Provided are azeotropic and azeotrope-like mixtures of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) and hydrogen fluoride. Such are useful as an intermediate in the production of HFC-245fa. The latter is useful as a nontoxic, zero ozone depleting fluorocarbon useful as a solvent, blowing agent, refrigerant, cleaning agent, aerosol propellant, heat transfer medium, dielectric, fire extinguishing composition and power cycle working fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) and hydrogen fluoride.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years there has been universal concern that completely halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) might be detrimental to the Earth's ozone layer. Consequently, there is a worldwide effort to use fluorine-substituted hydrocarbons which contain fewer or no chlorine substituents. In this regard, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) having zero ozone depletion potential, is being considered as a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons such as dichlorodifluoromethane in refrigeration systems and trichlorofluoromethane as a blowing agent. The production of HFC's, i.e. compounds containing only carbon, hydrogen and fluorine has been the subject of interest to provide environmentally desirable products for use as solvents, blowing agents, refrigerants, cleaning agents, aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, dielectrics, fire extinguishing compositions and power cycle working fluids. It is known in the art to produce fluorocarbons such as HFC's by reacting hydrogen fluoride with various hydrochlorocarbon compounds. Such HFC's are not only considered to be much more environmentally advantageous than hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's) or chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) because they are not non-ozone depleting, but also they are also non-flammable, and non-toxic as compared to the chlorine containing compounds.
HFC-245fa is well known in the art as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,942,036, Canadian 684,687, EP 381 986A, JP 02,272,086 and WO 95/04022. All of the foregoing patents are incorporated herein by reference.
It has now been found that an important intermediate in the production of substantially pure 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like mixture of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and hydrogen fluoride. This intermediate, once formed, may thereafter be separated into its component parts by extraction techniques, even though they have close boiling points. HFC-245fa has a boiling point of about 14.degree. C. and HF has a normal boiling point of about 20.degree. C. at standard atmospheric pressure, which makes it particularly useful as a blowing agent or aerosol propellant. The azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions find use not only as intermediates in the production of HFC-245fa, but they are additionally useful as solvents, as well as compositions for removing surface oxidation from metals. In addition, the formation of an azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and hydrogen fluoride is useful in separating a mixture of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and an impurity such as 1,1,1-trichloro-4,4-dichlorobutane (HCC-240fa). When it is desired to separate a mixture of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and an impurity, HF is added to form an azeotropic mixture of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and hydrogen fluoride, and then the impurity is removed from the azeotropic mixture, such as by distillation, scrubbing or other known means.

Azeotrope-like compositions of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and hydrogen fluoride


A method for generating a point cloud data recovery model includes: acquiring at least one 2D image associated with a first point cloud data frame; partitioning the first point cloud data frame into at least one point cloud data set based on attributes of objects in the 2D image; and for each point cloud data set: determining a matching image of the first point cloud data frame from the at least one 2D image; determining 3D position data of a pixel point in the matching image based on the first point cloud data frame and at least one second point cloud data frame; and using 2D position data and the 3D position data of corresponding pixel points in the matching image as training input data and output data of a training model to generate a point cloud data recovery model for the object corresponding to the point cloud data set.

Point cloud data is widely used in three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction applications in various industries. Point cloud data is a set of point data in the 3D coordinate system describing a 3D scenario. Generally, the point data in the point cloud data represents the outside surface of an object. The space coordinates of each of the sample points on the surface of the object may be acquired according to a principle of laser measuring or photographic surveying, to obtain the set of point data which is referred as the "point cloud data."
However, due to the occlusion or long distance during the acquisition, a hollow may occur in the point cloud data or the point cloud data is too sparse, which is not conductive to extracting and partitioning the target object. Therefore, the recovery for the point cloud data becomes one of the hot issues urgent to be solved.

Method and apparatus for recovering point cloud data

Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.


Manufacture of an article incorporating a thermosetting-powder surface-coating includes bonding a component of the article to the coating by contacting the melted powder with the component before curing takes place, and maintaining it in contact through curing. In a glass architectural panel, an aluminium foil is bonded in this way to a polyester/triglycidyl-isocyanurate powder coating on the silane-primed back of the facing glass; the metal foil is backed by a plastics or rubber open-cell material to enhance resistance of the glass to impact, and also, together with the foil, resistance to thermal shock. The coating includes pigmentation to give the effect of colored glass, or is clear to allow the contact-surface of the metal to show through; further decorative effect is obtained by pigmentation variation in the coating and/or partial metallization of the glass back-surface. The technique is also applied to bonding fittings to the powder-coated face of a door; of decals of cured powder-coating material to, or within, powder-coatings; of glass over apertures in metal walls; and of glass to glass in building up a laminate.

This invention relates to articles that include thermosetting-powder surface-coatings, and especially to methods of their manufacture of the kind in which a thermosetting organic powder-coating material applied to a surface is heated to melt and cure the powder and thereby form a coating bonded to the surface.
Methods of the above-specified kind are known, in particular in connection with the manufacture of panels for doors, partitions and other purposes, in which at least the front surface of a sheet of metal that is to provide the facing sheet of the panel, is coated evenly with an epoxy or other thermosetting organic powder-coating material, and is then stoved to heat the powder to a temperature at which it melts and cures so as to form, on cooling, a hard protective face-coating to the metal sheet. The coating affords protection to the metal, and pigmentation in the powder can be used to give color for decorative effect.
Although manufacturing techniques of this known nature, and the products of such techniques, are widely used, it has been found that they are applicable in even wider contexts than heretofore. It is an object of the present invention to extend their application in this regard.

Articles including thermosetting-powder surface-coatings


A method and system for connecting and using a circuit board connected to a conductive element is disclosed. The circuit board includes a backstop and a plurality of conductive traces positioned on an edge. The conductive element includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately placed along the length of the conductive element. The conductive element is placed between the edge of the circuit board having the conductive traces and a clasp prior to inserting the circuit board into the clasp. The conductive element is conformed between the circuit board and the clasp. Each conductive trace contacts a conductive layer as a result of the insertion. The backstop conforms an extending portion of the conductive element to be substantially perpendicular to the circuit board. The assembled device can be used to provide charge to a plurality of electrodes on a substrate simultaneously.

