The present invention relates to a heat sink. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat sink at a low manufacturing cost, the life of the motor of which is long so that the reliability of the heat sink can be enhanced and, further, a sufficiently high cooling performance can be obtained and the designing of the heat sink can be easily performed. The heat sink includes: a bottom surface coming into contact with a heating element; a side on which a plurality of ventilation holes are formed; and an upper surface into which a cooling fan composed of blades and a motor is embedded and fixed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat sink. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heat sink used for cooling an integrated circuit package, which generates heat, such as a microprocessor unit (MPU) incorporated into electronic equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, concerning the integrated circuits used for a personal computer, especially concerning the MPU, the degree of integration is enhanced so as to enhance the function of the integrated circuit and increase the processing speed. Therefore, the quantity of heat generated in the integrated circuit has been increased. Accordingly, the inside of the casing of a personal computer is forcibly cooled by a cooling fan, and the MPU is located at a position where the cool air of the cooling fan flows, and a heat sink provided with a large number of fins is fixed to the MPU so that the MPU can be forcibly air-cooled. However, an MPU of a higher performance is now required for a personal computer. An MPU of a higher performance generates a quantity of heat larger than that generated by other electronic parts. For this reason, there is used a heat sink into which a cooling fan is incorporated so that an MPU, which generates a large quantity of heat, can be locally cooled by means of forcible air cooling. Such a heat sink into which a cooling fan is incorporated as a local cooling means is used to replace a conventional heat sink into which a cooling fan is not incorporated. Accordingly, there is proposed a heat sink of small size in which the cooling fan or a portion of the cooling fan is incorporated inside the cooling fins.
FIGS. 15Axcx9cC are views showing a heat sink described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-49700 which is used as a local cooling means. FIG. 15A is a plan view which is taken from the upper surface side, FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken at the one-dotted chain line ABCD shown in FIG. 15A, and FIG. 15C is a plan view taken in the direction of arrow Z in FIG. 15B. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, this heat sink is composed in such a manner that a motor 2a, which is a drive section for blades 2b, is attached to the main body 1 of the heat sink, and fins 1a are perpendicularly arranged so that they surround the blades 2b. As shown in FIGS. 15B and 15C, the main body 1 of the heat sink is fixed to a heating element 3 such as a power transistor. Heat generated in the heating element is conducted to a bottom portion of the main body of the heat sink and further conducted to the fins 1a. When the motor 2a is driven, the blades 2b are rotated, so that cooling air is sucked from an upper portion of the cooling fan 2. The cooling air to which a centrifugal force is given by the rotation of the blades 2b cools the upper portions of the fins 1a, and the cooling air blown out downward by the blades 2b cools lower portions of the fins 1a. In this way, the cooling air which has been sucked from the upper portion passes through the fins 1a is discharged into the periphery of the heat sink. Therefore, the main body 1 of the heat sink can be cooled and further the heating element 3 can be cooled.
FIG. 16 is a view showing the heat sink described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (PCT route) No. 8-502804. In the overall periphery of the main body 1 of the heat sink, there are provided a plurality of perpendicular fins 1a, and the cooling fan 2 is supported by the main body 1 of the heat sink. When the motor is arranged inside the blades 2b, the height of the cooling fan 2 in the axial direction is reduced, and when a portion of the cooling fan 2 intrudes into the main body of the heat sink, the thickness of the fan body 5 is reduced. When the cooling fan 2 is driven, the blades 2b are rotated, so that a cooling air can be sucked from the upper portion. The thus sucked cooling air cools the bottom portion of the main body 1 of the heat sink and passes through among the fins 1a. Therefore, the cooling air absorbs the heat which has been conducted from the main body 1 of the heat sink to the fins 1a, and the absorbed heat is dissipated to the periphery of the heat sink. When this heat sink is fixed to a heating element such as an MPU, the heating element can be locally cooled.
FIGS. 17A and 17B are views showing the heat sink described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-268125. FIG. 17A is a plan view which is taken from the upper surface. FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view taken on line Bxe2x80x94B in FIG. 17A. The motor 2a of the cooling fan 2 is fixed to the bottom portion of the main body 1 of the heat sink, and cooling fins 1a are perpendicularly arranged in such a manner that they surround the cooling fan 2. The bottom portion of the main body 1 of the thus composed heat sink is fixed to a heating element 3 such as an MPU. When the motor 2a is driven, the blades 2b are rotated, so that a cooling air can be sucked from the upper portion. The sucked cooling air passes through among the fins 1a and discharges into the periphery of the heat sink. When the fins 1a are cooled, the heating element 3 can be cooled via the main body 1 of the heat sink.
In the heat sinks shown in FIGS. 15A-C and 17A and 17B, the motor 2a which drives the cooling fan 2 is directly fixed to the bottom portion of the main body 1 of the heat sink. In the driving section of the cooling fan 2, ball bearings or sleeve bearings are used, and lubricant such as grease or oil is charged in the bearing. Due to the above structure, heat is directly transmitted to the bearing from the bottom portion of the main body 1 of the heat sink located close to the heating element 3. Accordingly, the temperature of the bearing is raised. When the temperature of the bearing is raised, the deterioration of the grease or oil is facilitated, and the life of the motor 2a is shortened.
In the heat sink shown in FIG. 16, the cooling fan 2 is mounted on the upper portion. Accordingly, areas of the fins 1a arranged on the side are small. Therefore, in order to realize a sufficiently high cooling performance, it is necessary to provide small fins with very small intervals between the fins. In order to realize the small fins 1a, the manufacturing cost is increased in the cutting process. Further, since the intervals between the fins 1a are very small, blocking tends to occur when dust gathers between the fins 1a. Accordingly, a quantity of cooling air is lowered, and the cooling performance is deteriorated.
In the structure of the heat sinks shown in FIGS. 15Axcx9cC and 17A and 17B in which the fins 1a are perpendicularly arranged on the overall bottom surface of the main body 1 of the heat sink, analysis of the flow of the cooling air becomes complicated and also analysis of the noise becomes complicated. Therefore, it is difficult to design the heat sink. Accordingly, it is impossible to optimize the cooling performance and reduce the noise.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat sink of low manufacturing cost and long life, the cooling performance of which is sufficiently high and in which the designing of the heat sink can be easily performed.
The invention described in claim 1 is to provide a heat sink comprising a box composed of a bottom surface coming into contact with a heating element, a side on which ventilation holes are formed and an upper surface on which a cooling fan having at least blades and a motor is embedded and fixed. Due to the above structure, when the design of the hole is changed, the performance can be easily optimized, and when the upper surface is provided on the box and the cooling fan is fixed onto the upper surface, the area of the side of the box can be sufficiently ensured, and further the deterioration of lubricant in the motor bearing can be prevented.
