A programmable display device (i) identifies a switch indicated by a pointing element based on one or two first detected values (in one or two of three directions of a three-dimensional space) of detected values indicative of the position of the pointing element in the three-dimensional space detected by a proximity sensor and (ii) detects a pressing action with respect to the switch based on a second detected value which is a value in another one of the three directions (pressing action detecting direction) other than the direction in which the switch was identified. The programmable display device calculates the amount of movement of the pointing element in the pressing action detecting direction based on a change in the second detected value, and determines whether or not the pressing action of the pointing element with respect to the switch is effective based on the amount of movement.

Human-machine interfaces (HMI), such as programmable display devices, include: a display section that displays a screen; a touch panel via which touch input is received; an interface for communication with apparatuses connected to the HMI; and a control section that controls the above listed sections. Such an HMI receives, via the touch panel on the display section, manual input for giving control instructions or the like to the HMI.
In plant floors for machining, pharmaceutical production, food production, and the like, an HMI needs to be operated in a non-contact manner in some cases. For example, in plant floors for machining, an operator sometimes operates an HMI with working gloves on; however, if the HMI is operated by touching a display surface with greasy gloves, the display surface may become dirty. Furthermore, in plant floors for pharmaceutical or food production, operators are not allowed to touch products with the finger that touched the display surface (which is not in a sterile condition), from the hygiene point of view.
One way to address such issues would be to use a non-contact operation technology, examples of which are provided below.
For example, there are several existing techniques to emulate mouse operation or touch operation by detecting a gesture based on the results of eye-tracking or image analysis. According to such techniques, it is possible to operate an HMI almost as intended, with few malfunctions.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses detecting movement of a pointing element on a virtual touch panel in a non-contact manner. The virtual touch panel virtually corresponds to a screen of a display device. The movement of the pointing element on the virtual touch panel is detected by a distance sensor, and displayed on the real screen of the display device.
The distance sensor captures an image of a to-be-detected element with an infrared camera, by making use of infrared light emitted by an infrared LED and reflected at the to-be-detected element. The three-dimensional position coordinates of the pointing element (which is a measurement target) are calculated by an information processor by carrying out an image analysis of an image signal from the infrared camera.
Furthermore, gesture interfaces using an infrared proximity sensor have been increasingly employed in smartphones and car navigation systems. Such gesture interfaces are suitable for HMIs from the viewpoints of cost reduction, space saving, environmental resistance, required computing resource, and the like conditions.
Furthermore, speech input, which has made progress in recent years, could also be used in gesture detection.


A polyester-based coating composition capable of forming a striated pattern on a metal surface at a film thickness less than half of that of PVC plastisol films is provided by a thixotropic composition having a thix index of from about 1.5 to about 3 and comprising a hydroxy-functional polyester, a thixotropy-inducing rheologic agent and curing agent. The striated coating is applied to sheet metal in a coil coating operation by introducing the composition into a paint pan of a coil coater, transferring said composition from said paint pan to an applicator roll by rotating a pick-up roll in contact with the composition and with said applicator roll; continuously withdrawing a sheet of metal from a coil thereof and coating said sheet by contacting it with the applicator roll; curing the coating on said sheet by passing the sheet through an oven at an elevated temperature; and continuously rewinding said sheet into a coil.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to textured coatings for metal articles. In particular, it relates to polyester-based coatings which offer the appearance of a striated poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastisol-based coating. More particularly, this invention relates to coil coating compositions which give a striated pattern simulating a wood grain on aluminum siding.
Thixotropy is the property of a liquid whereby its viscosity decreases as it is stirred at a constant shear rate but increases again to its original value some time after the shear rate is reduced to zero. In the coil coating operation, a coil of sheet metal is uncoiled as it is pulled through a series of rollers, one or more of which is a paint applicator roller, at up to 600 feet per minute. It is then passed through a curing oven and coiled again for the market. The paint is picked up by a roller rotating in the paint pan and transferred to an applicator roller. The thixotropy that is necessary for the formation and retention of the striations must be balanced against the need for recirculation of the paint from the paint pan to a drum from which it was pumped into the pan.
2. Description of Related Art
Existing technology for the creation of a striated appearance on sheet metal on a single pass through a coil coating apparatus is limited to the use of PVC plastisols. The film thickness of said plastisols must be from 3 to 5 mils in order to give proper coverage to the substrate and to produce the desired striated pattern. The cost of such a thick film per square foot is relatively high when compared with other coatings. Also, the poor heat stability of PVC resins is a problem during the manufacture of the plastisol and during its use on the coil coating line. The heat sensitivity can lead to gelation of the plastisol which makes it unusable.

Decorative coating with textured pattern


A modular interchangeable floor mat includes a mat frame and a mat insert. The mat frame includes a central portion having a plurality of integrally formed upwardly-extending hooked nibs and a peripheral edge. The mat insert includes a hook-retaining material defining a bottom surface. The hook-retaining material may include a nonwoven material or a reticulated foam. The plurality of upwardly-extending hooked nibs of the mat frame is engageable with the hook-retaining material of the mat insert. The mat frame may also include a plurality of integrally formed downwardly-depending nibs or ridges.

It is often desirable to protect factory installed carpeting in a vehicle, and particularly, carpeted floorboards from wear and tear.
Conventionally, vehicle floor mats typically include solid rubber floor mats, and carpeted floor mats which are placed over the carpeted floorboards of the vehicle. Recent attempts have focused on floor mats having a base portion and a releasably attachable top portion.
There is a need for further modular interchangeable floor mats.


A test system and method for scheduling and running multiple tests on a single system residing in a single test environment. The test system comprises a processor operable to receive a request to run a selected test on the system at a selected start time, and determine a time slot for the selected test. The test system is also operable to identify any scheduled tests to be run on the system within the time slot, and identify any conflicts between the selected test and any scheduled tests. If no scheduled tests are identified or if no conflicts are identified, the processor is operable to schedule the selected test to run on the system at the selected start time. If conflicts are identified, the processor is preferably operable to determine an alternative start time for the selected test that avoids any conflicts. Various exemplary embodiments of the test system and associated method are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the scheduling and running of tests on a system, and more particularly to the scheduling and running of multiple tests on a single telecommunications system residing in a single test environment.
2. Description of Related Art
A telecommunications system will generally include various types of telecommunications equipment that are used to process calls routed through the system. Examples of such telecommunications equipment include a local user switch, a host computer, and numerous voice response units ("VRU's"). The calls routed through the telecommunications system may consist of voice signals routed between human users, data signals routed between computers or other machines (e.g., facsimile machines), or voice/data signals routed between a human user and a machine (e.g., a VRU).
Over the last decade, automated test systems have been developed that can be used to run a variety of different tests on a telecommunications system residing in a test environment for the purpose of testing new hardware and software features prior to procurement or implementation, or for troubleshooting hardware and software problems found in a particular production environment. In each of these tests, the test system transmits voice and/or data signals to the telecommunications system in such a manner as to simulate the types of calls that are typically routed through a telecommunications system. The test system then detects and evaluates the response voice and/or data signals produced by the telecommunications system to assess the operation thereof.
One type of test that can be run on a telecommunications system is a "validation test." In this test, the test system is used to validate the functionality of a new hardware or software feature of the telecommunications system. In a related test, the test system is used to test whether the newly added hardware or software feature has a negative impact on the functionality of existing hardware and software features of the telecommunications system. This test is known as a "regression test."
Another type of test that can be run on a telecommunications system is a "stress test." In this test, the test system is used to place a plurality of outbound calls to the telecommunications system for the purpose of testing the operation of the telecommunications system under a maximum load condition. In another test, the test system is used to place various outbound calls to the telecommunications system for the purpose of testing how different call mixes affect the overall performance of the telecommunications system. This test is known as a "performance test." Yet another type of test that can be run on the telecommunications system is a "fault tolerance test." In this test, the test system is used to simulate errors in the hardware or software features of the telecommunications system for the purpose of testing whether there is a proper switchover to redundant telecommunications equipment.
Most test systems are designed such that multiple test persons (each of which sits at his/her own workstation) together perform all of the required tests on the telecommunications system, which resides in a single test environment. Because the test persons must share the equipment resources of the telecommunications system, they must coordinate their test sessions such that only one test is being run on the telecommunications system at a particular point in time. As can be appreciated, the inability to run multiple tests on the telecommunications system simultaneously causes relatively long testing times. As a result, there is a delay in the overall time to market for new hardware and software features, and a delay in the time required to troubleshoot and repair hardware and software problems found in the production environment.
In an effort to overcome these problems, some testbeds have been designed to include two or more telecommunications systems that reside in separate test environments. Test persons are thus able to run concurrent tests on each of the telecommunications systems, thereby shortening the testing time and reducing the delays noted above. This solution is not ideal, however, in that the addition of one or more telecommunications systems (each of which resides in its own test environment) significantly increases the overall cost of the testbed. Also, the additional telecommunications system(s) occupy valuable space within the testbed.