Various types of electric writeable media, commonly known as electric paper, exist in the prior art. One example of electric paper includes a polymer substrate and bichromal anisotropic particles, such as balls or cylinders that are in suspension with an enabling fluid and are one color, such as white, on one side and a different color, such as black, on the other. Examples of such electric paper are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,204 to Stefik and U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,027 to Sheridon, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Under the influence of an electric field, the particles rotate so that either the white side or the black side is exposed.
Another type of electric writeable media is known as an electronic ink display, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,949 to Drzaic, which is incorporated herein by reference. An electronic ink display includes at least one capsule filled with a plurality of particles, made of a material such as titania, and a dyed suspending fluid. When a direct-current electric field of an appropriate polarity is applied across the capsule, the particles move to a viewed surface of the display and scatter light. When the applied electric field is reversed, the particles move to the rear surface of the display and the viewed surface of the display then appears dark.
Yet another type of electric writeable media, also described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,949 to Drzaic, includes a first set of particles and a second set of particles in a capsule. The first set of particles and the second set of particles have contrasting optical properties, such as contrasting colors, and can have, for example, differing electrophoretic properties. The capsule also contains a substantially clear fluid. The capsule has electrodes disposed adjacent to it connected to a voltage source, which may provide an alternating-current field or a direct-current field to the capsule. Upon application of an electric field across the electrodes, the first set of particles moves toward a first electrode, while the second set of particles moves toward a second electrode. If the electric field is reversed, the first set of particles moves toward the second electrode and the second set of particles moves toward the first electrode. Other examples of writeable media include liquid crystal, non-encapsulated electrophoretic displays and other displays.
A general problem with electric writeable media is that it is difficult to quickly provide a proper electrical charge to each electrode on a substrate during writing and erasing operations. This is particularly the case where a secondary device is used to charge the electrodes (i.e., the electrodes are not connected via switches to a power source). Conventional secondary devices for providing charge to electrodes include wands, bars and styluses.
In operation, a wand or bar is charged to a known voltage. The wand or bar is then moved in relation to the electric writeable medium containing the electrodes. As the wand nears an electrode, the electrode is charged to a voltage by the resulting electric field. Wands and bars can inadvertently charge electrodes adjacent to the intended electrode because no direct contact point is established between the wand/bar and the intended electrode. As a result, a wand or bar may not produce a crisp image because electrodes are unintentionally charged.
A stylus can also be used to apply charge to an electric writeable medium. Typically, a human operator controls the stylus. The stylus is charged to a known voltage and is moved over the electric writeable medium. The stylus directly contacts the electrodes of the electric writeable medium and deposits a charge on the electrodes that it contacts. However, a stylus may imprecisely deposit charge due to human error. For example, the human operator may not precisely contact each intended electrode. As a result, the displayed image is likely to emulate handwriting. Even if a machine is used to precisely guide the stylus, the stylus has the disadvantage or being a point contact device. In other words, the stylus must contact each electrode that is to receive a charge. Thus, programming the entire electric writeable medium using a stylus can require a significant amount of time.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and system for making a device that precisely provides electrical charge to electrodes of an electric writeable medium.
A further need exists for a method of rapidly applying charge to a plurality of electrodes simultaneously using a secondary apparatus.
The invention described herein is directed to solving one or more of the above-listed problems.

Method and system for making and using an electrical connection between a conductor and a circuit board


A magnetic card of the invention comprises a card substrate 11 on which a magnetic layer 12, a thin-film layer 13 formed of a metal or a metal compound for concealing the magnetic layer, a printed layer 14 and a volume hologram layer 15 are successively provided, wherein magnetic information is recorded on or read from a volume hologram layer side. The volume hologram layer 15 is composed essentially of a photosensitive material comprising a cationic polymerizable compound, a radical polymerizable compound, a photo-radical polymerization initiator system that is sensitive to light of a specific wavelength to polymerize the radical polymerizable compound, and a photo-cationic polymerization initiator system that is less sensitive to the light of a specific wavelength but sensitive to light of another wavelength to polymerize the cationic polymerizable compound. The magnetic card is improved in terms of wear resistance to sliding contact with a magnetic head, and ensures precise writing or reading of magnetic recording data, with improved ability to prevent forgery.

The present invention relates to a magnetic card comprising a card substrate and a magnetic layer provided thereon for magnetic recording of information in a machine-readable fashion.
Having on a card substrate a magnetic layer for magnetic recording of an ID number or other data attributable to a card's user in a machine-readable fashion, magnetic cards are now widely used in the form of cash cards or credit cards.
So far, the security of magnetic cards has been enhanced by concealment of magnetic layers from view. As well known in the art, the aesthetic property and ability to prevent forgery of a magnetic card are improved by provision of a concealment printed layer or a hologram layer on the magnetic layer. One such known magnetic card
has a multilayer structure that has a magnetic layer, an underlying concealment thin-film layer formed of a metal or a metal compound, a printed layer and a hologram layer provided successively on a card substrate, so that information can be recorded onto the magnetic layer from the surface of the volume hologram laid on it and the information recorded on the magnetic layer can be read (JP-A 10-198950).
Among holograms known in the art, there is a relief hologram that may be formed of a thin film but has some difficulty in achieving three-dimensional appearances, and so conversion of the relief hologram to a volume hologram is now in the making. A volume hologram layer has a good stereoscopic effect, and enables a hologram to be recorded by a multiplicity of interference fringes parallel with its surface in a depth direction. A significant feature (redundancy) of the volume hologram layer is that even when more or less shaved away in the depthwise direction due to slide contact with a magnetic head, the same image can be reconstructed although its brightness drops.
However, the volume hologram layer is very soft, offering a wear resistance problem with slide contact with a magnetic head for machine reading, even when a protective layer is provided over the surface thereof. Usually, it is extremely difficult to form volume hologram layers in a thin-film state. For this reason, when the volume hologram layer is laminated on a magnetic stripe, spacing losses become heavy upon reading of magnetic information, rendering precise writing or reading of magnetic recording data difficult.
An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic card having a volume hologram layer on its surface, which has improved wear resistance to sliding contact with a magnetic head, and ensures precise writing or reading of magnetic recording data, with much more improved ability to prevent forgery.


In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are provided for capacity planning management by generating a capacity expansion plan for a plurality of production resources used to produce one or more products relative to one or more time intervals. The systems and methods may include evaluating production patterns for each production resource to determine a production capacity within each time interval, evaluating budget patterns for each production resource to determine a production cash flow within each time interval, generating one or more potential capacity expansion forecasting schemes for each production resource and production budget based on the production patterns for each production resource and the budget patterns for each production budget, and generating the capacity expansion plan within each time interval based on the one or more potential capacity expansion forecasting schemes for each production resource and production budget.