The invention described in FIG. 2 is to provide a heat sink in which the bottom surface is larger than a heat transmitting section coming into contact with the heating element, and ventilation holes are formed at positions on the bottom surface different from the position of the heat transmitting section. Due to the above structure, a change in the design of the hole can be performed in a wide range. Therefore, it becomes easy to optimize the performance. Further, the cooling performance can be enhanced and the noise generated by the cooling fan can be decreased.
The invention described in FIG. 3 is to provide a heat sink in which the ventilation holes formed on the bottom surface are open under the condition that the heat transmitting section comes into contact with the heating element. Due to the above structure, the quantity of cooling air passing through in the holes formed on the bottom surface of the box is increased, so that the performance of cooling the bottom surface of the box can be enhanced. Compared with a case in which holes are formed only on the side, the cooling air can flow smoothly. Therefore, the occurrence of noise can be decreased.
The invention described in FIG. 4 is to provide a heat sink comprising: a box composed of a bottom surface coming into contact with a heating element, a side on which ventilation holes are formed and an upper surface, the bottom surface having a heat transmitting section coming into contact with the heating element and also having ventilation holes; and a cooling fan composed of blades and a motor, wherein the cooling fan is embedded in the upper surface. When the upper surface is provided as described above, it is possible to ensure a sufficiently large area of the side which connects with the upper surface. Accordingly, the cooling performance can be enhanced. Further, it is possible to introduce a cooling air into the holes formed on the side and the bottom surface of the box. Therefore, the occurrence of noise can be decreased and the cooling performance can be enhanced.
The invention described in FIG. 5 is to provide a heat sink in which a radiating member is arranged between the cooling fan and the bottom surface of the box, and a portion of the radiating member is fixed onto the bottom surface. Due to the above structure, surface areas of the radiating fins are added to the surface area of the box. Therefore, the cooling performance can be enhanced.
The invention described in FIG. 6 is to provide a heat sink in which the dimensions of the box are larger than those of the heating element and are made to coincide with the outside dimensions of a socket holding the heating element, and the center of the cooling fan is located eccentric with respect to the center of the heating element. Due to the above structure, it is possible to fix the box to the socket. Even if the rotational center of the cooling fan is different from the heating center of the heating element, it is unnecessary to change the design of the holes on the side and also it is unnecessary to correct the design. Since the center of each component is different, it is possible to cool a portion of high temperature at the heating center by the strongest air flow sent out from the blades of the cooling fan. Accordingly, the cooling performance can be enhanced.
The invention described in FIG. 7 is to provide a heat sink comprising: a heat sink component having a bottom surface coming into contact with a heating element; a cooling fan having at least blades and a motor and a cover for fixing the fan to the heat sink component, wherein the cover is used for setting a distance so that a distance from the bottom surface of the cover at the end of the heat sink component to the upper surface of the heat sink component can be smaller than a distance from the bottom surface of the cover immediately below the fan to the upper surface of the heat sink component. Due to the above structure, it is possible to minimize the deterioration of the cooling performance without increasing the intensity of noise.
The invention described in FIG. 8 is to provide a heat sink comprising: a heat sink component having a bottom surface coming into contact with a heating element; a cooling fan having at least blades and a motor; and a cover for fixing the fan to the heat sink component, wherein the cover can be opened and closed round a hinge arranged at one end of the cover and locked at the other end. Due to the above structure, it is possible to conduct working on the heating element without removing the cover and the fan. That is, when the heat sink component to which the fan is attached is fixed to the heating element, it is possible to expose a hole for fixing the heat sink component by disengaging the lock of the cover and opening and closing it. Accordingly, it can be screwed and fixed there.
The invention described in FIG. 9 is to provide a heat sink comprising: a rectangular heat sink component having a bottom surface coming into contact with a heating element; a cooling fan having at least blades and a motor and a cover for fixing the fan to the heat sink component, wherein a heat conveyance member for diffusing heat is attached to the base of the heat sink component. Due to the above structure, the temperature at the end portion is not lowered, that is, the temperature of the overall heat sink can be made uniform. Accordingly, the cooling performance can be enhanced. The reason why the temperature of the overall heat sink can be made uniform is described as follows. In the case of a heat sink, the shape of which is rectangular, a quantity of heat transmitted in the longitudinal direction is decreased. Accordingly, the radiating efficiency of the heat sink is lowered at the end portion. However, according to the invention described in the claim, a heat conveyance member is arranged from the center of high temperature to the end in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, heat can be conveyed to the end portion of the heat sink.
The invention described in FIG. 10 is to provide an information processor comprising: a heat sink component having a bottom surface coming into contact with a heating element; a cooling fan having at least blades and a motor; and a cover for fixing the fan to the heat sink component, wherein a heat conveyance member is attached to the base of the heat sink component so as to convey heat to another cooling section. Due to the above structure, even if a quantity of heat generated by the heating element is increased, it is possible to incorporate the heat sink having the fan into the mounting space used presently. Up to this time, when the heat sink having the fan is incorporated into a limited mounting space, it is impossible to increase the volume of the heat sink and the capacity of the cooling fan in the case of an increase in the quantity of heat generated by the heating element when the processing speed is raised. However, according to the invention described in the claim, the heat conveyance member is arranged in the heat sink, and the increased heat is conveyed to another cooling unit by the heat conveyance member.
The invention described in FIG. 11 is to provide an information processor comprising: a heat sink component having a bottom surface coming into contact with a heating element; a heating element; and a printed circuit board, wherein the heat sink component and the cooling fan are fixed onto the printed circuit board by a bracket for fixing the heat sink having a cooling fan utilizing a hole for fixing the cooling fan. Due to the above structure, the hole for fixing the cooling fan is used. Therefore, while it is unnecessary to conduct an additional machining, the heat sink and the cooling fan can be attached to the printed circuit board of the apparatus. Accordingly, the occurrence of vibration and shock can be prevented at a low cost.

