A method for producing a semiconductor device includes solder-connecting a semiconductor chip, onto an insulating substrate including a ceramic board and having conductor layers on two surfaces thereof, with a lead-free solder; warping a radiating base such that a surface of the radiating base on a side opposite to the insulating substrate is convex; and solder-connecting the insulating substrate onto the warped radiating base with the lead-free solder so as to provide a substantially flat solder-connected radiating base.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a semiconductor device such as a power semiconductor module comprising a power semiconductor.
Power semiconductor modules capable of working even under large current and high voltage have recently been used in various fields. Such power modules comprise a power semiconductor such as an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and a Free Wheeling Diode (FWD) as a main component.
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a principal part of a conventional power semiconductor module.
In a power semiconductor module 100 shown in FIG. 11, a semiconductor chip 103 of a power semiconductor, etc. is connected by a solder layer 102 onto an insulating substrate 101, which comprises a ceramic board 101a of aluminum nitride (AlN), etc. and conductor layers 101b and 101c of copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), etc. formed on the both surface thereof. One surface of the insulating substrate 101 is connected to the semiconductor chip 103 in this manner, and the opposite surface is connected by a solder layer 104 to a radiating base 105 composed of a metal such as copper to dissipate heat generated in the semiconductor chip 103.
However, in the production of the power semiconductor module 100 having such a structure, two members with different heat expansion coefficients, the insulating substrate 101 having the ceramic board 101a and the metal radiating base 105, are connected by the solder layer 104, whereby the originally flat radiating base 105 is warped after the soldering occasionally.
FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a principal part of the warped radiating base. It should be noted that the same reference signs are used in FIGS. 11 and 12 for representing common components.
For example, in the case of using aluminum nitride for the ceramic board 101a of the insulating substrate 101 and using copper for the radiating base 105, aluminum nitride has a heat expansion coefficient of about 4.5 ppm/K and copper has a heat expansion coefficient of about 16.5 ppm/K, resulting in a relatively large difference in the coefficients. Thus, copper is shrunk more than aluminum nitride in a cooling step after the soldering, whereby the radiating base 105 is often convexly warped in the direction of the insulating substrate 101. When the radiating base 105 is warped in this manner, an assembling step after the soldering, etc. is adversely affected or the performance of the power semiconductor module 100 is occasionally deteriorated depending on the warpage.
Some proposals have been made to prevent convex warpage of radiating members such as the radiating base 105, formed in a connecting process of soldering, etc. The proposals include a module obtained by connecting a radiating metal layer to a ceramic board and by connecting the radiating metal layer to a radiating member via a brazing material layer with a connection area of 300 mm2 or less (JP-A-2004-140199). The proposals further include a method of connecting a ceramic board to a radiating member after convexly warping the radiating member to the side opposite to the ceramic board, thereby compensating for warpage formed in the connecting process (JP-A-2003-46032 and JP-A-4-96355).
Additionally, in order to decrease air bubbles in the soldering layer, the proposals further include a method of connecting a ceramic board to a radiating member after attaching copper plates having different thicknesses to both surfaces of the ceramic board, the copper plate on the side of the radiating member having a larger thickness, thereby convexly warping the ceramic board to the radiating member in the connecting process by utilizing the thickness difference, to remove air bubbles in the soldering layer (JP-A-10-270612).
However, in production of the above power semiconductor modules, in the case of using a solder for connecting members, particularly members with different heat expansion coefficients, the following problems can result.
Currently many solders for connecting members of electronic devices and parts including the power semiconductor modules contain lead (Pb). When electronic devices and parts using lead-containing solders are discarded, left in an outdoor location, and exposed to acid rain, etc., lead in the solders may be eluted off to cause environment contamination. Therefore, it is preferred that so-called lead-free solders, which are mainly composed of tin (Sn) etc. without lead, are used in various electronic devices and parts.
The lead-free solders have higher hardness as compared with the lead-containing solders. In the case of using a lead-containing solder for connecting the insulating substrate 101 and the flat radiating base 105 of the power semiconductor module 100 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, though the radiating base 105 may be convexly warped by sintering in the direction of the insulating substrate 101, the solder layer 104 can be creep-deformed immediately after the soldering because of the softness of the solder, to relax the stress between them. As a result, the warpage of the radiating base 105 is removed, and the radiating base 105 is returned to the original flat or approximately flat state.
In contrast, in the case of using a lead-free solder for the connection, the solder is hard and thus the solder layer 104 is not creep-deformed, so that the radiating base 105 is not returned to the original flat state with the convex warpage remaining. The amount of the warpage is large, approximately 200 to 500 μm, and as a result an assembling step after the soldering is adversely affected or the performance of the power semiconductor module 100 is deteriorated occasionally as described above.
FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a principal part of the step of assembling the power semiconductor module. It should be noted that the same reference signs are used in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 for representing common components.
As shown in FIG. 13, in the power semiconductor module 100, generally, the insulating substrate 101 and the radiating base 105 are solder-connected, and then the radiating base 105 is fixed to a cooling fin 200 by a screw, etc.
In the case of using a lead-containing solder for connecting the insulating substrate 101 and the radiating base 105, the convex warpage of the radiating base 105, formed in the soldering step, is removed thereafter. Therefore, the contact thermal resistance between the radiating base 105 and the cooling fin 200 is relatively small, and heat generated in the semiconductor chip 103 is efficiently dissipated from the radiating base 105.
In contrast, in a case where a lead-free solder is used for connecting to the insulating substrate 101 and thus the radiating base 105 is largely convex-warped in the direction of the insulating substrate 101, a large gap 201 is formed between the radiating base 105 and the flat surface of the cooling fin 200 as shown in FIG. 13. When such a gap 201 is formed, the contact thermal resistance is increased, and the efficiency of dissipating heat generated in the semiconductor chip 103 is lowered, so that the temperature of the connection part of the semiconductor chip 103 may be abnormally increased to cause thermal destruction. Further, in a case where the radiating base 105 is largely convex-warped toward the insulating substrate 101, occasionally a problem occurs, for example, the ceramic board 101a is cracked in the step of screwing the radiating base 105 to the cooling fin 200.
The warpage can be reduced by using materials having low heat expansion coefficients such as copper molybdenum (CuMo) composite materials and aluminum silicon carbides (AlSiC) for the radiating base 105 instead of copper to reduce the heat expansion coefficient difference between the radiating base 105 and the insulating substrate 101. However, as compared with copper, these materials are poorer in thermal conductivity and disadvantageous in heat dissipation though they have low heat expansion coefficients. Further, these materials are more costly than copper.

Method for producing semiconductor device


Improved efficiency of address/data communication over a memory bus. A memory-control device is located between a processor 30 and memory ranks 40a, 40b and controls access to the memory ranks 40a, 40b. A memory-management unit 10 receives and buffers access request from the processor 30 to memory ranks 40a, 40b, and issues access request to a rank-management unit 20 based on scheduling for memory management. A rank-management unit 20 connects the memory ranks 40a, 40b, receives and buffers access request from the memory-management unit 10, and gives access request to a specified memory rank based on scheduling for rank management.

When a memory controller receives a memory access request from a processor, and inputs data to or outputs data from a memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), the row address and column address are specified, and the memory controller inputs data to or outputs data from the appropriate address. When doing this, it becomes necessary to have a wait time (minimum wait clock necessary for executing an instruction) during each instruction or until the data is actually input or output. This wait time includes a RAS (Row Address Strobe)-to-CAS (Column Address Strobe) delay and CAS latency (CL), and differs depending on the operating speed of the transistor and circuit configuration; also there is a tendency that as the operating frequency becomes higher, the necessary delay increases.
FIG. 10 is a drawing showing the timing for accessing a conventional DRAM memory. The figure shows the timing for 4-bit burst reading of an SDRAM in which tRCD (RAS-to-CAS Delay)=2, CL=2 or 3, and tRP (RAS pre-charge time)=3. An ACT instruction is issued at timing T0, and data is output according to a READ instruction at timing T2 (Q1 to Q4), then pre-charging is performed (PRE instruction) and 9 clocks (tRC) are necessary until ready for the next read instruction (ACT instruction at timing T9). The 5 clocks that do not include the time for actual output of the data cause the effective transfer rate of the memory bus being used to drop because of waiting.
Here, the construction of a memory module will be explained. The number of memory chips that can be mounted in a memory module is set to correspond with the width of the memory bus, and in the case of a 168-pin DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module) having a 64-bit width, eight memory chips having word configuration×8 bits are grouped to form one rank, and normally the maximum capacity is 16 chips or 2 ranks on both sides. It is possible to switch between these two ranks using a 4-bit chip selection signal, and to specify the rank (memory chips) to be accessed for reading or writing.
When a plurality of ranks or memory modules is connected to a conventional single-channel memory bus, only one rank can be accessed at a time. All of the remaining ranks wait, and a recharge or refresh operation is also performed at the same time, which is inefficient.
As a method for improving the transfer rate, is a method that omits the RAS and CAS specification by burst transfer of a preset length of data stored in successive addresses, or a method that omits the RAS specification and specifies only CAS for successive data in the same RAS. These methods are effective for the input or output of successive data, however, they are not effective when the RAS changes or when performing random access.
Furthermore, as another method for improving the transfer rate is a well-known interleave-access method in which there are two or more memory-bus channels, and increases the transfer rate by alternately performing address mapping (see patent documents 1 and 2). The interleave-access method is also used by recent computer systems.
Also, a multi-bank-access-control device is known (see patent document 3) that controls access of a plurality of memory banks that is accessed from a plurality of processors or a plurality of threads.
[Patent Document 1]
    Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-64-64045[Patent Document 2]    Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-3-2943[Patent Document 3]    Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2002-268942A