Generally, manufacturing involves the making of products for sale, e.g., by constructing the products from component parts. Once produced, the products are often stored as inventory, e.g., in warehouse facilities, and ultimately shipped to retail stores or directly to consumers.
In a typical manufactory environment, every product may require multiple capacities to be built to generate profits. As many products may require different but possibly shared capacities and generate different profits as well as being demanded at different levels, capacity planning is a complex process. Further, such processes may be highly complex in that capacity expansion may require different price tags to improve production levels of products. As such, capacity planning is an important issue when trying to meet future demand and to analyze profitability with reference to upfront investment. Since many parameters and variables (e.g., types of capacity expansion options, monetary investment needed for each option, etc.) are introduced in a capacity planning process, decision-making and calculations to develop with a capacity expansion plan may be considered difficult. Therefore, there currently exists a need to simply the process by which capacity expansion is determined.

Capacity expansion planning with production resource management


A drawer type computer housing mounting system including a computer housing, two sliding rails fastened to two opposite side panels of the computer housing for permitting it to be moved between two sliding tracks in a desk, and a face panel covered on the computer housing at a front side, wherein the sliding rails have each a first wall and a second wall connected at right angles, and a plurality of mounting holes at the first wall and the second wall for connection to oblique locating slots on the two opposite side panels of the computer housing by screws, the first wall and the second wall having different widths so that the sliding rails can be fastened to the computer housing between two positions to fit the pitch between the sliding tracks in the desk.

The present invention provides an improvement on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/932,632, entitled "Drawer type computer housing mounting structure".
According to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/932,632, the two vertical side panels 11;12 of the top cover shell 1 comprise each two rows of vertically spaced circular mounting holes 111;112 symmetrically arranged in parallel; two sliding rails 14 are respectively fastened to the circular mounting holes 111;112 of the vertical side panels 11;12 of the top cover shell 1 at the desired elevation, for enabling the computer housing to be moved in and out of a desk; two pairs of spring plates 13 are respectively connected between the vertical side panels 12;13 and the sliding rails 14 for supporting the sliding rails 14 on the vertical side panels 12;13 of the top cover shell 1; the face panel 3 is mounted in front of the bottom shell 2. This drawer type computer housing mounting structure still has drawbacks as follows:
1. In order not to damage the structural strength of the vertical side panels 11;12, the density of the vertically spaced circular mounting holes 111;112 must be limited. Because of the limitation of the density of the vertically spaced circular mounting holes 111;112, fine adjustment of the elevation of the sliding rails 14 cannot be achieved, and the face panel 3 may not perfectly fit the sliding slot in which the computer housing is inserted. PA1 2. Because the spring plates 13 are respectively connected between the vertical side panels 12;13 and the sliding rails 14 by fastening elements, it is difficult to install the spring plates 13 in a narrow space. PA1 3. Because the spring plates 13 are connected between the vertical side panels 12;13 and the sliding rails 14 and impart an outward pressure to the sliding rails 14 against the inside wall of the desk, much effort must be employed to overcome the friction resistance between the sliding rails 14 and the inside wall of the desk when pulling the computer housing out of the deck.

Structure of drawer type computer housing mounting system


Methods and devices for improving ventricular contractile status of a patient suitably exploit changes in ventricular pressure and/or dP/dtmax to provide and/or optimize a response to a patient. The ventricular pressure may be appropriately correlated to intracellular calcium regulation, which is indicative of contractile status. To assess ventricular contractile status, the device suitably observes a cardiac perturbation of the patient and measures force interval potentiation following the perturbation. The contractile potentiation can then be stored and/or quantified in the implantable medical device to determine the ventricular contractile status of the patient, and an appropriate response may be provided to the patient as a function of the ventricular contractile status. Examples of responses may include administration of drug or neuro therapies, modification of a pacing rate, or the like. Force interval potentiation may also be used to optimize or improve a parameter for a response provided by the implantable medical device.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a widespread and seriously debilitating condition in which the heart fails to pump sufficient blood to meet the body's demand. Heart failure often results in reduced exercise tolerance, higher incidents of ventricular arrhythmia, and shortened life expectancy. It is believed that about five million Americans presently suffer from heart failure, and it is known that heart failure is the most frequent cause for hospitalization among the elderly. Heart failure costs the U.S. healthcare system approximately $38 billion annually, and this figure continues to grow as the population ages.
By tracking the contractile status of the patient's heart, the early onset of CHF can be identified and/or the progression of CHF can be monitored. Each heartbeat in a patient is triggered by a change in the calcium levels of the heart's muscle cells (called "myocytes"). More particularly, contraction and relaxation of the heart are controlled by regulation of intracellular calcium in the myocardium. As the heart ages, it generally becomes less efficiently able to pump blood, particularly during periods of exertion or exercise. This phenomenon results in part from impairment of calcium release and/or calcium uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum in each myocyte. Calcium regulation is therefore directly related to the contractile ability of the heart, and is a good indicator of ventricular contractile status.
Monitoring a patient's intracellular calcium regulation is therefore beneficial in diagnosing cardiac health, but tools to provide a diagnostic have not been available. Although several techniques have attempted to observe intracellular calcium regulation in the left ventricle, difficulties have arisen in practice in assessing intracellular calcium regulation for the entire heart. Further, although techniques for gauging intracellular calcium regulation have existed for some time, these techniques have been performed while the patient is undergoing an electrophysiological procedure and is not currently available for use in the ambulatory setting. As a result, patients are typically unaware of issues with the regulation of intracellular calcium in their heart. Even following admission to a emergency room, the patient is not likely to have a procedure which would provide insight into the state of intracellular calcium regulation.
Accordingly, it is desirable to create a device and/or technique that is capable of gauging intracellular calcium regulation and contractile status of the heart so that any issues can be quickly and appropriately treated. Further, it is desirable to monitor contractile status within an implantable or other device that can remain with the patient at all times.
Moreover, in a further embodiment it may be desirable to use contractile status to administer a therapy, or to provide another appropriate response to the patient or physician. Such information may also be desirably used to create a technique for optimizing the performance of a pacemaker or other implantable device.
Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Method and apparatus for improving ventricular status using the force interval relationship


An appropriate operation angle (actuation angle) corresponding to a use is obtained by a relatively simple structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging lens barrel.
2. Description of the Related Art
A focus lens, a zoom lens, and the like are built in an imaging lens barrel. A rotatable operation ring is provided on the outer periphery of the imaging lens barrel, and the focus lens, a zoom lens, and the like are moved in a direction of an optical axis by the rotation of the operation ring.
Examples of this imaging lens barrel include a lens barrel that is set to a precise adjustment mode when a focus ring is moved forward along an optical axis and can be set to a quick adjustment mode when the focus ring is moved backward along the optical axis (JP2002-365513A), a lens barrel that allows manual focusing to be performed by fine adjustment (JP1996-114739A (JP-H08-114739A)), and a lens barrel that performs a rough movement focusing operation and a fine movement focusing operation by using two rings, that is, a rough movement ring and a tine movement ring (JP1985-82610U (JP-S60-82610U)).

