adhesive is applied to the primer treated surface. A reaction product is formed of the primer and polyurethane.
In order for a primer and adhesive system to be commercially viable, that system must provide a durable bond. "Durable bond" means that the adhesive holds the window into the structure for a period of years. As the structure to which window glass or plastic coated with an abrasion resistant coating is traditionally bonded lasts for a significant number of years, it is expected that the bond holding the glass or coated plastic into a structure also lasts a significant number of years. What is needed is a system which bonds glass or coated plastic into a structure which does not require black-out primer, which provides durable adhesion and which does not require long dry times between application of the primer and application of the adhesive. What is further needed is a system which allows for durable adhesion of the adhesives to the substrate surface.

System for bonding glass into a structure


The present application provides methods and compositions that modulate fruit dehiscence in plants.

Rapeseed is one of the most important oilseed crops after soybeans and cottonseed, representing 10% of the world oilseed production in 1990. Rapeseed contains 40% oil, which is pressed from the seed, leaving a high-protein seed meal of value for animal feed and nitrogen fertilizer. Rapeseed oil, also known as canola oil, is a valuable product, representing the fourth most commonly traded vegetable oil in the world.
Unfortunately, the yield of seed from rapeseed and related plants is limited by pod dehiscence, which is a process that occurs late in fruit development whereby the pod is opened and the enclosed seeds released. Degradation and separation of cell walls along a discrete layer of cells dividing the two halves of the pod, termed the "dehiscence zone," result in separation of the two halves of the pod and release of the contained seeds. The dehiscence zone is a region of only one to three cells in width that extends along the entire length of the valve/replum boundary (Meakin and Roberts, J. Exp. Botany 41:995–1002 (1990)). As the cells in the dehiscence zone separate from one another, the valves detach from the replum, allowing seeds to be dispersed. Seed "shattering," whereby seeds are prematurely shed through dehiscence before the crop can be harvested, is a significant problem faced by commercial seed producers and represents a loss of income to the industry. Adverse weather conditions can exacerbate the process of dehiscence, resulting in greater than 50% loss of seed yield.
The fruit, a complex structure unique to flowering plants, mediates the maturation and dispersal of seeds. In most flowering plants, the fruit consists of the pericarp, which is derived from the ovary wall, and the seeds, which develop from fertilized ovules. Arabidopsis, which is typical of the more than 3000 species of the Brassicaceae, produces fruit in which the two carpel valves (ovary walls) are joined to the replum, a visible suture that divides the two carpels.
The plant hormone ethylene is produced by developing seeds and appears to be an important regulator of the dehiscence process. One line of evidence supporting a role for ethylene in regulation of dehiscence comes from studies of fruit ripening, which, like fruit dehiscence, is a process involving the breakdown of cell wall material. In fruit ripening, ethylene acts in part by activating cell wall degrading enzymes such as polygalacturonase (Theologis et al., Develop. Genetics 14:282–295 (1993)). Moreover, in genetically modified tomato plants in which the ethylene response is blocked, such as transgenic tomato plants expressing antisense polygalacturonase, there is a significant delay in fruit ripening (Lanahan et al., The Plant Cell 6:521–530 (1994); Smith et al., Nature 334:724–726 (1988)).
In dehiscence, ultrastructural changes that culminate in degradation of the middle lamella of dehiscence zone cell walls weaken rapeseed pods and eventually lead to pod shatter. As in fruit ripening, hydrolytic enzymes including polygalacturonases play a role in this programmed breakdown. For example, in oilseed rape, a specific endo-polygalacturonase, RDPG1, is upregulated and expressed exclusively in the dehiscence zone late in pod development (Petersen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 31:517–527 (1996), which is incorporated herein by reference). Ethylene may regulate the activity of hydrolytic enzymes involved in the process of dehiscence as it does in fruit ripening (Meakin and Roberts, J. Exp. Botany 41:1003–1011 (1990), which is incorporated herein by reference). Yet, until now, the proteins that control the process of dehiscence, such as those regulating the relevant hydrolytic enzymes, have eluded identification.
Attempts to solve the problem of pod shatter and early fruit dehiscence over the past 20 years have focused on the breeding of shatter-resistant varieties. However, these plant hybrids are frequently sterile and lose favorable characteristics that must be regained by backcrossing, which is both time-consuming and laborious. Other strategies to alleviate pod shattering include the use of chemicals such as pod sealants or mechanical techniques such as swathing to reduce wind-stimulated shattering. To date, however, a simple method for producing genetically modified plants that do not open and release their seeds prematurely has not been described.
Thus, a need exists for identifying genes that regulate the dehiscence process and for developing genetically modified plant varieties in which the natural seed dispersal process is delayed. The present invention satisfies this need and provides related advantages as well.

Control of fruit dehiscence in plants by

The Regents of the University of California


In a method for braking of a motor vehicle which is driven by a drive torque of at least one electrical machine electrically connected to an electric energy storage device, the at least one electrical machine is operated in a first operating mode as a generator for generating a generator braking torque. In a second operating mode, the at least one electrical machine is supplied with electrical energy from the energy storage device in such a way that a braking torque opposing the drive torque is generated by the at least one electrical machine.