An adjustment mechanism for an exercise machine enables the relative position between a support for the operator of the machine and an exercise member to be adjusted by the operator while in the exercise position. In a particular embodiment, the mechanism adjusts the longitudinal position of a pedal assembly of a recumbent bike exerciser. The operator is supported by a seat on a fixed frame member, and the pedal assembly is mounted on an extension member that slides longitudinally with respect to the fixed frame. Various mechanisms are provided for the operator to conveniently position the pedal assembly relative to the seat while the operator is seated in an exercising position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of exercise machines and particularly to a mechanism for adjusting the relative position between an operator's support and an exercise member.
2. Background
A popular type of exercise machine is the recumbent "bicycle". Such a machine typically provides a seat for the operator and a pedal mechanism similar to that used on a conventional bicycle. One of the design considerations for such a machine is accommodating operators of different stature. In this regard, it is necessary to make the distance between the operator's seat and the pedal assembly adjustable in accordance with the length of the operator's legs. Optimum effectiveness of the exercise can only be achieved when this distance is properly adjusted. Similar concerns are involved with other types of exercise machines where it is necessary or desirable to adjust the distance between a fixed support for the operator and the position of an exercise member.
In the case of a recumbent leg exerciser and similar exercise machines, it is common practice to make the operator's seat longitudinally adjustable along the frame of the machine in order to provide the necessary adjustment. This is typically accomplished by means of a telescopic or sliding assembly with a pin and/or a tightening knob to retain the seat in a desired position. In order to adjust the seat in this manner, it is often not possible for the operator to remain in the seat. Even if the operator is able to release the seat retention device while seated, the seat will then be difficult to control within its range of adjustment since there is no provision for fine incremental positioning. This makes it virtually impossible to adjust the seat while in the midst of an exercise routine.
It would be far preferable for the operator to be able to conveniently adjust the relative distance between the seat and the pedal assembly in fine increments while seated in the exercise position and while performing the exercise. With such a capability, there is no need for the operator to break stride in order to achieve a more comfortable or more efficacious exercise position.


The cathode for a gas discharged lamp includes gettering materials which are placed within the interior of the cathode shell. Other components may also be placed inside the cathode for continuous activation. For example, in mercury vapor lamps, a mercury amalgam is placed within the cathode. In another embodiment, a mass of electron emission assisting compound is placed within the cathode to replenish the emission assisting compound which deteriorates from the cathode.

The present invention relates to cathodes for use in gas discharge lamps. More particularly, the invention relates to cold cathodes used in low pressure gas discharge lamps.
Gas discharge lamps operate by passing a flow of electrons through a gaseous environment. The electron current flow is driven by a voltage potential across the electrodes. Cold cathode type lamps rely on surface electron emission to provide the electrons and to initiate the flow of electric current. A relatively large voltage potential is required to initiate electron flow. The voltage required depends upon the density of the gas within the lamp. As commonly known, high pressure discharge lamps are filled with gas at atmospheric pressure or higher. Low pressure discharge lamps are filled with gas typically at 0.500 atmospheres or less. Further, electron flow is related to the surface area of the cathode.
It is known in the art to provide a cathode which is substantially cylindrical, thereby increasing the surface area available for electron emission. Also, to reduce the cathode's physical size and improve lamp efficiency, the inside of the cylinder is coated with a compound which is capable of enhancing the availability of free electrons. Such an emission assisting coating greatly enhances current flow per square inch of available electrode.
When electric current is passing through the gas in the lamp, some of the electrons will collide with atoms of the gas, passing energy to the atoms at different levels depending on the type of collision. In elastic collisions, the electrons essentially bounce off the gas atoms and transfer some of their kinetic energy to the gas atoms. In excitation collisions, the electrons collide with a gas atom in such a way that one or more of the atom's electrons are moved to a higher energy level but without leaving the atom's influence. Almost instantaneously, the displaced electron will return to its ground state, releasing the excess energy it picked up as the result of the collision, some of which is visible light. At still higher energy levels, the high velocity electrons collide with gas atoms with sufficient force to liberate one or more of the gas atom's electrons. The freed electrons become part of the electric current, and flow towards the positively charged anode. Positively charged gas ions are attracted to the negatively charged cathode, and combine with free electrons if they can.
Thus, some positively charged gas ions will exist in the envelope of the lamp. If they are sufficiently close to the negatively charged cathode, they will not have time to pick up an electron, and they will accelerate toward the cathode. The area of space where positive ions accelerate towards the negatively charged cathode is commonly known as the negative column. If the cathode of the lamp is a shell type with a sidewall forming an interior, then the negative column may be within the interior of the cathode shell. When the gas ions collide with the cathode, they have sufficient kinetic energy to vaporize a small part of the cathode material, causing gradual erosion of the cathode. This process of erosion is commonly known as sputtering.
Cold cathode type low pressure gas discharge lamps, commonly called neon lamps, are well known, popular, and attractive lamps for custom display applications. Unfortunately, lamps using such cathodes suffer from several disadvantages. First, they are expensive to produce because of time and energy consuming processing techniques. The lamps are sensitive to various sorts of contaminants, and such sensitivity necessitates the use of expensive processing techniques to minimize the amount of contaminants in the lamp after manufacturing.
The first of such techniques, commonly called bombarding, involves passing a current substantially larger than the operating current of the lamp through a partially evacuated lamp. The purpose of this procedure is to remove impurities such as moisture from the glass wall and to oxidize and thereby activate the emission-assisting coating of the cathode. Impurities such as moisture or oxygen can be harmful to the lamp. In addition, the oxidization of the emission coating of the cathode releases some carbon dioxide which can also be a harmful contaminant. After heating, the lamp is usually back-flushed with an inert gas to dilute or remove whatever harmful gases are left in the lamp envelope after the bombarding process. Subsequently, the operating gases are placed inside the lamp. Processing equipment for bombardment can be relatively simple, but in recent times, because of quality expectations, equipment has become more and more sophisticated, and thus more expensive. Further, the procedure requires a significant amount of energy and increases processing time.
An alternative process, known as oven pumping, is used less frequently. Oven pumping involves heating the glass in a specially designed oven under relatively high vacuum. Gases which evolve during the heating are continuously removed. Once the glass becomes relatively cold, the electrodes are heated with radio frequency heaters, flushed and back-filled. Again, this process adds time and expense to the manufacturing of gas discharge lamps.
Neither process guarantees a uniformly repeatable result. The final vacuum, and therefore the purity of the lamp environment, is dependent upon time, volume, and gas flow restriction. By their nature, cold cathode low pressure lamps are often intended for custom applications and therefore the results of such processes may vary considerably.
Such lamps also suffer from a reduced life span for various reasons. First, the active gas within the lamp may be lost. The vast majority of gas losses are due to absorption by the cathodes. When gas ions collide with the cathode at high velocity, they have a high probability of being accelerated into the cathode and embedding into the surface of the cathode. Second, the cathode itself may be eroded by sputtering. Such high velocity gas ions often transfer their kinetic energy to the metal causing a very high localized temperature, thereby vaporizing some of the metal particles of the cathodes which condense nearby. Such sputtering removes the emission assisting coating within the cathode as well as the metal of the cathode itself. The sputtering continues through the lamp's life until the cathode erodes to such a degree that it is incapable of providing the free electrons needed to maintain the current flow. Third, phosphors, which are required in order to radiate light in the visible spectrum, may combine with contaminants in the lamp, thereby reducing the radiation efficiency of the lamp.
Existing lamps address these problems by several means which are expensive or limited in efficacy. A gettering material, a material which may absorb gaseous contaminants, may be placed within the glass envelope of the lamp to remove some impurities which were not removed in the initial manufacturing. Such a getter is commonly a solid block, and therefore will be limited in efficacy by the surface area of the solid. More commonly, manufacturers simply utilize more elaborate and precise processes of removing contaminants. Such processes add expense and time to the manufacturing process. Additionally, they are limited in efficacy because contaminants are still found in the lamp, and because erosion of lamp components still takes place.


A mobile communication device wirelessly transfers user communications to a first wireless base station. The mobile communication device determines a first metric based on a load indicator for the first base station. The mobile communication device identifies a second wireless base station and determines a second metric based on a load indicator for the second base station. If the second metric is superior to the first metric, the mobile communication device determines if the second base station has sufficient performance characteristics for communication with the device. If the performance is sufficient, the mobile communication device initiates a hand-off from the first base station to the second base station. The mobile communication device may use additional factors to determine the first and second metrics.