Abstract: A focus ring 20 is mounted around a focus cam 10. When the focus ring 20 is moved to a front end side, a gear formed in the focus ring 20 meshes with a gear 17 of the focus cam 10 and the rotation of the focus ring 20 is directly transmitted to the focus cam 10. When the focus ring 20 is moved to a rear end side, the gear formed in the focus ring 20 meshes with pinions 15 mounted on the focus cam 10 and the rotation of the focus ring 20 is directly transmitted to the focus cam 10 through the pinions 15. A half of the rotation angle of the focus ring 20 is the same as the rotation angle of the focus cam 10.


Methods and systems including an N-butyl cyanoacrylate (“n-BCA”) liquid embolic agent and achieving, by the n-BCA liquid embolization agent, a reduction in total cost of preoperative embolization procedures for a plurality of patients versus an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (“EVOH”) liquid embolic agent. Methods and systems for reducing supply costs of preoperative embolization by at least approximately 18% are described.

Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are uncommon vascular lesions characterized by direct arterial to venous connections, without intermediate capillaries, that form tangled vessels. Brain AVMs are associated with significant patient morbidity and may present with headaches, seizures, spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage, visual disturbances, and progressive neurological deficits. Ruptured AVMs present a hemorrhage risk that is 2-3.7 times higher than risk for unruptured AVMs. The most important objective of surgical removal of the tangled vessels is to reduce the risk of spontaneous bAVM hemorrhage and subsequent morbidity and mortality. Brain AVMs, similar to intranidal aneurysms, may be located deep within the brain, or present large sizes or volumes, precluding treatment with surgery alone. Because intracranial hemorrhages from bAVMs may lead to severe and permanent neurologic deficits, or death, pre-surgical endovascular embolization techniques can reduce risks of hemorrhages and reduce intraoperative bleeding. Several liquid embolic agents are currently available that may reduce the flow to and size of the bAVM through occlusion of the vessels that supply and make up the tangled vessels of the bAVM. Two liquid embolic agents commonly used to achieve presurgical bAVM devascularization are N-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). EVOH and n-BCA have different properties and mechanisms of action. Given the unique properties of the embolic agents, different microcatheters and techniques are tailored for delivering n-BCA and EVOH. Few studies have compared n-BCA and EVOH for vascular tangle volume reduction, complete bAVM occlusion, procedure duration, fluoroscopic imaging duration, blood loss, and complication outcomes. The two liquid embolic agents have similar efficacy and have similar levels of blood loss during surgical bAVM removal. Yet, only one comparative study reported procedure duration outcomes. No other studies have compared economic analysis and cost outcomes among patients treated with n-BCA and EVOH bAVM embolization and the procedure-related costs, including ancillary device costs (for microcatheters) and procedure time-related costs. The solution of this disclosure resolves these and other issues of the art.

Systems and methods for embolization procedures for treatment of defects in the vasculature


An injection nozzle is proposed in which the nozzle needle has an annular groove in the vicinity of the transition between the blind hole and the nozzle needle seat. In seat hole injection nozzles, the annular groove is disposed in the vicinity of the injection orifice(s). The annular groove reduces the tolerance of the flow resistance of the injection nozzle with a partial stroke of the nozzle needle and thus permits a more precise measurement of the fuel quantity injected.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is based on an injection nozzle for internal combustion engines, which has at least one injection orifice, a nozzle needle seat, and a nozzle needle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Injection nozzles of this generic type, primarily in the partial stroke range of the nozzle needle, have a large variation in the flow resistance and therefore also of the fuel quantity injected. As a result of this, the emission and consumption behavior of many internal combustion engines equipped with these injection nozzles is not optimal.

Injection nozzle for internal combustion engines, which has an annular groove in the nozzle needle


An endless belt filtering system for separating solid particles from a flow of contaminated liquid to produce a generally clean liquid. The system having a continuous loop belt extending between a first end and a second end and being formed by a plurality of plates pivotably joined to one another about space horizontal axes. The plurality of plates together forming an outwardly facing side and an inwardly facing side, the belt further including an upper section wherein the outward side generally faces up and moves from the first end toward the second end and an opposite lower section wherein the outward side generally faces down and moves from the second end toward the first end. The system having a housing forming a tank with a bottom, an end wall near the first end and a pair of side walls extending from the end wall. The lower section of the belt including a bottom region passing near the tank bottom and the plurality of plates including pivot plates having pivoting flaps that are pivotable between an opened condition and a closed condition. The flaps being in the opened condition when in the bottom region and in the closed condition when in the inlet region such that movement of the portion of particles through the belt is restricted in the inlet region and is promoted in the bottom region.

