A catwalk system having a pair of side trusses formed of a top chord and bottom chord connected by a plurality of vertical posts and diagonal posts. The bottom chords have a plurality of joints formed of a bottom plate, opposing side plates and wing plates that form a pocket. These pockets receive an end of floorbeams which are bolted to the side plates. The bottom plate also includes a wind brace section that receives an end of a diagonal wind brace therein. The fabricated side trusses are shipped to the job site where the catwalk is quickly and easily assembled by aligning a pair of side trusses in parallel space alignment and installing floorbeams in the pockets of opposing joints. To provide additional rigidity diagonal wind braces are installed in a zig-zag formation between diagonally opposite joints. This arrangement provides a quickly assembled catwalk that requires minimal assembly.

Grain bins are massive structures used to store bulk flowable grain products such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, or any other grain products. Conventional grain bins are generally formed in a cylindrical shape with a corrugated sidewall covered by a peaked roof. Grain bins vary in height (ranging from twenty feet high to well over a hundred and fifty feet high), and vary in diameter (ranging from eighteen feet in diameter to well over a hundred and fifty feet in diameter). The storage capacity of modern grain bins can range anywhere from a few thousand bushels to well over a million bushels.
Many grain storage and transport facilities, such as commercial elevators, utilize a plurality of grain bins. These grain bins are often connected to one another by a catwalk system that supports grain handling equipment, such as a conveyor or grain carrying belt. These catwalk systems also provide a pathway for access, maintenance and inspection purposes.
There are a number of manufacturers of catwalk systems including: LeMar Industries, a subsidiary of CTB, Inc., having an address of 2070 NE 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50313; Brownie Systems, a division of Global Industries, Inc., having an address of MFS/York/Stormor, 2928 E. Hwy 30, Grand Island, Nebr. 6880; and GSI Group, a brand of AGCO Corporation having an address of 4205 River Green Parkway, Duluth, Ga. 30096, among many others. While the prior art systems are effective in various ways, they suffer from many disadvantages.
Namely, the prior art catwalk systems are overly complicated to assemble in the field. Prior art catwalk systems are formed of a great number of parts that must be assembled in the sometimes less than optimal conditions in the field. Prior art catwalk systems require a great number of parts or pieces that must be installed correctly otherwise the resulting assembly will be defective. Prior art catwalk systems are overly time consuming to assemble in the field and require complex assembly steps and excessive labor. In addition, due to their complexity, prior art catwalk systems are susceptible to improper assembly. Even when these prior art catwalk systems are assembled they are less rigid and robust as may be desirable.
Therefore, for all the reasons stated above, and the reasons stated below, there is a need in the art for an improved catwalk floorbeam connection system for use in association with agricultural applications and other industrial applications.
Thus, it is a primary object of at least one embodiment to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that improves upon the state of the art.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that is easy to assemble.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that reduces the labor required to assemble.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that reduces assembly errors.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that speeds the assembly process over prior art systems.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that is less susceptible to improper assembly.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that is durable.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that has a long useful life.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that is rigid.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that can be used in a great number of applications.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that can be used with a wide variety of equipment.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that is relatively inexpensive.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that is easy to manufacture.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that has a robust design.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that is high quality.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that can be used with any grain bin.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that is dimensionally accurate.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that eliminates the need to weld in the field.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that has tight dimensional tolerances.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that allows catwalks to be shipped in a disassembled state and assembled on site.
Yet another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that reduces shipping costs.
Another object of at least one embodiment is to provide a catwalk floorbeam connection system that provides a pocket that receives an end of the floorbeams therein.
These and other objects, features, or advantages of at least one embodiment will become apparent from the specification, figures and claims.


A soft magnetic thin film according to the invention has an atomic ratio composition represented by the formula: EQU Fe.sub.(100-a-b) M.sub.a O.sub.b. wherein M is at least one element selected from Group 3A elements and Group 4A elements, 2.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.15 and 4.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.35. It has a high saturation magnetic flux density Bs, high magnetic permeability .mu., low coercive force Hc, improved frequency response, high electric resistivity .rho., and good corrosion resistance.

Sendust, Permalloy and various other soft magnetic materials are known as materials for forming soft magnetic thin films for use in magnetic heads and thin film inductors.
In the magnetic recording field, for example, magnetic recording media having a higher coercive force Hc are desired in accordance with an increase in magnetic recording density. To achieve satisfactory recording in magnetic recording media having high coercive force, magnetic heads are required to generate high density magnetic flux. As a consequence, soft magnetic thin films for magnetic heads are required to have higher saturation magnetic flux density Bs.
In addition, for high recording/reproducing sensitivity, soft magnetic thin films are desired to have a high magnetic permeability .mu.. Moreover, for improved frequency response of magnetic permeability .mu., high electric resistivity .rho. is preferred.
However, Sendust and Permalloy have insufficient saturation magnetic flux density Bs to provide acceptable writing in high coercivity magnetic recording media having a coercive force as high as 1400 Oe or more.
Multi-layer films comprising alternately stacked soft magnetic thin layers of different types are known to have high saturation magnetic flux density and magnetic permeability, but they have not scored a commercial success because of an increased number of steps, complexity to manufacture, and low production yield.


The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for adjusting intensity, wavelength and higher and lower frequency components of an optical signal. Photonic apparatus receives a first and a second optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion the first optical signal or the second optical signal and adjusts intensity or wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. In some embodiments photonic apparatus receives an optical signal comprising a lower frequency component received an amount of time prior to a higher frequency component of the optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion for the optical signal and adjusts the amount of time between the higher frequency component and the lower frequency component in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion.

When an optical wave, emitted from a monochromatic light source such as a laser, travels through a medium it is subject to a variety of effects created by the medium. Such effects are sometimes induced by the natural material characteristics which may create technical difficulties in optical transmission systems.
In telecommunications, where optical information is often transmitted via optical fibers, degradation in optical signal, such as pulse spreading or distortion, are often attributed to the dispersions created by the medium. One such dispersion is called a material dispersion which causes spreading of an optical signal pulse traveling through the medium due to the material property of the medium. When dispersed, some signal wavelengths travel faster than other wavelengths of the same signal. In addition to the material dispersion, waveguide dispersion further degrades the signal due to the signal spreading caused by the geometries and the sizes of waveguides. Furthermore, as the optical signal is spread due to the dispersion, the amplitude of the optical signal is also degraded. All these effects combined often define limitations to the efficiency of many transmission systems.

Silicon integrated photonic optical parametric amplifier oscillator and wavelength converter


The present invention relates to inducing acid resistance in a bacterium and methods of increasing the acid resistance of an acid sensitive bacterium.

In order to reach their intestinal habitat, enteric microbes must first survive the formidable low pH environment of the stomach, making an acid-coping strategy imperative. Wild-type Salmonella enterica serotypes have multiple ways to resist low pH. First, the acid tolerance response (ATR) upregulates acid shock proteins to temporarily prevent cellular damage. Second, the acid resistance systems (AR) consume protons to raise the intracellular pH. AR1 system is regulated by Crp and is poorly understood. The remaining systems, AR3, AR4 and AR5 (AR2 is not present in Salmonella) rely on arginine, lysine and ornithine decarboxylases, respectively. However, AR3-5 are typically repressed under standard laboratory growth conditions, and the ATR in many live attenuated Salmonella vaccines is impaired, making gastric transit challenging for these strains. In addition, many means used to attenuate Salmonella for virulence have a secondary effect of increasing sensitivity to acid, thereby increasing the effective dose required for immunogenicity. As a result, oral Salmonella vaccines are typically given with an agent designed to increase the gastric pH, such as bicarbonate. While this approach is helpful, it precludes the Salmonella vaccine from sensing important environmental signals (i.e. low pH) that optimize its ability to effectively interact with host tissues. This results in reduced immunogenicity as a vaccine.

Attenuated live bacteria with increased acid resistance and methods of use thereof

Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University


A molten residual layer formed on a surface 26 of an electric-discharge machined portion 12 of a metal molding member 1 is eliminated by using a tool 70 made by a wire discharge grinding method. According to the wire discharge grinding method, a minute tool which high in processing accuracy and high in hardness can be obtained. Since the molten residual layer formed on a surface 26 of the portion 12 due to the electric-discharge machining is eliminated by using the tool, the molten residual layer can be eliminated uniformly with high accuracy.