Test system and method for scheduling and running multiple tests on a single system residing in a single test environment


Systems and methods include an assembly for a label wrapper to adhere a label to an elongated object, such as a wire. The assembly includes a support structure defining a receiving space. One or more resilient members are positioned within the receiving space and define one or more channels. One or more flexible sheets are disposed over the resilient members and within the channels. The first and second flexible sheets may provide a substantially uniform pressure on the label being applied to the wire regardless of the size of the wire and the label. In some instances, the label is configured to fold around the wire and have first and second opposing end segments that couple with one another remotely from the wire thereby forming a flag label.

Printers, such as thermal transfer label printers, are often used for printing various labels. In various thermal transfer label printers, a label and a thermal transfer printer ribbon are compressed between a print head and a roller and fed together past the print head. The print head produces sufficient heat in the appropriate locations to transfer the ink from the ribbon to the label to print a label.
The labels produced by the printer are often then applied to the wires being labeled by hand. In various applications, industry or customer specifications may dictate a type of label that can be applied. For example, the label may be a heat-shrink tubing label, a material configured to wrap around an object, a self-laminating label, a flag label, and/or a non-adhesive label. Applying a label to a wire by hand has many drawbacks. No matter the type of label, attempting to apply labels to wires—especially small diameter wires—is time consuming, inaccurate in that it is difficult to place the labels in such a way that the labels are square and aligned on the wire, and inefficient in that it is difficult to properly and evenly secure the label to the surface of the wire.
Label application mechanisms are available that automatically apply tape and preprinted labels to cylindrical objects, such as bottles, cans, and the like. These systems typically require the object being labeled to be conveyed past the applicator mechanism in order for the mechanism to apply a preprinted label. A finishing device can then press the label to the object. However, these systems are designed to be used with large diameter cylindrical objects such as cans or bottles and none of these systems can be used or be easily adapted to be used with elongated, flexible objects of a small diameter such as wires, wire bundles, and non-cylindrical objects. Additionally, label application mechanisms are usually very large and adjustments take a significant amount of time.
Moreover, the application of a flag label onto a cylindrical object having a relatively small diameter, such as a wire, presents a host of additional problems. For example, when applying a flag label to an object, the label can stick to the label applicator as it is pressed against the object or the label may be misaligned. Further, it is difficult to uniformly press a label against the object to avoid bubbles and ensure that opposing sides of the label are uniformly aligned with one another.
Therefore, a need exists for a device that can securely and uniformly apply a flag label, and many other types of labels, to a relatively small diameter object.


A Plasma Display Panel (PDP) includes: a front panel including a front substrate including a plurality of sustain electrodes and a plurality of scanning electrodes arranged thereon; and a rear panel including a back substrate including a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the plurality of sustain electrodes and scanning electrodes and including a dielectric layer arranged on the back substrate to cover the plurality of address electrodes; wherein the dielectric layer includes a first dielectric layer disposed on the back substrate to cover the address electrodes and a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer and having a dielectric constant less than that of the first dielectric layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Plasma Display Panel (PDP), and more particularly, to a PDP with multiple dielectric layers on a rear glass plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A PDP, which is a device for displaying characters or graphics using light emitted from a plasma during a gas discharge, is an emissive flat display panel utilizing a gas discharge.
PDPs are categorized into a Direct Current (DC) PDP and an Alternating Current (AC) PDP according to the method of applying a drive voltage to the discharge cells. A DC PDP has electrodes directly exposed to a plasma and the discharge current directly flows through the electrodes, requiring separate external resistance for limiting the current. On the other hand, an AC PDP has electrodes covered by a dielectric layer, that is, the electrodes are not directly exposed to a plasma, thereby protecting the electrodes from ionic impact during discharge. Also, the AC PDP is advantageous in that a displacement current flows through the electrodes. The AC PDP can be classified according to the electrode structure of a discharge cell into an opposite discharge PDP, a surface discharge PDP, and a partition discharge PDP. In particular, the surface discharge PDP is advantageous in that electrode portions where a discharge occurs are arranged on one substrate and phosphor layers are arranged on the other substrate so that deterioration of the phosphor layers due to ion bombardment during a discharge is suppressed.
An AC surface discharge PDP includes a front substrate and a back substrate. The front substrate has a plurality of sustain electrodes and a plurality of scanning electrodes arranged thereon, and a bus electrode is disposed on each of the plurality of sustain electrodes and the plurality of scanning electrodes. A front dielectric layer is formed to cover the electrodes arranged on the front substrate, and a protective layer formed of MgO is formed to cover the front dielectric layer. The back substrate has a plurality of address electrodes arranged thereon. The plurality of sustain electrodes and scanning electrodes arranged on the front substrate, and the plurality of address electrode arranged on the back substrate, intersect, i.e., they are orthogonal to each other, the front substrate and the back substrate being parallel to each other. A back dielectric layer is formed on the back substrate to cover the plurality of address electrodes. A plurality of partitions are arranged on the back dielectric layer and red, green and blue phosphors are coated between each of the plurality of partitions.
The AC surface discharge PDP is driven using charges on the dielectric layer covering the electrodes, that is, wall charges. An address discharge is caused at a discharge space formed between each of the plurality of sustain electrodes and scanning electrodes arranged on the front substrate and each of the plurality of address electrodes arranged on the back substrate so as to be opposite to and face the sustain electrodes and scanning electrodes, thereby achieving a surface discharge. AC surface discharge PDPs that are currently being produced have a luminance of approximately 350cd/m2 and an output efficiency of approximately lm/W. Theoretically, a high luminance of greater than 500 cd/m2 and a high output efficiency of greater than 4 lm/W can be achieved by a gas discharge performed by a PDP. In reality, however, a peak luminance of a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) is approximately 700 cd/m2 and the efficiency thereof is not greater than several lm/W. Thus, it is necessary to further improve a luminance and efficiency of a PDP.
Various techniques for producing PDPs having improved luminance have been proposed. Particularly, a technique of increasing reflectivity has been used. In other words, when a gas discharge occurs at a discharge cell of a PDP, visible light is generated so that phosphors are excited to emit the visible light. In order to cause as much as visible light to travel toward a front portion of the PDP, it is necessary to increase reflectivity. One way to increase reflectivity is by adding an additive, that is, a white pigment of a metal oxide, to a back dielectric layer, the white pigment being at least one selected from the group consisting of alumina (Al2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2), yttrium oxide (Y2O3), magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium oxide (CaO), tantalum oxide (Ta2O5), silicon oxide (SiO2), and barium oxide (BaO). This technique is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1999-60272, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1998-74455.
Such attempts for increasing reflectivity by adding an additive to a back dielectric layer, however, still have limitations. That is, as the amount of the white pigment added to the back dielectric layer increases, the reflectivity of the back dielectric layer increases but results in a deterioration in the conductivity of the dielectric layer due to an increase in the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer. Thus, a withstanding voltage of the dielectric layer is reduced, ultimately leading to a breakdown when a discharge occurs at a discharge cell of the PDP.
Another way of increasing the reflectivity is forming a reflective layer on surfaces of partitions and the dielectric layer, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-11885. According to this technique, separately from the dielectric layer, a TiO2 layer is formed on the surface of the dielectric layer and the surface of the partitions. However, a withstanding voltage between cells is lowered, causing a breakdown during a discharge. Thus, in order to ensure an electrical insulating property, it is necessary to remove a reflective layer made of metal oxide formed on the partitions, which makes the process complicated, increasing the production cost of the PDP.