In a belt style filtering apparatus, a contaminated fluid is directed into an endless belt conveyor wherein the fluid passes through the belt and at least some contaminants do not pass through the belt wherein these contaminants, such as the large particles, are carried away on the belt. The fluid can then be directed into another filtering arrangement to remove other contaminants such as the finer particles.
In these belt style filtering apparatus, the contaminated is directed to the belt by gravity wherein the fluid engages the belt from above and gravity urges the fluid through the belt and into a containment vessel. The belt moves generally perpendicular to this flow or horizontally and the belt conveys the contaminants cross-wise from under this flow of contaminated fluid. The hinge belt is configured to allow the liquid and a designated size of small particles to pass through the belt, but not a designated size of large particles. As can be appreciated, this belt configuration and the designated particle sizes can vary based on the contaminants to be filtered. For example only, machining operations of different types of metal produce different sized and shaped "chips" from long spiraled chips to fine particles wherein the dividing line between these "large" and "small" particle sizes can vary significantly to accommodate the particular chip configuration.
The hinge belt filters the large particles from the liquid, and carries them away for discharge in a collection bin. The partially cleaned fluid flows from the hinge belt into a tank. The filtering apparatus can further include a secondary filtering arrangement for these smaller particles that have passed through the belt. In this respect, the system can include a rotating drum system with a filtering screen that is supported within the tank and is partially immersed in the partially cleaned fluid in the tank. The partially cleaned fluid or liquid in the tank is urged toward the drum in that the cleaned fluid is pumped from the tank by way of the tank outlet being positioned inside the drum. As a result, the partially clean fluid flows into the drum by flowing through the screen wherein the filtering is completed and the fluid inside the drum is "clean" fluid wherein a substantial portion of a desired range of solids have been removed from the fluid. As is known, this "clean" fluid does not need to be 100% clean which is typically unnecessary.
The filtered or "clean" liquid flows axially out of the drum through the outlet opening in one end wall of the drum and an adjacent wall of the tank. A portion of this filtered liquid can also be used to help clean the screen extending about the drum. This is accomplished by directing some of this filtered liquid, under pressure, to a spray nozzle facing the drum screen in order to dislodge any particles or chips that may be clinging to this screen thereby cleaning the screen of these collected particles. These particles or chips, together with other entrained particles in the fluid settle out of the liquid and drop to the bottom of the tank or reservoir. However, as can be appreciated, these entrained particles need to be removed or they would build up on the bottom of the tank and eventually affect the performance of the filtering system by, for example, seizes one or more moving components.
These remaining contaminants can be removed manually and often were in prior art system. As can be appreciated, this can be costly and can result in down time for the filter system. Some prior art systems have attempted to remove these contaminants by way of mechanical systems such as drag bars configured to move along the bottom of the reservoir. These drag bars can be connected to separate mechanical systems or in some cases can be mechanically coupled to the belt.
More particularly, these drag bars can be a separate system moving along the bottom of the tank. In another prior art arrangement, the drag bars are secured to the outside of the hinge belt. However, in this arrangement, the small particles between upper and lower paths in the tank can get trapped, and will settle and collect on the inside of the hinge belt, causing eventual jamming or blockage in the system ultimately resulting in manual cleaning and down time of the system.
In other prior arrangement, the drag bars are secured to the chains of a drag unit which is separate from the hinge belt, which is typically located above the drag unit. While this arrangement avoids the trapped particles difficulties of the first mentioned prior arrangement, it results in substantially significant expense, complexity and space penalties, resulting from the need to provide two endless conveyor arrangements including corresponding supports and drive elements.


A slat for use in a covering for an architectural opening is made from a base material of binder and matrix fibers which are formed into a nonwoven material by melting at least a portion of the binder fibers to thermally bond the binder and matrix fibers. A coating of resin is then applied to the thermally bonded base before the composite material is passed through a forming apparatus where the material is heated over a convex support having the desired curvature for the slat and subsequently cooled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the formation of fabrics used in designer coverings for architectural openings such as windows, doors, archways, and the like and more particularly to a method and apparatus for forming an elongated semi-rigid slat or blade of arcuate transverse cross-section for incorporation into a fabric used in a covering for architectural openings.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Coverings for architectural openings such as windows, doors, archways, and the like, have taken numerous forms over a long period of time. Coverings might simply constitute a fabric draped across a rod or other support in a permanent position but more popular coverings constitute retractable shades, fabrics, or the like. A popular covering used in architectural openings is a Venetian blind wherein a plurality of horizontally disposed slats are supported on tape or cord ladders so they can be rotated about their longitudinal axes between open and closed positions or retracted and extended across the opening in retracted and extended positions. Vertical blinds are similar to Venetian blinds except the slats extend vertically rather than horizontally. More recently, cellular shades have become very popular as they are not only aesthetically attractive but also insulative. Numerous forms of cellular shades have recently been developed and this has led to more interest in retractable fabric shades such as of the Roman Shade variety.
A variation of a Roman shade is disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/US2004/043043 filed on Dec. 21, 2004 and entitled "Retractable Shade For Coverings For Architectural Openings," which is of common ownership with the present application and incorporated by reference herein. In that application, the covering for an architectural opening includes a plurality of rigid or semi-rigid fabric elongated slats of arcuate transverse cross-section which are supported on a flexible support structure and suspended in an architectural opening for movement between extended and retracted positions. In the extended position, the slats slightly overlap each other while presenting a multi-curved sheet-like appearance and in a retracted position, the slats are gathered on their supporting structure adjacent a headrail for the covering along the top of the architectural opening. The slats can be supported on various support structures which might be, by way of example, a sheet of sheer fabric, a plurality of vertically extended cords or microfibers, or interconnected strips of flexible material allowing the slats to hang or droop downwardly in a generally vertical plane. It is to develop a process and apparatus for forming the slats used in such a covering that the present invention has been developed.

Slat for covering for architectural openings


An overflow system in the bathtub has an overflow port and has a drain pipe in connection with the overflow port. A threaded flange has a stub shoulder on one end which is fitted into a circular sleeve on the overflow port. The threaded flange has exterior threads on its outer surface and a thin diaphragm secured to the end thereof opposite to the stub shoulder. A large sealing washer embraces the outside of the circular flange on the overflow port and extends partially over the threads of the threaded flange. A large internally threaded nut is threadably mounted on the outer end of the threaded flange and compresses the sealing washer against a vertical flange on the port to seal the connection between the threaded flange and the port. A decorative cap is frictionally snapped into engagement with protrusions on the outer surface of the nut. The cap can be removed when needed to permit the plumber to gain access to the diaphragm to cut it open for fluid flow after the system has been tested for leaks, or put in place after the cut takes place.