In general, as a material of a metal molding member such as an extrusion die, a material excellent in abrasion resistance such as forged die steel or cemented carbide is used. Since these materials are rigid, the workability is poor. Therefore, a processing method utilizing a discharge phenomenon as a processing principle, e.g., a wire electric-discharge machining or a carving electric-discharge machining in which workability is not generally harmed by strength of material, is widely used.
In the electric-discharge machining, a thermal melt elimination phenomenon of a material by discharge is used. Therefore, a molten residual layer (deformed layer) different from the base metal in quality will be formed on the surface of the machined object.
This layer has a structure transformed by melting and quenching, and includes micro cracks, a hardened layer (in cases where processing is executed in oil), a softened layer (in cases where processing is executed underwater) and/or tensile residual stress. Since high pressure will be applied to an extrusion die, if such a molten residual layer exists in the surface portion of the die, the micro cracks will act as starting points of destructions, resulting in a shortened die life. Furthermore, even in cases where a surface treatment is performed, the treatment may cause the exfoliation of the surface treated layer, which in turn shortens the life of the surface treatment.
As mentioned above, since the molten residual layer which exists in the surface of the processed portion of the metal molding member after the electric-discharge machining is harmful against the metal molding member, the molten residual layer is generally eliminated after the electric-discharge machining.
Conventionally, as a method for eliminating a molten residual layer of a metal molding member, various elimination methods, such as an Emery paper polish method, a gum polish method, a shot blast method, a barrel processing method and a honing method, are proposed (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 10-156424, 11-123444, 11-244934 and 11-277131). Furthermore, a method for eliminating a molten residual layer by electrolytic polishing is also proposed (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 9-41123).
However, the aforementioned method for eliminating a molten residual layer has the following drawbacks. That is, in cases where an electric-discharge machined portion has a minute configuration including, for example, a slot of less than 0.3 mm width, the method cannot cope with such a minute configuration. Furthermore, the strength of elimination processing varies from portion to portion and therefore a dull processed configuration will be generated, which deteriorates the processing dimensional accuracy.
Furthermore, the aforementioned electrolytic polishing elimination method has the following drawbacks. That is, in cases where the metal molding member is made of cemented carbide, some portions of a molding member will be eliminated preferentially by galvanic corrosion. Thus, the characteristics of the material cannot fully be used efficiently.
Furthermore, according to an elimination method using a common grinder, it was difficult to perform sufficient elimination processing in cases where a molding member has a minute processing configuration. Concretely, it was difficult to perform deep elimination processing (e.g., 10 times or more of width) when the slit has a width of about 0.3 mm.
Furthermore, there were another drawbacks as follows. When a popular disk-shaped grinder is used as a tool for the elimination processing, the elimination processing range will be limited. In cases where a tool having a columnar or rectangular cross-section other than a disk-shaped tool is used, if the diameter of the tool is less than 0.3 mm, it becomes difficult to attach the tool to the grinder straightly, causing a breakage of the tool because of the unbalanced load due to eccentricity, which results in unsatisfactory elimination processing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for processing a metal molding member having a minute configuration capable of uniformly eliminating a molten residual layer (deformed layer) of the aforementioned minute configuration portion of the metal molding member subjected to electric-discharge processing with high accuracy whereby the life can be extended and the function can be enhanced.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a metal molding member, an extrusion die, a method for manufacturing an extruded member and an extruded member.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following preferred embodiments.

Method for processing metal molding member having fine configuration, method for manufacturing metal molding member, extrusion die, method for manufacturing extruded member, and extruded member


A method for managing resource allocation in an Edge Computing, EC, system (30), carried out in an EC management entity (300) connected to at least one EC host (220). The method comprises detecting (501) a request from a user equipment, UE, (303), which request is associated with an EC application; providing (502) at least one application instance of said EC application in a host of the EC system; receiving (503) user assignment information from the EC application; and determining (504) a mapping between the UE and a specific application instance based on the received user assignment information.

The development of cloud-based services, operating to assist mobile devices with network-assisted storage and computing, is heavily increasing. Currently, ETSI (European Telecommunication Standards Institute) is promoting a new technology originally denoted Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), which is being standardized in an ETSI Industry Specification Group (ISG) of the same name. In the second phase of ETSI MEC ISG this is replaced by the term Multi-access Edge Computing, using the same acronym MEC, which also includes other types of access besides cellular, e.g. wifi and fixed networks.
MEC is a network architecture concept that enables cloud computing capabilities and an IT service environment at the edge of a communication network. MEC is the term used by ETSI for the concept mobile Edge Computing (EC). MEC allows applications to benefit from ultra-low latency and high bandwidth as well as real-time access to radio network information.
The MEC architecture fundamentals are based on a central management entity being responsible for resources, scaling and selecting the server for hosting the application instance. However, the MEC application is totally independent of the management entity's decisions and is only responsible for the logic of how to manage and distribute users among EC application instances. This means that the EC application has all logic on which users belong to the same group, for example in a video conference system but the management entity decides how scaling of EC servers and assigning of users should be done regardless of the EC application. This may cause thus problems associated with management of resource allocation, e.g. when scaling is contemplated in the system.

Management for managing resource allocation in an edge computing system


An ink jet type recording apparatus in which two recording heads are mounted on one and the same carriage in such a manner that their spatial relationship is fixed, and the heads are positively sealed simultaneously by a capping means. A first cap member 13 adapted to seal the first recording head is provided near an end, proximate to the printing region, of a slider 20, which lifts a base stand according to the movement of a carriage. The first cap member has an air communication hole, and an ink suction hole therein. In addition, a second cap member 14 adapted to seal the second recording head is mounted through elastic members 74 and 75 on the slider 20. The second cap member 14 has an air communication hole, and an ink suction hole therein. The end of the slider 20, proximate to the non-printing region, is supported with an arm 30 which is elastically pressed vertically upwardly of the printing region. The two cap members are fixedly spaced from each other. The first cap member, is slidingly fitted over the first recording head by means of elastic members 31 and 32, thereby making sealing contact with the first recording head; while similarly the second cap member, is slidingly fitted over the second recording head by means of elastic members 74 and 75 interposed between the second cap member and the slider, thereby making sealing contact with the second recording head.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ink jet type recording apparatus in which its recording head is moved in the direction of width of a recording sheet, and ink droplets are jetted onto the recording sheet in accordance with printing data, to form an image thereon, and more particularly to a capping device suitable for sealing the recording head, and to a pump unit for supplying negative pressure to the capping device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink jet type recording apparatus in which, with ink pressurized in a pressurizing chamber, ink droplets are jetted onto the recording sheet thereby to record printing data, suffers from difficulties that, because of evaporation of solvent from the nozzle opening, the ink is increased in viscosity, or solidified, or foreign matters such as dust stick onto the nozzle opening, and because of the formation of bubbles in the ink, the resultant print is unacceptable. In order to overcome the above-described difficulties, the ink jet type recording apparatus has capping means for sealingly closing the nozzle opening when the apparatus is not in operation, and cleaning means for cleaning the nozzle plate when necessary.
The teachings of Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 125239/1989 (the term "OPI" as used herein means an "unexamined publication application") disclose an ink jet type recording apparatus having a sled which is pushed and moved by the carriage moving to the home position. The sled is moved along a sloped guide surface of a frame to the nozzle opening surface of the recording head, so that a rubber cap formed on the surface of the sled is pressed against the recording head to sealingly close the nozzle opening.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 13910/1990 disclosed the following ink jet type recording apparatus: In the apparatus, in order to press a cap against the recording head, two arms forming a parallelogram link are interposed between the frame and the cap, so that the cap is moved horizontally by the carriage while being moved vertically towards the head.
The amounts of vertical movement of the above-described means are determined by the sloped guide surface of the frame, and the parallelogram link, respectively. Therefore, in the case where the distance between the path of movement of the carriage and the frame is somewhat varied because of tolerances in machining or assembling the components, or in the case where, in order to print data on a recording sheet relatively large in thickness such as an envelope, the distance between the platen and the recording head is adjusted, thus changing the distance between the recording head and the cap. Hence, the sealing of the nozzle opening depends on the elastic deformation of the cap itself. This poses no problem in the case where the surface to be sealed is small; however, it is considerably difficult to uniformly seal the entire surface of a recording head having a number of nozzles.
The teachings of Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 103762/1984 disclose the following means: At the home position of the carriage, an inverted-L-shaped head protective cover having a cap at one end is swingably supported. The protective cover is swung by the carriage when moved to the home position, so that its cap is pressed against the recording head. With the above-described means, the amount of swing of the protective cover changes according to the distance to the nozzle surface. Hence, the means can provide a positive sealing effect even for the recording apparatus which is so designed that the distance between the platen and the printing head is adjustable. However, it suffers from the following problem: Since the direction of movement of the recording head is different from that of the cap, the relative movement of the recording head and the cap may deform the latter; that is, the cap is liable to be broken.

Ink jet type recording apparatus having a capping device and a CAM follower


A joint assembly has a pair of constant velocity universal joints and a connecting drive shaft. A cover unit protects the constant velocity universal joints and prevents hanging down of the joints under their own weight. The unit cover is arranged to cover the outer circumferential surfaces of the pair of constant velocity universal joints and boots. The unit cover is formed from elastomer material by injection molding. The cover unit inner circumferential surface has a configuration corresponding to the outline configurations of the pair of constant velocity universal joints and the boots.