The present invention relates to a method for braking of a motor vehicle, which is driven by a drive torque from at least one electrical machine. The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle.
Electric or hybrid vehicles, which are driven by at least one electrical machine, place new demands on the braking system of the motor vehicles. In these motor vehicles, the electrical machine can be operated as a generator for braking of the motor vehicle. With this so-called regenerative braking, a portion of the kinetic energy of the motor vehicle can be recovered as electrical energy in a braking operation.
Since the braking torques of the electrical machines are usually insufficient to allow full braking of the motor vehicle, friction brakes are also installed, with which the required braking torque can be generated. However, it is advantageous for energy efficiency to convert with the electrical machine as much of the kinetic energy of the motor vehicle as possible into electrical energy and to dissipate the smallest possible portion as heat with the friction brakes.
When the driver operates the brake pedal of the friction brake, he must initially overcome with the pedal a free travel where the friction brake does not generate a braking force. To recover the greatest possible amount of the kinetic energy with the electric motor or the electrical machine, recuperation must take place already in the free travel of the brake pedal. However, no energy can be fed back into the battery from the electrical machine operating in generator mode when the battery or another energy storage device of the motor vehicle is fully charged. Hence no braking effect can be produced by the electrical machine, changing the braking force acting on the vehicle. This change in braking performance may surprise and unsettle the driver.
To limit this effect on the braking performance, the braking torque of the electrical machine is limited in electric or hybrid vehicles having a conventional brake system. However, the potential of the recuperation cannot be fully exploited as a result. Furthermore, so-called blending-enabled braking systems are used, which activate the friction brake regardless of the operation of the brake pedal by the driver so as to provide most uniform braking behavior. However, these braking systems are expensive. Moreover, solution approaches are used wherein with a fully charged battery the energy of the electrical machine is dissipated as heat via an additional ohmic resistor. However, this approach disadvantageously requires additional space, and additional costs are incurred due to the installation of the additional resistor.
DE 103 36743 A1 describes a system which includes a control unit for a drive train for a coordinated torque control of a motor vehicle, in particular of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The torque provided by the individual torque sources is hereby controlled, or a reduction of the torque, for example by flywheels or by counter-current brakes. Here, the operating parameters of the electrical machine or the state of charge of the battery are also monitored. Furthermore, the pedal feedback and the gear shift of the vehicle can be adjusted depending on the driving situation and the driving style of the driver.


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a first guide, a switchback roller, a second guide, and a corrugation member. The corrugation member has a shape for producing a recessed portion and a ridge portion in a sheet. The second guide has a first guide surface and a second guide surface disposed to contact the recessed portion and the ridge portion of the sheet, respectively. As viewed from a downstream side of the switchback roller in a sheet ejection direction along a tangent to the switchback roller at a nip position, a distance between an end of the first guide closest to the switchback roller and an end of the second guide surface closest to the switchback roller is greater than a distance between the end of the first guide closest to the switchback roller and an end of the first guide surface closest to the switchback roller.

An image forming apparatus, e.g., a printer, which is configured to print images on both sides of a sheet, is known.
The printer is configured to change a status of the sheet between when the sheet is ejected from the main body of the printer and stacked and when the sheet is fed back into the main body.
Specifically, the printer includes a corrugation protrusion and a corrugation changing mechanism, which are disposed in proximity to a sheet ejection port. The corrugation protrusion protrudes toward a sheet feed path to corrugate the sheet passing through the sheet feed path. The corrugation changing mechanism is configured to move the sheet feed path such that an amount of the corrugation protrusion protruding toward the sheet feed path varies. When a sheet is ejected from the main body, the corrugation changing mechanism causes the corrugation protrusion to protrude toward the sheet feed path to contact the sheet such that the sheet is corrugated to have increased stiffness. Thus, the sheet can be prevented from being ejected while being curled and the ejected sheet can be stacked neatly. The stiffness of a sheet is a force of the sheet to maintain its original state without bending easily, that is, the tension of the sheet. When the sheet is feed back into the main body, the corrugation changing mechanism changes a feed path of the sheet to be fed such that the sheet does not contact the corrugation protrusion, in other words, the sheet is not corrugated or not given stiffness. This structure reduces, in a path for printing a second side of a sheet, noise caused by contact of the sheet to the main body and damage to the sheet slidingly contacting the main body.


A method, system, and computer program product within a logically partitioned data processing system that includes multiple partitions and a management console are described for displaying messages in a language specified by the console. A language is specified by the management console. The specification is transmitted to each one of the partitions. A message is generated within one of the partitions. The partition then utilizes the specification to select a translation of the message into the language specified by the management console. The translation is then transmitted from the partition to the management console for display by the management console.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer systems and, more specifically, to a method, system, and computer program product in a logically partitioned data processing system that includes a management console for displaying messages in the console's native language regardless of the physical locations of the partitions or console.
2. Description of Related Art
A logical partitioning option (LPAR) within a data processing system (platform) allows multiple copies of a single operating system (OS) or multiple heterogeneous operating systems to be simultaneously run on a single data processing system platform. A partition, within which an operating system image runs, is assigned a non-overlapping subset of the platform's resources. These platform allocable resources include one or more architecturally distinct processors with their interrupt management area, regions of system memory, and input/output (I/O) adapter bus slots. The partition's resources are represented by its own open firmware device tree to the OS image.
Each distinct OS or image of an OS running within the platform is protected from each other such that software errors on one logical partition can not affect the correct operation of any of the other partitions. This is provided by allocating a disjoint set of platform resources to be directly managed by each OS image and by providing mechanisms for ensuring that the various images can not control any resources that have not been allocated to it. Furthermore, software errors in the control of an OS's allocated resources are prevented from affecting the resources of any other image. Thus, each image of the OS (or each different OS) directly controls a distinct set of allocable resources within the platform.
A management console may be utilized as part of the logically partitioned data processing system to manage the various partitions, partitioned hardware, software execution, as well as to perform other management functions such as error handling. Errors are reported from the partitions to the management console and then displayed, via the management console, to a user.
One of the services provided by the management console is to provide serviceability for the system automatically. When an error occurs on a partition, it is delivered to the management console for service. If the same error is being reported from multiple partitions, they are delivered to the management console as separate serviceable events, where they are merged into a single serviceable event. If the management console is being set up for automatic service, the service team is notified about the problem shortly after the error occurs on the partitions.
In some logically partitioned systems, various partitions as well as the management console may be located in different geographical regions. In some cases, the partitions and management console may each be located in different countries. This presents a problem when configuring the system for use according to the local native language.
Also, a system could be shared by several international teams where each team has its own partition set up with its own choice of locale. The administration team could be the host country which wants to set its own locale on the management console. The notification of the errors would be sent to the service team, such as in the U.S. for example, with error descriptions in English.
There is no native language support for error messages that are reported from the partitions to the management console. The error messages delivered from the partitions to the management console are reported in the native language set according to the geographical locale of a partition, and not according to the language of the locale where the management console is located. Thus, for example, if a partition is located in Japan and the management console is located in France, error messages from the partition will be displayed by the management console in Japanese or English. The users in France may have difficulty translating the Japanese error messages.
For partitions, a native language support (NLS) catalog may be bundled with the operating system which then supports various languages. It is not practical, however, to bundle these same catalogs with the management console. For systems where the partitions as well as the management console are located in different countries requiring different language support, multiple different catalogs would have to be supplied with the management console. Coordinating all of these different catalogs would be very complex and error prone.
Further, a user could add software or hardware to a partition at a later time that supplied error messages in a language not supported by the partition's catalog. In this case, even if the management console did have the partition's language catalog, the console would not be able to translate error messages that were generated by the new software or hardware.
Therefore, a need exists for a method, system, and computer program product in a logically partitioned system that includes multiple partitions and a management console that may all be located in different locales for displaying messages in the native language of the geographical location of the console without requiring the console to have a partition's NLS catalog.