In new building construction, the plumbers prefer not to put the finished closure valves in the bottom of tubs, or the finished decorative plate over the overflow outlet at the end, of the tub until the project is finished because these elements will be often damaged as the construction project is brought to a close. Further, the piping for both of the outlets needs to be checked for leaks before the inspection process is completed. The test involves running water down the vent for the drain until it reaches a level above the tub and the tester then determines whether any of the piping leaks. Thus, when the testing operation arrives, a plug is put in the bottom drain of the tub and some sort of seal plate is placed at the end of the tub on the overflow outlet.
Existing overflow plates have a center opening therein. There are either two or four small screw holes in the plate adjacent the center opening wherein two of the holes are used to hold the plate to the plumbing fixture. In some cases there is a fitting so that the screw hole is located directly in the middle of the access hole. In that case, that hole is in the way when the testing procedure is implemented. In any event, the testing procedure usually involves stuffing a balloon through the large center opening into the pipe in the wall and the pipe is sealed when the balloon is inflated. Further, existing seal plates normally have to be removed when the decorative plate is put on. Two screws which use the screw openings of the plate typically hold the decorative plate in position.
A more recent version is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,241 in which an overflow system for a bathtub has an overflow port and has a drain pipe in connection with the overflow port. A flexible diaphragm is imposed over overflow drain pipe secured to and engages the inner face of the sleeve. Screws extend through the plate which has a center opening. A screw extends through the plate to hold the cap in place. The cap has a conventional side rim extending around the plate and diaphragm. A cut-out portion of the cap provides for water flow. The diaphragm seals the overflow pipe when the system is being tested for leaks with pressurized fluid. Following the tests, when the fluid is removed, the diaphragm is cut or slashed to open the overflow port to provide fluid flow. While this device serves the intended function, it is expensive to make and more cumbersome to assemble.
It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a method and a means for an overflow assembly for bathtubs and the like which will safeguard the overflow system during construction; prepare the system for testing; and facilitate the final installation of the bathtub hardware.
A further object of the invention is to facilitate the testing procedure of the overflow system before the final installation has taken place, and to permit the assembly of parts without the use of screws, screw holes, and the like.
It is further an object of this invention to provide an overflow fitting which will safeguard the overflow system during construction.
A further object of the invention is to provide an overflow fitting which will prepare the overflow system for testing.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an overflow fitting which allows a user to install the overflow fitting without using solvent cement.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Overflow assembly for bathtubs and the like


The microwave hybrid integrated circuit comprises a dielectric board (1) provided with a topological metallization pattern (2) on its face side, a shield grounding metallization (3) on the back side thereof, a hole (4), and a metal base (5) having a projection (6). The hole (4) in the board (1) has a constriction (9) situated at a height of 1 to 300 .mu.m from the face surface of the board (1). The projection (6) is located in a wide section (10) of the hole (4). Bonding pads (8) of a chip (7) which are to be grounded are electrically connected to the projection (6) through the constricted portion (9) of the hole (4) which is filled with an electrically and heat conducting material (11). The wide section (10) of the hole (4) is from 0.2.times.0.2 mm to the size of the chip (7), and the distance between the side walls of the projection (6) and the side walls of the wide section (10) of the hole (4) is 0.001 to 1.0 mm.

A microwave hybrid IC is known, which IC comprises a multilayer printed circuit board with a flat flexible insulating layer on which a number of conductive contacts are made for connection to the leads of the modular circuit components or to the holder. Interconnections between the contacts are attained by means of conductive jumpers arranged in a single or several planes inside the multilayer printed circuit board at the places of installation of modules or holders of the circuit components. A number of holes are made in the flexible dielectric material. A separate rigid metal element serves to withdraw the heat from the circuit components. Said element is superimposed on the board in such a manner that the heat conducting metal projections entered the holes to get in touch with the modules or holders of the circuit components. Additionally, one or more rigid elements made also of a heat conducting material may be applied to the upper portion of the circuit components. Clamps are used to provide the contact between the metal projections and the circuit components.
Flexibility of the multilayer structure prevents the concentration of mechanical stresses resulted from difference between thermal expansion coefficient values of the multilayer structure and circuit components. The multilayer structure can be bent between the modules or holders, which betters the contact between the projections and the circuit components and minimizes the danger of tearing the latter off the board surface (GB, A 2,129,223).
However, the aforecited hybrid IC is possessed of unsufficiently high weight-size and electrical characteristics.
Known in the art is a face-down semiconductor device, wherein metal cylindrical projected leads are formed on the chip. The chip surface except for the leads is coated with a layer of an insulating resin having a thickness equal to the height of leads. Chip-to-carrier bonding is effected using a solder filled up the lead cavity (JP, A, 57-57303).
The aforecited semi conductor device is possessed of low electrical parameters when used in the microwave range, which is due to the presence of large-area contact pads, e.g., 100.times.100 .mu.m, and, respectively large chips, e.g. more than 1.times.1 mm, whereas the most widespread chips in the microwave technique are those which sizes being of 0.5.times.0.5 mm (or from 1.times.1 to 0.08.times.0.08 mm), having contact pads, e.g., from 0.03.times.0.03 to 0.015.times.0.015 mm which is concerned with a trend towards a minimized spurious inductance.
Moreover, making a projection on the metal base having the size approximating that of the contact pad, and its accurate mounting in the board hole involves some difficulties, especially in the case of small-size chips.

Hybrid microwave-frequency integrated circuit


A physical quantity distribution sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises: a plurality of sensor/storage sections each having a sensor element for sensing a received physical quantity and a storage element for storing the information of physical quantity sensed by the sensor element; a selector for selecting at least one of the sensor/storage sections; and a plurality of buffers each capable of detecting and supplying the information stored in at least one selected sensor/storage section. This sensor further comprises at least one selection signal transfer line for transferring an output of the selector. Power supply input portions of the buffers are connected to the selection signal transfer line, and the buffers are operated using, as a power voltage, an output of the selector entered into the buffers through the selection signal transfer line.