A power transmitting apparatus for transmitting the vehicle engine power, such as an automobile to the vehicle wheels, is required not only to transmit the engine power to the wheels but to enable radial and axial displacements and a moment displacement of the wheels caused by bounce of the wheel or turning of the vehicle during running on a rough road. Accordingly as shown in FIG. 18, an engine side (e.g. a transmission) and a wheel are connected via a drive shaft 100. One end is connected to a differential apparatus 102, via a slide type constant velocity universal joint 101, and the other end is connected to a wheel 105, via a wheel bearing apparatus 104 that includes a secured type constant velocity universal joint 103.
The wheel bearing apparatus 104 is a so-called "third generation" type wheel bearing 106. The secured type constant velocity universal joint 103 is detachably connected to the wheel bearing apparatus 106. In recent years, there has been a tendency to shift from the third generation structure to a so-called "fourth generation" structure. Here, the wheel bearing 106 and the secured type constant velocity universal joint 103 are combined as a unit.
In an axle module of a wheel bearing apparatus of the fourth generation, a constant velocity universal joint forms part of the wheel bearing apparatus. A drive shaft is connected to a pair of constant velocity universal joints, including the above constant velocity universal joints, and are combined as a unit. It is further know to combine a cover unit to improve the workability of the assembly of the axle module onto a vehicle as well as to protect a boots of the constant velocity universal joint during assembly and transportation of the axle module. As shown in FIG. 19, an axle module is formed by a wheel bearing apparatus that includes an outer member 50 formed with a body mounting flange 50b on its outer circumferential surface. The flange 50b is adapted to be mounted on a knuckle "N". A fitting surface 50c is inserted into the knuckle "N". Double row outer raceway surfaces 50a, 50a are on the outer member inner circumferential surface. An inner member 55, including a wheel hub 53, is inserted into the outer member 50 via double row balls 51, 51. The inner member 55 is integrally formed with a wheel mounting flange 52 on one end. Its outer circumferential surface has one inner raceway surface 53a opposite to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces 50a, 50a. An outer joint member 54 is formed with another inner raceway surface 54a on its outer circumferential surface. The inner raceway surface is opposite to the other one of the double row outer raceway surfaces 50a, 50a. A joint assembly "JA" is connected to the wheel bearing apparatus. In addition the outer diameter of the fitting surface 50c is formed larger than the maximum outer diameter of the constant velocity universal joint. An elastomeric cover unit 57 is formed as a cylindrical member to cover the periphery of the joint assembly "JA". The cover unit 57 is formed with contracted portions 57a, 57a at its opposite ends. The joint assembly "JA" has a pair of constant velocity universal joints 56, 58 and a drive shaft 59 connecting the two constant velocity universal joints 56, 58.
The cover unit 57 covers the periphery of the joint assembly "JA" and protects the joint assembly "JA" to make handling, such as transportation, easy. In addition, the elastic contracted portions 57a, 57b on the cover unit 57 enable easy mounting in a "one-touch" manner" of the cover unit 57 onto the outer joint member 54 of the constant velocity universal joint 56. Also, it prevents the cover unit 57 from falling out (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 256938/2005).

Joint assembly, a wheel bearing apparatus, and the assemblies included in an axle module


A cored form surface pattern structure includes a cored form having a first face plate and a second face plate, with the second face plate from the first plate separated by a suitable interval and a pattern located in the said first face plate. The said pattern can consist of characters, trademarks or graphics. The outline profile of the aforementioned pattern is a beveled edge of an appropriate angle, with the slant oriented from the lower surface of the pattern towards a central area of the upper surface such that the slanted outline of the pattern is positioned by the compressive and coating action of the cored form face plate and only the upper surface of the pattern is shown.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to a cored form surface pattern structure that is simple to fabricate and has enhanced pattern replacement functions and, furthermore, enables the pattern and the cored form surface to be of different colors.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are numerous typical cored form structures. For example, these include tool boxes, tool carrier boards and brief cases, etc.; such cored form structures can generally be characterized as having two surface layers, with air occupying the space in between the two surfaces. The practical function of these dual layers, taking the tool carrier board (1) shown in FIG. 1 as an example, is often to enable the forming of aesthetically appealing pattern (12) on the exterior section of the first face plate (11). Such patterns may occasionally include characters, trade marks or drawings and, as indicated in FIG. 2, the second face plate (13) is typically formed with a recess (14) of a specific shape at the interior section, which serves as a space for the insertion and fastening of a specifically shaped tool. Since the fabrication of these types of cored form structures often involves the utilization of a mold having a mold cavity with an identical exterior figured profile, after a molten cylindrical pellet of a plastic material is dropped into the mold cavity and subjected to air injection, the plastic pellet expands and is shaped against the walls of the mold cavity and, therefore, referring to the pattern (12) shown in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, since the pattern (12) relief on the first face plate (11) of the tool carrier board (1) cannot be formed unless the pattern relief is the same color as the tool carrier board (1), there is an overall lack of provisions for variation. Furthermore, since the forming of the pattern (12) involves the simultaneous forming of the pattern (12) casting details in the mold cavity of the cored form for the tool carrier board (1), the cored form for the said tool carrier board (1) only has the capability to form pattern (12) and, if another pattern is desired to be formed on the tool carrier board (1) utilizing the original cored form, the task would be impossible to achieve unless another mold was fabricated. Such a fabrication would also raise costs considerably.

No. 1, Alley 11-1, Lane 123, Chang-I 6 Street


In a headlight for vehicles that emits light in the near-infrared range and that has both a light source, which projects not only in the infrared range but also in the visible range, and an infrared range-transmissive filter, a transition range of the filter extends from the infrared range into the red spectral range of the visible range, and further spectral components in the visible range are emitted in attenuated form.

The invention relates to a headlight for vehicles that emits light in the near-infrared range and that has both a light source, which projects not only in the infrared range but also in the visible range, and an infrared range-transmissive filter.
From German Patent DE 40 32 927 C2, for improving night vision, it is known to illuminate the space ahead of the vehicle with infrared radiation and to capture the thus-illuminated region with a camera. For this purpose, the near-infrared range is used, since suitable image sensors for it are available. However, the light sources used for the purpose have a radiation maximum in the near-infrared range.
In the known headlights, filtering which prevents visible light from being emitted is therefore provided for the illumination in the near-infrared range vehicle that give a red impression must be avoided, which as a rule is also regulated by law, through relevant regulations.
The object of the present invention is to propose a headlight for emitting radiation in the near-infrared range that utilizes the sensitivity of image sensors as well as possible and does not produce a red color impression.


A system and a method are disclosed for transcoding video files on a server such that they can be streamed to a client device in substantially real-time. The server receives a video file a uses a prediction algorithm to predict each video frame's size based on encoding and streaming parameters associated with the input file and an output stream and transcoding each video frame. If a transcoded frame is too large, it is compressed further, if it is too small, the video file is padded. As such, each video frame transcoded or padded until the encoded frame is the same size as a predicted size. The transcoded frames are streamed to a client device to enable the client to device to playback the video after requesting it from the server.

1. Field of Art
The disclosure generally relates to the field of encoding audio and video files.
2. Description of the Related Art
Users of computing devices commonly view videos and listen to audio on their computing devices. Generally, users download an audio and/or a video file on their computing device and execute the file to hear or view the content of the file. Such a system of viewing content is disadvantageous because it requires a user to wait for a file to download before the user can view the file. Additionally, such a system of consuming audio and/or video files is not practicable when an audio or video file is embedded on a webpage.
To overcome these shortcomings, some systems enable users to stream audio or video files from a server. However, depending on the size of the audio/video files and the quality of network connection between the user's computing device and a server, the audio/video files may take too long to stream and therefore may interrupt a user's playback stream. As a result, servers generally transcode audio/video files to an appropriate size to provide an uninterrupted playback stream to the user. In such a system, a user does not have to wait a substantial period of time because the server downloads and transcodes the file in substantially real time and the user's computing device downloads the transcoded stream and plays it back to the user in substantially real time.
Certain file formats, however, such as MP4, Quick Time File Format (MOV), Third Generation Partnership Project (3GP), etc require specifying a size and location of every audio and/or video sample contained in the file to execute or playback the file. If such files are transcoded, users' computing devices are unable to stream them in real time. For example, a server transcoding such file formats does not know the size and location of every audio and/or video sample contained in the file until the entire file is transcoded. Thus, a computing device cannot stream the audio/video file until the server has transcoded the entire file and has provided the size and location data of each audio/video sample to the computing device. Thus, a user who wants to stream such a file format from a server transcoding the file, would have to wait a period of time to allow the server to transcode the file and provide size and location data of samples within the file. Such waiting periods negatively impacts a user's playback experience.
Some transcoding servers may overcome the problem by caching and transcoding video files before any user requests the file. As such, the server may be able to send the transcoded video stream and the size and location data of each sample of the file as soon as the user's computing device requests it. However, such a process is disadvantageous because it requires the server to accurately predict which videos a user may want to watch at a later time. Additionally, such a process is also cumbersome as the server may have to cache a large number of video files that a user may potentially want to view, in order to provide a seamless playback experience to its users.