Heat sink and information processor using it


A high-pressure fuel pump is provided for an internal combustion engine having an intake system and an exhaust system installed to the front and back of the engine, respectively. The fuel pump is located adjacent to a front upper part of the engine so as to be driven by a camshaft, but is positioned in an inclined position relative to the engine instead of a vertical position. This arrangement shifts the fuel pump backward in installing position with an effect of eliminating mechanical interference of the fuel pump with an engine compartment hood, and provides a long distance between the fuel pump and a dash panel behind the fuel pump with an effect of lowing energy of an impact applied to the fuel pump from the dash panel when the engine moves rearward due to a front-end collision.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel supply device for a direct injection internal combustion engine and, more particular, to a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to a direct injection internal combustion engine in which a layout of a high-pressure fuel pump is improved.
2. Description of Related Art
In a front engine-front drive (FF) type of vehicle, an engine is installed in a front engine compartment with a row of cylinders in a transverse direction of the vehicle. As known from, for instance, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 8-312502, in the case where the front engine-front drive type of vehicle equipped with a direct injection type of internal combustion engine in which fuel is sprayed directly into cylinders, a fuel supply device includes fuel injectors and a high-pressure fuel pump which is used to pressurize fuel and force it into a fuel delivery pipe for distributing fuel to the fuel injectors for stable fuel supply into cylinders through the fuel injectors overcoming high pressure in the cylinders.
Typically, a camshaft or an extension of the camshaft extending beyond an engine in a transverse direction drives a high-pressure fuel pump. Fuel is pressurized by, for example, reciprocating motion of a rod of the high-pressure fuel pump, which is caused by rotation of a cam secured to the camshaft. Because the front engine-front drive type of vehicle is equipped with an internal combustion engine with a row of cylinders directed in a transverse direction of the vehicle and, as a matter of course, the camshaft extends in the transverse direction, the high-pressure fuel pump is located laterally adjacent to the top of the transverse engine.
As schematically shown as one of general arrangements of intake and exhaust systems in FIG. 9, an intake system P2 is located behind a transverse direct injection engine P10 and an exhaust system P3 is located in front of the engine. Further, as schematically shown as another general arrangement of intake and exhaust systems in FIG. 10, an intake system P2 is located in front of engine P10 and an exhaust system P3 is located behind the engine. The latter arrangement makes it possible to have the exhaust system P3 shortened in exhaust gas path length for the purpose of quickly raising a temperature of a catalytic converter in the exhaust system P3 and accelerating activation of the catalyst which is quite notable in light of measures to meet the recent exhaust gas regulations.
In both arrangements, a high-pressure fuel pump P50 is located laterally adjacent to rear part of the top of the transverse engine so as to avoid mechanical interference against a front hood Pz that is inclined forward down. A camshaft extending from rear top portion of the engine body P10 drives the high-pressure fuel pump P50. Specifically, the high-pressure fuel pump P50 is driven by an intake camshaft P14 in the case where the intake system P2 is located behind the engine P2 as shown in FIG. 9, or the high-pressure fuel pump is driven by an exhaust camshaft P15 in the case where the exhaust system P3 is located behind the engine body P10 as shown in FIG. 10.
There is provided a distance between the high-pressure fuel pump P50 and a dash panel Pg when disposing the high-pressure fuel pump P50 a little to the rear of the engine P10 shorter than that when disposing the high-pressure fuel pump P50 a little to the front of the engine body P10 and driving it by a camshaft extending along froward top portion of the engine body P10. The shorter distance between the high-pressure fuel pump P50 and a dash panel Pg provides an increase in probability of damaging the high-pressure fuel pump P50 due to a hit against the dash panel Pg which is caused by rearward movement of the engine body P10 upon an occurrence of a frontal crash of the vehicle. In particular, differently from the arrangement in which the engine body P10 with the intake system P2 located behind the engine and the exhaust system P3 located in front of the engine as shown in FIG. 9, a surge tank P22 is not located between the high-pressure fuel pump P50 and the dash panel Pg in the arrangement in which the engine body P10 with the intake system P2 located in front of the engine and the exhaust system P3 located behind the engine as shown in FIG. 10. Accordingly, the high-pressure fuel pump P50 and the dash panel Pg stand face to face directly with each other, so that the high-pressure fuel pump P50 is apt to easily hit against the dash panel Pg when the engine moves backward. This arrangement is undesirable for structural safety.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel supply device having a compact arrangement which prevents a high-pressure fuel pump from mechanically interfering with a hood of an engine compartment and provides a large distance between the high-pressure fuel pump and a structural member such as a dash panel behind the high-pressure fuel pump in consideration with prevention of an impact possibly applied to the high-pressure fuel pump upon occurrence of a frontal crash of the vehicle.
The foregoing object of the present invention is accomplished by providing a fuel supply device for a direct injection internal combustion engine with a row of cylinders directed in a transverse direction of a vehicle body for supplying fuel to fuel injectors adapted to spray fuel directly into cylinders, which comprises at least two camshafts extending in parallel to each other along the engine in the transverse direction and a high-pressure fuel pump for pressurizing said fuel and forcing it into the fuel injector. The high-pressure fuel pump is located laterally adjacent to front or rear part of the engine so as to be driven by one of the two camshafts located along the part of the engine and is installed in a position inclined forward or rearward.
According to the fuel supply device, in an arrangement wherein the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is located laterally adjacent to forward part of the engine body E10 and is driven by one of the two camshaft E14 which is located along the forward part of the engine body E10 as schematically shown in FIG. 7, because the high-pressure fuel pump P50 is not in an upright position but is inclined rearward, the high-pressure fuel pump E50 shifts rearward in position from the upright position, so that the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is prevented from mechanically interfering with the hood of engine compartment Ez though it is located in a forward position with respect to the engine body E10. Additionally, the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is intentionally positioned forward with respect to the engine body E10 in the engine compartment Ex, so that there is provided a long distance between the high-pressure fuel pump E10 and the dash panel Eg behind the high-pressure fuel pump E50, thereby lowering energy of an impact applied to the high-pressure fuel pump E50 by the dash panel Eg when the engine body E10 moves rearward upon an occurrence of frontal crash of the vehicle.
On the other hand, in an arrangement wherein the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is located laterally adjacent to rearward part of the engine body E10 and is driven by one of the two camshaft E15 which is located along the rearward part of the engine body E10 as schematically shown in FIG. 8, because the high-pressure fuel pump P50 is not in an upright position but is inclined forward, the high-pressure fuel pump E50 shifts forward in position from the upright position, so that there is provided a long distance between the high-pressure fuel pump E10 and the dash panel Eg behind the high-pressure fuel pump E50 even though it is located in a rearward position with respect to the engine body E10 thereby lowering energy of an impact applied to the high-pressure fuel pump E50 by the dash panel Eg when the engine body E10 moves rearward upon an occurrence of frontal crash of the vehicle. Additionally, the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is intentionally positioned rearward with respect to the engine body E10 in the engine compartment Ex, so that the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is prevented from mechanically interfering with the hood Ez of the engine compartment Ez.
If inclining forward the high-pressure fuel pump E50 located in a forward position, the high-pressure fuel pump E50 shifts into a more forward position from the originally intended upright position. This arrangement is hard to prevent the high-pressure fuel pump E50 from mechanically interfering with the hood Ez. Similarly, if inclining rearward the high-pressure fuel pump E50 located in a rearward position, the high-pressure fuel pump E50 shifts into a more rearward position from the originally intended upright position. This arrangement is hard to prevent the high-pressure fuel pump E50 from mechanically interfering with the hood Ez.
The fuel supply device shown in FIG. 7 or 8 is shown by way of example in which an engine is equipped with the intake system E2 disposed in front of the engine body E10 and the exhaust system E3 disposed behind the engine body E10 like the engine P10 shown as prior art in FIG. 10. In this arrangement, the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is driven by an intake camshaft E14 as shown in FIG. 7 or by an exhaust camshaft E15 as shown in FIG. 8. However, the fuel supply device of the present invention can be installed to such an engine P10 equipped with the intake system P2 disposed behind the engine body P10 and the exhaust system P3 located in front of the engine body P10 as shown as prior art in FIG. 9. This arrangement, in which the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is driven by an exhaust camshaft E15 as shown in FIG. 7 or by an intake camshaft E15 as shown in FIG. 8, provides the same effects as the former arrangement.
The fuel supply device includes the intake system and fuel injector may be installed to the front of the engine body, and the high-pressure fuel pump is located laterally adjacent to the forward part of the engine body so as to be driven by the intake camshaft and inclined rearward.
According to the fuel supply device, as shown in FIG. 7, in the arrangement in which the engine E10 is equipped with the exhaust system E3 disposed behind the engine body E10 for the purpose of accelerating activation of a catalytic converter device and the intake system E2 and a fuel injector E60, or a fuel delivery pipe E60 for delivering fuel to the fuel injector E60, disposed on the front side of the engine body E10, the high-pressure fuel pump E50 is driven not by the exhaust camshaft E15 located at the rear part of the engine body E10 but by the intake camshaft E14 located at the front part of the engine body E10, so as to make it possible to use various pipes Em and En made short in length between the high-pressure fuel pump E50 and the fuel injector E60 or the fuel delivery pipe E60 and, in consequence, to provide a reduction in pumping loss of the high-pressure fuel pump E50. The high-pressure fuel pump E50 has a fuel inlet port through which fuel is introduced in and a fuel discharge port through which pressurized fuel is discharged. Either one of the fuel inlet port and fuel discharge port may be located at the rear bottom of the high-pressure fuel pump in the inclined position. Further, a fuel return pipe E46 through which excessive low pressure fuel returns into the high-pressure fuel pump E50 may be connected to a back wall Ep facing rearward up of the high-pressure fuel pump inclined rearward.
According to the fuel supply device, as shown in FIG. 7, one of the fuel pipes, for example a pressurized fuel supply pipe E45, is connected to the rear bottom Eo of the high-pressure fuel pump E50 inclined rearward, so that the joint structure between the high-pressure fuel pump E50 and the pressurized fuel supply pipe E45 is directed toward the inside of the vehicle body. This arrangement significantly reduces an occurrence of such a trouble as the joint is damaged or breaking away due to an impact from the front or the top of the vehicle body.
In the case where the fuel discharge port to which the pressurized fuel supply pipe E45 is connected to supply pressurized fuel to the fuel injector E60 is located at the bottom of the high-pressure fuel pump E50 inclined rearward, the pressurized fuel supply pipe E45 and the joint between the high-pressure fuel pump E50 and the pressurized fuel supply pipe E45 are directed toward the inside of the vehicle body, so that the joint and the pressurized fuel supply pipe E45 are prevented from being damaged or breaking away from the high-pressure fuel pump E50 due to an impact from the front or the top of the vehicle body. In this arrangement, while a metal pipe is preferably used for the pressurized fuel supply pipe E45, a plastic pipe may be used for the fuel return pipe E46.
According to this arrangement in which a metal pipe and a plastic pipe are used for the pressurized fuel supply pipe E45 and the fuel return pipe E46, respectively, the pressurized fuel supply metal pipe E45 connected to the rear bottom Eo of the high-pressure fuel pump E50 has relatively low elasticity and lacks in flexibility and, on the other hand, the fuel return plastic pipe E46 connected to the back wall Ep facing rearward up of the high-pressure fuel pump E50 has relatively high elasticity and is flexible. Therefore, the joint between the high-pressure fuel pump E50 and the pressurized fuel supply metal pipe E45 through which highly pressurized fuel passes is directed toward the inside of the vehicle body, so that the joint and the pressurized fuel supply metal pipe E45 are prevented from being damaged or breaking away from the high-pressure fuel pump E50 due to an impact from the front or the top of the vehicle body, with increased reliability.

Fuel supply device for direct injection engine


A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle includes first, second, and third gear mechanisms, each gear mechanism including a first frame having an internal gear and a second frame having an external gear engaging with the internal gear, the number of teeth of the external gear being fewer than the internal gear, wherein the first gear mechanism is provided at one side of a vehicle seat, and the second and third gear mechanisms are provided at the other side, a shaft connecting the first gear mechanism with the second and third gear mechanisms, and an electric motor rotating the shaft to shift an engagement position between the internal gear and the external gear for tilting the seatback relative to the seat cushion, wherein the electric motor is disposed at one of the first frame and the second frame of the first gear mechanism provided at the one side.