Plasma display panel (PDP) with multiple dielectric layers


A vehicular decorative member is curved as a forward-bulging shape, and includes a transparent base, a transferred layer, a metallic layer, and a base layer. The transparent base includes a front face, and a rear face. The transparent base's rear face has an ordinary section, and a recessed section. The transferred layer, the metallic layer, and the base layer are disposed on the transparent base's rear-face side in this order. The vehicular decorative member further includes a transfer sheet turning into the transferred layer. The transfer sheet includes a support film, and an adhesive layer, a decorative layer and a release layer that are formed on the support film in this order. The transfer sheet makes the transferred layer when the support film is removed from the release layer after pressing the transfer sheet onto the transparent base's ordinary section while heating the transfer sheet.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a decorative member for vehicle, decorative member which is used for electromagnetic-wave transmission covers disposed in front of millimeter-electromagnetic-wave radar, for instance.
Description of the Related Art
Auto-cruising systems are an engineering technique for controlling inter-vehicular distance, or distance between two vehicles. An auto-cruising system comprises an onboard sensor that a vehicle has on the front side. The onboard sensor measures inter-vehicular distances between a trailing vehicle (or one's own vehicle) and a leading vehicle, or relative speeds of the trailing vehicle's speeds to the leading vehicle's speeds. Based on the resulting information, the auto-cruising system controls the throttle or brake of one's own vehicle in order to accelerate or decelerate one's own vehicle, thereby controlling the inter-vehicular distances. As an onboard sensor that is employed for auto-cruising system, laser radars, or millimeter-electromagnetic-wave radars have been used commonly. A millimeter-electromagnetic-wave radar transmits a millimeter electromagnetic wave, and then receives the millimeter electromagnetic wave that has collided with and has reflected from an object. Thus, the millimeter-electromagnetic-wave radar measures inter-vehicular distances or relative speeds between a leading vehicle and a trailing vehicle (or one's own vehicle) based on differences between the resultant transmitted electromagnetic wave and received electromagnetic wave. For example, the transmitted millimeter electromagnetic wave exhibits a frequency of from 30 GHz to 300 GHz, and exhibits a wavelength of from 1 mm to 10 mm. Moreover, an electromagnetic-wave transmission cove is disposed in front of the millimeter-electromagnetic-wave radar. That is, the millimeter electromagnetic wave, which the millimeter-electromagnetic-wave radar has irradiated or emitted, is transmitted through the electromagnetic-wave transmission cover, and is then outputted forward ahead of a trailing vehicle (or one's own vehicle).
As illustrated in FIG. 16, a conventional electromagnetic-wave transmission cover comprises a transparent base 92, a decorative layer 93, a metallic layer 95, and a base layer 96, for instance. The transparent base 92 covers the decorative layer 93 on the front side. The base layer 96 retains the metallic layer 95 on the rear side. The transparent base 92 is provided with a recessed section 921 and an ordinary section 920 in the rear face. The decorative layer 93 covers the ordinary section 920, that is, sections other than the recessed section 921, while leaving the recessed section 921 uncovered. The metallic layer 95 covers the recessed section 921 in the rear face of the transparent base 92. When the conventional electromagnetic-wave transmission cover is viewed on the front side, the metallic layer 95 formed on the recessed section 921 appears through the transparent base 92 as if it stands out up forward (or as if it is embossed therein in relief). The decorative layer 93 appears down below in the ordinary section 920 around the recessed section 921 of the transparent base 92.
As a method for forming such a decorative layer, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Gazette No. 2012-111045 discloses a hot stamping (or pressing) method that has been heretofore available conventionally. In the disclosed method, a stamped foil 97 with a decorative layer 93 provided is pressed onto a transfer face 92a of a transparent base 92 while heating the stamped foil 97 with use of a stamping jig 91 having a built-in heater coil 91a, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 accompanied herewith. Note that FIGS. 17 and 18 correspond to FIGS. 4(b) and (c) in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Gazette No. 2012-111045. Moreover, the heating/pressing step is carried out after putting all of the stamping jig 91, the transparent base 92 and the stamped foil 97 in a case 94 and then depressurizing the atmosphere within the case 94. After completing the heating/pressing step, the case 94 is opened to put the inner atmosphere back to the atmospheric pressure, and then the stamping jig 91 is separated from the stamped foil 97. Since the stamped foil 97 covers recessed sections 921 in the transparent base 92, the depressurized state prior to opening the case 94 can be kept inside the recessed sections 921. Consequently, the decorative layer 93 comprising the stamped foil 97 can be formed on ordinary sections 920 around the recessed sections 921 in the transparent base 92. After the stamped foil 97 has been taken off from the transparent base 92 except for the decorative layer 93 formed on the ordinary sections 920, the metallic layer 95 is formed on the rear face of the transparent base 92 with which the decorative layer 93 has been provided.
However, the conventional decorative layer 93 formed by the above-described hot stamping method has been associated with room or need for improving the looks, because it appears flat when being viewed through the transparent base 92. Moreover, not only conventional electromagnetic-wave transmission covers, but also conventional emblems having the same construction as that of the conventional electromagnetic-wave transmission covers have also been associated with room or need for improving the looks when the conventional emblems are provided with a decorative layer by the hot stamping method.


An apparatus includes a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) having an input port to receive a first optical signal from a second device. The ROADM also includes a first wavelength selective switch (WSS), in optical communication with the input port, to convert the first optical signal into a second optical signal, a loopback, in optical communication with the first WSS, to transmit the second optical signal, and a second WSS, in optical communication with the loopback, to convert the second optical signal to a third optical signal and direct the third optical signal back to the second device via the input port.

In some instances, it may be important for a network administrator to determine the topology an optical network. For example, it may be helpful for the network administrator to determine that an optical fiber connects a given port of one device in the optical network to a given port of another device in the optical network. Knowledge of the topology of the optical network may be helpful when establishing routes through the optical network, diagnosing and remedying problems in the optical network, and performing other manual or automated network management tasks.
For example, an optical network may include a router, a multiplexer/demultiplexer (Mux/Demux), and a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM). The connections of these devices can involve about 400 touch points for 100 different wavelengths. In known optical networks, the access link is manually provisioned. In addition, in case of misconnection or misconfiguration, usually no mechanism exists to identify the root cause. Moreover, routers and ROADMs typically use different command line interface (CLI) dialects, thereby rendering the correlation of relevant information challenging.
Another approach to determine the topologies of optical networks uses a device sending wavelength-modulated optical signals on various ports of the device. The wavelength-modulated optical signal sent on a given port of the sending device is encoded with identification information specific to the given port. If a device receives the modulated optical signal on a given port, the receiving device demodulates the optical signal and outputs a report message to a network management system (NMS). The report message indicates the source of the received signal. The NMS may use such messages to generate topology data for the optical network. A problem with this approach is that the receiving device includes hardware to demodulate the optical signal and such hardware may be complex and expensive, thereby increasing the cost of the resulting optical network.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for optical channel management


In an illustrative embodiment, a device stand including a holder, a holder mount, and a base is disclosed herein. In this illustrative embodiment, the holder includes a central support, a plurality of arms extending from the central support, and a gripping portion configured to grip a corner of a device coupled to each of the plurality of arms. The holder also includes at least one mounting lock coupled to a back face of the support. The holder mount includes at least one mounting lock configured to removably couple to the at least one mounting lock on the holder. The holder mount may be attached to the base by an articulation joint. The articulation joint allows a user to manipulate the orientation of the holder in one or more planes for optimal use of a device held within the holder.

Generally, there are a number of ways to mount electronic devices for daily use. However, most of them have a wide range of limitations. One limitation relates to the ability to orientate the devices for ease of use or viewing in various daily activities, for example placing the devices in a vehicle or for viewing on a desktop along with many other ways consumers may wish to support and use these devices.
Older stand designs are generally designed for a specific fixed form factor and are not adjustable to be used for various types or sizes of devices and they also restrict the orientation, height and position of the devices. Older stand designs also generally have either permanent or mechanical mounting solutions that hold the device in the stand making it difficult or impossible to easily and quickly transfer the device from one mounting solution to another. Most of the older stand designs tend to be for a specific device and specific application and therefore by their very nature are uni-functional and restricted in their use.
In addition, there are issues with the security and subsequent theft risk in using these devices as most mounts do not have any inherent "protection" features to prevent casual theft or removal from their work place. For example, in commercial uses mounting and protecting the devices from theft are of paramount concern as tablet devices are valuable and attractive to casual thieves, staff, and the general public. In addition, the devices may serve limited functions for commercial usage without a means to mount the devices in a position and orientation for the required tasks or uses, i.e. for mounting on a museum wall. Generally, the devices need to be mounted in a secure system that allows for adaptability of viewing and/or interaction angles.


An electrical connector housing is disclosed having a first housing member, and a second housing member mated with the first housing member. A front wall is disposed on an outer surface of at least one of the housing members and extends perpendicular to an insertion direction. A first sidewall is disposed on the outer surface of the first housing member and extends along the insertion direction, perpendicular to the front wall. A second sidewall is disposed on the outer surface of the second housing member and extends along the insertion direction, parallel with the first sidewall and perpendicular to the front wall. A cantilevered first lock arm extends along an insertion direction and is positioned between the first sidewall and second sidewall. The lock arm includes a fixed end, a free end, and a hook.

Connectors that attach to openings in a panel are commonly used in a variety of application. Conventionally, these connectors have a cantilevered lock arm for engaging with an edge of an attachment opening of the panel. The lock arm is typically positioned on a connector housing, and is produced through resin molding.
One common problem with the conventional design is that the lock arm is exposed, which easily allows a foreign object to intrude under the lock arm. When the connector is attached to the panel, the panel functions as a protecting member for the lock arm. However, the connector is not limited to use with the panel, but is also directly coupled with a mating connector, without the interposition of the panel. When the lock arm is not attached to the panel, a foreign object, such as a cable or debris, might intrude under the lock arm, lift up the lock arm, and damage the lock arm.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-302582A discloses a connector in which walls are formed on both sides of the lock arm, so that intrusion of a foreign object from the sides is prevented. However, since a mold structured so as to be drawn frontward from the lock arm is used for manufacturing the lock arm, the connector inevitably has a structure in which the front of the lock arm is opened. Therefore, this design is unable to prevent a foreign object from intruding from the front of the lock arm.
There is a need for a connector having a wall formed in front of the lock arm so that a foreign object is prevented from intruding from the front of the lock arm. Further, there is a need for this connector to use a mold structured so as to be drawn sideways, as well as having a structure in which at least one side of the lock arm is opened and intrusion of the foreign object from the side can be prevented.