A mobile communication device and its serving base station wirelessly communicate to provide voice, Internet, email, text, video, and other communication services. As the mobile communication device moves about, the serving base station hands-off the mobile communication device to another target base station. After the hand-off, the target base station then becomes the serving base station, and subsequently, this new serving base station will hand-off the mobile communication device to another target base station.
In some communication systems, the mobile communication device receives a list of nearby base stations from the serving base station. If the mobile communication device detects an unacceptable loss of wireless signal strength for the serving base station, then the mobile communication device selects another base station from the list having the best wireless signal strength to be the target base station. The mobile communication device then initiates a hand-off from the serving base station to the selected target base station.
Serving base stations may also initiate hand-offs when they become overloaded and need to reduce the number of mobile communications devices they serve. Typically, the overloaded base station hands-off the mobile communication devices to more lightly loaded base stations. Serving base stations may also initiate hand-offs based on low wireless signal strength.
Overview
A mobile communication device wirelessly transfers user communications to a first wireless base station. The mobile communication device determines a first metric based on a load indicator for the first base station. The mobile communication device identifies a second wireless base station and determines a second metric based on a load indicator for the second base station. If the second metric is superior to the first metric, the mobile communication device determines if the second base station has sufficient performance characteristics for communication with the device. If the performance is sufficient, the mobile communication device initiates a hand-off from the first base station to the second base station. The mobile communication device may use additional factors to determine the first and second metrics.

Mobile communication device initiated hand-off based on air interface metrics


Acrylate or methacrylate polymers, or copolymers of acrylates and/or methacrylates with other vinyl monomers, are blended in compositions with poly(phenylene ether), and/or with a poly(phenylene ether) concentrate containing poly(phenylene ether), polystyrene, a vinyl aromatic copolymer, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, poly(alkyl acrylate), and/or poly(alkyl methacrylate). The blended compositions may also optionally contain additional vinyl aromatic copolymer as a separate component, impact modifiers, thermoplastic molding materials including polycarbonate, polyester, polystyrene, polyolefin, polyamide, poly(vinyl chloride), polyurethane, polyacetal, and conventional additives such as dyes and pigments.

It is frequently desired that articles molded from thermoplastics such as acrylate polymers and copolymers have low gloss. It is known that gloss can be reduced in a molded article by, for example, adding a filler such as talc to the molding composition, lowering the temperature of the mold, or etching on the mold a pattern which becomes imprinted on the surface of the article. It has been found, however, that an article characterized by reduced gloss can also be obtained by molding it from the poly(phenylene ether) modified compositions of this invention.

Acrylate polymers modified with poly(phenylene ether)


Described is a deformable, variable-stiffness cellular structure. The cellular structure a group of unit cells with each unit cell having a cellular geometry. The group of unit cells are formed of a variable-stiffness composite material (VSM). The VSM has a first stiffness state and a second stiffness state. Additionally, the cellular structure has a first shape and a second shape, with a gradation of shapes between the first shape and second shape. The transition from the first shape to the second shape occurs through using an actuation signal to actuate the VSM to change the stiffness of the cellular structure, thereby allowing the cellular structure to be deformed from the first shape to the second shape, and any shape therebetween. The cellular structure can be locked in the second shape through actuating the VSM from the second stiffness state to the first stiffness state.

The field of smart materials and intelligent structures has been gradually developing over the past few decades, increasingly enabled by technological advances in the areas of sensors, engineering materials, and actuators. The basis of many actuator and sensor technologies has increasingly been found in emerging "active materials." Active materials, as a category, are materials that change their shape in response to an external control stimulus, typically a field, such as a thermal, magnetic, or electric field, but also radiation (light) or a changing chemical environment. Materials in this broad category include several classes, often delineated by the stimulus and material type: shape memory alloys, (SMAs), shape memory polymers (SMPs), piezoelectric ceramics, magnetostrictives, and electroactive polymers. Within each of these classes, there are many materials; e.g., within electroactive polymers alone there are a wide variety of low- and high-voltage-activated materials with widely-varying properties, such as ionic-polymer metal composites, conductive polymers, gels, and others.
Additionally, deployable and/or deformable structures have been obtained using active materials incorporated with linear elastic materials. However, a significant change in shape and form of the structural component is hampered by the sub-optimal use of linear elastic materials. Conventional design methodologies using linear elastic materials are an inappropriate choice for large structural shape changes. In one case, the structural components can be designed such that stiffness and strength are low, but the overall reversible deformation is large. In another approach the structure may be designed such that the system exhibits high stiffness, but as a result the reversible deformation capability of the structure is limited. In this case large amounts of energy are required to affect a change in the geometry, along with a significant support structure to maintain the deformation. In addition, high stiffness materials cannot be made to produce significant "Gaussian Curvature" or simultaneous curvature about two orthogonal axes because this requires a change in area in the plane of the deformation. The Poisson effect severely limits the ability of linear elastic materials to change area.
The capability for structural components to achieve large changes in shape would be greatly enabled by materials that can reversibly change their elastic stiffness. By changing elastic stiffness, the energy required for deformation can be decreased. Further advantages would result from a material, which in a lowered stiffness state could undergo large reversible deformation in at least one direction. Given these properties, it would be possible to consider making large changes in the shape of high-stiffness structural components. While this property is currently available using polymers, especially shape memory polymers, these materials used in their bulk form are difficult to control, and building up thick sections for adequate bending stiffness results in slow responding structures.
Current structure design using static component shapes often requires a compromise between various operational conditions rather than optimization over a range of conditions. If an intermittent change in structure is required, for example in the stowing or deploying of a structure, reconfiguring of an aircraft wing from a take-off or landing configuration to a cruising configuration, current solutions require extra components and added complexity is incurred. This problem is not limited to aerospace but is common to a myriad of technologies, such as for example automotive, space, telecommunications, medical, optical, or other technologies where structural or surface reconfiguration is desirable.
Other important areas where a change in stiffness is desirable include storage and deployment of expandable structures. Current methods rely heavily on complicated assemblies of rigid parts that make use of traditional mechanical components (pivots, latches, etc. . . . ). Deployable devices using variable-stiffness structures would enable new designs to be considered, with fewer parts and assembles, thus reducing weight and complexity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,660 by Griffin et al., herein incorporated by reference, describes a variable-stiffness member which changes its stiffness by rotating an elliptical shaft, thereby changing the bending stiffness according to the change in height and width of the elliptical cross section. This concept is limited in the total change in stiffness achievable, and it is not nearly as robust as a material that exhibits intrinsic change in stiffness. In addition, this approach is not applicable to creating stiffness changes or structural shape changes in large planar surface components.
Fibrous elastic memory composite materials utilizing carbon fibers and a shape memory polymer matrix can change their elastic stiffness. Details of this approach are outlined by Campbell and Maji, in the publication "Deployment precision and mechanics of Elastic Memory Composites," presented at the 44th Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, AIAA, Norfolk, Va., 2003. The limitation of these materials comes from the use of fibers as the reinforcement agent, which undergo micro buckling in order to achieve high compressive strain. The mechanical properties of the composite material once microbuckling has been initiated are significantly reduced as compared to the initial aligned fiber direction. In addition the process of microbuckling can be difficult to control in terms of the direction of microbuckling (i.e. in-plane or out of plane). Another important limitation of these materials in the case of deforming surfaces is a limitation in the amount of area change (simultaneous strain in two orthogonal directions) that can be achieved due to the inextensibility and length of the reinforcing fibers.
Another approach intended to serve the same role as these materials in the specific case of morphing structures are termed compliant structures. These structures employ a specific architecture that tailors deflection along a desired contour when subject to known input forces and deflections. While this approach is advantageous in some applications, it is generally limited in the number of configuration states that can be achieved and optimized. Therefore, it is not as effective when more than one pre-specified range of motion is desired.
In some applications what is needed is a structure capable of changing bending stiffness in response to a control signal such that the stiffness may be decreased, the material reshaped, and the stiffness returned after reshaping. Therefore, a continuing need exists for a cellular structure that allows a change in material stiffness to permit a change in the shape of the cellular structure.

Deformable variable-stiffness cellular structures


The present invention is a process for removal of carbon dioxide from a reactor effluent stream comprising water, carbon dioxide and olefin(s), where a portion of the carbon dioxide is removed in a quenching step with a quench medium and more carbon dioxide is removed by contacting the quenched effluent stream with an alkaline stream. A portion of the alkaline stream is added to the quench medium.