The present invention relates to a physical quantity distribution sensor, a method of driving said sensor and a method of producing said sensor.
Recently, there is increased a demand for a semiconductor device for sensing the spatial distribution of a physical quantity in a variety of fields. Particular attention is placed on a solid-state imaging device for sensing a light quantity as the physical quantity. More specifically, such a so-called amplifier-type solid-state imaging device is designed in the following manner. A plurality of storage sections are arranged to store a signal electric charge obtained through photo-electric conversion at the associated one of a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections. Each storage section is connected to the operation control portion of a transistor such as the gate of a field-effect transistor (FET) or the base of a bipolar transistor, or provision is made such that the storage section also serves as an operation control section. Accordingly, an electric current flowing in each transistor is controlled based on that potential of the associated storage section which varies with the amount of a signal electric charge.
With reference to FIG. 12, the following description will discuss the arrangement and operation of a physical quantity distribution sensor of prior art with an amplifier-type solid-state imaging device taken as an example.
As shown in FIG. 12, pixels 2 are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns in an imaging region (generally, a region in which a physical quantity is to be sensed and stored) 1. Each pixel 2 comprises a photoelectric conversion/storage section 3 and a driving transistor 5 having a gate 4.
A selected-row-driving transistor 10 is disposed in each selected-row-driver 8, and a voltage is to be supplied to each selected-row-driving transistor 10 from a selected-row-driving-voltage input portion 9. Whether or not each selected-row-driving transistor 10 is electrically conductive, is controlled by a voltage of each output portion 7 of a shift register for row selection 6. An output of a selected-row-driving transistor 10 is connected to a plurality of row-select-transistors 12 arranged in the row through one of row selection lines 11, which allows a single pixel row to be selected out of the plurality of pixel rows.
The row-select-transistors 12 arranged in the same column are connected to a corresponding one of load transistors 14 through one of vertical signal lines 13. The output potential of each photoelectric conversion/storage section 3 varies with the amount of signal electric charge stored therein. The output potential of each photoelectric conversion/storage section 3 is given to the gate 4 of a corresponding driving transistor 5 which is connected to one of power supply lines 17. There is formed a source follower circuit in which the driving transistor 5 serves as a driving transistor and in which the load transistor 14 connected to a second power supply voltage (Vss) terminal 15 and to a gate input portion 16, serves as a load transistor. A power supply voltage (Vdd) is supplied to each power supply line 17 from a first power supply voltage (Vdd) terminal 27.
An output of the source follower circuit including the driving transistor 5 and the load transistor 14 is supplied to one of horizontal signal lines 24 through a signal column selection transistor 23 disposed in the associated one of column selection drivers 22. Whether or not signal column selection transistors 23 are electrically conductive, is controlled by voltages generated at output portions 21 of a shift register 20 for column selection. According to this control, a single pixel column is selected out of the plurality of pixel columns. An output of the source follower circuit in a selected column, is selectively sent to an impedance conversion section 25 through the horizontal signal line 24, and then supplied to an output portion 26 through the impedance conversion section 25.
After the signals are read out from all the pixels 2 arranged in the selected row, a reset voltage input portion 28 sends a reset voltage to the selected-row-reset-driving transistor 29 in the selected-row-driver 8 for the selected row, thereby to drive the pixel reset transistors 30 in the selected row through a pixel-reset-voltage-supply line 19 associated with the selected row. This resets the signal electric charges stored in the photoelectric conversion/storage sections 3 in the selected row. Then, these photoelectric conversion/storage sections 3 again start storing signal electric charges.
According to the above-mentioned arrangement of prior art, each pixel has a photoelectric conversion section and an electric charge storage section, or a photoelectric conversion/storage section 3 having both conversion and storage functions as in the above example, a row-select-transistor 12, a driving transistor 5 for amplifying an output of the photoelectric conversion/storage section 3, and a reset transistor 30 for resetting the electric charge stored in the electric charge storage section or the photoelectric conversion/storage section 3. Further, there are required a number of input/output lines such as the power supply lines 17 for driving transistors, the row-select-lines 11, the pixel-reset-voltage-supply lines 19, the vertical signal lines 13 and the like.
This complicates each pixel in arrangement and makes it difficult to enhance the performance thereof. It is also difficult to reduce each pixel in area to increase the number of pixels in the same area and to reduce the device in size.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a physical quantity distribution sensor reduced in the number of input lines connected to pixels to simplify the pixels in arrangement, thus enabling to increase the number of pixels in the same area and to reduce the device in size.

Physical quantity distribution sensor, method of driving said sensor and method of producing said sensor

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A semiconductor package and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip and a circuit board. The semiconductor chip has a bond pad. The circuit board has a base substrate with a throughole, and a conductive film pattern placed on a sidewall of the throughole. The throughole is aligned with the bond pad to expose the bond pad. A connector located within the throughole electrically connects the conductive film pattern to the bond pad. A sealing layer covers the connector.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly to a ball grid array (BGA) semiconductor package and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The persistent demand for miniaturization of semiconductor products requires light, thin and small semiconductor packages as well as high integration of semiconductor chips. To meet these demands, solder ball packages such as ball grid arrays (BGAs), using solder balls as mounting units, have been developed. BGA packages include a typical BGA package, a board on chip (BoC) package and a flip chip package.
The typical BGA package has a semiconductor chip mounted on a circuit board (CB). Generally, bond pads of the semiconductor chip are electrically connected to bond fingers on the circuit board by metal wires. In the BGA package, the bond fingers may be located on the periphery of the region where the semiconductor chip is placed. Therefore, dimensional shrinkage of the circuit board and the resulting package dimension shrinkage are limited. Moreover, the metal wires are usually formed of gold, which increases the package fabrication cost.
The BoC package includes a circuit board having a window, and bond pads exposed within the window. The circuit board has bond fingers on the surface opposite that which contacts the semiconductor chip. The bond pads and the bond fingers are electrically connected to each other by metal wires. However, the window must be sufficiently wide to allow the operation of a capillary of a metal-wire bonding system used for forming the metal wire. Accordingly, the dimensional shrinkage of the circuit board and the resulting package dimension shrinkage may be limited due to the size of the window. Furthermore, similar to the typical BGA package, the metal wires are usually composed of gold, which increases the package fabrication cost.
To fabricate the flip chip package, metal projections are formed on bond pads of a semiconductor chip. Then, the semiconductor chip with the metal projections is turned upside down and bonded to a circuit board. However, the fabrication of the flip chip package has the drawback of being performed at a high temperature.
Consequently, a BGA package having reduced size and cost is desired to address these and other disadvantages of the conventional BGA packages.

Semiconductor package including connector disposed in troughhole


A mobile device and peripheral hardware case and holder comprises a panel section for attachment to the rear of peripheral hardware, such as a battery pack or amplifier. The panel member includes edges which slide in to rails of a mobile device case, which holds a mobile device, such as a cell phone or music player. The rails of the case include a stop for holding the panel section in an installed position, and a corresponding locking arrangement biases the holder in a locked position. When assembled, the holder preserves the connections of the mobile device and peripheral hardware in proximity to each other.