The present invention concerns a method for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, and in particular rheumatoid arthritis, by administering to the subject specific low dosages of N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine 5′-N-methyl-uronamide (IB-MECA) and 2-chloro-N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5′-N-methyl-uronamide (CL-IB-MECA).

A3 adenosine receptors belong to the family of the Gi-protein associated cell surface receptors. Receptor activation leads to its intention and the subsequent inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity, cAMP formation and protein kinase A (PKA) expression, resulting in the initiation of various signaling pathways(1,2). PKA contains a catalytic subunit PKAc which dissociates from the parent molecule upon activation with cAMP Recent studies have demonstrated that PKAc phosphorylates and inactivates the enzyme glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) (3).
Recently, it has been shown that 1-deoxy-1-[6[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purine-9-yl]-N-methylβ-D-ribofura-nuronaminde IB-MECA) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,423 incorporated herein by reference, a stable agonist to A3AR, alters the expression of GSK-3β and β-catenin, key components of the Wnt signaling pathway. Consequently it let to the inhibition of the expression of the cell cycle progression genes, c-myc and cyclin D1(4).
Szabo et at, (8) reported that IB-MECA suppresses the production of MIP-1α in macrophages in a dose dependent manner, and was shown to inhibit, also in a dose dependent manner, the production of the cytokines IL-1, IL-2, IL-6 as well as NO. According to this publication, administration of 0.5 mg/kg of IB-MECA a day reduced the severity of joint inflammation in a model of collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common rheumatic disease, affecting more than two million people in the United States alone. The disease is three times more prevalent in women as in men but afflicts all races equally. The disease can begin at any age, but most often starts between the ages of forty and sixty. In some families, multiple members can be affected, suggesting a genetic basis for the disorder. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Even though infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected, none has been proven as the cause. It is suspected that certain infections or factors in the environment might trigger the immune system to attack the body's own tissues, resulting in inflammation in various organs of the body. Regardless of the exact trigger, the result is an immune system that is geared up to promote inflammation in the joints and occasionally other tissues of the body, Lymphocytes are activated and cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor/TNF and interleukin-1/IL-1 are expressed in the inflamed areas.
The clinical expression of rheumatoid arthritis is manifested by chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue surrounding the joints such as the tendons, ligaments, and muscles, as well as other organs in the body such as the eyes. The inflammation process of causes swelling, pain stiffness, and redness in the joints. In some patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation leads to the destruction of the cartilage, bone and ligaments causing deformity of the joints.

A3AR agonists for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis


A reflectance of a color shifted painting color is also measured conveniently.

Color and brightness of a painting color applied to a body of a motor vehicle depend on a viewing direction. Such appearance of the painting color can be expressed numerically with the reflection characteristics of a painted plane, namely the reflectance thereof. Therefore, by measuring the reflectance of the painting color, the quality thereof can be adjusted in the producing step and the testing step of the painting color, and the painting color can be examined using computer graphics (CG) prior to painting. Consequently, it is important to measure the reflectance of the painting color. And, it is an important problem how the measuring conditions of the reflectance of the painted plane are set.
It has been known that the reflection characteristics of a general painting color applied to a vehicle body can be sufficiently obtained by measuring the reflectance when light made incident at an incident angle of 60° is received at representative five displacement angles of about 10° (10°±several degree), about 18° (18°±several degree), about 28° (28°±several degree), about 40° (40°±several degree) and about 90° (90°±several degree) (see Patent Document 1, for example).
In this Patent Document 1, when the light made incident on an incident point P on a plane under measurement at an incident angle θ regularly reflects inside an incident plane A at a reflection angle θ, the regularly reflecting direction is expressed by a displacement angle of 0°, and the angle from the regularly reflecting direction toward a normal line at the incident point P on the pane under measurement (the side from the regularly reflecting direction toward the normal line is positive, whereas the side toward the plane under measurement opposite to the normal line is negative) is expressed by a displacement angle.
In this five angles method, reflectances of the light received at representative five displacement angles within a single incident plane are measured and interpolated. With this method, the reflectance of a complicated painting color such as a metallic color, pearl mica, etc. other than a solid color can be measured conveniently.    Patent Document 1: Patent application laid-open No. 2003-307456

Abstract: A first reflectance R(αa) of a first reflected light Va inside an incident plane A is measured, and a first locus l of termini of first bisection vectors Ha(|Ha|=|R(αa)|), which displaces two-dimensionally inside the incident plane A, is determined. A second reflectance R(αb) of a second reflected light Vb outside the incident plane A is measured, and a second locus m of termini of second bisection vectors Hb (|Hb|=|R(αb)|), which displaces three-dimensionally outside the incident plane A, is measured. A locus n (x, y, zi) of a terminus of a bisection vector Hi on a plane z=z that is parallel to a plane under measurement is approximately modeled with a numerical equation showing an ellipse from the first locus l and the second locus m, thereby determining an approximation model equation, and an overall locus n′ (x, y, z) of the overall termini of bisection vectors H′ of reflected lights V′ other than the first reflected light Va and the second reflected light Vb is approximately determined.


A medical workstation includes a position provided for medical personnel during a medical activity on a patient, and storage units for receiving medical instruments or tools. The storage units are arranged in the shape of an arc of a circle around the position provided for medical personnel.

For the medically, ergonomically and economically optimal set-up of operating theaters and for the integration of the functions thereof, extensively developed concepts and complex technical approaches are available that have already proven their worth. Compared to an operating theater, a medical workstation within a medical practice is generally the scene of a considerably smaller variety of medical procedures, which are also much less complex. However, the set-up of a medical workstation within a medical practice is by no means routine from the medical, ergonomic and economic points of view.
It is astonishing that the vast majority of medical workstations within medical practices are still being developed and produced on an individual basis and in a manner specific to the customer. This means constantly re-inventing the wheel, and knowledge and experience that has already been acquired is not systematically and comprehensively recorded and evaluated in order to be used in subsequent developments. This results in highly individual medical workstations which reflect the esthetic requirements of the doctors and the skilled work involved in their production, but which in many cases are not optimal from the medical, ergonomic or economic point of view.
The prevailing individualized production of medical workstations generally rules out meaningful but technically complex solutions, since the development and realization of these is uneconomic for single items. Moreover, individually configured medical workstations are generally not set up such that subsequent modifications or additions can be made with minimal outlay.
Proceeding from this situation, the applicant has set itself the object of developing concepts, components and technical solutions which, from medical, ergonomic and economic aspects, simultaneously permit clear improvements, a reduction in costs through serial production, and meaningful individualization to the extent required by physicians. Because of the very different requirements, adopting concepts that were developed for operating theaters is possible at best to a limited extent.
FR 2 050 560 describes a functional unit for a dentist. A position for medical personnel is provided in the inside of a cylindrical or semicircular furniture item.
DE 2 141 991 describes a dental facility for dental practice. A running track for an instrument carriage is arranged on a circular cabinet unit with circular front. The position provided for the patient is arranged at the center point of the circular cabinet wall.
DE 1 947 803 describes a device with ophthalmic examination instruments. A work surface has the shape of a circular ring section, at the center of which a patient's chair is arranged.
German utility model 7132009 describes a dental facility for a dental practice. A track is arranged on a cabinet wall arranged in the shape of a circle around the treatment chair. A carriage for instruments is movable on the track. The position provided for the patient is arranged at the center point of the circular cabinet wall.
FR 2 693 103 describes a furniture item for a dental practice. The front of the semicircular furniture item is cylindrical with a vertical axis of symmetry. A chair for a patient is arranged at the center of a semicircular furniture item.
DE 198 07 242 A1 describes a medical/technical system workstation. An administration unit for medical appliances is arranged movably on rails of a patient support panel.
DE 198 07 243A1 describes a medical workstation. An appliance center for surgical and diagnostic appliances is guided on rails in order to permit a circular adjustment.
DE 200 02 305 U1 describes a modular furniture arrangement for medical practices. Several modules are arranged in a U-shape around a patient bench.
DE 295 05 059 describes a treatment facility for a medical/dental practice. An appliance tray and an instrument panel are mounted pivotably.
DE 296 00 647 describes a work surface below which guiding rails and running rails are placed, via which furniture elements can be driven laterally.
German utility model 7123181 describes a dental facility for a dental practice, comprising a drilling and treatment unit in the shape of a driveable carriage. The positions provided for medical personnel and patients are arranged inside a rectangularly U-shaped arrangement of cabinet units.
DE 2 220 068 describes a dental appliance cabinet of which the contour is U-shaped.
US 2007/0176060 (later published as U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,898) describes a medical boom with moveable arms for holding video displays.