A seat equipped with a so-called three-point seatbelt (may be referred to as a seat with built-in seatbelt), into which a seatbelt and peripheral components are incorporated, is known as a vehicle seat. In this kind of vehicle seat, a manual seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle is employed for reclining the seatback relative to a seat cushion.
More specifically, the manual seat reclining apparatus for the vehicle includes a pair of upper frames and a pair of lower frames. Each upper frame has internal teeth and is mounted on the seatback. The lower frame is mounted on the seat cushion so that a pawl is attached so as to be movable in a radial direction. A cam provided around a center shaft is rotated by manual operation. Then, the internal teeth of the upper frame is engaged with the external teeth of the pawl to regulate the rotation of the upper frame relative to the lower frame, or the internal teeth of the upper frame is disengaged from the external teeth of the pawl to allow the rotation of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. Thus, the rotation of the seatback is regulated or allowed relative to the seat cushion, and the reclining angle of the seatback is adjusted or retained. It is confirmed that this type of seat reclining apparatuses withstand a large load applied to the seatback in vehicle collision or the like.
On the other hand, a seat reclining apparatus which is applicable to an electric vehicle seat includes a gear mechanism comprised of a lower frame and an upper frame. The lower frame has an internal gear and is attached to the seat cushion. The upper frame has an external gear engaging with the internal gear, and the number of the teeth in the external gear is fewer than that of the internal gear of the lower frame. The seat reclining apparatus is configured so that the rotation angle of the upper frame is successively adjusted relative to the lower frame by rotating a position where the external and internal gears are engaged (hereinafter, referred to as an engagement position). A combination of paired wedge shaped members and a cam member, interposed between the lower frame and the upper frame, is adopted as a mechanism for rotating the engaging position of the external and internal gears. The cam member is rotated by electric motor control. Then, the wedge shaped members are rotated while pressing the gears of the lower frame and the upper frame in a direction that enhances the engagement therebetween, thereby rotating the engagement position.
Data shows that the gear mechanisms provided at this type of vehicle seat reclining apparatuses are unable to withstand the large load applied to the seatback in the vehicle collision and the like. Thus, according to an embodiment of a seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle disclosed in JP 2-95304A, it is proposed that two gear mechanisms are soldered back to back so that the gear mechanisms are disposed in a mirror-image arrangement for enhancing the strength of the seat reclining apparatus.
Hence, the two gear mechanisms described above are disposed at one side of the seat relative to the seat width direction where the load applied to the seatback become large. In other words, the two gear mechanisms are located at the side where the supporting point of the seatbelt supporting the occupant shoulder is located. Further, one gear mechanism is disposed at the other side of the seat relative to the seat width direction. This configuration allows the seat reclining apparatus for the vehicle to secure the sufficient strength while preventing the size of the apparatus from becoming larger.
Meanwhile, in this type of seat reclining apparatus for the vehicle, when an electric motor is disposed thereat for rotating the engagement position of the gear mechanism (cam member), the electric motor may extend in the seat width direction and the form of the vehicle seat becomes imbalance. Consequently, the seating position of the occupant may be away from the center of the seat, leading to discomfort while sitting on the vehicle seat.
A need exists for a seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.


An image forming apparatus including a main power supply unit, a chargeable auxiliary power supply unit, a fixing unit including a heater configured to receive power from at least one of the main power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit, and a voltage or temperature detecting part configured to detect a voltage input to the main power supply unit from a commercial power supply or to detect a voltage of the auxiliary power supply unit or to detect an environment temperature. Energy accumulated in the auxiliary power supply unit can be controlled to not be supplied to the fixing unit at a time of starting the fixing unit if the voltage or temperatures detected are less than predetermined values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to heaters, fixing units and image forming apparatuses, and more particularly to a heater that is provided with a capacitor and is used to heat various materials or apparatuses, for example, a fixing unit that uses such a heater, and an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile machine, that uses such a fixing unit and employs an electrophotography technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, an image is formed on a recording medium that may be plain paper, OHP or the like. From the point of view of the high speed, image quality and cost of the image formation, the electrophotography technique is popularly employed by the image forming apparatus. According to the electrophotography technique, a toner image is formed on the recording medium, and the toner image is fixed on the recording medium by applying heat and pressure. From the point of view of safety and the like, a heat roller type fixing method which uses a heat roller is most popularly employed at present. The heat roller type fixing method forms a mutual pressing part called a nip part where a heat roller and a confronting pressure roller press against each other. The heat roller generates heat from a heating member such as a halogen heater. The recording medium bearing the toner image transferred thereon passes through this nip part, and thus, the toner image is fixed on the recording medium by being applied with the heat and the pressure.
Recently, environmental problems have become increasingly important, and proposals have been made to reduce the power (or energy) consumption of the image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers. When reducing the power consumption of the image forming apparatus, it is important to reduce the power consumption of the fixing unit which fixes the toner image on the recording medium. When reducing the power consumption of the fixing unit in a standby state of the image forming apparatus, a popularly employed method maintains a temperature of the heat roller to a constant temperature that is slightly lower than a fixing temperature in the standby state, and immediately raises the temperature of the heat roller to a usable temperature in an operating state where the image forming apparatus is used, so that a user (or operator) does not need to wait for the temperature of the heat roller to rise to the usable temperature. But according to this popularly employed method, a certain power must be supplied to the fixing unit even when the fixing unit is not in use, and surplus power is consumed thereby. It is said that this power consumption in the standby state amounts to approximately 70% to approximately 80% of the total power consumption of devices, units and the like forming the image forming apparatus.
Accordingly, there are demands to reduce the power consumption of the image forming apparatus in the standby state so as to reduce the overall power consumption of the image forming apparatus, and to ultimately make the power consumption zero when the image forming apparatus is not in use. However, if the power consumption of the image forming apparatus in the standby state is set to zero, it will take a long time on the order of several minutes to several tens of minutes to raise the temperature of the heat roller of the fixing unit to the usable temperature of approximately 180° C., because the heat roller is a metal roller mainly made of iron, aluminum or the like having a large heat capacity. Such a long waiting time required until the temperature of the heat roller reaches the usable temperature will make the image forming apparatus inconvenient to use for the user. Hence, there are demands to minimize the power consumption but also enable the temperature of the heat roller to be quickly raised to the usable temperature.
In order to reduce the time required to raise the temperature of the heat roller, it is evident that the input energy per unit time, that is, the rated power, should be set large. In some high-speed image forming apparatuses designed to realize a high printing speed, the power supply voltage is actually set to 200 V. However, in a general office environment in Japan, for example, the commercial power supply is 100 V and 15 A. For this reason, in order for the image forming apparatus to cope with the 200 V power supply, special engineering work needs to be made with respect to power supply related equipments at the setup location of the image forming apparatus. Consequently, the use of the 200 V power supply is not a generally applicable solution for reducing the time required to raise the temperature of the heat roller.
In other words, as long as the commercial power supply of 100 V and 15 A is used, it is difficult to raise the temperature of the heat roller within a short time since a maximum input energy is determined by the power supply. For example, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-10913 proposes delaying a temperature decrease in the fixing unit during the standby state of the fixing unit by supplying to the heat roller a voltage which is a predetermined level lower than a voltage supplied to the heat roller during the normal operating state of the fixing unit. Further, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-282821, for example, proposes charging a secondary battery which forms an auxiliary power supply during the standby state of the fixing unit, so that the time required to raise the temperature of the heat roller can be reduced by supplying the power from a main power supply unit, the secondary battery and a primary battery to the heat roller when the normal operating state of the fixing unit is started.
However, the method proposed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-10913 must supply to the heat roller the voltage which is the predetermined level lower than the voltage supplied to the heat roller during the normal operating state of the fixing unit, even during the standby state of the fixing unit. Consequently, the power consumption cannot be reduced sufficiently. In addition, making the maximum power supply at the time of starting the normal operating state of the fixing unit higher than the power supplied from the main power supply unit is not the main aim of this proposed method.
On the other hand, according to the method proposed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-282821, the power from the main power supply unit, the secondary battery and the primary battery is supplied to the heat roller when the normal operating state of the fixing unit is started. Generally, a lead battery, a nickel-cadmium batter or a nickel-hydrogen battery is used as the secondary battery. The capacity of such secondary batteries deteriorates when repeatedly charged and discharged, and for such secondary batteries, the larger the discharge current the shorter serviceable life. The capacity of such secondary batteries also deteriorate due to memory effect. In general, even a long-life secondary battery, which is designed to have a long serviceable life even when the discharge current is large, will die when the charging and discharging is repeated approximately 500 times to approximately 1000 times. This means that, if the charging and discharging of the secondary battery is repeated 20 times per day, the serviceable life of the secondary battery will expire in approximately 1 month. As a result, it becomes necessary to frequently replace the secondary battery, thereby requiring a troublesome operation of replacing the secondary battery, and also increasing the running cost of the image forming apparatus due to the frequently replaced secondary battery. Furthermore, in the case of the lead battery, it is unsuited for use in office equipments since the lead battery uses sulfuric acid solution as the electrolyte.
In addition, the load on a heater circuit that is built into the heat roller increases, and the making current flows to a peripheral circuit to generate noise, due to a sudden current change, input power and the like when the supply of the large power is started and stopped. For this reason, it is preferably not to frequently turn ON and turn OFF the power supply from the auxiliary power supply having a large capacity. Moreover, when the power from the auxiliary power supply having the large capacity is supplied at once, the excessive supply of power may cause an excessive temperature rise of the heater circuit.
For example, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-184554 proposes a method of suppressing the problems described above, that is, increasing the effect of reducing the power consumption, reducing the noise caused by the making current and the sudden current change when the large power is supplied, reducing the time required to raise the temperature of the heat roller, and preventing an excessive temperature rise of the heat roller. This proposed method uses a chargeable and dischargeable capacitor for the auxiliary power supply unit. A charger charges the capacitor of the auxiliary power supply unit by the power supplied from a main power supply unit, a switching unit switches between the charging of the auxiliary power supply unit and the power supply from the auxiliary power supply unit with respect to an auxiliary heater element, and an amount of power supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit to the auxiliary heater element is adjusted. Basic functions of the capacitor include supplying the power from the capacitor to the auxiliary heater element to generate heat therefrom, so that the generated heat can be used to shorten the time required to raise the temperature of the heat roller to the predetermined temperature, and to prevent a fixing temperature from decreasing when the recording medium passes through the fixing unit.
Even in the case of the image forming apparatus that uses the capacitor as the secondary battery to prevent the temperature of the heat roller from decreasing, it would be preferable to refrain from using the capacitor as much as possible when the serviceable life, the reduction of the charging time and the like of the capacitor are taken into consideration, so as to improve the utilization efficiency of the capacitor, particularly if the temperature decrease in the fixing unit will be small or zero without using the capacitor. However, no method has conventionally been proposed to judge if the temperature decrease in the fixing unit will be small or zero even when the capacitor is not used.