The present invention provides a method of interactive gaming applied to an interactive case and a tablet, wherein the interactive case is arranged to be attached on the tablet, and the interactive case includes a transmission port arranged to communicate with the tablet and a plurality of notches. The method of interactive game includes determining whether at least one accessory medal is connected to the notch; when one of the accessory medals is connected to one of the notches, retrieving a predetermined data stored in the connected accessory medal; identifying the connected accessory medal according to the predetermined data of the connected accessory medal; and performing an application corresponding to the connected accessory medal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an interactive game method, and in particular to an interactive game method with an interactive case and medals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, mobile devices are highly developed and multi-functional. For example, handheld devices such as mobile phones and tablets are capable of conducting telecommunications, receiving and transmitting e-mails, maintaining social networks, managing contacts, and playing media. Hence, users can implement various applications on their mobile devices, such as a simple phone call, social network interaction, or commercial transactions. Therefore, mobile devices have become one of the necessities in people's lives.
There are many electronic devices equipped with at least one transmission port arranged to connect with the peripheral devices. Furthermore, the varieties of peripheral accessories of electronic devices are steadily increasing, along with the application methods that go along with the accessories, greatly increasing the diversity and attractiveness of the applications.


This invention relates to the use of hydrophilic-rich, rake-type alkylmethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention present invention relates to novel, hydrophilic-rich organomethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymers and to their use as emulsifiers for the preparation of cosmetic emulsions of improved aesthetic properties and mildness.
2. Background Art
An emulsion is a dispersion of droplets of one liquid in a second, immiscible liquid.
The process of dispersing one liquid in a second immiscible liquid is called emulsification.
An emulsifier is required to stabilize an emulsion. Emulsifiers are surface-active agents, that is a soluble compound that reduces the surface tension of liquids, or reduces the interfacial tension between two liquids. Surface tension is the force acting on the surface of a liquid, tending to minimize the area of the surface. Surfactants and emulsifiers (all emulsifiers are a class of surfactants) reduce the surface tension of a liquid. The surface tension of water is 72 dyne/cm; a surfactant can reduce this to a value in the range of 30-50 dyne/cm.
There are two basic types of emulsions: oil in water (o/w) and water in oil (w/o). The substance named last indicates the continuous or outer phase. Whether a particular oil and water blend will form a w/o or o/w emulsion depends largely on the choice of emulsifier. Emulsifiers that are more soluble in water than in the oil generally produce o/w emulsions. Emulsifiers that are more soluble in the oil produce w/o emulsions.
Choice of emulsifier type is dependant upon the final skin feel desired. The continuous phase will be the most perceived phase while applying the lotion and after dry down. Water in oil emulsions (w/o) tend to be heavier, leave a more distinctive after-feel and are considered warmer than emulsions with water as the continuous phase (o/w). When water is the continuous or outer phase, typically the formulation is lighter, easier to rub in to the skin, and the after-feel is lighter. The overall skin conditioning efficacy of both emulsion types o/w and w/o is dependant on the relative concentrations of the ingredients used.
A predominantly hydrophilic emulsifier, will best stabilize o/w emulsions, while a predominantly lipophilic emulsifier, will best stabilize w/o emulsions.
HLB, the hydrophile/lipophile balance of a surfactant, can help determine the best surfactants to use as emulsifiers. As expected, products with higher ethylene oxide content are more suitable for o/w emulsification, while products with lower ethylene oxide content are more suitable for w/o emulsification.
A review of predominant skin care products currently in the market shows strong regional preferences for specific emulsion types. Typically European markets sell heavier, more occlusive formulations and as such have a strong preference for w/o formulations. Outside of the European markets, the overwhelming global preference of lotions is o/w. This preference is most predominant in Asian markets. The o/w formulations provide excellent skin treatment products without leaving excessively coated heavy feeling. This is most preferable in hot humid environments. Very few if any w/o formulations are even sold in Asia. The United States and Latin American markets also have strong preferences toward the lighter feeling o/w formulation, however there are some brands sold using w/o technology.
The alkyl dimethicone copolyol emulsifiers of this invention are unique in that they serve as o/w emulsifiers and provide stable o/w emulsions. This is in contrast to alkyl dimethicone copolyol emulsifiers of the prior art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,178), which specifically serve as w/o emulsifiers and provide stable w/o emulsions. The alkyl dimethicone copolyol emulsifiers of this invention have an additional benefit of providing lift from the surface, creating an overall skin feel that is soft and extremely smooth. This softening effect is important beyond aesthetics in that it reduces the overall roughness of the surface of the skin, allowing light to reflect more evenly. The skin appears more uniform in color and texture, a benefit strongly desired in anti-aging skin care products. This benefit is not observed using either the aforementioned alkyl dimethicone copolyol w/o emulsifiers of the prior art (such as Goldschmidt ABIL EM90) or o/w emulsifiers of the dimethicone copolyol variety (such as Dow Corning DC 193) or o/w emulsifiers of the non-silicone containing variety (such as Glyceryl Stearate and PEG 100 Stearate). Additional benefits provided by the emulsifiers of this invention over the aforementioned emulsifiers are a reduction of greasy feeling for emulsions that have high (15% or higher) oil and/or petrolatum content, a brilliant white appearance and less dense, soufflé-like texture for said high oil and or petrolatum emulsions, a decreased rub in time, a final rub out that is less greasy, and a markedly decreased irritancy.
There is considerable prior art relating to polydimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymers (silicone copolyols) and organomethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymers (organo-functional silicone copolyols).
Organo-functional silicone copolyols related to those of this invention have been prepared from silicon hydride containing siloxanes of the general structureMe3SiO(Me2SiO)x(HMeSiO)ySiMe3 wherein Me is methyl, x is 0 to about 200, and y is about 1 to 100, via a hydrosilation coupling reaction (that utilizes a platinum catalyst) with terminally unsaturated polyoxyalkylenes and terminally unsaturated organic molecules. The synthesis of organo-functional silicone copolyols is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,234,252, 4,047,958, 3,427,271, 2,846,458, and 6,346,553, and yields products of the general formulasMe3SiO(Me2SiO)x(MeRSiO)y(MeQSiO)zMQMe2SiO(Me2SiO)x(MeRSiO)ySiOMeQwherein R denotes an alkyl radical and Q denotes a polyoxyalkylene radical having the formula —CH2CH2CH2(OCH2CH2)p(OCH2CHCH3)qOR′ wherein R′═H or Me and both p and q range between 0-50. These preparations are similar to those for the preparation of silicone copolyols. The preparation of such copolymers by the platinum catalyzed hydrosilation of silicon hydride containing siloxanes and a polyoxyalkylene that is allyl terminated at one end and either OMe or O(CO)R terminated at the other end is well known and straightforward. The similar preparation of silicone copolyols that employ polyoxyalkylene but that is allyl terminated at one end and OH terminated at the other end is more problematic. In all reported cases prior to this invention, steps are taken in an attempt to eliminate or minimize competing crosslinking side reactions that involve the polyoxyalkylene terminal OH function and are well know to those practiced in the art. One such crosslinking side reaction is due to reaction of the Si—H and COH groups. Another is conversion of terminal allyl groups to propenyl groups followed by crosslinking via acetal formation with a polyoxyalkylene OH terminus. These crosslinking reactions are catalyzed by platinum catalysts such as chloroplatininc acid (H2PtCl6.6H2O), and lead to a generally undesired increase in viscosity of the final product and/or eventual gellation.
Much of the prior art relating to the preparation of silicone copolyols, embodied in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,280,160, 3,401,192, 4,122,029, 3,518,288, 4,520,160, 5,958,448, 6,346,583, and 6,346,595, discloses the use of one or more solvents, often a small cyclic polydimethylsiloxane or an alcohol, to minimize the aforementioned side reactions. A solventless process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,847,398 and 6,372,874 that employ catalyst modifiers which also minimize the aforementioned crosslinking side reactions. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,456, a solventless process for the preparation of siloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymers is revealed. This reference, however, utilizes alkoxy endblocked polyethers in the hydrosilation reaction and does not disclose the use of OH terminal oxyalkylene polyethers.
Similarly, much of the prior art relating to the preparation of organo-functional silicone copolyols discloses the use of one or more solvents or endblocked (protected) polyethers to minimize the aforementioned side reactions. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,553, a solventless process for the preparation of organo-functional silicone copolyols is revealed that utilizes alkoxy endbolcked polyethers. Another common method is to protect the polyoxyalkylene OH termini via conversion to OSiMe3, followed by deprotection after hydrosilation, as is the case in U.S. Pat. No. 2,846,458.
Silicone copolyols and organo-functional silicone copolyols are commonly used as emulsifiers for the preparation of cosmetic formulations, a fact well known to those practiced in the art. Typical examples of silicone copolyols are Me3SiO(Me2SiO)22(MeQSiO)4SiMe3 and Me3SiO(Me2SiO)8.7(MeQSiO)3.7SiMe3 (where Q=(CH2)3(OCH2CH2)12OH). These and similar materials are "water soluble" (i.e., they are either truly soluble or they form stable dispersions in water). According to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,381,241, and 4,698,178, rake-type organo-functional silicone copolyols of the type Me3SiO(Me2SiO)x(MeRSiO)y(MeQSiO)zM can also be used as emulsifiers for the preparation of cosmetic emulsions. The ABA or end-blocked organo-functional silicone copolymers QMe2SiO(Me2SiO)x(MeRSiO)ySiOMeQ of U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,553 can be used as emulsifiers for the preparation of combined oil-silicone O/W emulsions. In all of these cases, the preferred formula is one in which the number of units having alkyl (R) radicals is at least twice as large (and typically much greater than twice as large) as the number of units with polyoxyalkylene (Q) radicals. This preference, along with the preferred length of the alkyl radical and the preferred composition of the polyoxyalkylene radical (which generally includes water insoluble propylene oxide units along with water soluble ethylene oxide units) results in predominantly hydrophobic (water insoluble) organo-functional silicone copolyols. One such example, a rake-type alkylmethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene emulsifier of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,178, is available under the name Goldschmidt ABIL EM90 and is insoluble in water. Thus, whereas organo-functional silicone copolyols of the prior art are insoluble in water, the organo-functional silicone-copolyol emulsifiers of this invention are soluble in that they form stable dispersions in water at ≧15% mass emulsifier.
Many modern cosmetic formulations that make use of emulsifiers of the type described above and/or other emulsifiers have a high oil content (>20% by mass oils). Desirable aesthetic effects for such cosmetic formulations include a light texture, an initial rub-in that possesses a light, slightly wet, cool feel (as opposed to a heavy, greasy, warm feel), a short overall rub-in time, and a final rub-out that is not heavy, greasy, or tacky, but instead leaves a light occlusive barrier on the skin. Also desirable is a minimization of skin irritancy (i.e., maximum mildness). Emulsifiers that can bestow these properties to cosmetic formulations would be desirable and valuable.