A method and apparatus for calibrating a flow sensor composed of two heat sensors each having an electrical impedance parameter which varies as a defined function of the temperature of the heat sensor and disposed in thermal communication with a fluid such that the relation between heat flow to or from one sensor and heat flow to or from the other sensor varies with the rate of fluid flow, a source supplying electric power at a selected level to the heat sensors, and an output device connected to produce an output signal representative of that heat flow relation, calibration being performed by: establishing a known flow rate for the fluid; electrically connecting one of the heat sensors to a circuit element which alters the magnitude of current flowing through the one heat sensor; and determining, in a first determining step, output signal value while the one heat sensor is electrically connected to the circuit element.

The present invention relates to the calibration of flow sensors, and in particular mass flow sensors of the type employed in flow meters and flow controllers.
In many industrial processes, a notable example of which is semiconductor fabrication procedures, there are many individual process steps which require, for their successful implementation, the supply of one or more gases each at an accurately controlled flow rate, or in an accurately controlled quantity.
When the quantity of a gas must be controlled, this can be done by properly selecting the flow duration of the gas if the flow rate is accurately known. For example, in connection with the manufacture of semiconductors, pyroforic or highly corrosive gases are commonly employed in chemical vapor deposition and etching processes.
In such gas flow systems conventional methods for checking the calibration of the output of a flow sensor are impractical, particularly those methods which involve a flow standard and a source of special gas for calibration.
Other known calibration methods are relatively time consuming and one currently employed alternative to calibration is simply the replacement of one flow meter by another flow meter which has been recently calibrated. This solution has the disadvantage that it requires purging of the gas flow path before replacement of the flow sensor.


A light emitting display including a selection signal unit, an emission control signal unit and a plurality of pixels. The selection signal unit receives a first start signal, generates a first shift signal, generates a selection signal using the first shift signal, and outputs the selection signal. The emission control signal unit receives a clock signal and a second start signal, generates a second shift signal, generates first and second emission control signals using the first and second shift signals, and outputs the emission control signals. At least one of the pixels includes first and second light emitting elements. The first light emitting element is emitted by the first emission control signal in the first field, and the second light emitting element is emitted by the second emission control signal in the second field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting display, and more particularly to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) light emitting display utilizing electroluminescent (EL) light emission of an organic material.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, OLED displays emit light by electrically exciting an organic compound. Such an OLED display includes N×M organic light emitting diodes arranged in the form of a matrix, and displays an image by driving the organic light emitting cells, using voltage or current.
Such organic light emitting cells are also called "organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs)" because they have diode characteristics. As shown in FIG. 1, each organic light emitting diode has a structure including an anode electrode layer (e.g., ITO), an organic layer, and a cathode electrode layer (e.g., metal). The organic layer has a multi-layer structure including an emitting layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ETL), and a hole transport layer (HTL), to achieve an improved balance between electrons and holes, and thus, to achieve an enhancement in light emitting efficiency. The organic layer also includes an electron injecting layer (EIL) and a hole injecting layer (HIL). Such organic light emitting diodes are arranged in the form of an N×M matrix to form an OLED display panel.
For driving methods for such an OLED display panel, there are a passive matrix type of driving method and an active matrix type of driving method using thin film transistors (TFTs). In accordance with the passive matrix type of driving method, anodes and cathodes are arranged to be orthogonal to each other so that a desired line to be driven is selected. In accordance with the active matrix type of driving method, thin film transistors are coupled to respective indium tin oxide (ITO) pixel electrodes in an OLED display panel so that the OLED display panel is driven by a voltage maintained by a capacitor coupled to the gate of each thin film transistor.
FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram for representing one of N×M pixels as a conventional pixel circuit, equivalently representing a pixel arranged in a first row and a first column.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pixel 10 includes three sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b. The sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b respectively include OLED elements OLED_r, OLED_g, and OLED_b for respectively emitting red, green, and blue lights. In a configuration in which sub-pixels are arranged in a stripe pattern, the sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b are respectively coupled to data lines D1r, D1g, and D1b, and are commonly coupled to a scan line S1.
The sub-pixel 10r for emitting the red light includes two transistors M1r and M2r, and a storage capacitor C1r for driving the OLED element OLED_r. The sub-pixel 10g for emitting the green light includes two transistors M1g and M2g, and a storage capacitor C1g. The sub-pixel 10b for emitting the blue light includes two transistors, M1b and M2b, and a storage capacitor C1b. Operations of the sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b are substantially the same as each other, and therefore only the operation of the sub-pixel 10r will be described.
The driving transistor M1r is coupled between a first power source VDD and an anode of the OLED element OLED_r, and transmits a current to the OLED element OLED_r to emit the OLED element OLED_r. The cathode of the OLED element OLED_r is coupled to a second power source VSS which provides a voltage lower than that of the first power source. Current of the driving transistor M1r is controlled by a data voltage applied through a switching transistor M2r. The capacitor C1r is coupled between a source and a gate of the transistor M1r, and it maintains an applied voltage for a predetermined period of time. A gate of the transistor M2r is coupled to the scan line S1 for transmitting a switching signal, and a source of the transistor M2r is coupled to the data line D1r for transmitting a data voltage corresponding to the sub-pixel 10r for emitting a red light.
A data voltage VDATA from the data line D1r is applied to the gate of the transistor M1r when the switching transistor M2r is turned on in response to a selection signal applied to the gate of the transistor M2r. A current of IOLED flows to the transistor M1r correspondingly to a voltage of VGS charged between the gate and the source by the capacitor C1r, and the OLED element OLED_r is emitted corresponding to the current of IOLED. At this time, the current of IOLED flowing through the OLED element OLED_r is given as Equation 1.
                                                                        I                OLED                            =                                                β                  2                                                                                (                                                                  V                        GS                                            -                                              V                        TH                                                              )                                    2                                                                                =                                                β                  2                                                                                (                                                                  V                        DD                                            -                                              V                        DATA                                            -                                                                                                V                          TH                                                                                                              )                                    2                                                                                [                  Equation                                                              1                ]
In the pixel circuit shown in FIG. 1, when a current corresponding to the data voltage is supplied to the OLED element OLED_r, the OLED element OLED_r is emitted with a brightness corresponding to the supplied current. At this time, the applied data voltage has various values within a predetermined range in order to express predetermined gray scales.
As shown, the OLED light emitting display includes the pixel 10 including the three sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b. The respective sub-pixels include a driving transistor, a switching transistor, and a capacitor for driving an OLED element. A data line for transmitting a data signal and a power line for applying the first power source VDD are formed for each sub-pixel. Accordingly, the OLED light emitting display must include a large number of lines and other elements. The lines are difficult to arrange in a limited display area, and aperture efficiency corresponding to an emitting pixel area is reduced. Therefore a pixel circuit for reducing the number of lines and elements for driving a pixel should be developed.


A semiconductor chip fabrication assembly and method including a semiconductor package having a packaging substrate and a semiconductor die. An active circuit surface of the semiconductor die is positioned adjacent to a contact surface of the packaging substrate such that a substantially thin gap is formed therebetween. A semi-rigid shroud device is provided which defines a vacuum chamber configured to extend around the gap to hermetically seal the gap within the vacuum chamber. A dispensing device is provided having an outlet end positioned proximate the gap in the vacuum chamber which is adapted to vacuum flow the bonding material between the electrical contacts in the gap, and between the active circuit surface and the contact surface. The absence of air and any other gases forms a substantially voidless underfill layer of bonding material in the gap.