Olefin(s) are traditionally produced from petroleum feedstock by catalytic or steam cracking processes. These cracking processes, especially steam cracking, produce light olefin(s) such as ethylene and/or propylene from a variety of hydrocarbon feedstock. Ethylene and propylene are important commodity petrochemicals useful in many processes for making plastics and other chemical compounds. Ethylene is used to make various polyethylene plastics, and in making other chemicals such as vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, ethylbenzene and alcohol. Propylene is used to make various polypropylene plastics, and in making other chemicals such as acrylonitrile and propylene oxide.
The petrochemical industry has known for some time that oxygenates, especially alcohols, are convertible into light olefin(s). This process is referred to as the oxygenate-to-olefin process. Typically, the preferred oxygenate for light olefin production is methanol. The process of converting methanol-to-olefin(s) is called the methanol-to-olefin(s) process.
There are numerous technologies available for producing oxygenates, and particularly methanol, including fermentation or reaction of synthesis gas derived from natural gas, petroleum liquids, carbonaceous materials including coal, recycled plastics, municipal waste or any other organic material. The most common process for producing methanol is a two-step process of converting natural gas to synthesis gas. Then, synthesis gas is converted to methanol.
Generally, the production of synthesis gas involves a combustion reaction of natural gas, mostly methane, and an oxygen source into hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. Synthesis gas production processes are well known, and include conventional steam reforming, autothermal reforming or a combination thereof.
Synthesis gas is then processed into methanol. Specifically, the components of synthesis gas (i.e., hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide) are catalytically reacted in a methanol reactor in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. For example, in one process, methanol is produced using a copper/zinc oxide catalyst in a water-cooled tubular methanol reactor.
The methanol is then converted to olefin(s) in a methanol-to-olefin(s) process. The methanol-to-olefin(s) reaction is highly exothermic and has a large amount of water. Water comprises as much as one half of the total weight of the output stream of the reactor or effluent stream. Consequently, the water must be removed by condensation in a quench device to isolate the olefin product. A quench device cools the effluent stream to a temperature at or below the condensation temperature of water.
The effluent stream of an oxygenate-to-olefin reactor also contains byproducts including oxygenate byproducts such as organic acids, aldehydes and/or ketones. Carbon dioxide is also a byproduct of the oxygenate to olefin reaction. Furthermore, depending upon operating conditions, unreacted methanol is likely to be present in the effluent of the oxygenate-to-olefin reaction.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,482,998 and 6,121,504 describe an oxygenate-to-olefin process that includes a quench tower for removal of water produced in the oxygenate-to-olefin reactor. Unreacted oxygenate feed (typically methanol) that is liquid under quenching conditions is removed from the quench tower as a heavy product fraction. The unreacted oxygenate feed is separated from water in the quench medium in a fractionation tower.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,854 describes a two stage solids wash and quench for use with the oxygenate conversion process where catalyst fines are removed from the effluent stream through a first quench stage. The bottoms of the quench include water, alcohols, ketones and neutralized organic acids that have a boiling point greater than water. The quench medium is a portion of the quench bottoms that is mixed with a neutralization stream and purified water stream. Therefore acids such as formic acid, acetic acid and propanoic acid can be neutralized. The neutralization material can be caustic, amines or ammonia.
Notwithstanding the general improvements in the related art, there is still a need for a process that removes oxygenates such as carbon dioxide, aldehydes and/or ketones with greater efficiency. The present invention addresses these and other needs.

Process for separating carbon dioxide from an oxygenate-to-olefin effluent stream


A paper feeding device includes a plurality of horizontally juxtaposed paper cassettes for containing papers. The feeding device includes a plurality of paper feeding mechanisms respectively corresponding to the paper cassettes, and each of the paper feeding mechanisms includes a separation/feeding unit for feeding papers from the paper cassette in a feeding direction. The separation/feeding unit corresponding to an upstream paper cassette of the upstream side is arranged at least partially above a paper receiving section of a downstream paper cassette to conserve space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper feeding device for supplying papers to an image forming apparatus, e.g., a copying machine, printer, facsimile machine and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a paper feeding device is installed into the image forming apparatus for supplying papers to an image forming section of the apparatus.
Recently, there are proposals of paper feeding devices uniquely designed for the purposes of space saving and supplying a large number of papers of small size, e.g., A4 size or letter size, which are more frequently used, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication Nos. Hei. 6-236085 and 7-121084. In those paper feeding devices, paper cassettes containing papers of small size are juxtaposed while being substantially horizontally aligned.
An example of this type of the paper feeding device is shown in FIG. 5. As shown, paper cassettes 20a and 20b, disposed side by side, are provided with paper feeding mechanisms 21a and 21b, respectively. The paper feeding mechanism 21a (21b) picks up papers sheet by sheet from the associated paper cassette 20a (20b), and feeds them to its associated paper transport path 22 and then to an image forming section, which is located in the upper portion of the image forming apparatus.
Pull-out rails 23 are provided on both sides of the paper cassette 20a (20b), and enables the front loading (pulling out of the paper cassette to the front side of the apparatus) for supplying papers.
The paper feeding mechanism 21a (21b) associated with the paper cassette 20a (20b), as shown in FIG. 6, includes a pick-up roller 31, a feed roller 32 and a retarding roller 33.
The pick-up roller 31 is turned in the direction of an arrow B while being in press-contact with the upper surface of a sheet of the uppermost paper P of a stack of papers stored in the paper cassette, to thereby pick up the paper P and feed it in a paper feeding direction (of an arrow A).
The feed roller 32 and the retarding roller 33 successively receive the papers that are let out by the pick-up roller 31 and feeds the papers sheet by sheet to the paper transport path 22. To this end, the feed roller 32 is turned in the paper feeding direction (of an arrow C) on the paper P. The retarding roller 33, located under the paper P are press-contacted with the feed roller 32, while receiving a rotary torque (as shown in an arrow D), opposite in direction to the rotary torque of the feed roller 32, or a stopping torque.
The axial center of the feed roller 32 and that of the retarding roller 33 lie on a perpendicular line in order to feed the paper P substantially horizontally.
In the above-mentioned paper feeding device, the paper cassettes 20a and 20b are juxtaposed at the equal heights, and provided with the paper feeding mechanisms 21a and 21b, respectively. The combination of the feed roller 32 and the retarding roller 33 of each paper feeding mechanism 21a (21b) is located in a further downstream side of the downstream end of the paper cassette 20a (20b) (when viewed in the paper feeding direction).
Therefore, a space in which the feed roller 32 and the retarding roller 33 are placed must be secured between the paper cassettes 20a and 20b. In other words, the paper cassettes 20a and 20b must be arranged so as to provide a given space enough to receive the feed/retarding roller combination. Thus, the space for securing the feed roller 32 and the retarding roller 33, that is, the space other than the space for securing the papers is present between the paper cassettes 20a and 20b. This space is superfluous, and brings about an adverse effect on the efforts of the space saving.
Another type of the paper feeding device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 6-100190. The paper feeding device is designed such that papers contained in the paper cassette located upstream (when viewed in the paper feeding direction) are fed through the downstream paper cassette. Therefore, there is capable of simplifying the paper feeding mechanism for the upstream paper cassette, and eliminated the necessity of the superfluous space. However, in this case, the independent paper supplying from those paper cassettes is impossible. Therefore, during the paper feeding to the image forming section, it is impossible to supply papers to either of the paper cassettes. To supply papers to the paper cassette, the paper supplying operation to the image forming section must be interrupted. This impairs the efficiency of the image forming processing in the image forming apparatus.


A method for automatically evaluating photographic performance is provided. The method includes recording with a camera device one or more images during a photography session. The images are digitally stored, and image information related to the images is automatically compiled. The image information may include sales data, image content data, image capture data, and sales condition data. Other image information may be manually compiled. At least one photographic performance metric is automatically generated using at least one of the images and the image information. The performance metric acts to facilitate evaluation of one or more aspects of photographic performance. A system and a computer program product for automatically evaluating photographic performance are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for evaluating photographic performance, and more particularly to systems, methods, and computer program products for providing automatic generation of photographic performance metrics.
2. Description of Related Art
Retail photography studios, through which customers may obtain professionally-taken photographs, have existed for some time. Often, there is an expectation of a higher or different quality of photographs taken by professionals than might otherwise be produced without such professional help. This provides the motivation for utilizing a retail studio. As such, ensuring high quality photographs has always been a concern for retail photography studios.
Traditionally, the monitoring and improvement of photographic quality and performance has been a cumbersome process. Various evaluation methods have been used in the past and are still in use today. Some photographic companies have produced proof sheets, film, or video including a series of photographs from a given photography session. These images could be used to examine the performance of a photographer during a given session (e.g., the number of pictures taken with imperfect focus, the number of pictures taken with poor composition, etc.). Also, images from different sessions could be examined to determine any positive or negative tendencies in photographic performance, and to monitor improvement in technique. However, the manual review of images tends to be a labor intensive process, and as a result, this method provides only limited opportunity for systematically monitoring and/or improving photographic performance.
In more recent times, digital cameras and technology have proliferated in society. Users of digital cameras are free to take a great number of pictures in order to ultimately obtain just a few of acceptable quality with the rest being unused. The advent and growth of digital photography, with its inexpensive and forgiving nature, has increased the demands on professional photographers to offer exceptional quality, both in terms of image quality and customer service, in order to attract customers. There is a need, therefore, for a method and/or system that allows for monitoring and management of photographic performance. With the existence of chains of retail photography studios, there is also a need for such a system to allow for central management of distributed retail photography studio centers.

System, method, and computer program product for evaluating photographic performance


A coating composition having corrosion inhibiting properties, electrical insulating properties, mold release properties and waterproofing properties comprises a dispersion of microcrystalline paraffin wax in a solvent. The coating composition is prepared by heating the microcrystalline wax to about 70.degree. C. to 82.degree. C. and rapidly pouring the wax into a mixture of hexane and xylene at room temperature.