Use of hydrophilic-rich alkylmethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymers as emulsifiers for the preparation of cosmetic o/w emulsions of improved aesthetic properties and mildness

Abstract: typical values (ranges)        x=10-30        y=2-6        z+q=4-5 (q≦0.8)        p=12        R=dodecyl        R′=H, MeA hydrophilic-rich alkylmethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymer is hereby defined as an alkylmethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymer possessing sufficient hydrophilic content such that it can be readily taken up by water at a concentration of at least 15% by mass copolymer with simple stirring at room temperature to yield a stable dispersion of micron and sub-micron sized particles. This definition supercedes the typical values of the formula variables x, y, z, q, and p specified above to include all values that result in the copolymer being hydrophilic-rich. This definition also supercedes the typical identity of R=dodecyl shown above to include R being any alkyl or branched-alkyl chain of any length such that the resulting copolymer is hydrophilic-rich. This definition also supercedes the typical identity of the polyoxyalkylene shown above to include polyoxyalkylenes possessing propylene oxide repeat units as well as ethylene oxide repeat units such that the resulting copolymer is hydrophilic-rich. This definition also supercedes the typical identity of R′=H, Me shown above to include any alkyl, aryl, or acyl radical such that the resulting copolymer is hydrophilic-rich. This invention also relates to the use of these copolymers as emulsifiers for the preparation of cosmetic O/W formulations (defined as stable O/W emulsions of water, one or more oils that may include silicone oils, and various other ingredients that may include preservatives, fragrances, coloring agents, etc.) that yield improved aesthetic properties (including appearance and texture of the cosmetic emulsion, initial feel on the skin, and final feel on the skin after rub-out) and improved mildness relative to comparable cosmetic emulsions that employ other silicone-copolymer emulsifiers as well as other non-silicone emulsifiers.


There is provided an integrated circuit having a plurality of circuit blocks. An acquisition unit acquires a request of a reset operation for at least one of the plurality of circuit blocks. A determination unit determines, based on constraining condition information indicating whether or not a reset target circuit block can perform the reset operation simultaneously with another circuit block in which the reset operation is underway, whether or not to instruct the reset target circuit block to perform the reset operation according to the request. An instruction unit instructs the reset target circuit block to start the reset operation according to the request when the determination unit determines to instruct the reset target circuit block to perform the reset operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit and control method thereof and, more particularly, to reset operation control of a semiconductor integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a semiconductor integrated circuit which can further reduce power consumption is demanded so as to drive a battery use device for a longer period of time and in consideration of environmental problems. The power consumption of the semiconductor integrated circuit can be classified into a dynamic electric power required for operations and a static electric power required only upon connection of a power source. Since these electric powers are consumed based on different principles, different power saving techniques are respectively used for them.
The dynamic electric power is consumed by currents which flow upon charging/discharging parasitic capacitances caused by signal changes, and currents such as through currents which flow at the time of switching. Therefore, by suppressing signal changes within a trouble-free range of functional operations, the dynamic electric power can be reduced. As a typical power saving method based on such principle, "clock gating" is available, and is popularly used currently.
On the other hand, the static electric power is consumed by charges stored in parasitic capacitances and leak currents. Upon miniaturization of processes, the parasitic capacitances tend to be decreased, but leak currents tend to be increased. Especially, as a polysilicon gate oxide film is thinner, leak currents are exponentially increased at one time. In order to reduce the leak currents, a method of controlling voltages, for example, a power shutoff method is effective. For example, a power switch is arranged between a target circuit and power source, and is controlled to shut off the power source. Even now, the leak currents keep increasing tendency, and the power shutoff control is also important for reducing a power.
However, upon execution of voltage control, initialization is usually required after return, that is, a reset operation usually has to be made before starting an operation. In the reset operation, in order to actively control memory elements such as flip-flops to cause signal changes, clock gating is normally not performed. For this reason, during the reset operation, a larger electric power tends to be consumed than a normal operation status.
In order to suppress power consumption during the reset operation, a method of shortening a reset operation period and a method of lowering an operating ratio are known. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-312073 discloses a method of optimizing a time after power ON until reset cancelation by recording a reset cancel timing in a register corresponding to a power shutoff region. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-101764 and 10-320072 disclose a method of lowering an operating ratio by lowering a clock frequency until a reset signal is negated at a reset timing.

Integrated circuit and control method thereof


Methods and systems for managing cloud zones are described herein. A management server for a cloud of computing resources may add private zones to the cloud. The private zones may contain computers owned and operated by a user of the cloud, such as a cloud customer, rather than the cloud operator. The management server may manage the computing resources in the private zone by sending commands to an agent, which in turn relays the management server's commands to the individual computing resources. The agent may be authenticated using a token.

Traditionally, personal computers included operating systems, applications, and user settings for a single user. Personal computers were generally both used and managed by their owners. However, many organizations are now using clouds of computing resources to fulfill their computing needs. The clouds of computing resources generally allow for the operating systems, applications, and user settings of multiple users to be included on a single physical machine. Desktop virtualization technology allows multiple instances of an operating system to be kept separate, so the activities of one user may not affect the experience of other users. Cloud computing environments allow for computers owned by the cloud operator to be managed by the cloud operator but used by cloud users, who may be customers of the cloud operator.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for estimating a parameter includes: generating an optical signal, the optical signal modulated via a modulation signal; transmitting the modulated optical signal from a light source into an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a plurality of sensing locations disposed along the optical fiber and configured to reflect light; receiving a reflected signal including light reflected from the plurality of sensing locations; and combining, in parallel, each of a plurality of reference signals with the reflected signal to estimate a value of the parameter.

Parameter monitoring systems can be incorporated with downhole components as fiber-optic distributed sensing systems (DSS). Examples of DSS techniques include Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR), which includes interrogating an optical fiber sensor with an optical signal to generate reflected signals in the optical fiber sensor.
Many downhole applications typically require measuring parameters at extremely long depths, which are further extended in marine applications. Lead-in lengths (i.e., the length of the optical fiber from an optical interrogator to the region of interest) can thus be quite long, which can reduce the effective measurement range of DSS systems.

Enhancing functionality of reflectometry based systems using parallel mixing operations


A soil remediation system includes an electrochemical cell that is configured to provide increased mass transfer and a decreased diffusion layer between the electrodes to thereby allow formation of a homogenous lead deposit that is substantially free of dendrite formation and easily removed.