Image forming apparatus with control of power to a fixing unit


The invention provides a method of mechanical alloying a titanium-base metal powder. Titanium-base metal powder is provided in a mechanical alloying apparatus. The mechanical alloying apparatus has a controlled atmosphere to prevent excessive oxidation of the titanium-base metal powder. An effective amount of tin process control agent is added to the mechanical alloying apparatus. The mechanical alloying apparatus is operated to weld and fracture the titanium-base metal powder in a manner controlled by the tin process control agent. The controlled welding and fracturing ultimately forms a titanium-base mechanically alloyed powder.

Mechanical alloying is a process of repeated fracturing and welding used to form alloys of unique composition, morphology and structure. Mechanical alloying is capable of producing dispersion strengthened alloys that are not producible by casting, rapid solidification or even conventional powder metallurgy techniques. Mechanical alloying has been commercially used to produce dispersion strengthened aluminum, iron and nickel-base alloys. Commercially available dispersion strengthened alloys having significantly improved properties arising from mechanical alloying include alloys such as MA 754, MA 956, MA 6000 and AL-905XL.
During mechanical alloying it is essential to control the welding and fracturing of powders. If powder welds excessively, powder will agglomerate in a mill to form an unworkable heap of powder prior to mechanical alloying. If powder fractures excessively, ultra fine unalloyed particles are formed. Under extreme excess fracture conditions, ultra fine metal powders may become pyrophoric. A process control agent (PCA) is used to balance welding and mechanical fracturing to achieve the desired mechanical alloying. The PCA additives used may be any organic material such as organic acids, alcohols, heptanes, aldehydes and ether. Process control agents may also be a material such as graphite, oxygen and water. Typically, fugitive PCA's partially combine with metal powder during mechanical alloying to form dispersoid strengtheners. Excess PCA (fugitive PCA) must be removed prior to consolidation of canned mechanically alloyed powder. Excess PCA is commonly removed by argon purging followed by a vacuum degas treatment at elevated temperature. After degassing, a consolidation technique such as hot extrusion or hot isostatic pressing is typically used to form degassed mechanically alloyed powder into a metal product.
A conventional PCA such as stearic acid [CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.16 COOH], is not useful for mechanical alloying titanium. During mechanical alloying, stearic acid breaks down to introduce oxygen into the milling atmosphere. Oxygen is readily dissolved into the titanium matrix. Dissolved oxygen in titanium rapidly deteriorates mechanical properties. A graphite process control agent also is not always useful for controlling mechanical alloying of titanium-base alloys. Elemental carbon has a very low solubility in titanium. Furthermore, carbon reacts with titanium for form TiC only at a relatively high temperature of above about 1000.degree. C.
Alternatively, temperature may be used to control mechanical alloying. Milling temperature is a factor which controls welding rate during mechanical alloying. Typically, welding rate increases with increased temperature. For example, a liquid nitrogen cooling jacket surrounding a mechanical alloying device has been used to decrease operating temperature for suppressing welding of metal powders. The problem with using a cooling jacket for controlling mechanical alloying is that it is difficult to effectively lower temperature within large vessels that are required for commercially viable operations. In addition, others have added liquid nitrogen directly into a mill for mechanical alloying. The problem with controlling a mechanical alloying operation with liquid nitrogen in the mill is that nitrogen combines with metal powders to adversely affect properties. Nitrogen typically is a harmful ingredient to most alloy systems including titanium-base alloys.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved process control agent for mechanical alloying titanium-base metal powders.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of controlling mechanical alloying without introducing excess oxygen, carbon or nitrogen into a titanium-base matrix.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a process control agent that improves physical properties of titanium-base alloys.

Mechanical alloying method of titanium-base metals by use of a tin process control agent


A negative-type photosensitive resin composition capable of forming a pattern having favorable adhesiveness at a low light exposure; a pattern forming method using the resin composition; a cured film, an insulating film, a color filter formed using resin composition; and a display device provided with the cured film, insulating film, or color filter. The resin composition contains a compound represented by the following formula (1). In the formula, R1 and R2 each independently indicate a hydrogen atom or an organic group, but at least one indicates an organic group. R1 and R2 may be bonded to form a ring structure and may contain a hetero atom bond. R3 indicates a single bond or an organic group. R4 to R9 each independently indicate a hydrogen atom, an organic group, etc., but R6 and R7 are never hydroxyl groups. R10 indicates a hydrogen atom or an organic group.

A negative-type photosensitive resin composition has a property of being cured by irradiation of an electromagnetic wave such as an ultraviolet ray. Since it is possible to obtain a pattern having a desired shape by curing a part of the negative-type photosensitive resin composition through irradiation of the part with an electromagnetic wave, the negative-type photosensitive resin composition has been widely used for various usages such as display devices, semiconductor devices, electronic devices, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). For example, in the display device, it is used as a material for a flattened film, an insulating film, a color filter, a black matrix, a spacer, a partition, and the like of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and the like.
In order to ensure reliability of the products, the negative-type photosensitive resin composition is required to have high adhesiveness which enables attaining close contact with a substrate in the case of forming a minute pattern. Accordingly, a negative-type photosensitive resin composition which contains an amine-based silane coupling agent as an adhesion enhancer has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2000-035670
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2011-052214

Negative-type photosensitive resin composition, pattern forming method, cured film, insulating film, color filter, and display device


A handheld massager is disclosed having a spring and dampener provided between a massage head portion and a handle portion of a massager. A massage mechanism is provided in the massage head portion for application of a massage effect to the user. Resulting shock and vibrations caused by the massage effect are absorbed and dampened by the spring and dampener for minimizing these effects upon the hand and wrist of the user. Additionally, variable vibrational contact surfaces and various visual therapy effects are disclosed in combination with the massage effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to massagers, more particularly to power-operated massagers.
2. Background Art
Power-operated massagers are often used to treat muscle tension and fatigue. Power-operated massagers may provide a vibrating massage effect, a percussive massage effect, a kneading massage effect, a rubbing massage effect, a rolling massage effect, a Shiatsu massage effect, or the like.
Often, these massage effects are provided in power operated massagers that are adapted for handheld operation. Thus, many of these massagers are embodied in an apparatus having a handle to be grasped and manipulated by the user. Due to the massage effect of a particular massager, resultant vibrations from the massage effect are often imparted to the massager, which are translated through the handle portion to the hand and wrist of the user.
Oftentimes, the massage feature of a massager is provided spaced away from the handle portion so that the user may apply the massage to a body part. The length of the handle portion may magnify the resultant moment or torque experienced by the user.
Handheld massagers are often limited in visual therapeutic effects.
Handheld vibratory massagers are often limited in features of versatility.
A goal of the present invention is to reduce shock and vibrations imparted to the hand of the user when operating a handheld massager. Another goal of the present invention is to improve visual therapeutic effects of a handheld massager. A further goal of the present invention is to improve the effectiveness and versatility of handheld vibratory massagers.