Metals and articles containing metals typically undergo some form of oxidation when exposed to air and moisture. Iron and iron alloys are particularly prone to corrosion, which if allowed to proceed, detracts from the appearance of the article and can penetrate deeply into the metal to impair its mechanical properties. Most other metals also corrode upon exposure to water and air, although to different extents. For example, aluminum corrodes to produce white specks, while copper corrodes to produce a bluish-green coating. The layer of corrosion on aluminum and copper typically does not penetrate through the metal, although it can affect the desired properties of the metal. In electrical components, for example, even small amounts of corrosion between electrical contacts can result in failure of the components.
It is customary to protect metal parts against corrosion by applying a protective film. Examples of protective coatings which have been extensively used include petroleum base grease-like compositions, plastic compositions such as proxylin type films, and asphalt base varnishes. The grease-like compositions have been found unsatisfactory for many uses due to the poor resistance to abrasion and the low temperature melting encountered during use of the coated article. The asphalt varnishes and plastic coatings provide adequate protection against corrosion although the coatings are difficult to apply and difficult to remove from the metal surfaces. The decomposition of some of these coating compositions may result in free acids which can react with the metal.
A major use of coating compositions is in the prevention of rust on steel, such as automobile bodies. Some processes of applying a corrosion resistant coating use a wax material which is applied to the steel parts. It is generally desirable to form a wax coating of a predetermined thickness on every area of the surface subject to the treatment. Furthermore, the composition must penetrate into narrow spaces of the work piece. The coating composition requires a low viscosity to penetrate the areas to be protected. Low viscosity waxes can be difficult to apply and are difficult to apply in the desired thickness. To achieve the desired thickness, successive dippings in the coating material are required. The dipping process, however, does not permit selective application of the material.
Numerous coating compositions are known to be applied as coatings or protective films to prevent the penetration of air and water. Examples of some of these compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,281, U.S. Pat. No. 3,641,551 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,262. Wax treatments using mechanical force to achieve penetration of the wax into the interstices of the article is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,945.
The coating compositions are often difficult to apply and difficult to produce. Many of these compositions further fail to provide adequate penetration into tight spaces and fail to provide a uniform coating.

Microcrystalline wax coating composition


An aqueous noctilucent and allochroic glue that includes deionized water; a noctilucent material that includes long-afterglow phosphor powder and a transparent medium, wherein the noctilucent material includes particles formed by creating, curing, and then crushing a suspension, mixture, or sheet of the long-afterglow phosphor powder and transparent medium, and wherein the particles have been coated with allochroic material; adhesive; and suspension concentrate.

The described invention relates in general to color-changing and glow-in-the dark compositions, and more specifically to various aqueous allochroic (color-changing) and noctilucent (glow-in-the dark) glues and adhesive formulations having thermochromic or optically variable properties, and processes and methods for making the same.
Most commercially available glow-in-the dark adhesives or glues are formulated with noctilucent materials that include long-afterglow phosphor powder. Because such long-afterglow phosphor powders typically include small particles and exhibit low luminance, to obtain a higher luminance, the concentration of the noctilucent powder in the formulation must be increased. However, increasing the concentration of the noctilucent powder in a formulation may result in a significant increase in cost and at extremely high concentrations, light generated by luminescent particles may be dispersed during the transmission thereof, thereby negatively affecting the overall luminance of the formulation and/or product.
Through recent advancements in materials science, various thermochromic and photochromic glues have become commercially available. The appearance and color of these glues can be changed by varying the temperatures or lighting conditions under which the glues are used. However, because such glues do not actively luminesce, these materials cannot be used under non-luminous conditions and are typically only useful in luminous environments such as daytime or daylight. Consequently, the scope of use and the applications of such materials have been limited. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for thermochromic and photochromic glues that also have noctilucent properties based on improved luminescence.


Systems and methods to integrate processing of information from a plurality of data systems. In an embodiment, a system includes a network connection, which can receive information sent to and from a terminal. The network connection is coupled to a first network, and the first network is coupled to the terminal. The system can also include a plurality of data system connections, where each data system connection of the plurality of data system connections can receive information sent to and from a respective data system of a plurality of data systems. A server is coupled to the network connection and the plurality of data system connections. In an embodiment, the server includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory can include a plurality of data system instructions objects, where each data system instructions object of the plurality of data system instructions objects corresponds to a respective data system of the plurality of data systems. Each data system instructions object can manage communications between the terminal and the respective data system of the plurality of data systems.

A business, such as a retail store, can be connected to a plurality of network systems for access to customer and business information. For example, a business may be connected to a Point-of-Sale (POS) system that provides accounting (e.g., general ledger accounting) and cash management services. The accounting services can track costs related to inventory, sales revenues, and other accounting figures. The cash management services can manage cash flows, bank deposits, cash drawer reconciliation, and so on. Access to the POS system may be controlled by requiring the entry of login information (e.g., a user identification, a password). Management of the business's inventory may be performed by an inventory system that is separate from the POS system. The inventory system can perform inventory management functions such as inventory ordering, inventory receiving, sales from inventory, returns to inventory, and inventory reordering. Access to the inventory system can also require entry of the appropriate login information, but the login information for access to the inventory system can be different than the login information for access to the POS system.
The business may also accept credit cards for payments of the costs of goods and services. Also, the business may be offering business services such that conducting a credit determination (e.g., a consumer credit evaluation) prior to entering into a service agreement is advantageous. A credit card services system can provide credit card services (e.g., provide credit card authorizations, guarantees of payment, and so forth) to the business. The business may also receive credit information from a credit system prior to making a credit determination. To manage customer accounts, the business may have a customer services system that includes data related to customer accounts, balances, and other customer information. The provision of services (e.g., wireless communications services, Internet access services, communications services, data services) can require activation systems that manage activation of customer accounts. For example, a business providing wireless communications services can have an activation system that manages establishment of billing for wireless service and provisioning of wireless services to a wireless communications device. Access to each of these service systems—e.g., the credit service systems, the customer service system, and the activation system—may be discrete, and each service system can require different login information for access and use of each system.
The use of each of these service systems can individually enhance business productivity, employee productivity and customer satisfaction with respect to each specific service. However, when an employee or customer transaction requires interaction with a plurality of the service systems, there can be errors and inefficiencies. For example, a customer transaction may require establishment of separate transaction sessions with different service systems that can involve entry of distinct login information, rekeying of customer information, rekeying of product and/or service information, and so on.
Inefficiencies can also arise from a service system requirement that there be an operating network communications link between a client terminal (e.g., a POS terminal, a personal computer (PC) at retail establishment) and a server (e.g., a network server, a server of a network data center). The network communications link can provide real-time data communications between the client terminal and the server, and can be a Wide Area Network (WAN) communications link, a Local Area Network (LAN) communications link, an HTTP network communications link (e.g., an Internet communications link), and so forth. Whereas many client terminals are able to operate in an off-line mode (e.g., without an operating network communications link), certain transactions typically require an operating network communications link. For example, credit card service systems typically require a network communications link in order for credit authorization queries and replies. An activation system for provisioning of wireless services can be dependent upon a credit determination that requires receipt at a client terminal of credit information from a credit services system.
In view of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a substantial need exists for systems and methods that can advantageously provide for integrated processing of information from a plurality of data systems.

System and method for integrated processing of information from a plurality of data systems


A ditch cover assembly, an accessory attachment clip, and an interchangeable roof accessory system for a vehicle are disclosed. An accessory attachment clip may generally include an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a mid-portion disposed between the first and second ends, at least one securement mechanism disposed along the body for retaining an accessory, and at least one aperture disposed between the first end and the second end operable to receive a fastener to secure the body to the vehicle.

Motor vehicles may be provided with roof ditches for preventing water, which accumulates on the roof from running into the interior of the vehicle through door openings, or onto occupants entering or alighting from the vehicle. A roof ditch generally includes a channel which guides the flow of water off of the vehicle roof. Typically, roof ditches are formed in sheetmetal panels of the upper greenhouse area of the vehicle. For example, roof ditches may be stamped in a roof panel. Roof ditches typically run along the length of the vehicle greenhouse area, such that any water or other liquid running into the ditches will tend to run off at the front or rear of the vehicle greenhouse area, away from vehicle door openings. Accordingly, roof ditches generally prevent spillage of water into the vehicle compartment or onto vehicle occupants. Additionally, roof ditches may provide aesthetic qualities to a vehicle roofline, or improve overall stiffness of a vehicle roof structure, such as where a roof ditch is stamped into a roof panel, generally increasing stiffness of the panel.
Vehicle accessories may be attached to the vehicle within or in the general vicinity of vehicle roof ditches using robust mounting features that can tolerate the load requirements typical of a vehicle accessory rack. For example, it may be convenient to secure accessory racks to the vehicle surface within a roof ditch, as the depth of the roof ditch generally provides a recessed mounting surface for the accessory rack. Further, mounting accessory racks to surfaces or features provided within the roof ditch generally reduces visual clutter on the roof of the vehicle.
Ditch moldings may be employed as aesthetic components of a vehicle by generally concealing roof ditches or providing a color in the vehicle roofline that contrasts with a vehicle body color, especially where the vehicle is not provided with accessories already secured to the roof ditch. Ditch moldings may also cover various features formed within a roof ditch, such as attachment features for vehicle accessories that would otherwise be attached to the roof ditch. This is especially useful where vehicles are produced in a mass manufacturing environment, with some vehicles receiving accessory racks and others receiving roof ditch moldings. However, ditch moldings generally do not require the more rugged, permanent mounting features typical of many accessory racks, since load requirements are lower for roof ditch moldings. Further, it is generally preferable to employ simpler snap-in fasteners enabling installation of ditch moldings by hand, and/or allow easy removal of the roof ditch molding.
Assembly of a vehicle having more rugged, durable features, e.g., an accessory rack, installed in some versions, and a simpler feature requiring less load-carrying ability, e.g., a roof ditch molding, installed in other versions, therefore generally necessitates separate mounting features for each of the different systems. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an accessory mounting system that allows for interchangeable installation of various accessory systems having disparate load requirements.