There are various methods of soil remediation of lead contaminated soil known in the art, however, all or almost all of them exhibit significant disadvantages. For example, lead can be removed from soil in situ using a complexing agent (e.g., EDTA: ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,751. Where desired, alternative biodegradable complexing agents may be employed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,720. Lead-EDTA and other lead complexes are often highly stable and form relatively quickly over a relatively wide pH range. However, where such complexes are formed in situ, great care must be taken to avoid mobilizing the solubilized lead away from the site of contamination (e.g., into an aquifer).
Alternatively, lead may be electrochemically isolated from soil in a slurry by positioning the electrodes into the slurry as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,854, or lead may be isolated from soil directly by placing the electrodes into the soil as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,137,608 and 5,458,747. While such electrolytic methods often significantly reduce the risk of inadvertent contamination of uncontaminated areas, various difficulties remain. Among other things, and depending on the lead concentration, soil composition, and/or conductivity of the soil, electrochemical recovery may not be economically attractive. Moreover, electrochemical lead removal may not be practicable where the contaminated area is relatively large.
In still further known methods, lead can be extracted from a lead-EDTA solution that is electrolyzed to plate lead on a cathode. However, in such configurations, EDTA is typically electrochemically degraded at the anode, which renders such systems cost-ineffective. Moreover, as the concentration of the lead-EDTA complexes decreases, low mass transfer conditions are likely to develop and consequently electrolysis would operate under current limiting conditions. Such conditions will not only render electrolysis cost-ineffective, but also lead to generation of hydrogen, which is highly undesirable. Still further such conditions typically lead to dendritic lead deposits which are less useful and are difficult to recover.
Thus, although there are numerous configurations and methods for lead recovery are known in the art, all or almost all of them suffer from one or more disadvantages. Still further, disposal of the processing fluids and removal of the residual lead and EDTA from soil is often problematic. Therefore, there is still a need to provide improved compositions and methods for lead recovery from contaminated soil.

Configurations and methods of electrochemical lead recovery from contaminated soil


A pattern generator may include an electromagnetic radiation source and an optical system. The electromagnetic radiation source may emit electromagnetic radiation to create a pattern on a workpiece. The optical system may include an optical path for the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the electromagnetic radiation source and may be configured such that an apodization of the electromagnetic radiation is sufficient to optimize a critical dimension linearity for the created pattern.

In microlithography, critical dimension (CD) linearity error may be of greater importance than, for example, other light beam characteristics, such as, optical resolution. CD linearity error is a measurement of the amount an actual CD of a printed image deviates from an expected or target CD.
The CD linearity errors for a conventional optical imaging system may be dependent on an optical beam waist and/or side lobes in the focal spot. The side lobes may also affect corners and other 2D features. Thus, reduction in CD linearity errors may improve image fidelity.
A proper balance between the optical beam waist and the intensity of side lobes may be dependent on a CD linearity error threshold and may be achieved by optical beam apodization.
Apodization (e.g., optimization of the pupil function), is well-known in optics, but is conventionally used to reduce (e.g., minimize) the width of the central lobe (e.g., beam waist). However, for example, if the central lobe is reduced in excess, CD linearity may be affected by the intensity of side lobes, which may cause the stray light appearance in a printed image and/or may result in an increase in CD linearity error.

Pupil improvement of incoherent imaging systems for enhanced CD linearity


Devices and methods for inhibiting movement of automatic pool cleaners (APCs) are described. Versions of the devices may cause pool water to bypass flowing through bodies of APCs. Alternatively, they may cause water flowing though bodies of APCs to bypass the associated motive force creators. The devices thus may constitute idler mechanisms, as they effectively prevent movement without requiring operation of the ultimate driver (i.e. the pump) to cease.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,593 to Kallenbach depicts an exemplary "suction-side" type of hydraulic automatic pool cleaner (APC). The cleaner includes an operating head, or body, together with a foot functioning as a bearing surface (among other things). Typically connected to the foot is a disc, examples of which are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,443 to Rice, et al. An outlet of the body normally communicates with a hose and thence to the inlet (i.e. the "suction side") of a pump of a water-recirculation system associated with a swimming pool. Operation of the pump tends to evacuate the body, drawing debris-laden water from the pool into the body and thereafter into the hose. Located either within the body or remote therefrom, a mechanical filter typically strains the water before it encounters the inlet of the pump.
Present within the body is a valve designed periodically to interrupt the flow of water through the body. This periodic interruption of flow produces a water-hammer effect resulting in movement of the cleaner about the pool. Alternatively, flow through the body may operate a turbine or other device designed to drive wheels of a cleaner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,068 to Clark, et al. illustrates an exemplary "pressure-side" hydraulic APC. It too comprises a body communicating via a hose with a pump, albeit with the outlet (i.e. "pressure side") of the pump rather than with its inlet. Pressurized water (jets) exiting the body functions to move the cleaner within the pool; exploiting the Venturi principle, it also creates a low pressure region within the body for drawing pool water therein.
Both suction-side and pressure-side APCs are configured to move when connected to an operating pump. In other words, the relevant motive force creator (water-interruption valve, turbine, jet, etc.) is designed, conventionally, to be operational whenever the APC is communicating with the pump and the pump is activated. At times, though, it may be advantageous to cease movement of a cleaner without necessarily disconnecting it from or deactivating the pump. For example, if activities are occurring in one area of a pool, disabling a cleaner so as to prevent its movement into that area could be beneficial. As another example, if the pump is connected as well to some other object, reducing the force required to move the cleaner permits more pump force to be available for application to the other object.


A method of isolating 1-N.sup.2 -((S)-ethoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)-N.sup.6 -trifluoroacetyl!-L-lysyl-L-proline (lisinopril (TFA) ethyl ester, LPE). The solvent or solvent mixture used for the extraction is also a main constituent of the solvent or solvent mixture from which the crystallization takes place. High yield as well as good purity of the end product are obtained, without distillation. 1-N.sup.2 -((S)-ethoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)-N.sup.6 -trifluoroacetyl!-L-lysyl-L-proline (lisinopril (TFA) ethyl ester, LPE) is described as a precursor for producing an ACE inhibitor.

N-substituted amino acids of this type are valuable intermediate products for the production of inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which act as regulators of blood pressure. The compound of formula (I) is the direct intermediate product for 1-N.sup.2 - ((S) -carboxy) -3-phenylpropyl)!-L-lysyl-L-proline (Lisinopril II), which exhibits superb therapeutic results in combating high blood pressure (Zestril.RTM., Coric.RTM., Prinivil.RTM.).
Compound (I) is obtained according to the state of the art by the reductive amination of 2-oxo-4-phenyl-ethyl butyrate with the dipeptide Lys (Tfa)-Pro. ##STR2##
Such a method is described in the J. Org. Chem. 1988, 53, pp. 836-844. According thereto, compound (I) is obtained in a yield of 42% by basic extraction of the raw reaction solution, a subsequent extraction of the product in methylene chloride at pH 4.6 and, after a change of solvent, crystallization from methyl-tert.-butyl ether, cyclohexane.
EP 05 23 449 concerns the synthesis of compound (I) obtained according to example 3 with a yield of 60%. The workup of the raw reaction solution obtained according to this method contains, in addition to the basic and an acidic extraction step with 1,1,1-trichloroethane, a crystallization from methyl-tert. butyl ether.
In principle, other methods for producing compound (I) are also known which are not based on reductive amination but are less advantageous (EP 0 336 368 A2). The aqueous product phase is extracted therein with methylene chloride. However, after drying of the organic phase over sodium sulfate the solvent is again changed for crystallization in methyl-tert.-butyl ether.
The crystallization from pure methyl-tert.-butyl ether results in a crystal grain which is difficult to filter and in yields which are frequently insufficient (EP 0 645 398 A1). If compound (I) is allowed to crystallize out of solutions with a high concentration an additional recrystallization becomes necessary. The addition of cyclohexane (J. Org. Chem., 1988, 53, pp. 836-844) during the crystallization for increasing the yield is also described. However, there is the danger of a separation as oil, which makes it much more difficult to isolate the product, not only on an industrial scale.
EP 0 645 398 A1 extensively examines the possibility of the crystallization of compound (I) from various solvents or solvent mixtures. It is shown therein that when methyl-tert.-butyl ether or mixtures containing methyl-tert.-butyl ether are used the residual solvent content of the crystals is very great after the crystallization and residual solvent is bound in the crystal. The LPE raw material obtained in this manner is extremely difficult to dry. Long drying times which can adversely affect the product quality (formation of DKP, especially at elevated temperatures) and the tendency of the product to agglutinate makes special, expensive drying procedures necessary
WO 95/07928 teaches a type of workup which describes an extraction with subsequent crystallization. The raw material of the LPE production is pre-cleaned in a pH range of 0-6.3, if necessary by means of several liquid/liquid extraction steps before it is crystallized out of a mixture of methyl-tert.-butyl ether and methyl cyclohexane at reduced temperatures. A solvent exchange also takes place between the extraction and the crystallization.
A disadvantage of the methods of the state of the art for working up LPE is the fact that frequently environmentally hazardous chlorinated solvents are used and the solvent must be replaced during the workup. This is difficult to achieve completely on an industrial scale and as a result of which only insufficiently defined solvent compounds can be adjusted for the crystallization. In addition, only mild temperature conditions are permitted for such solvent changes on account of the sensitivity of the product, which entails long distillation times. Moreover, the methods of the state of the art often result in crystals which are difficult to filter and much residual solvent is included therewith. Such a product requires long drying procedures which make it difficult to control caking and agglutination on an industrial scale.