Massager with shock absorption, multiple contact surfaces and visual therapy effects


A capacitance to be measured is connected together with three further capacitances to form a bridge circuit, in which each two of the capacitors are connected in series, and these two series circuits are connected in parallel to one another, and which replaces a part of the input stage of a .SIGMA.-.DELTA. modulator. As inputs of this bridge circuit, terminals are provided at the ends of these series circuits, and as outputs terminals are respectively provided between the capacitors connected one after the other in series. In a sensor realized thereby, two capacitively measuring sensor elements of the same type are used. These capacitors are built into the bridge circuit together with two equally large reference capacitors in such a way that exactly one measurement capacitor and one reference capacitor is La connected is connected to each input and to each output of the bridge circuit.

The present invention concerns a capacitively measuring sensor as a micromechanical semiconductor component, and a readout and evaluation circuit provided therefor.
For capacitively measuring sensors, such as for example pressure sensors and acceleration sensors, that have a high degree of sensitivity (that is, deliver a measurement signal that can be evaluated and is also very small in response to very small changes in a measurement quantity), evaluation circuits are required that convert the smallest changes in capacitance into an output signal that can be unambiguously allocated to the measurement quantity. Readout circuits are thus required that can be used for very small capacitances and changes thereof up to the region of a few 10 aF, and which are suited for monolithic integration together with capacitive sensors, which are realized in particular as a micromechanical component, preferably in All silicon. A capacitively measuring pressure sensor as a micromechanical component is specified for example in German reference DE 44 01 999 C2. A capacitively measuring acceleration sensor as a micromechanical component is for example specified in European reference EP 0 543 901 B1. The readout circuits should be capable of being coupled with evaluation circuits that convert an input signal into a bitstream or into a digital word that can be read in by a microprocessor. Due to the very small charge quantities that have to be detected, a technique is required that on the one hand does not falsify the signal and on the other hand is sufficiently sensitive to enable a reading out. For this purpose, conventional analog amplifiers are largely used, and the amplified signal is subsequently converted analog/digital. Isolated use is also made of .SIGMA.-.DELTA. modulators, as is specified for example in the article by C. Azeredo Leme and H. Baltes, "Interfaces for Microsensor Systems," in W. Sansen et al. (eds.), Analog Circuit Design, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 1994, pp. 163 to 181.

Capacitively measuring sensor and readout circuit


A slide bearing device and a compressor are capable of stably achieving a low friction condition from the early stage of the start of friction. The slide bearing device includes a bearing, a shaft supported by the bearing while being subjected to sliding, and a gas supply section for supplying a dry gas to a bearing slide section where the bearing and the shaft slide against each other. A slide surface of the bearing is formed of a resin composite material, which is a mixture of a carbon material and a resin. The shaft is made of a metal and includes a groove formed on a slide surface of the shaft, the groove extending in a direction different from the sliding direction. Plural grooves may be provided and the grooves may extend in arbitrary directions. The shaft may include a collection of plural recesses on the slide surface thereof.

Resin material, which is excellent in self-lubricity in general, is commonly and practically used as a slide material for a slide bearing device used in an environment where a lubricant such as lubricating oil and grease cannot be used. However, when the resin material is solely used as a slide material, the load resistance and abrasive resistance may not be sufficient. It is known that friction and abrasion can be reduced compared with a case of solely using a resin when fabric materials represented by glass fiber and carbon fiber and a solid lubricant represented by graphite, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and molybdenum disulfide are mixed with a resin to make a resin composite material.
In recent years, a slide bearing device with less friction and more excellent abrasion-resistance than before has been required. Most of these resin composite materials have problems that the coefficient of friction became 0.1 or above when they are slid in the atmosphere without supplying lubricating oil and that friction is greater when compared with the case of using lubricating oil and grease.
To solve these problems, as a method for achieving low friction, below 0.1 of coefficient of friction, even when lubricating oil is not supplied, there is a method of constructing a slide part using a slide material suitable to an atmospheric gas or combining a specific atmospheric gas and a slide material. For example, a slide member for high pressure dry gas described in the patent document 1 is proposed, and the non-patent document 1 and non-patent document 2 show a slide part configuration allowing a resin composite material to be rubbed in a dry gas atmosphere and its friction characteristics.
The slide member described in the patent document 1 is formed by mixing carbon fibers and graphite powder into a thermosetting resin and by performing hot-pressing, and it is described that low friction and less abrasion are exhibited particularly in a high pressure dry gas atmosphere.
The non-patent document 1 and non-patent document 2 are reports of experiments in which a resin composite material and stainless steel were made to rub against each other in various gas atmospheres, such as air or dry nitrogen, and it is reported that friction was lowered to approximately 0.05 of the coefficient of friction when a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin composite material mixed with carbon-based particles, such as carbon powder, carbon nanotubes, and carbon fibers was rubbed in a dry gas atmosphere.
However, when these methods are to be actually implemented, it is common that the effect of reduction in the coefficient of friction changes according to the processing quality of a sliding component and a sliding condition such as a load, and that the condition stably securing the coefficient of friction of 0.1 or below is limited. Also, the coefficient of friction is as high as 0.2 to 0.3, for example, at the early stage of friction, and, even if fitting advances and the coefficient of friction lowers eventually, it may possibly take quite a long time to reach such a state depending on the condition. Therefore, in application to general machine products such as a compressor and a slide bearing device, it is desirable to devise a method to secure the effect of reduction in the coefficient of friction more stably and earlier.


Mobility of firewall rules for clients moving among bridge AP nodes in a wireless network. APs operate in bridge mode. A wireless client C is associated with a first AP. As part of that association, the first AP establishes and maintains personal firewall rules and state for client C. When wireless client C associates with a second AP in the L2 domain, the second AP sends session request to other APs. This may be in the form of a multicast message. Optionally, the second AP may send a unicast message to the first AP indicating that client C has associated with the second AP. APs receiving the multicast session request message for client C check their tables to see if they have stored firewall or other state for client C. APs having storied firewall or other state for client C send session response messages to the second AP containing stored firewall sessions and other state for client C. When the second AP receives a session response, it sends an acknowledgement to the AP which sent the response. When the AP, such as the first AP, receives the acknowledgement, it may remove all stored state for client C. If the second AP receives session response messages for client C from multiple APs, it acknowledges each, and creates session entries and state using the oldest rules in the session response messages. Flags may be logically ORed together.