Method, system, and computer program product in a logically partitioned data processing system for displaying messages in a management console's native language

International Business Machines Corporation


Fruit or other objects placed on the conveyor and spun by the conveyor are properly oriented on the conveyor by the method and apparatus of the invention by ejecting one or more adjacent touching objects or ejecting objects which form stacked triplets. An optical sensor determines when there is or is not a gap between objects and relates that gap detection to the position of the objects on the conveyor. Detection of a continuous signal through a controller circuit causes a downstream solenoid to be energized according to predetermined timing. The solenoid in turn, when energized, rotates a finger which is coupled to, carried with the conveyor system and situated underneath the pocket between adjacent spools. The finger rotates upwardly and ejects the objects sitting in the pocket, thereby removing the misplaced or touching objects on the conveyor belt.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of fruit--or other object--handling machines and methods and in particular to apparatus and methods for separating objects on a conveyor system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The sorting, grading, separation and handling of objects such as fruit, in particular citrus fruits, on conveyor systems in combination with many different types of apparatus including optically sensing devices is well known. An example of a photo-optical fruit grader assigned to the same assignee as the present invention is described by way of example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,795. In many of these fruit handling devices, such as the one example just referenced, it is necessary to rotate the fruit on the conveyor system in order to have the fruit properly optically scanned or otherwise handled.
The typical conveyor systems for moving and spinning the fruit is comprised of a conveyor with rotating spools connected by a chain. The spaces between adjacent spools define a pocket in which the fruit is intended to rest. The fruit, which may be of various sizes and even, from run to run, of various types, varying for example from large grapefruit to small limes or lemons, is loaded from hoppers onto the conveyor system through various means, which may involve spinning the spools, and are caused to be distributed in the pockets between the spools as the conveyor moves forward. In an ideal situation, one item of fruit will be positioned in each pocket between the pair of adjacent spools and will be spinning freely without touching the adjacent fruit in adjacent pockets.
However, because of the random nature of loading as well as the some random variation in the size and shape of the fruit, the ideal situation does not always occur. On occasion when fruit of sufficient size is loaded on the conveyor, adjacent pockets will contain fruit of such large diameters that the two large adjacent fruits will touch each other. The result of their touching can in some instances substantially interfere with or prevent the rotation of the fruit. Failure of adjacent fruit to rotate, may then in turn cause failure of the grading or handling system, so that the fruit is not scanned, is erroneously ejected, falls off the conveyor at an inappropriate place or the system otherwise mishandles the fruit. An example of this first type of misarrangement is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 2.
Secondly, it may also happen on occasion that smaller fruit may stack in the pocket in multiples or trip lets as shown in FIG. 3.
Two or more fruit may stack in a single pocket or a third fruit may be stacked in a pocket defined by the adjacent fruit themselves. The fruit handling device typically is not designed to handle fruit in this arrangement or any other arrangement other than a single item of fruit within in each pocket. Therefore, both the misarrangement of types of fruit as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and any other arrangement of fruit which results in any situation other than the ideal case must be detected and automatically dealt with to avoid mishandling.
Therefore, what is needed is some type of method and apparatus whereby misarrangements of fruit on a conveyor system in which the fruit is designed to be spun can be corrected.

Optoelectronic object spacing apparatus and method for operating the same


A method for accessing contact information in an electronic device, such as a mobile phone, including a display and a plurality of keys, where each key represents one or more characters, comprising the steps of detecting a first input on a key, and presenting a contact stored as a speed dial choice for the key of the first input. When a second input on a key is detected, all contacts stored in a database of the device are searched, and any contact data including the combination of a character represented by the first input key and a character of the second input key are then presented to the user.

Electronic devices used for storing contact data, and, in some embodiments, also for connecting to other devices represented by the stored contact data, include telephone devices and messaging devices. In these types of devices, one or more data memories are employed for storing the contact data. However, as the number of contacts in a memory increases, suitable algorithms are needed in order to search through the database and find information. For example, in a mobile phone, numerous posts of contact data are stored in a digital contact book, in which it is generally possible to search by inputting initial letters of the contact identity. For this purpose, the number keys of the input interface may typically also be used for entering letters or other characters, i.e. a alpha-numerical keyboard. In such a keyboard, key 6 may for instance also be used for entering letters "M", "N", and "O", in accordance with the established art. As an alternative solution, separate letter keys and number keys are provided, such as on a standard typewriter style keyboard, used in connection with a computer or even on a mobile phone.
When a number key is pressed, the number of that key is typically presented in an input field on the display of the device. By continuing to input numbers a full telephone number may eventually be provided, after which a Call command triggers dialing to the input number. However, if the number to be used has been forgotten by the user, the user may enter the contact book and input the initial letters representing the name stored with that contact. On the other hand, if the user has forgotten the name of the person or entity to call, but has a vague idea of the initial digits of the phone number, the contact may still be hard to find. However, for more frequently used addresses, the device may be configured with speed dial choices. As an example, your home number may be stored for number key 1, and your closest friends and family on the subsequent numbers. Then by pressing e.g. key 7, stored in a speed dial memory to be associated with a contact Anna Andersson, and then pressing a Call button, a call to that contact is initiated even though neither the name or number to that contact has been entered or presented. A third type of contact addresses is unsaved numbers, received when a remote party has called the device. If such a party is to be called back, that number has to be searched among the received or missed calls.
Electronic communication devices are means for the masses today, and it is therefore an important factor that they are user friendly to handle. However, having different ways of locating contact addresses in an electronic device, dependent on how the contact data is stored, counteracts this overall objective.