Method of isolating 1-N.sup.2 -((S)-ethoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)-N.sup.6 -trifluoroacetyl!-L-lysyl-L-proline (lisinopril (TFA) ethyl ester, LPE)


A lottery product comprises a row of pouches formed by an upper and lower layer of heat sealable plastics material which is sealed along both edges and at spaced transverse heat sealed lines to define a series of separate pouches each containing a lottery ticket. The pouches are perforated in the transverse heat sealed lines to allow separation by tearing. The tickets are numbered consecutively in the row. The pouches are folded at each perforation line so as to form a fan folded structure with each ticket lying on top of the next adjacent ticket. A tear notch is provided at the top of each pouch between the heat seal and the top of the ticket to allow transverse tearing to remove the ticket from the pouch. The row of tickets is supplied in a dispensing machine and the strength of the perforations and the tear notch is arranged so that the row can remain intact while it is dispensed and can be easily manually separated without effecting tearing at the notch. To correct mistakes in the numbering, the pouches are separated and are rejoined by a transverse adhesive tape which has a row of perforations along the center of the tape.

This invention relates to a pouched lottery ticket and to a method for dispensing the lottery tickets.
Lottery tickets are well known and widely sold and generally comprise a sheet material of paper or card stock on which is printed lottery information and various indicia for the playing of one or more games. Many such games are instant win type games where the player can xe2x80x9cplayxe2x80x9d the game or games by carrying out various functions. Such lottery tickets generally include information such as ticket numbers which identify the ticket for the purposes of security and control.
One practice which has become prevalent in Canada is to sell such lottery tickets in a pouch which is formed from two layers which are sealed around the edge of the pouch so that the lottery ticket is sandwiched between the two layers.
This technique provides a number of advantages as follows:
a) The sealing of the lottery ticket within a closed pouch allows increased security for maintaining integrity of the ticket.
b) The pouch provides a higher perceived value for the product without significantly increasing the cost of production. This allows in many cases the product to be purchased as a gift.
c) The pouch allows the ticket to be more complex including a number of different sheets so as to increase the variety and number of games which can be played on the ticket.
d) The layers forming the pouch can be metalized so as to provide a highly attractive appearance carrying bold colors and a high level of promotional information.
e) The ticket contained within the pouch can be of a single sheet or can be folded multiple sheet as required.
f) The pouches also have a clear window allowing bar code verification by reading the bar code printed on the ticket within the pouch.
The dimensions of the pouch are generally between 3xc2xd and 4 inches wide and of the order of 5 to 6 inches in length.
These pouches have achieved significant success in the Canadian marketplace. However the pouches have not been available up till now in U.S.A. and therefore the U.S. marketplace has not had the advantages as set forth above which enable a significant increase in sales of this product.
In the U.S. marketplace lottery tickets are often sold in a vending machine in which the lottery tickets form from simple paper stock are printed and formed in a row with the paper stock perforated transversely to form a continuous row of tearable lottery tickets.
It is on object of the present invention to provide an improved lottery ticket product particularly designed for the U.S. marketplace which provides the advantages of the above pouch product.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for use in a lottery comprising:
a plurality of ticket portions each formed by substantially flat substrate sheet material having lottery indicia printed thereon;
a plurality of pouches each surrounding and containing a respective one of the ticket portions;
each pouch comprising an upper flat layer and a bottom flat layer with the ticket portion sandwiched between the layers;
the layers being connected along side edges thereof by at least one longitudinal seal and being connected at a front transverse edge by a first transverse seal and a rear transverse edge by a second transverse seal so as to fully envelop the ticket portion;
the pouches being arranged in a single row such that the rear edge of one pouch is attached to the front edge of a next adjacent pouch at a junction therebetween and such that the upper flat layer and the bottom flat layer are substantially continuous along the row;
each junction between the pouches having arranged across the pouches at the junction a row of perforations through the upper and bottom flat layers to allow torn separation of one pouch from the next;
the row of pouches being folded along each of the rows of perforations with the fold at the front edge of each pouch being in a direction opposite to the fold at the rear edge of each pouch so that the pouches lie each on top of and parallel to the next.
The layers may be formed from a plastics material of a type which allows the seals to be formed simply by heat sealing, however other materials may be used, for example paper/polyethylene laminated to polyethylene and other methods of sealing such as cold sealing can be used.
Preferably the length of each pouch from the row of perforations at the front edge to the row of perforations at the rear edge is consistent with the length of each of the other pouches to a tolerance less than 0.1 inch and preferably the tolerance is less than 0.005 inch.
Preferably the transverse seal at the front edge of one pouch forms a common single transverse seal with the seal at the rear edge of the next adjacent pouch and wherein the row of perforations is arranged in the common seal.
Preferably the apparatus includes tear means for initiating a tear in the pouch at a position adjacent to but spaced longitudinally from one of the seals at the front and rear edges.
Preferably the tear means has a strength relative to the row of perforations such that longitudinal pulling of the pouches adjacent the tear means causes separation by tearing of the row of perforations without effecting tearing at the tear means.
Preferably, at a junction between one pouch and a next adjacent pouch in the row of pouches, the upper layer and the bottom layer are separated between the pouches and the pouches are joined by a strip of tape adhesively attached across the pouches at the junction, the strip being perforated at the junction. This allows pouches which become separated by error or in order to change the sequence to be re-joined.
Preferably each ticket portion of the row of pouches has a ticket number with the ticket numbers being consecutive from a first pouch in the row to a last pouch in the row.
Preferably each ticket portion of the row of pouches carries a book number which is the same number for each ticket portion of the row.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of dispensing tickets for use in a lottery comprising:
providing a plurality of ticket portions each formed by substantially flat substrate sheet material having lottery indicia printed thereon;
providing a plurality of pouches each surrounding and containing a respective one of the ticket portions;
each pouch comprising an upper flat layer and a bottom flat layer with the ticket portion sandwiched between the layers;
connecting the layers along side edges thereof by at least one longitudinal seal and connected at a front transverse edge by a first transverse seal and a rear transverse edge by a second transverse seal so as to fully envelop the ticket portion;
arranging the pouches in a single row such that the rear edge of one pouch is attached to the front edge of a next adjacent pouch at a junction therebetween and such that the upper flat layer and the bottom flat layer are substantially continuous along the row;
providing at each junction between the pouches across the pouches at the junction a row of perforations through the upper and bottom flat layers to allow torn separation of one pouch from the next;
folding the row of pouches along each of the rows of perforations with a fold at the front edge of each pouch being in a direction opposite to a fold at the rear edge of each pouch so that the pouches lie each on top of and parallel to the next;
locating the row of folded pouches in a dispensing machine and dispensing from the machine at least one pouch, said at least one pouch being torn at the row of perforations thereof from a remaining portion of the row of pouches.
Preferably the row of perforations is arranged such that the row of pouches has sufficient strength to pass through the dispensing machine and such that it is sufficiently tearable that the pouches can be readily separated by manual or automatic tearing.
Preferably the rows of perforations are arranged such that the strength of each row is substantially consistent with that of the next row.
Preferably the length of each pouch from the row of perforations at the front edge to the row of perforations at the rear edge is consistent with the length of each of the other pouches to a tolerance less than 0.1 inch.
Preferably the tolerance is less than 0.005 inch.
Preferably the transverse seal at the front edge of one pouch forms a common single transverse seal with the seal at the rear edge of the next adjacent pouch and wherein the row of perforations is arranged in the common seal.
Preferably the method includes providing tear means for initiating a tear in the pouch at a position adjacent to but spaced longitudinally from one of the seals at the front and rear edges.
Preferably the tear means has a strength relative to the row of perforations such that longitudinal pulling of the pouches adjacent the tear means causes separation by tearing of the row of perforations without effecting tearing at the tear means.
Preferably the method includes separating at least two pouches by tearing at the row of perforations at the junction therebetween and joining a first pouch to a second pouch by a strip of tape adhesively attached across the first and second pouches at the junction, the strip of tape being perforated at the junction.
Preferably the strip is cut from a portion of a continuous tape which is perforated longitudinally.
Preferably each ticket portion of the row of pouches has a ticket number and wherein the pouches are separated and joined such that the ticket numbers are consecutive from a first pouch in the row to a last pouch in the row.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:


A radiator grille is provided between the radiator and the front fender without elongating the wheel base of the motorcycle. The radiator grille includes a plurality of vertically long louvers. The forward projecting distance of the louvers is shorter for louvers near the body center and longer for louvers further away from the body center. As a result, the forward ends of the louvers are located outside the rotation locus inscribed by the rear of the front fender. Furthermore, the inclination angle formed between the louver and a vertical reference line is larger for outer louvers than for inner louvers.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cooling device for a motorcycle. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved radiator grille structure for a motorcycle.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 5-69756 is an example of a conventional cooling device for a motorcycle in which a pair of right and left radiators are separately provided behind a front fender. The radiators are provided on both sides of a front tube member and extend in a backward and downward direction.
Japanese patent '756 also shows a conventional radiator grille structure including a plurality of vertically long louvers that are provided in front of the radiators. These louvers are inwardly inclined. Furthermore, the inwardly inclined inclination angle is the same for each louver.
Neither radiator nor radiator grille are provided near the body center line in conventional grille structures such as the '756 patent. As shown in the side view of the '756 patent, the front fender is positioned wholly in front of the radiator grille so as not to interfere with the grille.
Conventionally, a space is required between the rear of the front fender and the radiator grille so that the radiator grille does not interfere the front fender when the front fender is rotated along with the front wheel during a turn. This space increases the wheel base of the motorcycle.
If a single-piece (monolithic) radiator is utilized to cool the motorcycle, then the wheel base must also be increased to accommodate the radiator and grille. Such conventional, single-piece radiators are typically supported between right and left front tube members and have a monolithic structure in the width direction. Because of the monolithic structure, the center portion of the radiator could interfere with the rear of the front fender. To avoid this interference, the wheel base is typically increased to provide a clearance space. Furthermore, if a radiator grille is provided, the wheel base must be further increased to prevent interference between the rear of the front fender and the radiator grille.
Such increases in wheel base are undesirable. A long wheel base reduces the agility and maneuverability of the motorcycle and generally increases the overall weight.