Junction field effect transistors (JFETs) and related manufacturing methods are disclosed herein. A disclosed JFET includes a vertical channel region located in a mesa and a first channel control region located on a first side of the mesa. The first channel control region is at least one of a gate region and a first base region. The JEFT also includes a second base region located on a second side of the mesa and extending through the mesa to contact the vertical channel region. The vertical channel can be an implanted vertical channel. The vertical channel can be asymmetrically located in the mesa towards the first side of the mesa.

Junction field effect transistors (JFETs) operate by providing a conductive path between a drain and source terminal through a channel of the device in response to the application of a voltage to a third terminal. The third terminal is a channel control terminal such as a gate or base terminal. Four terminal JFETS can include both a gate terminal and a base terminal. The third terminal can be referred to as a channel control terminal because when an appropriate bias voltage(s) is applied to the gate and/or base, the characteristics of the channel are altered, current flows through the channel between the source and drain, and the transistor is ON. Accordingly, when an opposite bias voltage(s) is applied to the gate and/or base, the channel of the device is pinched off and the transistor is OFF. The bias voltages depend on the conductivity types (e.g., n-type or p-type) of the various regions and whether the transistor is a nominally ON or nominally OFF device.
Traditional JFETs are lateral devices in which the main direction of current flow through the channel is parallel to the surface of the substrate on which the device is formed. Vertical JFETs, in contrast, are devices in which the main direction of current flow through the device is perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The drain of a vertical JFET can be the substrate itself with current flowing from wiring layers above the active semiconductor layer of the substrate and down into the substrate.
FIG. 1 provides two cross sections 100 and 150 taken from different types of vertical JFET devices. Both illustrated cross sections are taken from mesa vertical JFET devices, which are referred to as such because the vertical channels of both devices are formed in mesas of active material (i.e., mesa 101 and mesa 151). Mesa vertical JFET devices are also, in some cases, referred to as trench vertical JFETs. The devices are also similar in that current ultimately flows from a source contact 102/152 and a source region 103/153 through a drift region 104/154 to a drain region 105/155. As mentioned, the drain region can be the substrate on which the device is built. The devices are also similar in that this current flow is controlled through the application of a bias voltage to two sets of base contacts 106/156 and 107/157 and two sets of base regions 108/158 and 109/159. The application of an appropriate bias voltage can serve to allow current to flow through a channel of the device or to pinch off the channel by depleting it of majority carriers. As stated above, depending upon the conductivity type of the channel of the devices, this bias voltage can be positive or negative with respect to the alternative regions of the device.
The devices illustrated by cross sections 100 and 150 differ in the characteristics of their channel regions. In these figures, and throughout this disclosure, solid black regions indicate ohmic contact material (e.g., metal wires), hatched regions indicate semiconductor material of a first conductivity type (e.g., n-type doped semiconductor material) and dotted regions indicate semiconductor material of a second conductivity type which is opposite the first (e.g., p-type doped semiconductor material). Darker semiconductor areas indicate higher levels of majority carriers (e.g., darker n-type regions are more n-type and darker p-type regions are more p-type). The device illustrated by cross section 100 incudes a channel region 110 which has been formed in an epitaxial layer of material that itself was formed over drift region 104. The channel can be pinched off by applying the appropriate voltage to the base regions 108 and 109 to deplete the channel region 110 from majority carriers and thereby prevent the flow of current from source region 103 down to drain region 105. One problem with this type of device is that the variation of the cumulative channel dopant dose in the epitaxial layer in which channel region 110 is formed can be as high as +/−20% in certain manufacturing environments. The source of this variation could be from the variation doping concentration in the channel layer or from the variation in mesa width leading to variation in width of the channel region. The device illustrated by cross section 150 attempts to address this concern by forming two separate channel regions 160 and 161 by implanting dopants into a neutral or lightly doped semiconductor layer 162. The resulting device can exhibit certain benefits in that dopant variation in layers formed through the implantation of dopants can be as low as +/−3% in certain manufacturing environments. As a result, the characteristics of the devices illustrated by cross section 150 can ostensibly be better controlled and more consistent across a given chip, wafer, or production line.

Single sided channel mesa power junction field effect transistor


A cylinder block (10) includes an inter-bore flow passage (14) between adjacent bores (12). Each inter-bore flow passage (14) is formed by closing an opening-side groove portion (15) continuous from a cylinder block deck face and a bottom-side groove portion (16) with the use of a lid member (20) made of copper, and the lid member (20 is laser-welded to a groove wall face of the opening-side groove portion (15). Before the laser-welding, the lid member (20) has recesses (26) that are interspersed in a direction, in which a laser beam travels, at any one of connected portions at which the lid member (20 is connected to the groove wall face of the opening-side groove portion (15).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a laser welding method and an engine cooling structure of which members are welded by laser welding.
2. Description of Related Art
Welding with the use of an irradiated laser beam, different from arc welding, or the like, produces a smaller amount of slags, and may also be applied to welding of fine members and connected portions of thin sheet materials, so various suggestions have been made (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-90893 (JP 2000-90893 A), and the like).
In JP 2000-90893 A, by reducing the material thickness of connected portions or providing cutouts at the outer edges of the respective connected portions, a battery case and a lid, each are made of aluminum having a low absorption of laser beam or an aluminum-based alloy, are welded to each other with the use of a low-power laser beam.
Incidentally, not limited to members made of aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy, welded members that are object to be welded by laser welding with the use of a laser beam have a variety of its dimensions, application portions, and the like, so it may be difficult to reduce the material thickness unlike a battery case. In addition, even when the absorption of a laser beam is increased by the cutouts of the outer edges of the connected portions, there is a limit of a depth at or below which melting occurs due to a laser beam (hereinafter, the depth is termed laser welding depth where appropriate). Therefore, in order to increase the reliability and strength of laser welding, there is a need to increase the laser welding depth.
In recent years, aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy is ordinarily used for a key component of a machine structural component; nevertheless, such a key component requires a mechanical strength in many cases. However, in laser welding, the reliability of ensuring the strength of welding is low due to a shallow laser welding depth, so application of laser welding to a key component has not been increasing so much.

Laser welding method and engine cooling structure


A radio frequency signal amplification device includes an amplification circuit, an impedance matching circuit, a frequency detection circuit, and a control circuit. The amplification circuit has an input terminal and an output terminal. The amplification circuit amplifies a radio frequency (RF) signal received from the input terminal, and generates an amplified radio frequency signal to the output terminal. The impedance matching circuit is coupled to the input terminal or the output terminal of the amplification circuit. The impedance matching circuit receives the radio frequency signal and provides an impedance matching the radio frequency signal, or receives the amplified radio frequency signal and provides an impedance matching the amplified radio frequency signal. The frequency detection circuit determines a frequency band to which the radio frequency signal belongs. The control circuit adjusts the impedance of the impedance matching circuit according to the frequency band.

With the popularity of networks and mobile devices, the demand for wireless communication is increasing, and the radio frequency (RF) signal amplifier is a key component in wireless communication systems. The RF signal amplifier can amplify the RF signal of a specific frequency, so that the RF signal can be stably received and the information therein can be parsed, thereby achieving the purpose of wireless communication. However, different types of wireless communications often use different frequency bands for transmission to avoid mutual interference, and for Wi-Fi wireless transmission, there are even two different frequency bands of 2.4G Hz and 5G Hz used.
Generally, to meet the needs of different types of wireless communication, the RF signal amplifier must cooperate with different impedance matching circuits to receive the RF signals of the desired frequency bands. In addition, the required gain and operating power of the RF signal amplifier are also varied with different types of wireless communications. Therefore, in the prior art, the electronic device needs to include a plurality of different RF signal amplifiers to process different types of RF signals, which increases the circuit area. Furthermore, with the development of technology or with different application fields, the frequency bands required for wireless communication may also be different; therefore, the RF signal amplifier in the electronic device has to be redesigned according to the change of the frequency bands, resulting in a huge manpower burden and time cost.