Method for accessing contact information


There is provided a method of processing an IMS session originated by a UE after restart of a S-CSCF that was previously assigned to a user of the UE during registration with the IMS, when a further S-CSCF is currently assigned to the user. The method comprises, at a HSS, receiving a request to register a user identity of the user from the previously assigned S-CSCF, determining that the previously assigned S-CSCF is not the same as a S-CSCF currently assigned to the user, determining if IMS restoration procedures are supported for the UE, and, if IMS restoration procedures are not supported for the UE, sending a response to the previously assigned S-CSCF, the response identifying the further S-CSCF currently assigned to the user.

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is the technology defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to provide IP Multimedia services over telecommunication networks. The IMS allows a telecommunications system to offer multimedia services to user terminals (referred hereinafter as "user equipment" (UE)). For example, these services can comprise voice, video, text, chat, and combinations thereof. To do so, IMS provides key features to enrich the end-user person-to-person communication experience through the integration and interaction of services. IMS allows new rich person-to-person (client-to-client) as well as person-to-content (client-to-server) communications over an IP-based network. The IMS is able to connect to both PSTN/ISDN (Public Switched Telephone Network/Integrated Services Digital Network) as well as the Internet. In relation to an IMS, a UE may be any device, mobile or stationary, enabled to communicate by radio or any other means with the IMS via an IP-CAN, for instance but not limited to e.g. mobile phone, smart phone, sensors, meters, vehicles, household appliances, medical appliances, media players, cameras, or any type of consumer electronic device, for instance but not limited to television, radio, lighting arrangements, tablet computer, laptop, or PC.
The IMS makes use of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to set up and control calls or sessions between UEs (or UEs and application servers). The Session Description Protocol (SDP), carried by SIP signalling, is used to describe and negotiate the media components of the session. Whilst SIP was created as a user-to-user protocol, IMS allows operators and service providers to control user access to services and to charge users accordingly.
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the architecture for the IMS and its relationship to an IP-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN). In the IMS Core Network, Call/Session Control Functions (CSCFs) operate as SIP proxies, and interface with other entities such as Border Gateway Control Functions (BGCFs) and Media Resource Function Controllers (MRFCs) amongst others. The 3GPP architecture defines three types of CSCFs, and there can be multiple instances of each type of CSCF within an operator's network. A Proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) is the first point of contact within the IMS for a UE; a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) provides services to the subscriber; an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) identifies the correct S-CSCF and forwards to that S-CSCF a request received from a UE via a P-CSCF.
The Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is the main database in the IMS for storage of subscriber and service related data, including user identities, registration information, access parameters and the Initial Filter Criteria (IFC) used to trigger services. For example, the HSS provides support to the IMS nodes/functional entities implementing call and/or session functionalities in order to complete the routing/roaming procedures by solving authentication, authorization, naming/addressing resolution, location dependencies, etc. The HSS also contains functionality of a Home Location Register and Authentication Centre (HLR/AUC) to provide support to packet-switched domain entities, such as the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), and to circuit switched domain entities, such as the Mobile Switching Centres (MSC).
Within the service layer of the IMS network, Application Servers (ASs) are provided for implementing IMS service functionality. Application Servers provide services to end users in an IMS system, and may be connected either as end-points over the 3GPP defined Ma interface, or "linked in" by an S-CSCF over the 3GPP defined ISC interface. In the latter case, Initial Filter Criteria (IFC) are used by an S-CSCF to determine which Applications Servers should be "linked in" during a SIP Session establishment (or indeed for the purpose of any SIP method, session or non-session related). The IFCs are received by the S-CSCF from an HSS during the IMS registration procedure as part of a user's Subscriber Profile.
Although the network nodes in the IMS Core Network should have a very high availability, some maintenance downtime and occasional failures are unavoidable. In addition, the communication links between the network elements are also subject to failures. For this reason 3GPP TS 23.380 specifies a set of standardized procedures for automatic restoration after loss or corruption of data, including restoration procedures for scenarios in which an S-CSCF, which was successfully assigned to serve a UE during registration of the UE, fails to process further signalling relating to a service for said UE. In particular, section 4.4.2 of 3GPP TS 23.380 describes a first scenario in relation to a session originating at the UE in which the S-CSCF that was assigned to serve the UE after the successful registration of the UE has lost all the user related data to the UE or it is unable to trust the store data (e.g. due to a restart). Section 4.4.3 of 3GPP TS 23.380 then describes a second scenario in relation to a session originating at the UE in which the S-CSCF that was assigned to serve the UE after its successful registration becomes unreachable (e.g. due to internal error, or due a communication error).
By way of example, FIG. 2 is a signalling flow diagram illustrating an example of an implementation of the restoration procedures defined in section 4.4.2 of 3GPP TS 23.380 relating to the scenario in which an S-CSCF has lost all the data related to the user. The steps performed are as follows:    S101. The (originating) UE sends a SIP INVITE message to the P-CSCF that is serving the user in order to request establishment of an IMS session.    S102. The serving P-CSCF receives the SIP INVITE, and forwards the SIP INVITE message to S-CSCF 1, which was assigned to the UE during registration. In this regard, the P-CSCF will have learnt the identity of S-CSCF 1 from the Service-Route header fields received during the registration procedure.    S103. S-CSCF 1 receives the SIP INVITE. However, as S-CSCF 1 has lost all the data related to the UE, S-CSCF 1 attempts to obtain the user profile from the HSS. To do so, S-CSCF 1 sends a Diameter Server-Assignment-Request (SAR) message to the HSS with the Server Assignment Type set to NO_ASSIGNMENT, in order to register a user identity of the user.    S104. The HSS receives the SAR message, and checks whether the S-CSCF requesting the user profile is assigned for the user. In this example, the HSS determines S-CSCF 1 is no longer assigned to the user, as another S-CSCF (S-CSCF 2) has been subsequently been assigned to the user (i.e. as S-CSCF 2 has been assigned to the user as a result of a terminating session that occurred after the failure of S-CSCF 1).    S105. The HSS therefore responds to the SAR message by sending a Diameter Server-Assignment-Answer (SAA) message to S-CSCF 1 with the Result-Code set to DIAMETER_UNABLE_TO_COMPLY, thereby indicating that the request has been unsuccessful for unspecified reasons.    S106. S-CSCF 1 receives the SAA message from the HSS and, as a result, returns a SIP 504 message in response to the SIP INVITE.    S107. S-CSCF 1 routes the SIP 504 message back to the UE via the serving P-CSCF.    S108. The UE receives the SIP 504 message and, as a result, the UE initiates a new initial registration to the IMS by sending a SIP REGISTER message.    S109. The serving P-CSCF receives the SIP REGISTER message and forwards the SIP REGISTER message to a I-CSCF.    S110. The I-CSCF receives the SIP REGISTER message and therefore sends a Diameter User-Authorization-Request (UAR) message to the HSS.    S111. The HSS receives the UAR message, and responds with a Diameter User-Authorization-Answer (UAA) message including the identity of the S-CSCF currently assigned to the user (i.e. S-CSCF 2).    S112. The I-CSCF receives the UAA message including the identity of S-CSCF 2 then forwards the SIP REGISTER message to S-CSCF 2.    S113. S-CSCF 2 receives the SIP REGISTER message, and responds with a SIP 200 OK message that includes the identity of S-CSCF 2 in the Service-Route header fields.    S114. The I-CSCF routes the SIP 200 OK message (including the Service-Route) back to the UE via the serving P-CSCF.    S115. The serving P-CSCF receives the SIP 200 OK message, saves the list of service route values in the Service-Route header fields, and forwards the 200 OK message to the UE.    S116. The UE then re-sends the SIP INVITE message in order to request establishment of the IMS session.    S117. The serving P-CSCF receives the SIP INVITE, and forwards the SIP INVITE message to S-CSCF 2, which is the S-CSCF identified in the list of service route values obtained from the Service-Route header fields of the SIP 200 OK response received in step S115.
According to 3GPP TS 23.380 (e.g. chapters 4.4.2 and 4.4.3), both of these scenarios can require that an S-CSCF returns an error response to the UE (i.e. using a SIP 504 response) in order to trigger the UE to initiate a new registration with the IMS. In this regard, 3GPP TS 24.229 (section 5.1.2A.1.6) and 3GPP TS 29.228 (section 18.104.22.168) specify, respectively, the SIP error code to be supported by these UEs (i.e. SIP message with error code "504", received by a UE from a P-CSCF), and the DIAMETER protocol error code to be supported by the S-CSCFs (i.e. DIAMETER protocol error code "DIAMETER_UNABLE_TO_COMPLY", received from a S-CSCF from a HSS, and which causes it to send a SIP message with error code "504" towards the P-CSCF, which is then to be forwarded towards the UE).
In short, the conventional restoration procedures disclosed by the 3GPP specifications require that, when the S-CSCF assigned to a user during registration with the IMS cannot process an IMS session for the user (e.g. because the S-CSCF has lost all user data following a failure or it is unable to trust any data after it resumes operation—as is the case illustrated in FIG. 2, chapter 4.4.2 of 3GPP TS 23.380-, or because the S-CSCF does not respond—e.g. chapter 4.4.3 of 3GPP TS 23.380), the UE must initiate a new registration with the IMS, such that a S-CSCF will be reassigned to the user (which can be the same assigned for its earlier registration, or a new one).
These restoration procedures therefore assume that the UE is able to receive and process a SIP 504 message received in response to a session establishment request, and that the processing of the SIP 504 message by the UE will result in the UE initiating a new registration with the IMS. However, this will not always be possible. In particular, it may not be possible for SIP signalling to transparently reach the UE, and/or the UE may not be SIP-capable. For example, the UE could be a circuit-switched UE that connects to the IMS via Mobile Softswitches (MSS), or even if the UE is SIP-capable, the UE may be connected to the IMS via Session Border Controllers (SBCs) that do not allow full transparent SIP signalling and that therefore might prevent a SIP 504 message from reaching the UE. In addition, even if the SIP signalling can reach the UE and the UE is SIP capable, the UE may not be configured to interpret a SIP 504 message as requiring the UE to initiate a new registration with the IMS. It would therefore be desirable to provide an alternative mechanism that for implementing IMS restoration that does not require the support of the UE.