The present invention relates to wireless digital networks, and in particular, to the problem of handling personal firewalls when wireless clients move from one access point to another in a wireless network.
Digital networks have rapidly become the backbone of many enterprises, small and large. The wireless aspects of these networks are becoming more and more important, as is providing seamless service to mobile wireless clients. Such wireless clients may be as simple as an individual operating a wireless handheld scanner taking inventory in a large warehouse, or may be more demanding such as a mobile Wi-Fi telephone user walking between campus buildings.
In some network configurations, it may be advantageous to have wireless access points (APs) operating in bridge mode (as compared to tunnel mode). In bridge-mode operation of a wireless SSID, the AP decrypts arriving wireless packets, converts them from 802.11 packets into 802.3 packets, and bridges those packets out on its wired interface. The AP also applies stateful firewall rules to the traffic for each wireless client, often referred to as a personal firewall.
The stateful firewall may apply a restrictive role for a bridge-client, allowing for only voip (Voice Over IP) or ftp or http traffic, and denying everything all other traffic. In advanced firewalls, sessions such as voip (such as sip/sccp) or ftp begin with the initial control packets exchanged on a well-known port. The payload within these control packets contain information of the data-port to use for the actual data transfer following the control packets. A deep-inspecting stateful firewall can look into those control packets, identify the derived ports to be used later on, and transparently create firewall sessions for these derived sessions to be allowed. This can only be done by snooping the initial control packets.
A client might connect to a different AP's SSID voluntarily due to mobility or involuntarily due to RF or other load-balancing issues. Such a client having any existing derived firewall sessions will have a session drop as the new AP does not know the specific firewall sessions to be allowed. So the call or ftp-transfer as the session might get disconnected and user will have to re-initiate such a call or transfer.
One solution to the problem is to route all client traffic back through the original AP, applying firewall rules at that original AP. This is unwise.
This problem does not exist in tunnel-mode operation of SSIDs, as all firewall enforcement happens on a shared controller, where the sessions are maintained centrally. In such controller-based architectures any amount of mobility of a client from one AP to another will not make the controller lose the session state.
What is needed is a better way of managing personal firewall rules when clients move from one bridge AP to another.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In a spectroscopic ellipsometer (1), a lighting part (3) comprises a light source part for measurement (measurement light source) (31) and a polarizer (32), and the polarizer (32) obtains polarized light from light outputted from the measurement light source (31) and guides the polarized light to a substrate (9). A light receiving part (4) comprises an analyzer (41) on which reflected light which is the polarized light reflected on the substrate 9 is incident and a spectroscope (42), and the reflected light through the analyzer (41) enters the spectroscope (42), where a polarization state at each wavelength is acquired. The spectroscopic ellipsometer (1) has a construction in which mirrors are disposed only between the measurement light source (31) and the polarizer (32) and between the analyzer (41) and the spectroscope (42). In the spectroscopic ellipsometer (1), with this construction, the polarization state of the polarized light or its reflected light is not changed by mirrors and it is therefore possible to achieve measurements with high accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spectroscopic ellipsometer which emits polarized light onto an object to acquire a polarization state of the light reflected on the object.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, a spectroscopic ellipsometer is installed in a manufacture field for semiconductor devices and used to measure thickness of a film formed on a semiconductor substrate (hereinafter, referred to as "substrate"), optical constants and the like. The spectroscopic ellipsometer emits polarized light onto a substrate to acquire a polarization state at each wavelength of the light reflected on the substrate and performs ellipsometry for some measurements on a single layer film or a multilayer film.
As such a spectroscopic ellipsometer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,842 discloses an apparatus which uses only reflection mirrors to guide polarized light from a polarizer to a substrate and guide the light reflected on the substrate to an analyzer, to thereby acquire a polarization state of the reflected light while suppressing occurrence of color aberration.
Recently, since miniaturization and sophistication of circuit pattern on a semiconductor device requires high precision in thickness of a film formed on a substrate, the spectroscopic ellipsometer is required to perform measurements with high accuracy. On the other hand, the spectroscopic ellipsometer is also required to reduce its size for space saving in the manufacture field.
In the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,842, however, there is a possibility of changing the polarization state of light due to reflectin by the mirrors provided on an optical path between the polarizer and the analyzer or varying the polarization state of light due to some effect of thermal distortion or the like, and therefore it is difficult to acquire change of the polarization state between the light emitted to the substrate and the light reflected thereon (i.e., the polarization state of reflected light) with high accuracy. Though it is possible to suppress the change in polarization state by reducing the incident angle of light to the mirrors, this causes upsizing of the spectroscopic ellipsometer under constraints of construction.


A seating system designed to accommodate a variety of activities that can be performed while a person is sitting or resting, and more particularly waiting. A single tandem row of seats or a back to back configuration of tandem seats has an electrical wire way extending behind or between each seat back, respectively. A cover plate encloses the wire way, and a plurality of electrical and data ports are accessible from the cover plate. Laptop computers, music players and other electrical devices can be plugged into the seating system so that the user can comfortably operate such a device while waiting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to furniture for sitting or resting, and more particularly to seating for a transient population. Embodiments of the present invention allow for people to perform certain activities while waiting, including working on a computer, listening to music, or operating an electrical device.
2. Description of Related Art
There are many seating systems that support the various activities that people perform while waiting, such as reading, conversing, eating/drinking or just relaxing in a comfortable environment. Yet, such systems tend to lack capabilities that support more advanced activities such as working on laptops, listening to music, plugging into data sources and powering-up electronic devices. All of these activities could ideally be performed while waiting in an airport/transportation depot, hotel lobby, healthcare clinic, educational study facility or other space (indoors or outdoors) that is designated for waiting.
Unlike the present invention, other seating groups which incorporate electrical access run the electrical wiring under the seats or through a beam. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,381, the electrical connection extends from the seat back through the arm and is dedicated to each sitter at the arm location. The plug for powering-up is dedicated to each seat for its use in classroom training. Further, in this prior invention, all the seats are facing in the same direction, as in a lecture hall. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,394, which covers a power and data distribution system for use in combination with a beam-mounted seating structure that includes a series of seat assemblies each mounted to a common support beam, the power and data distribution system includes a wire way that is mounted to the support beam and extends along the entire row of seats. The power and data distribution system is separate from the seating structure and can be attached and removed from the seating structure independent from the construction of the seating structure. U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,213 has a hollow beam housing electrical wiring which runs underneath the front of a row of passenger seats. In United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB 2395427, the electrical interface is in the armrest or the front face of the seating element.
In airplane seating, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,984,415 and 7,036,889, the electronic devices located at the back of the seats are placed there for the benefit of the user in the seat rows behind. Unlike the present invention, the seats of the above mentioned patents are always arranged forward facing, as in an airplane. Further, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,984,415 and 7,036,889 an electrical or data connection is dedicated to each passenger unit through the arm of the seat.


A semiconductor system may include a first semiconductor device configured to output a test stop signal and a calibration control signal. The semiconductor system may include a second semiconductor device configured to generate a first state code from an external resistor, a second state code from an internal resistor, and a third state code from a fuse array in response to the calibration control signal, and to select one of the first to third state codes as a selection code in response to the test stop signal and the calibration control signal.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a semiconductor device and a semiconductor system, and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device and a semiconductor system configured to use information on process states.
2. Related Art
Recently, semiconductor systems are required to perform high speed operations, and as a result timing margins between internal signals used in the semiconductor systems are reduced. Since threshold voltages and turn-on currents of NMOS transistors and PNMOS transistors included in the semiconductor systems are changed according to a change in process states, it has an influence on skews of internal signals used in the semiconductor systems. Since the timing margins between the internal signals are further reduced according to a change in the skews, an abnormal operation of the semiconductor system may occur.
As a swing width of a transmission signal interfaced between semiconductor devices included in the semiconductor system operating at a high speed is gradually reduced, reflection of a transmission signal due to impedance mismatching frequently occurs at an interface terminal. Since the impedance mismatching occurs due to a phenomenon such as a change in process states, an impedance matching circuit such as an on-die termination circuit is used in the semiconductor system.

Semiconductor device and semiconductor system


A method and apparatus are disclosed for destroying syringe needles. The apparatus has an incinerator unit (16) into which a syringe needle may be inserted, crimped by a crimper (30), the needle measured between its tip and the sealing crimp, burned by passing an electric current corresponding to its measured length between the needle tip and the sealing crimp, and the burned needle severed by a cutting blade (36).

Disposable hypodermic syringes are widely used in hospitals and other medical facilities to draw body fluids from and to inject medications into patients. These syringes are made disposable because of the difficulties and inefficiencies involved in re-sterilizing syringes for reuse. Because the syringes are intended to be disposed of after use, a problem arises as to their safe post-use storage and disposal and in preventing them from being recklessly reused by others. Indeed, in some countries laws prohibit syringes from being disposed of as ordinary waste since their sharp needle tips, as well as disease causing organisms sometimes carried by them, may injure hospital and waste disposal personnel.
To dispose of syringes safely, devices have been devised that mechanically sever the syringe needles from their barrels. These are exemplified by those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,255,996, 4,445,644 and 4,969,379. Though these devices dc prevent reuse of syringes, a sharp needle stub remains intact and hazardous. Other types of syringe destruction devices grind the syringes into small pieces as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,916. These however do not provide for sanitary syringe residue disposal. Furthermore, their shearing action tends to release fluid contaminates to ambience.
Incinerators have also been used to destroy syringes is a sanitary manner. Bulk incineration of accumulated syringes however poses the threat of injury still occurring during accumulation and incineration input. Thus, portable devices have been used which can incinerate the needles by passing an electric current through them. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,934 and 4,965,426. However, these devices leave the barrel portion of the syringe with an opening at one end through which contaminates may emerge to ambience. Furthermore, some pathogens contained within the needle and expelled from the syringe during insertion are not killed by the incineration process. Thus, another type of portable device has been devised which crimps the needle prior to passing an electric current through it to seal it. This type of device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,178. A drawback of this device is that an electric current large enough to burn a long needle oftentimes causes a short needle to explode rather than burn. This explosion of the needle can allow pathogens within the needle to escape unharmed, often in an aerosol form. On the other hand, a current appropriate for a short needle may take too long a time to burn a long needle, if it does so at all.
It thus is seen that a need remains for a method and apparatus for destroying syringe needles in a more effective and efficient manner. It is to the provision of such that the present invention is primarily directed.