In semiconductor device assembly, a semiconductor chip (or "die") may be bonded directly to a packaging substrate, without the need for a separate leadframe or for separate I/O connectors (e.g. wire or tape). Such chips are formed with ball-shaped beads or bumps of solder affixed to their I/O bonding pads. During packaging, the chip is "flipped" onto its active circuit surface in a manner forming a direct electrical connection between the solder bumps of the chip and conductive traces on a packaging substrate. Semiconductor chips of this type are commonly referred to as "flip chips", and are advantageously of a comparatively reduced size.
Briefly, as shown in FIG. 1, a conventional semiconductor flip chip package 10 is illustrated in which a semiconductor die 11 and a packaging substrate 12 are electrically connected and mechanically bonded. The semiconductor die 11 includes an active circuit surface 13 on which are arranged solder balls 15. The solder may be composed of a low melting point eutectic material or a high lead material, for example. It should be noted that this figure is intended to be representative and, does not show the solder balls 15 in proportion to the semiconductor die 11. In current designs, the die may have dimensions on the order of 0.5.times.0.5 inch whereas the unbonded solder balls may have a diameter on the order of 4 to 5 mils.
Prior to bonding the die 11 to a substrate, solder flux is applied to either the active circuit surface 13 of the die 11 or the packaging substrate surface. The flux serves primarily to aid the flow of the solder, such that the solder balls 15 make good contact with traces on the packaging substrate. It may be applied in any of a variety of methods, including brushing or spraying, or dipping the die 11 into a thin film, thereby coating the solder balls 15 with flux. The flux generally has an acidic component, which removes oxide barriers from the solder surfaces, and an adhesive quality, which helps to prevent the die from moving on the packaging substrate surface during the assembly process.
After the flux is applied, the die 11 is aligned with and placed onto a placement site on the packaging substrate 12 such that the die's solder balls 15 are aligned with electrical traces (not shown) on the substrate 12. The substrate is typically composed of a laminate or organic material, such as fiber glass, PTFE (such as TEFLON.TM., available from Gore, Eau Claire, Wis.) BT resin, epoxy laminates or ceramic-plastic composites. Heat (to a temperature of about 220.degree. C., for example) is applied to one or more of the die 11 and the packaging substrate 12, causing the solder balls 15 to reflow and form electrical connections between the die 11 and the packaging substrate 12. Then, the remaining flux residue is substantially removed in a cleaning step, for instance by washing with an appropriate solvent.
At this point, the mechanical bonding procedure can begin. An underfill material, typically a thermo-set epoxy 16, such as is available from Hysol Corporation of Industry, California (product numbers 4511 and 4527), Ablestik Laboratories of Rancho Domingo, Calif., and Johnson Matthey Electronics of San Diego, Calif., is dispensed into the remaining space 17 (or "gap") between the die 11 and the substrate 12. In a typical procedure, a bead of thermo-set epoxy, is applied along one edge of the die at atmospheric pressure where it is drawn under the die through capillary action until it completely fills the gap between the die and the packaging substrate. Slight heating of the packaging substrate after dispensing of the underfill epoxy assists the flow.
After the epoxy 16 has bled through the gap 17, a separate bead of epoxy (not shown) may also be dispensed and bonded around the perimeter of the die 11. Thereafter, the epoxy (both the underfill and perimeter bonding epoxy, if any) are cured by heating the substrate and die to an appropriate curing temperature, for example, about 130.degree. C. to about 165.degree. C. In this manner the process produces a mechanically, as well as electrically, bonded semiconductor chip assembly, with the underfill material 16 allowing a redistribution of the stress at the connection between the die 11 and the packaging substrate 12 from the solder joints 15 only to the entire sub-die area. FIG. 1 illustrates the semiconductor die 11 interconnected to the packaging substrate 12 electrically by solder joints 15 and mechanically by a cured layer of epoxy 16.
While this conventional assembly process is adequate in many instances, several drawbacks are inherent with this design. For example, the entire flip chip assembly process includes a number of separate steps, each of which take several seconds to several minutes to perform. As noted, the step of dispensing epoxy and allowing it bleed under the gap between the die active circuit surface and the substrate alone requires several minutes. The prolonged process time reduces the throughput of the assembly process, thus limiting the production capacity and the commercial competitiveness of flip chip devices.
For a given die/package combination, the underfill epoxy flow conditions may be optimized to minimize process time, but the dynamics of the underfill epoxy flow within the gap are very sensitive to the topology of the traces on the packaging substrate and of the arrangement of solder connections to the die. Thus, optimization of the underfill flow conditions would have to be repeated for each device design which uses even a slightly different I/O configuration. Unfortunately, such process-to-process optimization generally is prohibitively time-consuming and expensive.
Another serious concern in the above-described flip chip device assembly process is the danger of voiding during the flow of the underfill epoxy in the gap between the die and the packaging substrate (i.e., the formation of spaces within the gap into which the underfill epoxy does not flow). Due to the wall effects and internal shear stress of the underfill material, the filling process often causes voids of trapped air and moisture to form therein.
As set forth above, the underfill epoxy is intended to impart mechanical strength to the chip device. Unfortunately, upon repeated thermal cycling between room temperature and .about.100.degree. C. and due to the greater coefficients of expansion, these voids of entrapped air and moisture expand and contract at rates different than the surrounding underfill material. Accordingly, the formation of stress concentrations can cause delamination of the layered chip which may ultimately propagate throughout the whole chip.
One factor which contributes to voiding is flux residue remaining in the gap between the die 11 and the packaging substrate 12 after reflow. Any such remaining flux residue may prevent wetting by the underfill epoxy 16 within the gap 17 and so must be removed prior to the dispense and flow of the underfill epoxy. Further, the acidic components of the flux, if allowed to remain on the surface of the die and/or the packaging substrate, may later corrode the flip chip device, and so the flux residue must be removed for that reason as well.
Typically, flux is removed by applying a solvent to the chip device at high pressures. Unfortunately, such solvent is commonly a hydrocarbon-based liquid having a high flash point and high toxicity, creating numerous safety concerns and environmental problems associated with waste solvent disposal.

Vacuum assisted underfill process and apparatus for semiconductor package fabrication


An electric machine comprises: a casing (2); a stator (3) and a rotor (4) supported by the casing (2), the rotor (4) having at least one rotor winding (7); a commutator (9) connected permanently to the rotor (4) and electrically connected to the rotor winding (7); a pair of brushes (12), each having a first end (12a) maintained in a sliding position with the commutator (9) and electrically connected to respective terminals which may be connected to an electricity mains supply; a pair of brush holder elements (11) supported by the casing (2), each brush holder element (11) being associated with a respective brush (12) to keep it pressed on the commutator (9). Each brush holder element (11) has at least one lateral surface (18) to face a respective butting position (17) of the casing (2), and which may be joined to the butting portion (17) to transmit a thermal power to the butting portion. The lateral surface (18) of each brush holder element (11) is electrically isolated from the respective butting portion (17).

Prior art commutator type electric machines comprise a rotor, a stator and a commutator, integral with the rotor, on which a plurality of brushes are active defining sliding electrical contacts. These sliding electrical contacts enable a connection between the rotor windings, fitted to the rotor, and an electrical circuit which may be connected to the electricity mains supply that may also be connected to stator windings if the stator is not of the permanent magnets type.
The power supplied by the commutator electric machines is directly linked to the current circulating in the rotor windings, which, therefore, passes through the commutator and the brushes. The current passing through the brushes, which also has high nominal values, heats the brushes due to the Joule effect, and the brushes heat further due to their sliding on the commutator bars.
Electric motors of the conventional type comprise special brush holder elements, also known as brush holder casings, which are integral with a support element made of plastic material supported by the stator and by a casing outside the electric machine. Prior art brush holder elements have a tubular shape extending in a radial direction with respect to the rotor, that is to say, in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor. The brushes slide inside the respective brush holder element under the action of a contrast spring which keeps an end of the brush pressed against the commutator to avoid reciprocal displacements between brush and commutator. Usually, each brush is electrically connected to the supply circuit by the same brush holder element, made of metal. The brushes are generally made of conductive material, in particular graphite possibly combined with other materials, such as phenolic resin or metal powders.
In addition, the support element is packed with the stator and held in position against the stator by a thrust force imparted by a cover outside the casing. The support element, which, as already mentioned, is made of plastic material, has elastic protrusions also made of plastic material, active between the support element and the stator to absorb thermal deformations or assembly tolerances of the support element.
Due to the known shape of the electric motors of the closed type, the brush holder element is immersed in a sealed environment subjected to continuous heating due essentially to the Joule effect caused by the passage of current through the rotor windings (and, possibly, the stator windings, too). This sealed environment is not subject to an air exchange, and, under steady-state conditions, the temperatures in this environment may be as high as 200° C. or more. This seriously penalises the heat dispersion of the brushes, which therefore tend to overheat, reaching unacceptable temperatures for their correct operation.
It has actually been found that the materials ordinarily used on a large scale to manufacture the brushes have wear resistance and electrical conductivity properties which remain at acceptable levels up to temperatures which are much lower than those reached in sealed electric motors and in particular these properties are maintained for temperatures up to approximately 150° C. When this limit has been exceeded, the decay of the electrical performance of the brushes as well as their deterioration (wear) increases in an unacceptable manner, and this leads to rapid wear of the electric machine which, after a short time, must be replaced or undergo maintenance.
Where the brush holder element is made of plastic material, the negative effect of the temperature increase is even more penalising due to the very poor heat exchange properties of the plastic materials. A brush holder element made of plastic material results in the brush operating almost in a situation of thermal insulation with respect to the outside, thus causing the brush to reach even higher temperatures compared with the case of metal brush holders.
For this reason, sealed motors are currently known in which the brushes and the brush holder elements are oversized compared with the dimensions they would have if installed in an open electric machine, that is to say, in a machine in which there is an exchange of air drawn from the outside, so as to reduce the overheating due to the Joule effect and to favour the heat exchange with the environment inside the electric machine. Disadvantageously, the above-mentioned over sizing has a negative influence both on the dimensional aspects of the electric machine, making it larger, and on the manufacturing cost of the machine itself.