Methods and apparatus for processing an IMS session


A self-timed circuit for use a clocked logic system is disclosed that comprises a timing detection device for detecting a timing margin of a critical path, the critical path being a path that limits the speed of the system. The circuit further comprises increase logic for increasing the speed of the system clock if the timing margin allows it, and decrease logic for decreasing the speed of the system clock if the timing margin indicates such a need. The increase and decrease logic comprise threshold generator and reset logic, and clock control logic.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to self-timed circuits, and more specifically, to self-timed circuits that detect the timing margin of critical signal paths in a clocked logic system.
2. Background Art
In a computer system, or in any other clocked logic system, the overall performance of the system is largely determined by the frequency of the system's clock signal. As the frequency, and thus the speed of the clock signal increases, the time required to execute system applications decreases. The speed of the system clock signal is limited, though, by the slowest components and/or chips that may be contained in the system, each component having a certain maximum speed at which it can safely operate. Thus, the clock signal frequency is generally determined by the worse case speed of the slowest possible components to ensure that the system will operate over the entire range of temperature and power supply. If the speed of a component barely falls short of one particular speed (e.g., 150 MHz), the whole system must be placed at the next lower speed (e.g., 133 MHz), which would be detrimental to the performance of the system.
To overcome the problem of limiting a system to the worse case speed of its components, self-timed circuits were used in clocked systems to dynamically change the speed of the clock. U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,892, "Clock Control Technique and System for a Microprocessor including a Thermal Sensor," issued September 1995 to Bailey discloses a circuit that monitors the temperature of the system and when certain thresholds are met, will change the frequency of the clock signal. Although the temperature is important in determining the speed at which the system component's may operate, other factors, such as voltage, may also be involved that would cancel out the effects of the temperature factor, thus causing the frequency of the clock to be incorrectly determined.
Other examples of clocked systems that are dynamically self-timed include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,521, "Self-Timed Interconnect Speed-Up Circuit," issued October 1995 to Dobbelaere; U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,176, "Self-Timed Clocking System and Method for Self-Timed Dynamic Logic Circuits," issued July 1994 to Miller, Jr. et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,520, "Clocking Systems and Methods for Pipelined Self-Timed Dynamic Logic Circuits," issued Jul. 18, 1995 to Yetter et al. The above-mentioned patents disclose self-timed systems, but they do not take into account all the factors that can slow down, or speed up a clocked logic system.
Accordingly, a need has developed in the art for a self-timed circuit for a clocked logic system with dynamic sensing that will adjust the speed of a clock according to the timing margin of the components in a particular system, thus permitting the system to operate at the fastest speed the components and environment allow.