A fiber planted steel sheet obtained by forming only a fiber planting layer having excellent adhesion to a substrate made from a composition having special composition on the surface of a surface treated steel sheet as a substrate without forming a primer of a polyester synthetic resin containing an anticorrosive pigment and the like and electrostatically planting short fibers in the planting layer. Therefore, the electrostatically fiber planted steel sheet is produced by coating an aqueous adhesive composition for planting fibers comprising an emulsion resin having a glass transition temperature of −40 to 40° C., aqueous coloring pigment dispersion, defoamer and pH modifier on the surface of the surface treated steel sheet to form a fiber planting layer having excellent adhesion to the steel sheet on the surface of the steel sheet and electrostatically planting short fibers while the surface of the planting layer retains adhesion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fiber planted steel sheet comprising a surface treated steel sheet or the like as a substrate, a fiber planting layer which is directly formed on the substrate without a primer made from a synthetic resin containing an anticorrosive pigment formed on the substrate and an electrostatically short fiber planted layer formed on the planting layer and to a production process therefor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a prior art to the present invention, there is known a fiber planted steel sheet to be formed which is produced by degreasing the surface of a steel sheet, subjecting it to a chemical conversion treatment with chromic acid to improve adhesion between the steel sheet and a polyester synthetic resin, forming a polyester synthetic resin layer containing an anticorrosive pigment on this surface treated steel sheet, forming on part or all of the surface of the resin layer a reactive acrylic adhesive layer having flexibility which is not broken, cracked or separated at the time of drawing or bending and planting synthetic resin piles on this adhesive layer electrostatically (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 27864/1987).
There are known a fiber planted steel material produced by subjecting the surface of an H type steel, steel tube, sheet pile or steel sheet used as a construction steel material to a rust removal treatment with a shot blast, grinder, belt sander or the like, coating it with an acrylic urethane-based adhesive and planting non-metal fibers while it is uncured and a production process therefor (for example, Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 138813/1993).
It is known that a chemical conversion coating film is formed by treating both sides of aluminum or an alloy thereof with chromic acid or chromium phosphate, the film is coated with an acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber emulsion adhesive and fibers such as nylon pile are planted on this film (Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 34778/1972).
As a prior art related to an electrostatic planting adhesive for a weather strip member used in lower and upper opening/closing portions of car window glass, there is known an adhesive which comprises 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, 1 to 30 parts by weight of a non-yellowing urethane prepolymer (this polymer is a non-yellowing polyisocyanate resin used as a curing agent for an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of a glycidyl silane coupling agent and 0.01 to 5 parts by weight of a wetting agent (Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 145635/1994).
The present applicant proposes an electrostatically fiber planted steel sheet produced by forming a fiber planting layer of a fiber bonding aqueous coating composition comprising an aqueous epoxy modified polyurethane resin, aqueous acidic black dye, antifoaming agent and pH modifier formed on the surface of a surface treated steel sheet and an electrostatically fiber planted layer of organic short fibers on the planting layer (Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 258472/1998).
The above proposal of the present applicant has such an economical problem that an expensive polyurethane resin must be used though an extra step of forming a primer such as a polyester synthetic resin containing an anticorrosive pigment or the like can be eliminated. Since a disperse solvent other than water is separated at the time of drying the fiber bonding aqueous coating composition when a polyurethane resin is used in the fiber bonding aqueous coating composition, means of collecting the disperse solvent is required, resulting in a bulky apparatus.
The present invention provides an electrostatically fiber planted steel sheet produced by using a surface treated steel sheet such as a commercially available galvanized steel sheet (including products treated with a chromate or coated with an organic or inorganic composite film containing no chromium) as a substrate, directly forming a fiber planting layer of an aqueous adhesive composition for planting fibers which is essentially composed of a specific aqueous emulsion resin on the surface of the substrate such as a steel sheet without a primer of a polyester synthetic resin containing an anticorrosive pigment in the prior art on the surface of the substrate, and electrostatically planting short fibers on this planting layer as well as a process for producing the same at a low cost.

Electrostatically fiber planted steel sheet and production process therefor


A strip pack apparatus is an apparatus for manufacturing a strip pack with a plurality of items attached on a backing sheet. The strip pack apparatus includes a conveying unit configured and arranged to convey the item generally in the horizontal direction, a moving unit configured and arranged to move the item from the conveying unit to a position obliquely downward on the front side in the conveying direction, and an attaching unit configured and arranged to attach the item moved by the moving unit to the backing sheet.

As is conventional, products in which a plurality of items, which snacks and the like are filled in a bag, are adhered to a backing sheet in a strip and the like, are known. This kind of a product is displayed in retail stores and so forth in a suspended state with a portion of the backing sheet being held in place, and is referred to as strip pack (meaning a packaging configuration in which an item can be taken by pulling it off) since consumers take each individual item by pulling it off from the backing sheet. This strip pack has an advantage of increasing consumers' eagerness to buy, and can promote diversity in the design and space saving of the display.
A strip pack apparatus for manufacturing this kind of strip pack includes, for example, the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-182302, which is arranged directly below a vertical bag-making packaging machine, in which after an item manufactured at the packaging machine is moved by a left and right pair of grasping arms grasping the item at the upper two sides thereof to the adhering position below, the item is adhered to the backing sheet at the upper end portion thereof. In addition, the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,895 is also arranged directly below a vertical bag-making packaging machine, and after an item manufactured at the packaging machine is grasped and held at the upper single surface thereof by a suction cup and moved to the adhering position in front, the item is adhered to the backing sheet at the upper end portion thereof.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible conductor for connecting a main blade and a base of a disconnector. The flexible conductor includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is fixed to the base and adapted to bend in a first plane in response to a rotation of the main blade about a first axis; and the second portion is connected to the first portion and fixed to the main blade, the second portion adapted to bend in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane in response to twisting of the main blade about a second axis; wherein the flexible conductor is operable to maintain an electrical connection between the main blade and the base when the main blade rotates and twists with respect to the base to open or close the disconnector.

A high-voltage disconnector is an important switch electrical appliance in the power system and substation electrical system, and it usually needs to be used together with a high-voltage circuit breaker. The main function of the high-voltage disconnector is to ensure that an electrical circuit is completely de-energized for service or maintenance and to act as isolation voltages. Unlike load switches and circuit breakers, disconnectors lack a mechanism for suppression of electric arcs. Thus, they are off-load devices, intended to be opened only after current has been interrupted by some other control device. In some cases, they can also be used to separate and combine small currents in the lines, such as the charging current for bushings, busbars, connectors and short cables, the capacitive current of the switch-displacer capacitors, the circulating current when the double busbars are switched, and the excitation current of the voltage transformers, etc.
The circuit is normally switched on or off by relative movement between a main blade and a base of the disconnector. Different disconnectors have different connection modes between the main blade and the base. In the disconnectors with the main blade having the turning and twisting functions, there are two common ways to connect the main blade and the base. In one known solution, extra moveable and static contacts are arranged on the main blade and the base respectively. The extra moveable and static contacts are made of copper with silver plating on the surface thereof, resulting in a high cost. Furthermore, during the movement of the main blade, the moveable and static contacts increase friction between the main blade and the base, and thus greater power is needed to rotate or twist the main blade than the one without the extra moveable and static contacts. Furthermore, an extra space is needed on the base to arrange the extra static contact, which causes the length of the base to be longer, thereby increasing the cost. Furthermore, the extra static and moveable contacts double the risk of heat dissipation.
In other known solutions, a copper braid twist is used. Although the main blade can be rotated or twisted in this way, the copper braid twist is relatively easy to be broken. Furthermore, the use of a large amount of copper increases cost.

Flexible conductor for disconnector and the disconnector thereof