Disclosed is a head positioning control system for disk drives which enables fast access even when eccentricities of tracks defined with servo control information relative to the center of rotation are different among disks assembled after the servo control information is externally written on the respective disks. The head positioning control system is adapted to a disk drive comprising a plurality of disks each having a record surface on which servo control information indicating positions in a radial direction on a disk is recorded, and heads associated with the plurality of disk record surfaces and designed to detect information stored on the plurality of disk record surfaces. The servo control information includes position information in the radial direction on each disk record surface and defines servo-control circular trajectories. In addition to known components, the head positioning control system includes an eccentric information memory for storing eccentric information concerning eccentricities of servo-control circular trajectories on disk record surfaces relative to the center of rotation, and an optimal processing unit that when object disk record surfaces are changed according to an instructed target address, executes processing, which requires the shortest time for accessing a target address, on the basis of eccentric information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic disk drive and a head positioning control method for magnetic disk drives. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a head positioning control system and control method for magnetic disk drives which enables fast seek and gives control readily even when servo-control circular trajectories defined with servo control information recorded on the surfaces of disks do not match with a rotational circular trajectory because of eccentricities of the disks.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been the trend toward higher recording densities for the purpose of increasing the storage capacity of magnetic disk drives. A faster access speed is also requested. Various methods have been proposed to increase the storage capacity of a magnetic disk drive and improve the access speed thereof.
A magnetic disk drive (hereinafter a disk drive) stores data as magnetic patterns on magnetic disks (hereinafter disks) using magnetic heads (hereinafter heads), and reads data by detecting an electrical signal in a head caused by a recorded magnetic pattern. For specifying a position at or from which data is stored or read, magnetic guides referred to as tracks are formed concentrically with the center of rotation of each disk as a center. A position in a radial direction is identified by detecting a track. Each track is divided in a circumferential direction into a plurality of segments referred to as sectors. Sector numbers indicating circumferential position thereof are magnetically recorded on each disk. Data storage is carried out in units of a sector.
In a disk drive in which a plurality of disks are fitted on the same axis of rotation and heads are placed on the record surfaces of the disks, a control method referred to as a servo-control surface servo-control method is adopted. This control method is, for example, such that: the heads are interlocked with one another and moved; one of the disk surfaces is regarded as a servo-control surface, and information concerning tracks and sectors is recorded on the servo-control surface; and the other disk surfaces are regarded as data surfaces on which data alone is recorded. However, in the servo-control surface servo control method, the displacement of a head on a data surface relative to a head on a servo-control surface leads to a positional error of the head relative to the position of written data. The positional error cannot be reduced very much because of a temperature change or vibration of a head moving mechanism. It is therefore difficult to sufficiently narrow track width and thus improve recording density. In recent years, data has been recorded on all disk surfaces. Information concerning a sector and information concerning a track are recorded at the start of each sector on each disk surface, and detected in order to control the position of a head. Moreover, signals indicating sectors are magnetically recorded on a disk. The magnetic data concerning sectors is read in order to identify a sector.
In an existing disk drive, disks are fitted on the axis of rotation of a spindle motor, magnetic heads are attached to an actuator, and then the disks and magnetic heads are assembled within a housing. Thereafter, the housing is mounted on a servo track writer (STW), so that servo control information (including track numbers and sector numbers) can be written while the actuator inside the disk drive is being moved by means of an actuator installed outside the disk drive and controlled to be positioned highly precisely. After this processing is completed, it becomes possible to move the actuator for writing or reading data. Tracks are therefore concentric trajectories with the center of rotation as a center. The same applies to data surface servo control and servo-control surface servo control. However, in reality, since the heads or spindle motor vibrates while data is being written along a track, the track is not a complete circle but includes vibrations relative to a circular trajectory. For improving the recording density of a disk drive, it is required to narrow the track width and increase the number of tracks that can be formed on a disk. However, if a track vibrates, there is the fear that adjoining tracks may interfere with each other. The track width cannot therefore be narrowed so drastically. This obstructs improvement of a recording density.
The present inventor has determined that a recording density might be improved by forming tracks accurately on disks using an external apparatus and then assembling the disks by fitting them on an axis of rotation. As long as tracks are merely formed, it is unnecessary to take account of an access speed or the like. Tracks can be formed more accurately using a dedicated head. Consequently, track width can be reduced and recording density can be raised. Currently, for writing servo control information, a head is attached to a swinging suspension and used for the writing. In an external apparatus, the head attached to the swinging suspension is regarded as a head assembly that hardly swings and is used for writing servo control information. Thus, the number of tracks on each disk is increased. Consequently, high-density recording of data can be achieved. However, when disks having tracks formed are fitted on the axis of rotation of a spindle motor, even if the fitting precision is improved, it is unavoidable that the centers of the tracks are not aligned with the center of rotation and the tracks become eccentric to some extent. It is conceivable that adjustment is carried out in order to alleviate eccentricities. However, very delicate adjustment is needed. It is very hard to carry out adjustment until sufficient precision is attained. Even if such adjustment is possible, there arises a problem that too much man power is required for the adjustment and this leads to an increase in cost.
According to the data surface servo control method for a plurality of disk surfaces, only a head engaged in writing or reading data should be controlled for tracking. Feedback is carried out so that a head to be controlled can track the center of a track. For changing a head to be controlled to another, a standby state is retained until the new head tracks a target track. After the head is controlled to track the center of the target track, data writing or reading is carried out. This poses a problem that after heads are changed, a long access time ensues.

Head positioning control system for disk drives each formed by assembling disks after servo control information is written externally on respective disks and disk drive


Methods and systems for manufacturing a foam board system are disclosed. In some examples, a system includes an applicator to distribute one or more fluids onto a substrate. One or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of the one or more fluids. A control circuitry is configured to compare the one or more measured characteristics to one or more threshold characteristics, and to adjust one or more operating parameters of the system in response to a characteristic of the one or more measured characteristics falling outside a threshold of the one or more threshold characteristics.

The present technology relates to methods and systems to monitor and/or determine one or more characteristics of a manufactured board.
Polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams are commonly used in the production of manufactured foam boards over other boards in the construction industry due to superior mechanical properties, fire performance, and insulation value. These high performance characteristics are attributed to the fine cell structure within the board, which is created during the manufacturing process.
Some manufacturing techniques, such as those intended to reduce costs of manufacturing foam insulation paneling, have resulted in issues during the manufacturing process and/or in the finished product, such as degraded appearance and/or integrity. Conventional methods to identify defects in a foam board are manual, labor-intensive, and many of the indicators of optimum processing conditions are subjectively determined, which may be prone to operator error. Such methods are also limited to a small number of measurement locations on the board. The result is a slow, resource intensive process that often fails to provide a complete assessment of the board's appearance and/or integrity.
Based on the deficiencies of the current techniques, a more efficient, more complete method and apparatus to monitor, determine, and/or control characteristics of a manufactured board is desirable.

Systems and methods for computer vision assisted foam board processing


A rooftop equipment attachment system includes a rooftop having a roof deck, an insulation layer positioned atop the roof deck, a plurality of metallic roof plates that secure the insulation layer to the roof deck, and a roofing membrane secured atop the insulation layer. The roofing membrane covers the plurality of metallic roof plates. The system includes a frame for supporting rooftop equipment. The frame includes a plurality of mounting supports that are positionable atop the rooftop at positions that are above at least a portion of the plurality of metallic roof plates. The plurality of mounting supports are configured to support the frame and any rooftop equipment mounted thereon. Each of the plurality of mounting supports includes a magnetic element that is configured to secure a particular one of the plurality of mounting supports with a particular one of the plurality of metallic roof plates.

Currently, there are two primary methods of attaching rooftop equipment to a roof. A first technique is to add ballast to the legs of the equipment to stabilize the equipment. Using ballast to secure rooftop equipment often overload or underloads the equipment. For example, ballasted rooftop equipment may have enough weight to prevent the equipment from blowing off the roof, but oftentimes do not have sufficient weight to prevent the equipment from chattering and/or sliding, which damages the roofing membrane. In other instances, ballasting may overload the roof by point loading weight, which may damage the structure of the roof. The second technique is to attach the equipment to the roof structure by penetrating the roof membrane. However, mechanical attachment to the roof requires the roofing membrane to be punctured, which pierces the building's watertight layer. The greater the number of penetrations, the greater the chance of leaks into the building. Improvements in roof attachment techniques are desired.