Self-timed circuit having critical path timing detection

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus attached to a lifting device on a transport vehicle for handling a container, the apparatus comprising two arms. At least one arm comprises a first generally C-shaped latch member having a first opening sized to allow a passage of a latching projection therethrough. The at least one arm also comprises a second generally C-shaped latch member rotatably nested inside the first latch member. The second latch member has a second opening sized to allow the passage of the latching projection therethrough and has an inner contact surface shaped to receive the latching projection on the side of the container. The at least one arm also comprises rotating means to selectively rotate each of the second latch members with respect to the first latch member between a capture position, a locking position and a dumping position.

Aluminum casthouses often have various restrictions in terms of loading space. After the formation of aluminum ingots, scrap elements (billets) are re-introduced into the heating oven to be melted once again. These billets (ingots having a cylindrical shape) are loaded into a container and then dumped into the oven. Similarly, any additives that are added to the oven, including silica or other materials used to create alloys, are manipulated in a similar manner.
A problem with a majority of dumping apparatuses is that these apparatuses have problems dumping their charges into a partly filled oven without splashing or avoiding contact of the container with the molten aluminum surface in the oven.
For the loading and dumping of billets, the prior art apparatuses use either buckets, or containers with bottom doors. The use of buckets usually implies a dumping of loads from a certain height, thus causing splashes when the billets fall into the molten metal. Containers with bottom doors, on the other hand, have two major inconveniences. First of all, very often the bottom door enters in contact with the molten aluminum metal when it opens. Secondly, the container door opening mechanism is often exposed to extremely high temperatures, which reduces its reliability and life span.
Thus, in order to develop a container that does not enter into contact at all with molten aluminum and which reduces exposition of its components to high heat sources, the conventional container principle has to be rethought.
The prior art apparatuses have another important problem: their containers occasionally fall into the ovens. Consequently, a new grappling principle is required to ensure a better quality of the grip of the apparatus onto the container while maintaining in possible shape and global structure of the containers that were initially developed to optimize the capacity, compactness, loading, dumping, stacking capacity and handling of the containers by truck lifts. A mechanism on the container itself must be avoided in order to reduce any exposition of the mechanism to premature wear. Additionally, the apparatus must hold the container solidly at the end of its arms above the oven and make the container turn completely on its own axis without making the container fall into the oven. This rotation must be done with a perfect control of the movement of the container with an offset distance of approximately 6 feet. Modifications to the design were not supposed to influence the attachment mechanism of the apparatus, which must remain removably attached and compatible with a quick attachment system.
Thus, there is still presently a need for an apparatus which can be used to dump tubs or containers.
With such an apparatus, avoidance of any contact of the containers with molten metal surface is desired. Additionally, the apparatus should reduce risks of plunging the container in molten metal. Moreover, the apparatus should be adapted to allow the dumping of metal without causing splashes, nor submerging the container in molten metal, as the container must not enter into contact with the molten metal in the oven.
The apparatus should allow rotation of the container on its own axis, which allows for furnace loading, even if the furnace is full. The apparatus should also be able to dump billets as far away as possible into the oven, by pivoting the container by at least 180°.
Furthermore, the containers should be designed to facilitate loading with conveyors. Additionally, there is a need for an apparatus that insures quick and safe loading of the container. There is also a need for an apparatus, which increases charging capacity of the containers, which can be heavy duty and be stacked to reduce storage space. Consequently, there is a need to develop a container adapted to the loading and dumping of billets in ovens. Such a container should be able to hold up to 2,000 kg of scrap billets, and dump its load without having the container entering contact with the molten aluminum surface. Charges to be lifted and pivoted are typically around 3,000 kg (billets plus container), on a distance around approximately 6 feet. Hence, the containers are designed to be stacked one on top of the other and can be moved from one place to another with a typical power lift truck. Consequently, the containers must have a balanced structure and must be easy to handle. Additionally, the apparatus must be able to stack the containers in a secure manner.
There is also a need for an apparatus that has as many various uses as possible (e.g. being adapted to different formats and shapes of containers—silica buckets, etc.), and be compatible with a quick attached system. Containers being manipulated by the apparatus must also be able to be manipulated by power lift trucks.
The grasping mechanism of the apparatus must be safe and designed in order to avoid dropping containers into the ovens.
Work being accomplished with this apparatus must be done without having the operator exiting the vehicle holding the apparatus. Grasping of containers on the floor must be done without help or signalmen. Grasping of containers must be executed by the operator of the vehicle only.
The dumping means must be designed to take into account the weight of the containers, the center of gravity of the container being rotated, friction of various components and any offset distance between the vehicle and the containers or boxes that have to be displaced or manipulated.
Thus there is still presently a need for an apparatus which meets the above-mentioned requirements.


A beverage container having a slidably openable lid assembly is disclosed. The lid assembly basically comprises a base member and a cover member. The base member includes a wall portion releasably securing the lid assembly to the container and an opening in fluid communication with a beverage holding chamber in the container. The cover member is slidably coupled to the base member to slide from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. When the cover member is in the closed position it isolates the opening and the contiguous portions of the base member from the ambient surroundings. When the cover member is in the open position it exposes the opening to enable a user to drink the beverage via the opening. The cover includes an elastomeric member arranged to engage and seal the opening in the base member when the cover member is in the closed position.