Syringe needle destruction method and apparatus


The invention comprises an interconnection system having an assembly with a base member and a silo. The silo has an upper contact receiving passageway and a lower contact receiving passageway. The silo is slidably mounted onto the base and reciprocally movable in a linear manner between an unterminated position and a terminated position. A pair of U-shaped terminals securable in the base to be received within the silo upon assembly of the silo to the base. Each of the terminals include a base section and a pair of legs extending normally therefrom to define the U-shape. The legs include aligned wire receiving openings and aligned IDC termination slots extending from the openings. A third IDC termination slot is formed along a top of the terminal. The bottom passageway of the silo is aligned with the wire receiving openings and the upper passageway is above the third IDC termination slot when the silo is in the unterminated position. The bottom passageway of the silo is aligned with the aligned IDC termination slots and the upper passageway is aligned with the third IDC termination slot when the silo is in the terminated position.

In the telecommunications industry, telephone cable is introduced to individual telephone sites such as residences mainly through use of splice of the signal wires of the cable to respective house wires at a junction located outside or inside the house. Ends of the house cable and the drop cable from the transmission line enter an enclosure; each of a pair of signal wires of each cable is prepared to be spliced to its respective counterpart in the other cable; and the prepared wire ends are then placed within the terminal which is manipulated to penetrate the insulation of both wires to engage the conductors and thus interconnect them. Terminal blocks also provide dielectric protective structure around the splice and together with the enclosure provide protection from the environment especially from water, dust and other contaminants and also from insects and animals.
One type of terminal block for interconnecting a pair of wires is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,077. A tubular dielectric housing has a center post therein defining an annular cavity. A stationary tubular terminal and a rotatable tubular terminal are disposed within the cavity in electrical engagement with each other. A tubular actuator is also mounted in the housing and is adapted to be rotated between actuated and unactuated positions to rotate the rotatable terminal. A pair of wire receiving apertures extend through the annular cavity and both of the tubular terminals. Upon rotation of the rotatable terminal by the actuator, slot walls of the terminal pierce the wire insulation and engage conductor within the wires. The stationary terminal includes a contact section extending outwardly from the housing including insulation displacement slots for a wire to be inserted thereinto and terminated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,302 discloses a terminal block module which includes two terminal blocks. The terminal blocks are defined by a tubular housing section having an annular cavity and a tubular one piece terminal secured within the annular cavity. Each terminal block includes a pair of wire receiving apertures into which wire ends are inserted to extend through insulation piercing slots of the terminal and upon rotation, the slots pierce the insulation of the wire and engage the conductor of each wire thus interconnecting them.
What is needed is a terminal block enabling simplified and assured wire termination and untermination to cross connect the two wires. It is further needed to provide for overvoltage surge protection in the terminal box. It is also needed to provide a higher density terminal block.


An object is to provide a method for producing a port that can shorten the time for production. Provided is a method for producing a port including: sealingly inserting a sealing plug, through which a hollow needle can be pierced, into a part to be sealed of a port body, wherein the port body includes: a part to be sealed that has a tubular shape with a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; a connection part that has a tubular shape, and is continuous with the first end of the part to be sealed; and the part to be fitted that is formed in any one of an inner peripheral surface of the part to be sealed, an outer peripheral surface of the part to be sealed, and the second end of the part to be sealed; fitting a fitting part of a pulling-out prevention member into the part to be fitted, wherein the pulling-out prevention member includes: a body part that has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the fitting part that is continuous with the body part; and laying the body part on the sealing plug.

Hitherto, there has been provided a medical liquid bag that stores a medical liquid (e.g., a liquid containing a medical agent, and a liquid containing a nutritional supplement). As shown in FIG. 22, such a medical liquid bag 4 includes a bag body 40, the inside of which is filled with a medical liquid, and a port 41 attached to the bag body (e.g., Patent Literature 1).
The bag body 40 includes a pair of sheet members 400 that face each other. The pair of sheet members 400 have outer peripheral edges welded together.
As shown in FIG. 23, the port 41 includes a sealing plug 410 through which a hollow needle can be pierced, and a port body 411 having a hollow structure with the sealing plug 410 disposed therein.
The port body 411 includes a part 411a to be sealed having a tubular shape into which the sealing plug 410 is sealingly inserted, and a connection part 411b that is continuous with the part 411a to be sealed, has an inside communicating with an inside of the part 411a to be sealed, and has an outer periphery to which the pair of sheet members 400 are respectively welded.
The port body 411 includes a pulling-out prevention part 411c that is continuous with the part 411a to be sealed and is configured to abut against the sealing plug 410. The pulling-out prevention part 411c presses the sealing plug 410. Whereby, the pulling-out prevention part 411c prevents the sealing plug 410 from being pulled out of the port body 411.
Meanwhile, in the process of producing the medical liquid bag 4, it takes a time to produce (process) the bag body 40, the port 41 and the like.
For example, in the process of producing the port 41, an extension extending from the part 411a to be sealed (hereinafter referred to as the "bending margin 411d") is bent toward the sealing plug 410 while being heated to have its entirety of a leading end portion of the bending margin 411d abutting against the sealing plug 410 and thereby the bending margin 411d is formed into the pulling-out prevention part 411c. Thus, in the conventional production method, it is necessary to subject the bending margin 411d to heating, bending and the like, which requires time.
Therefore, there is a demand for shortening the time for producing the bag body 40, the port 41 and the like during the production process of the medical liquid bag 4.

Method for producing port, and method for producing medical liquid bag


A conduit for the transfer of a cooling medium is provided that may include a tube that has a length and a through aperture that extends through the entire length. The tube may have an inner surface that defines a helical channel that may be continuous along a length of the tube such that the helical channel is continuous along a plurality of turns of the helical channel along the inner surface. The conduit may be incorporated into a cooling system of a magnetic resonance imaging device.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology that allows a health care provider to visualize internal structures of the body. An MRI device closely surrounds the patient and includes a superconducting magnet that requires a cooling system. In this regard, a compressor transfers a cooling medium, such as helium or nitrogen, through a supply conduit to a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the magnet to the cooling medium. The cooling medium is then transferred through a return conduit back to the compressor.
The MRI equipment and cooling system generates noise and vibration. The flow of cooling medium through the heat exchanger creates noise and vibration that can be increased by the conduits connected to the heat exchanger that function as an amplifier. Still further, the flow of cooling medium through the conduits themselves generates noise and vibration should the inner surfaces of the conduits have irregularities or otherwise be unsmooth.
One example of a cold head that may be incorporated into an MRI is disclosed with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,588 to Asami, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes. Noise and vibration from the heat exchanger and/or conduits may disturb the patient and make him or her apprehensive, especially considering the fact that the patient is in close proximity to the MRI equipment and potentially already on edge. If the patient is uncomfortable or apprehensive during an MRI procedure he or she may move and ruin the measured reading which requires the patient to remain still. Therefore, aside from being only an annoyance, noise and vibration generated in the cooling of MRI equipment functions to increase the cost of operating the equipment and the time in obtaining results.
In order to reduce noise and vibration associated with MRI cooling, United States Patent Publication No. 2008/0134692 to Crowley discloses a conduit for the transfer of cooling medium includes an inner conduit surrounded by and coaxial with an outer conduit. Input cooling medium flows through the inner conduit and output, warmed cooling medium flows back through the outer conduit. The opposite direction of flow of this gas within the conduits is stated as having a canceling effect to reduce noise in the cooling process. United States Patent Publication No. 2008/0134692 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
Another design implemented for the transfer of cooling medium in cryopump-type systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,922 to Ziegler employs a smooth bore input tube that is separated from a smooth bore output tube. The two tubes are surrounded by an umbilical cord and a vacuum is created in the space within the umbilical cord. Although capable of managing heat transfer in the system, such a design does not reduce noise generated by the cooling system. This design involves the transfer of a liquid cooling medium and not a gas cooling medium. U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,922 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. Although various designs of cooling systems exist, there remains room for variation and improvement in the art.

Cooling system for magnetic resonance imaging device having reduced noise and vibration