Radio frequency amplification device capable of detecting the frequency band


A melt pump comprises a pump housing having an intake port and a discharge port and a pair of gear rotors. Each of the pair of gear rotors having a gear part and a shaft part integrated with each other, which are arranged within the pump housing in such a manner as to be rotatable in mutually meshing condition. The melt pump further comprises a recovering passage for guiding resin leaking through a clearance between the pump housing and each of the pair of gear rotors into the intake port, a cooling hole drilled inside each of the gear rotors while facing to each clearance forming region; and a pipe inserted into the cooling hole for supplying cooling liquid. A sleeve for lining the internal periphery of the cooling hole is located in the hole so as to utilize the inside of the sleeve as a cooling liquid passage.

The present invention relates to a melt pump used in a kneading granulating apparatus for boosting melted resin between a kneading machine and a pelletizer. 2. Description of the Prior Art
The melt pump is used to boost the pressure of melted resin at 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. delivered from a kneading machine up to 200 to 300 kg/cm.sup.2 and to supply it to a pelletizer. Consequently, it needs to meet the high temperature/high pressure specifications, and particularly, to have the seal structure of special design.
In FIG. 5, the gear rotor 6 is supported on a pair of bearing bodies 30. Lubrication of these bearing bodies 30 is achieved by melted resin forcibly supplied by the discharge pressure. Then, clearances are positively formed between the pump housing 3 and the gear rotor 6. Melted resin leaking through these clearances 7 is made to flow into the intake port of the pump housing 3 to be recovered.
In the technique of the prior art, resin flowing through the clearances 7 sometimes makes exothermic action by receiving shearing action, resulting in deterioration of its quality. Therefore, a cooling hole 9 is formed inside the gear rotor 6, and a pipe 10 is inserted in the cooling hole 9, thus cooling the gear rotor 6 side with cooling liquid.
As described above, in the prior art, deterioration of recovered resin due to its exothermic action can be prevented. However, the prior art is disadvantageous in that adverse affects influenced by cooling on the gear rotor 6 often occur. The melt pump must meet the high temperature/high pressure specifications, and employs the gear rotor composed of high tension steel such as SNCM material. The central portion of the high tension steel is sometimes cooled with industrial water containing impurities. This induces a fear of yielding heat shock, stress corrosion, corrosive fatigue, etc. on the gear rotor 6, resulting in cracks on the internal periphery of a cooling hole.


A slot game includes a secondary game which upon being triggered displays an initial set of selectable symbols arranged on a touchscreen display at the gaming device, the player being provided ability to make selections from the selectable symbols until all selectable symbols have been selected, each selectable symbol corresponding to an associated benefit which is one of an award, an award enhancer, or one or more additional selectable symbols. If an option is picked revealing additional selectable symbols, the game adds more picks having associated benefit like those of the initial set and the player keeps selecting. The game may also have a “game pick” in which it removes one or more of the remaining unselected choices without awarding an associated benefit.

Various slot machine games using player interaction to enhance the game experience for games with reels, simulated reels, or other arrays of gaming symbols. Some games use player selection bonus rounds to increase excitement by providing extra prizes, or to provide extra spins to the player. Typically, these rounds include a designated number of items from which the player can select to reveal a prize or benefit of some type. The player may be given a fixed number of selections or may be allowed to pick until all selections are gone. Although this is entertaining, many of the rounds lack variety because of the fixed length and lack of prize options. What is needed is a player selection bonus that provides more player variety by enabling different ways to vary the selection round.

Slot machine game with bonus game having selectable modifier elements


Disclosed are nucleic acid oligomers, including amplification oligomers, capture probes, and detection probes, for detection of a human papillomavirus (HPV) nucleic acid. Also disclosed are methods of specific nucleic acid amplification and detection using the disclosed oligomers, as well as corresponding reaction mixtures and kits.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) target epithelial tissues for infection and are etiological agents of a variety of cancers, predominantly squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. HPV-associated cancers include those of the head and neck (larynx, oral cavity, oropharynx, tonsils, and esophagus), respiratory tissue, breast, skin, cervix, and anus. Although HPV infection is considered a necessary factor in development of some cancers, other factors may also affect carcinogenesis (Braakhuis et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 96:998-1006, 2004; Dahlstrand et al., Anticancer Res. 24:1829-35, 2004; Daling et al., Cancer 101:270-80, 2004; Ha et al., Crit. Rev. Oral Biol. Med. 15:188-96, 2004; Hafkamp et al., Acta Otolaryngol. 124:520-6, 2004; Harwood et al., Br. J. Dermatol. 150:949-57, 2004; Rees et al., Clin. Otolaryngol. 29:301-6, 2004; Widschwendter et al., J. Clin. Virol. 31:292-7, 2004).
At least 77 different types of HPV have been identified. Of those, HPV16 and HPV18 are frequently linked to a variety of HPV-associated cancers, but the risk level associated with a HPV type may vary with different forms of papilloma-associated cancers. The pathogenesis of human papillomaviruses in epithelia has been studied to elucidate the link of HPV infection to cancers. HPV infects basal layer cells of stratified epithelia where they become established as multicopy episomes or integrated genomes, by which the viral DNA is replicated with cellular chromosomes (reviewed by Longworth et al., Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 68:362-72, 2004). At cell division, a daughter cell migrates away from the basal layer and undergoes differentiation in which HPV vegetative viral replication and late-gene expression are activated to produce progeny HPV. Although an infected individual's immune system may clear the HPV infection, usually within 1 to 2 years, infected basal cells may persist for decades. HPV infection may lead to chromosomal instability and aneuploidy that may favor HPV integration (Melsheimer et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 10:3059-63, 2004; Reidy et al., Laryngoscope 114:1906-9, 2004). During HPV genome integration, the HPV E2 gene may be destroyed, resulting in deregulated expression of the HPV E6/E7 oncogenes that encode oncoproteins that target the regulatory proteins pRb and p53. Thus, a cascade of events that modulate cellular regulation may result in carcinogenesis (Braun et al., Cancer Lett. 209:37-49, 2004; Fan et al., Crit. Rev. Eukaryot. Gene Expr. 14:183-202, 2004; Fiedler et al., FASEB J. 18:1120-2, 2004; Psyrri et al., Cancer Res., 64:3079-86, 2004; Si et al., J. Clin. Virol. 32:19-23, 2004).
The association of HPV infection and cervical cancer has been the subject of considerable research and epidemiological study because of the high incidence of cervical cancer worldwide, estimated at 450,000 new cases per year. HPV types associated with a high risk of developing cervical cancer (HR-HPV) include HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, and 73, although the epidemiological significance of individual types may vary with different geographical regions or clinical testing parameters (Munoz et al., Int. J. Cancer 111:278-85, 2004; Chaturvedi et al., J. Med. Virol. 75:105-13, 2005; Smith et al., Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet. 87:131-7, 2004). HPV infections that are generally considered a low risk for developing into cervical cancer (LR-HPV) include HPV types 6, 11, 43, 43, 44, 61, 71, and 72.
In women infected with HPV, cervical infection may lead to condylomata (genital warts), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and cervical cancer (Kahn et al., Adolesc. Med. Clin. 15:301-21, ix, 2004). Cytological examination of cervical cells has been the primary screening tool for detecting cervical cancer in many countries, usually using the CIN grading system (1 to 3) to monitor precancerous lesions for determining treatment and/or further monitoring. In addition to cytological screening, molecular screening for HPV nucleic acid may be a cost-effective prognostic test that may allow extending the time interval between cytological tests (Wiley et al., Curr. Oncol. Rep. 6:497-506, 2004; Zielinski et al., Obstet. Gynecol. Surv. 59:543-53, 2004; Clavel et al., Br. J. Cancer 90:1803-8, 2004). Molecular assays have been developed for detection of selected HPV proteins and nucleic acid sequences in human biological specimens, e.g., Pap smears and biopsies (Chen et al., Gynecol. Oncol. 99:578-84, 2005; Carozzi et al., Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 124:716-21, 2005; Molden et al., Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 14:367-72, 2005; Asato et al., J. Infect. Dis. 189:1829-32, 2004; Federschneider et al., Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 191:757-61, 2004; Remmerbach et al., J. Clin. Virol. 30:302-8, 2004).
Vaccination against common HPV types may be useful to treat or prevent genital warts, or prevent development of cancers, particularly cervical cancers. Various forms of HPV vaccinations are available or are in development (Ault et al., Vaccine 22:3004-7, 2004; Corona Gutierrez et al., Hum. Genet. Ther. 15:421-31, 2004; Harper et al., Lancet 364:1757-65, 2004; Roden et al., Hum. Pathol. 35:971-82, 2004).
There is a need to efficiently and sensitively detect the presence of HPV in biological specimens to provide diagnostic and prognostic information to physicians treating patients infected with HPV, particularly for women whose cervical tissue has been infected with HR-HPV types. There is also a need to efficiently and sensitively detect the presence of HPV in biological specimens obtained from individuals who have been vaccinated against HPV infection, to determine the short-term and long-term efficacy of the vaccination.