Various containers for holding beverages to enable a user to drink the beverage directly from the container are available commercially. Many such containers make use a re-sealable lid to close off the access opening or spout of the container from which the user drinks the beverage. However, such prior art re-sealable beverage container/lid combinations do not optimally discourage the transfer of germs. In fact, they help spread colds, flu and other infections. In particular, the area on a container around the access opening where the user's mouth touches is not aseptic. Additionally, however, any surface area the user's mouth touched that extends beyond that area which a cap or lid may cover will likewise expose one to germs. The problem persists even when the lid or cap flips, slides or folds over the access opening. In this regard, currently available lids do not cover areas of the container where the user's lips touch.
Accordingly, a need exists for a container having a lid which is connected to the container and is movable to a position to cover all of the areas of the container which may be contacted by the user. The subject invention addresses that need.

Lid for beverage container and beverage container including same


Three fuser rollers cooperate with a pressure roller to form an extended fusing zone through which a substrate carrying toner images passes with the toner images contacting a fusing belt. Electrical power is applied to the three fuser rolls in such a manner that the portions of the belt in a fusing zone are heated to a predetermined operating temperature in accordance with a setpoint temperature. The free extent of the belt or in other words the portion of the belt outside of the fusing zone is adapted to be heated to various operating temperatures in order to produce prints with different gloss as desired.

This invention relates to the art of forming powder images and, more particularly, to heat and pressure belt fuser apparatus wherein image gloss is varied by varying the temperature of images just prior to stripping.
In the art of xerography or other similar image reproducing arts, a latent electrostatic image is formed on a charge-retentive surface which may comprise a photoconductor which generally comprises a photoconductive insulating material adhered to a conductive backing. When the image is formed on a photoconductor, the photoconductor is first provided with a uniform charge after which it is exposed to a light image of an original document to be reproduced. The latent electrostatic images, thus formed, are rendered visible by applying any one of numerous pigmented resins specifically designed for this purpose.
It should be understood that for the purposes of the present invention the latent electrostatic image may be formed by means other than by the exposure of an electrostatically charged photosensitive member to a light image of an original document. For example, the latent electrostatic image may be generated from information electronically stored or generated, and this information in digital form may be converted to alphanumeric images by image generation electronics and optics. However, such image generation electronic and optic devices form no part of the present invention.
In the case of a reusable photoconductive surface, the pigmented resin, more commonly referred to as toner which forms the visible images is transferred to a substrate such as plain paper. After transfer the images are made to adhere to the substrate using a fuser apparatus. To date, the use of simultaneous heat and contact pressure for fusing toner images has been the most widely accepted commercially, the most common being ones that utilize a pair of pressure engaged rolls.
Conventional roll fusers operate within a narrow range of temperatures. Image gloss is limited by roll surface texture and toner resin glass transition temperature and molecular weight. Fuser latitude is limited on the low end (i.e. low process speed machines) by poor image fix and on the high end (i.e. high process machines) by hot offset. Large changes in fuser roll temperature are required to appreciably affect image gloss which changes.
While belt fusers are known in the prior art they do not provide for creating prints with exhibiting different gloss characteristics.
A number of belt fusers, some of which may be relevant to certain aspects of the present invention, are noted.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/168,833 which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention relates to a belt fuser wherein three fuser rollers cooperate with a pressure roller to form an extended fusing zone through which a substrate carrying toner images passes with the toner images contacting fusing belt. Electrical power is applied to the three contact rolls in such a manner that only the portions of the belt in the fusing zone are heated. Thus, the energy is concentrated only in the part of the fusing belt where it is needed for fusing the toner images on the final substrate. Thus, the free extent of the belt or in other words the portion of the belt outside of the fusing zone remains unheated.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/169,838 which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention relates to a power controller, which does not rely on the use of sensors such as thermistors to control the operating temperature of a belt fuser. It features various preset inputs to control: steady state watts/in, cold start boost watts/in, warmup and cooldown time constants.
The controller sets the desired power based on the on-off cycling of the system. There are no sensors used to measure fuser temperature. For a cold start, the steady state plus boost power is used, during warmup the boost level is exponentially decreased at a rate set by a warmup time constant. When at rest (with no applied power) the power setpoint is exponentially increased at a rate set by a cooldown time constant.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/169,802 which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention relates to a belt fuser for fusing transparencies without having to resort to off-line methods and apparatus. The toner images which are formed on the transparency during the imaging process have time to cool prior to separation from a smooth-surfaced belt.
The peak fusing temperature is significantly higher than used with conventional fusers such as heat and pressure roll fusers. This higher temperature guarantees excellent toner melting and flow thereby producing transparencies with excellent projection efficiency.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/168,835 which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention relates to a belt fuser wherein three fuser rollers cooperate with a pressure roller to form an extended fusing zone through which a substrate carrying toner images passes with the toner images contacting fusing belt. Electrical power is applied to the three contact rolls in such a manner that only the portions of the belt in the fusing zone are heated. Thus, the energy is concentrated only in the part of the fusing belt where it is needed for fusing the toner images on the final substrate. Thus, the free extent of the belt or in other words the portion of the belt outside of the fusing zone remains unheated.
To ensure good electrical contact in the presence of silicone oil contamination on the electrically resistive inner surface of the fusing belt, the contact rollers are textured by knurling, bead blasting or other suitable means.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/168,891 which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention relates to belt fuser wherein three fuser rollers cooperate with a pressure roller to form an extended fusing zone through which a substrate carrying toner images passes with the toner images contacting fusing belt. Electrical power is applied to the three fuser rolls in such a manner that only the portions of the belt between the rollers are heated. Thus, the energy is concentrated only in the part of the fusing belt where it is needed for fusing the toner images on the final substrate. Thus, the free extent of the belt or in other words the portion of the belt outside of the fusing zone remains unheated. Toner images are directly formed on or transferred to the unheated portion of the fusing belt. The images carried by the belt are then moved through the fusing zone nip where the images are simultaneously fused and transferred to a final substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,439 granted to Scott D. Reynolds on Jan. 21, 1986 relates to a belt fuser for fusing toner images. The fusing apparatus is characterized by the separation of the heat and pressure functions such that the heat and pressure are effected at different locations on a thin flexible belt forming the toner contacting surface. A pressure roll cooperates with a non-rotating mandrel to form a nip through which the belt and copy substrate pass simultaneously. The belt is heated such that by the time it passes through the nip its temperature together with the applied pressure is sufficient for fusing the toner images passing therethrough. The non-rotating mandrel is adapted to having its axis skewed relative to the axis of the pressure roll. A pair of edge sensors are provided for activating a mandrel skewing mechanism. Skewing of the mandrel by such mechanism effects proper belt tracking. U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,073 granted to Scott D. Reynolds on Jan. 7, 1986 relates to a low mass heat and pressure fuser and release agent management system therefor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,738 granted to Noriyoshi Ishikawa on Jan. 28, 1992 discloses a fusing apparatus having an electrically conductive film which moves in contact with a recording material to which a toner image has been transferred, a pressing roller for causing the film to be brought into contact with the recording material and a plurality of electrodes disposed along a nip between the film and the pressing roller at a position opposing this pressing roller. The electrically conductive film heats up substantially only in the nip as the result of an electrical conductance to this electrode. The toner image on the recording material is heated and fixed by the heat generated in the electrically conductive film positioned in the nip. In a modified embodiment of the foregoing fusing device, a fusing film is fabricated using a thin-film conductive layer made by aluminum deposition or the like. The conductive layer is disposed on the side of a base film comprising carbon black added to a polycarbonate that will contact the transfer material on which a picture image is carried. Power is supplied between a first electrode and a second electrode. Joule heat is produced in the thickness direction of the fusing film.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,606 granted on Jan. 26, 1993 discloses an image fusing apparatus including a heater; a film movable with a recording material, in which the recording material has a toner image thereon which is heated through the film by heat from the heater; and the film has a heat resistive resin base layer containing inorganic electrically initiative filler material and a parting layer containing electrically conductive filler material.