Provided are a work transfer device and a method of transferring work which are capable of safely transferring work without letting the work to fall even when poor adhesion of a frame occurs due to troubles. By providing an adsorption part which adsorbs a frame, and a plurality of frame clamps which move to near a bottom surface of the frame when the frame has been adsorbed and transferred by the adsorption part, and which retract from near the bottom surface of the frame when the transfer of the frame has been finished and the adsorption of the frame has been finished.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a work transfer device which transfers work, such as semiconductor devices and electronic parts, and a method of transferring work.
2. Description of the Related Art
The rear surface of work which is a plate-work object on the surface of which a semiconductor device, an electronic part and the like are formed, is as shown in FIG. 7 stuck on a dicing tape T having an adhesive material on the top surface thereof. The work W stuck on the dicing tape T is mounted on a frame F via the dicing tape T. The work W mounted on the frame F is transferred in this state within a dicing machine or a die bonding machine or between these machines and the like, and various kinds of working are performed by each of the machines. In transferring the work W, it is general practice to perform the transfer by vacuum adsorbing the frame F (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-169716, for example).
Conventionally, a work transfer device which transfers a frame F on which work W is mounted is provided with a transfer arm shown in FIG. 8A. In the transfer arm, a plurality of adsorption parts 71 in a transfer arm body 70 connected to a transfer mechanism not shown in the figure. As shown in FIG. 8B, a pad 72 is provided at a leading end of the adsorption part 71 and a tube 73 is connected to the adsorption part 71. The tube 73 is connected to a source of vacuum generation, which is not shown, and by operating the source of vacuum generation, the adsorption part 71 adsorbs the frame F by the pad 72 and transfers the frame F.

Work transfer device and method of transferring work


A linear actuator to provide the moving force for adjustable furniture, such as beds, chairs or tables. The linear actuator includes a drive assembly, rigid arm, and linkage assembly. The rigid arm includes a pusher block with one or more attachment means where the linkage assembly is attached.

Prior art of multifunction workstation reveal work stations with interchangeable trays but does not reveal where the trays are magnetically attachable to the workstations.
The present disclosure reveals a multifunction workstation with a plurality of trays that are magnetically attachable, and with a plurality of tools that are also attachable. Where the plurality of trays are designed to hold supplies and tools so that they are easily accessible and interchangeable depending on the project and where the plurality of tools consist of such items as a magnifying glass, a vice, or a light source, to aid with work. Several attempts have been made to develop a multifunction workstation but all involve a system distinct from the present disclosure.
In U.S. Pat. No. 8,690,134, Saam, discloses an equipment support rack assembly on wheels, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,157, Weaver upstanding vertical post with a handle at one end and a base member at the other, with a receptacle between for holding tools and supplies and slots to fit tools into, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,277, Meinhardt discloses a tool caddy that includes a circular base on a lazy susan bearing, with a collection of slots and compartments for fitting tools and supplies into, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,584,973, Brager discloses a portable tool tree on wheels with a locking cover, where once the cover is removed, a collection of levels, each with slots for holding tools, and where the central axle assembly is extendable, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,737, Garrett discloses a workstation includes an adjustable height, various types of holding and support attachments for the object which is being worked on and which allows the object to be at many different angles, an attached light, and a magnifying glass, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,505, Loewert discloses a workstation with modular elements for storing components, with a work zone and transfer zone, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,865, Alcaia et al discloses a mobile art table with room for a work space and storage, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,459, Garrett discloses a workstation includes an adjustable height, various types of holding and support attachments for the object which is being worked on and which allows the object to be at many different angles, an attached light, and a magnifying glass, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,304, Little discloses a base assembly comprises a collection of holes for holding tools as well as an attachment for holding a vise that would hold the fly which is being worked on, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,130, Smay et al discloses a support apparatus for arts and crafts projects comprising a base plate, a vertical dowel with holes into which pegs of various length and utility can be inserted, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,601, Vass discloses a worktable with an attached viceclamp to allow the user to work on a variety of different equipment and tools, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,211, Adams, Jr discloses a mobile, adjustable workstation that allows for multiple levels and multiple attachments, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,154, Jenkins discloses a cabinet with multiple drawers and a flip top for storage and when the flip top is down, the work bench provides a place to work, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,497, Bevans discloses a mobile tool tray that is adjustable in height, with a single tray, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,555, Adams discloses a workstation comprises a base plate with a vertical shaft extending from the workstation, with attachable trays for holding supplies and tools, and a work area with a vice feature. Also included is an arm for additional illumination. However, Adams does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,264, Kretzmeir discloses a Comprises a clamp that is attachable to a table. From the clamp, a vertical shaft is extended. Attachable trays can be fit onto the shaft for holding tools, at the top of the shaft is a means of attaching a vise for holding an object such as a fly. However, Kretzmeir does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,956, Hargrove discloses a mobile workstation with an additional tray that acts to hold tools and supplies, where the base has wheels and from the base a shaft is extended that holds the work space and tray, but does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,120,571, Reichenstein discloses a fly tying station that comprises a base and a rod that extends from the base. A collection of arms can be attached to the rod including one for holding a vise and a magnifying glass. Also included is a tray for holding supplies. However, Reichenstein does not disclose a workstation with trays that are magnetically attached.


A process for extracting bitumen from oil sand, comprising: mixing oil sand with process water to produce an oil sand slurry containing bitumen, sand, water and entrained air; conditioning the oil sand slurry; optionally flooding the conditioned oil sand slurry with flood water to dilute the slurry, if required; introducing the slurry into a primary separation vessel wherein separate layers of primary bitumen froth, middlings and sand tailings are formed; removing a portion of the primary bitumen froth from the primary separation vessel and recycling the portion of primary bitumen froth to that step of the process upstream of the primary separation vessel to join and mix with the feed stream moving to the primary separation vessel; and thereafter retaining said feed stream in said primary separation vessel to produce primary bitumen froth.

Oil sand, such as is mined in the Fort McMurray region of Alberta, generally comprises water-wet sand grains held together by a matrix of viscous bitumen. It lends itself to liberation of the sand grains from the bitumen by mixing or slurrying the oil sand in water, allowing the bitumen to move to the aqueous phase.
For many years, the bitumen in the McMurray sand has been commercially removed from oil sand using what is commonly referred to in the industry as the "hot water process", whereby as-mined oil sand is mixed in a rotating tumbler for a prescribed retention time (generally in the range of 2 to 4 minutes) with hot water (approximately 80-90° C.), steam, caustic (e.g., sodium hydroxide) and naturally entrained air to yield a slurry that has a temperature typically around 80° C. The bitumen matrix is heated and becomes less viscous. Chunks of oil sand are ablated or disintegrated. The released sand grains and separated bitumen flecks are dispersed in the water. To some extent bitumen flecks coalesce and grow in size. They may contact air bubbles and coat them to become aerated bitumen. The term used to describe this overall process in the tumbler is "conditioning". The slurry is then diluted with additional hot water to produce a diluted slurry having a temperature of about 65° C. to about 80° C. The diluted slurry is introduced into a large, open-topped, conical-bottomed, cylindrical vessel commonly termed a primary separation vessel (PSV) where the more buoyant aerated bitumen rises to the surface and forms a bitumen froth layer. This froth layer overflows the top lip of the PSV and is received in a launder extending around the PSV's rim. The product is commonly called "primary bitumen froth" and typically has a temperature of about 65° C. to about 75° C.
In the early 1990s, there was a major innovation in the oil sand industry, which is commonly referred to as "pipeline conditioning". This innovation is disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 2,029,795 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,118. As-mined oil sand is mixed at the mine site (for example, in a cyclofeeder) with hot water, air and NaOH to produce a slurry. The slurry is pumped through a pipeline at least about 2.5 kilometres in length and is fed directly to a conventional gravity separation vessel such as a PSV. In the course of being pumped through the pipeline, sufficient coalescence and aeration of bitumen occurs so that, when subsequently retained in the vessel under quiescent conditions, a desirable amount of the bitumen floats, forms froth, and is recovered.
In the late 1990s a cold dense slurrying process for extracting bitumen from oil sand was developed, which is disclosed in Canadian patent No. 2,217,623 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,708. This process is commonly referred to as the "low energy extraction process" or the "LEE process" and generally comprises mixing as-mined oil sand with water in predetermined proportions near the mine site to produce a slurry containing entrained air and having a controlled density in the range of 1.4 to 1.65 g/cc and preferably a temperature in the range 20-40° C.; pumping the slurry through a pipeline having a plurality of pumps spaced along its length, preferably adding air to the slurry as it moves through the pipeline, to condition the slurry; diluting the slurry with flood water; and introducing the diluted slurry into a conventional gravity separation vessel such as a PSV to float the aerated bitumen. The froth is maintained at a temperature of at least 35° C. in the PSV by use of a warm water underwash, thereby assisting in removing the froth from the PSV and satisfying downstream froth temperature needs. A middlings layer and tailings layer are also formed in the PSV. A stream of middlings may be continuously withdrawn and further bitumen recovered in a secondary recovery circuit, for example, mechanical flotation cells. The secondary bitumen froth so produced may either be combined with the primary bitumen froth or recycled and added to the fresh slurry being introduced to the primary separation to increase bitumen recovery as primary froth, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,949.