Compositions and methods for detecting human papillomavirus nucleic acid


A system for pumping a selected fuel product from a storage tank to a dispenser includes a site controller, several fuel dispensers, each operable for dispensing a selected fuel product, and a data link connected to convey product information from a selected dispenser to the site controller. Several storage tanks each contain a different fuel product from each other tank, and also contain a submersible pump in each tank. A relay is connected to each pump. A submersible pump controller (SPC) is connected to each relay and the site controller. The SPC may also be connected to each dispenser. The SPC receives product selection information from the site controller and activates the relay connected to the pump in the storage tank containing the selected product, whereby the selected fuel product is pumped to the selected dispenser.

The disclosures herein relate generally to fuel dispensers and more particularly to multiple grade fuel dispensers which deliver different grade fuel from separate storage tanks.
Multiple grade fuel dispensers, of the type commonly used at gas stations, have a plurality of hoses with delivery nozzles at each dispenser unit. Each nozzle delivers a different grade of fuel from a storage tank in the ground. There is usually no actual pump in the dispenser unit. Instead, a submersible pump is located in each tank. When a product is selected at the dispenser, the pump will engage and pressurize the fuel line, and the fuel will flow through the line and go to the designated dispenser.
In the typical system including several multiple grade dispensers, there is usually a main feeder pipe from the storage tank for each grade. Several branch lines link the main feeder pipe with each dispenser. There is only one pump for each storage tank however, which supplies multiple dispensers. This requires a system to allow each dispenser to access the pump. This is accomplished by, for example, a 120 volt AC line connecting the dispenser to a relay which feeds power to the submersible pump located in the storage tank, see FIG. 1. Each dispenser that uses a particular storage tank will have a 120 volt line connected in parallel with the other lines to that relay. As long as there is at least one dispenser using a storage tank, the respective relay will remain engaged. Therefore, a three hose dispenser, i.e., a dispenser which dispenses three grades of fuel, requires three separate 120 volt lines feeding back to a common location, usually located inside the gas station, operably connected to a relay associated with each pump. With the requirement that power for the fuel tank submersible pump relays be supplied by the dispensers, and an individual wire for each tank that is to be controlled, each dispenser is a potential failure point.
Each dispenser carries a serial communication data link which is used by the site controller, cash register, or whatever, to exchange information with the dispenser. Some of the information identifies what the product is, i.e., which grade of fuel. The site controller is able to detect which tank will be accessed when a product is selected, but each dispenser believes it is the only user of a tank.
Thus, present systems include dispensers located at various service islands, the indoor site controller, the communication link interconnecting all of the dispensers with the site controller, each dispenser having a wire connected to the relay to pass power to the submersible pump.
It would be beneficial to shift the responsibility for turning on the submersible pump relay from the dispenser to the site controller. This would eliminate the need for individual submersible pump control wiring from the dispensers to the pump control relays and would simplify dispenser installation, reduce product costs and diminish problems associated with AC voltage feeding back to the dispensers from the relays. Also, it would be beneficial to be able to retro-fit present installations to use existing hardware to function in this manner without the need to install new re-wiring arrangements between the dispensers and the site controller.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus which provides that the site controller have the ability to detect product selection at the fuel dispenser which results in a change in the state of the submersible pump located in the storage tank holding the selected product. The site controller can then pass the selection information over the serial data link to control the relays and turn the submersible pumps on and off as necessary to control fuel delivery to the dispensers.

Centralized fuel tank submersible pump control


A long span truss of substantially conventional steel construction provided with concrete encasement of the top and bottom chords with the concrete encasement being reinforced and the concrete encasement on the bottom chord and optionally on the top cord including post-tensioned steel tendons. The invention further relates to a method of making the truss as described above in which the light structural steel truss is first erected and provided with temporary steel scaffolding and bracing to support formwork. Reinforcing steel and steel tendons are placed in the formwork and concrete is poured to encase the top and bottom chords of the truss. The steel tendons are post-tensioned to provide maximum load support capability. The truss of the present invention can be used in situation where trusses are used to carry heavy loads over long spans such as bridges, stadiums, convention halls and the like and is especially beneficial when spanning a busy highway or waterway with the trusses including a single span or continuous trusses of two or more spans in which one or more intermediate supports are employed.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a long span truss of substantially conventional steel construction provided with concrete encasement of the top and bottom chords with the concrete encasement being reinforced and the concrete encasement on the bottom chord and optionally on the top chord including post-tensioned steel tendons. The invention further relates to a method of making the truss as described above in which the light structural steel truss is first erected and provided with temporary steel scaffolding and bracing to support formwork. Reinforcing steel and steel tendons are placed in the formwork and concrete is poured to encase the top and bottom chords of the truss. The steel tendons are post-tensioned to provide maximum load support capability. The truss of the present invention can be used in situation where trusses are used to carry heavy loads over long spans such as bridges, stadiums, convention halls and the like and is especially beneficial when spanning a busy highway or waterway with the trusses including a single span or continuous trusses of two or more spans in which one or more intermediate supports are employed.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Trusses of various configurations and arrangements have been utilized in structures and usually include a top chord and a bottom chord interconnected by vertical and diagonal brace members rigidly connected together with the ends of the truss being supported which introduces tension forces to the bottom chord and compression forces to the top chord. In other instances, a continuous truss is supported at intermediate points as well as at the ends thus introducing tension forces to the top chord as well a the bottom chord depending upon the relationship between the truss and the support points. It is well known to encase or clad components of the truss in concrete for increasing the strength of the truss, insulation, fireproofing and other well known purposes. Prior truss structures do not include the concept of encasing the top and bottom chords in concrete after the truss has been erected with the truss being constructed of relatively lightweight steel which supports formwork to pour the concrete to encase the top and bottom chords of the truss with the bottom chord and optionally the top chord including steel tendons that are post-tensioned to obtain maximum load supporting characteristics for the truss.

Long span post-tensioned steel/concrete truss and method of making same


An image forming device, characterized in that the shape of the optical path of a third laser beam from a third semiconductor laser (19M) to a third photo-sensitive member drum (IM) is approximately the same as that of the optical path of a first laser beam from a first semiconductor laser (19C) to a first photo-sensitive member drum (1C), a second virtual line connecting the rotating center of the third photo-sensitive member drum (IM) to the rotating center of a fourth photo-sensitive member drum (IK) is tilted relative to a first virtual line connecting the rotating center of the first photo-sensitive member drum (1C) to the rotating center of the second photo-sensitive member drum (IY), and an angle formed by the rotating axis (x2) of a second rotating polygon mirror (20b) and the second virtual line (12) is equal to an angle formed by the rotating axis (x1) of a first rotating polygon mirror (20a) and the first virtual line (11).

As a color copying machine, a color printer or the like using electrophotography, there is available one in which four photosensitive members are arranged in tandem. A tandem-type image forming apparatus is advantageous in that it allows the use of relatively many types of recording media and that it has high recording speed, and the tandem-type image forming apparatus is becoming mainstream as a recent color image forming apparatus.
As a form of such a tandem-type image forming apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-279875 and Japanese patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-221617 disclose apparatuses in which two laser scanner units are provided for four photosensitive members (2-box type). In each of the laser scanner units mounted in this type of image forming apparatus, one polygon mirror is used for two optical systems (common use), thereby achieving a reduction in the size and cost of the image forming apparatus.
In some tandem-type image forming apparatuses, the four photosensitive members are not arranged in a straight line. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-42595 discloses a construction in which, of the first through fourth photosensitive members, the second and third photosensitive members protrude toward the transfer belt by approximately 1 mm. In the apparatus as disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, in the full color printing mode, the transfer belt for conveying recording sheets is in contact with all the four photosensitive members, whereas, in the monochrome printing mode, the transfer belt is separated from the three photosensitive members other than the photosensitive member for black. Since the second and third photosensitive members protrude toward the transfer belt by approximately 1 mm, the recording sheet carrying surface of the transfer belt is flat at the time of monochrome printing while maintaining an appropriate contact state of the transfer belt with respect to each photosensitive member at the time of full color printing, so that it is possible to prevent the recording sheet from being separated from the transfer belt.
In the apparatus disclosed in this publication, the laser scanner units corresponding to the four photosensitive members constructed of four separate units (4-box type), so it is possible to realize an optically appropriate layout by shifting the second and third laser scanner units, which are of the same construction, in parallel toward the transfer belt by the same distance by which the second and third photosensitive members protrude toward the transfer belt (which, in this case, is 1 mm).
However, when applying a 2-box type laser scanner unit, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of achieving a reduction in size and cost, to an apparatus in which the four photosensitive members are not arranged in a straight line, the following problem is involved.
For example, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4, a photosensitive drum 300 is provided at a position where its optical path length is larger by 1 mm as compared with that of a photosensitive drum 301 (A−B=1 mm). Further, a photosensitive drum 303 is provided at a position where its optical path length is larger by 0.5 mm as compared with that of a photosensitive drum 302 (301) (C−B=0.5 mm). To maintain a uniform imaging state on each photosensitive drum, imaging lenses 101 and 102 are of the same optical characteristics, whereas imaging lenses 100 and 103 have different optical characteristics. Thus, the two laser scanner units 200 and 201 are of different constructions. This difference in construction makes the advantage of the 2-box type apparatus in terms of cost so much the less.

Image forming apparatus having a plurality of laser scanner units