A fuel supply system supplies composite fuel containing alcohol and gasoline to multiple cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The composite fuel includes main-fuel and sub-fuel. The sub-fuel is lower than main-fuel in concentration of alcohol. Each of multiple first fuel injection valves is provided to each of the cylinders for injecting fuel. Each of multiple second fuel injection valves is provided to each of the cylinders for injecting fuel. A fuel inlet portion supplies at least sub-fuel to each of the first fuel injection valves and each of the second fuel injection valves. A selector control unit selects one of main-fuel and sub-fuel supplied through the fuel inlet portion to each of the first fuel injection valves.

In recent years, composite fuel, which is mixture of gasoline and alcohol such as bioethanol, is widely recognized as fuel excellent in reduction in environmental pollution when used for an internal combustion engine. For example, JP-A-2007-278121 proposes a fuel supply system for selectively supplying composite fuel including main-fuel, which is high in alcohol concentration, and sub-fuel, which is low in alcohol concentration, into each cylinder of an internal combustion engine. Specifically, in the fuel supply system of JP-A-2007-278121, a fuel injection valve is provided near an intake port of each cylinder injects main-fuel, and an injection nozzle is provided at the upstream of the intake port of each cylinder injects sub-fuel. In the present structure, a duty-controlled valve controls sub-fuel, which is supplied to the injection nozzle and injected from the injection nozzle, when the internal combustion engine is started under a low temperature state, for example. However in the fuel supply system of JP-A-2007-278121, the injection nozzle is used for supplying sub-fuel being low in alcohol concentration. In the present structure, sub-fuel may not be sufficiently atomized and sprayed, and consequently the internal combustion engine may not be steadily started. Furthermore, in the fuel supply system of JP-A-2007-278121, main-fuel being high in alcohol concentration is regularly supplied to the fuel injection valve so as to reduce environmental pollution. In the present structure, deteriorated component of main-fuel may be easily cause deposit on the tip end of the fuel injection valve. When deposit accumulates on the tip end of the fuel injection valve, quantity of fuel injected from the fuel injection valve may be reduced, and consequently durability of the fuel injection valve may be reduced. Therefore, an occupant of the vehicle needs to perform a periodical maintenance operation such as supplying sub-fuel to the fuel injection valve so as to remove deposit from the fuel injection valve.

Fuel supply system and method for supplying fuel


A flavor inhaler cartridge includes a housing, a movable lid member, an aerosol flow passage, a turning member, and a motion conversion mechanism. The housing includes a reservoir space to house a liquid and an atomizing space to atomize the liquid. With the movable lid member, the reservoir space and the atomizing space are openably/closably partitioned. The aerosol flow passage supplies an aerosol generated by the atomization of the liquid from the atomizing space to outside of the housing. The motion conversion mechanism converts the circumferential turning motion of the turning member into an axial linear motion of the lid member. The lid member is fixed to the motion conversion mechanism. The motion conversion mechanism is configured such that circumferentially turning the turning member moves the lid member in a direction of approaching the turning member and communicates between the reservoir space and the atomizing space.

There has been conventionally known a flavor inhaler to inhale a flavor without burning a material. For example, an electronic cigarette has been known as such flavor inhaler. The electronic cigarette supplies an aerosol generated by atomizing liquid (aerosol source) containing a flavor to a mouth of a user or causes an aerosol generated by atomizing liquid not containing a flavor to pass through a flavor source (for example, a tobacco source) and supplies the mouth of the user with the aerosol.
Some electronic cigarettes include a tank to house the liquid to generate the aerosol and an atomization unit that atomizes this liquid. Some of the above-described electronic cigarettes including the tank include a lid with which the tank and the atomization unit are partitioned to supply the liquid in the tank to the atomization unit. This lid is openably/closably configured, and, for example, the user opens the lid while the electronic cigarette is in use and closes the lid while the electronic cigarette is not in use.
As an open/close mechanism of the lid, for example, there has been known a mechanism that turns a mouthpiece to press down a pipe through which an aerosol passes and open a lid (see PTL 1 and PTL 2). There has been also known an electronic cigarette that engages a battery assembly with an atomizer assembly to open a valve with which a reservoir that houses liquid and an atomizer are partitioned (see PTL 3 and PTL 4).

Flavor inhaler cartridge and flavor inhaler