Multi-function mobile devices, including cellular "smart phones" and audio players are well known in the art. These typically comprise sophisticated computing devices with a variety of functionality, including providing telephone service, location (GPS) information, and Internet service among others. A major use of such devices is for audio playback using headphones.
Because extended use of cellular signal for location services, and extensive processor use for mobile device applications uses considerable power these devices frequently lack sufficient battery power for lengthy periods of operation. Consequently, battery packs have been developed which attach to mobile devices, usually substantially increasing the weight and bulk of the device.
Headphones are frequently used with mobile devices for use while listening to music or gaming. To drive high-end performance headphones, such as over-ear headphones, and headphones designed for high fidelity sound, audiophiles frequently prefer to pair their mobile devices to digital audio converters (DACs). Current DACs include amplifiers for boosting audio signal, and in many cases, modifying signals according to predetermined or programmable equalization profiles.
The popularity of battery backs and DACs causes another issue to arise with the increased popularity of mobile devices, that of storage. Since mobile devices are typically larger than conventional cellular telephones, in particular due to a large interactive screen, users have trouble carrying both a mobile device, and a conventional wallet on their person, in addition to keys and other paraphernalia, conveniently.
Currently, there is no effective, convenient way of pairing DACs with mobile devices. Separate, but connected by cords, mobile devices and DACs are awkward to carry together and frequently come apart, resulting in unplugging of cabling, audio disruption, and potential damage to both the amplifier and mobile device. Users typically tie the devices together by improvising with a strap or rubber band. While battery packs that connect to mobile devices are known in the art, they are designed primarily for permanent attachment to a mobile device, making them heavy, unwieldy and cumbersome. Finally, the inclusion of a DAC or battery pack presents an unreasonable storage burden for conventional pants pockets when included with a wallet, keys, etc.
For this reason, there is a need in the art for a mobile device case and attachment capable of holding and protects the mobile device while allowing peripheral devices, such as battery packs, DACs and wallets to attach to the mobile device. There is also a need in the art for an attachment that allows the mobile device to remain encased, while allowing peripheral devices to be removed and reinstalled easily and efficiently as desired.

Mobile device and peripheral hardware attachment case


Process steps to provide communication between a web browser capable of initiating execution of a platform-independent segment of executable code and a peripheral having an HTTP server and an SNMP agent. A first packet is transferred to the HTTP server, and, in response, a file is transmitted to the web browser. The file contains a reference to a platform-independent segment of executable code. Upon processing the file, this code segment is requested from the HTTP server. After the web browser receives the executable code from the HTTP server, execution of the code segment is initiated in order to create an SNMP client. Execution of the code segment also causes a packet to be sent from the SNMP client to the SNMP agent in the peripheral. In response to this packet, information concerning the peripheral is transferred from the SNMP agent to the SNMP client.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a system for communicating between a workstation and a network peripheral which includes steps to transfer HTML files and JAVA applets from the peripheral to a browser executing within the workstation, to execute a JAVA applet so as create an SNMP client within the workstation and to execute a JAVA applet so as communicate with the peripheral via the SNMP client.
2. Description Of The Related Art
A local area network allows workstations to access peripherals located on the network. The workstations query and control the network peripherals through various networking protocols. Therefore, in order to control and monitor a network peripheral, both a workstation and the peripheral must be equipped to communicate via a common networking protocol.
Simple Network Management Protocol ("SNMP") is a widely-used network monitoring and control protocol. As such, many network peripherals are currently equipped to communicate over networks via SNMP. Briefly, SNMP-equipped peripherals contain SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software implementations that report peripheral status to and receive commands from other network devices. The SNMP agent utilizes data contained in a Management Information Base ("MIB") to determine what information is available from the peripheral and to determine which aspects of the peripheral can be controlled.
Corresponding workstations can be equipped with SNMP clients, which are software implementations that communicate with a peripheral's existing SNMP agent.
Tektronix, Inc. has recently introduced its PhaserLink.TM. system, which allows users to query a network printer through the World Wide Web or an intranet, using an HTTP server located in the printer itself. As a result, a network user may, using a web browser, access and view several web pages which contain status and control information relating to the printer. However, in order to provide current information to the user, the server in the printer must, in response to a request from the user, query the printer as to the printer's status and thereafter script an appropriate HTML page in accordance with the status.
PhaserLink printers also include an SNMP agent for communicating the same status and control information to SNMP clients. Accordingly, PhaserLink is not a satisfactory system for communicating status and control information because it involves so much duplication. Particularly, instead of communicating with the printer through the printer's already-existing SNMP agent, PhaserLink creates another complex interface which attempts to emulate the capabilities of the SNMP protocol.
Therefore, what is needed is a system which allows a workstation to query and control a network peripheral through the peripheral's existing SNMP agent using industry-standard tools already existing within the workstation.

Method and apparatus for communicating with a network peripheral


A disk operation protection method and a disk controller are disclosed herein. The method includes: receiving a request for a disk operation; obtaining, by a disk controller, operation control parameters corresponding to the current disk area to be operated, and determining whether to allow operation of the current disk area according to the operation control parameters; if determining that the current disk area is allowed to be operated according to the operation control parameters, performing the disk operation. By implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure, the operation of the data stored in a disk is protected, illegal disk operations such as maliciously intended modification are prevented, the disk is protected in the process of generating data, and the defects of the disk protection mechanism in the prior art are overcome.

In electronic devices, it is usually necessary to store data into a disk. For example, video signals obtained by a video monitoring device need to be recorded into a disk; stock market data, weather report data, and news logs need to be recorded. Such data needs to be recorded authentically to reflect the actual conditions. That is to say, the stored records allow no modification. Therefore, a proper protection mechanism is required for the data of stored records.
In the foregoing process of storing generated data, in order to help a data owner perform real-time protection for the generated data, the following solutions are applicable:
The first solution is to save the data recorded in a disk through an upper-layer application software or operating system, for example, through a file rights management mechanism of a Unix or Windows operating system, where the operations of the files are controlled through different rights.
The corresponding security mechanism of the first solution maybe tends to be bypassed and leads to protection failure. For example, the attackers may obtain the rights of a super user by illegal means, and manipulate the system loopholes or modify the system time to dodge the security mechanism.
The other solution is to protect the whole Logic Unit Number (LUN) on the storage device by setting rights for the LUN, and restrict the data generators and users from accessing the data stored in the disk.
In the foregoing second solution, the saving operation is maybe not available in the process of generating the data.

Disk operation protection method and disk controller

Chengdu Huawei Symantec Technologies Co., Ltd.


The invention relates to a fluorine-containing allyl ether compound represented by the formula 1,

The present invention relates to (a) fluorine-containing allyl ether compounds, which are useful as raw material monomers for producing polymers, (b) fluorine-containing copolymers of the ally ether compounds, and (c) resist compositions and anti-reflection film materials using the fluorine-containing copolymers.
In recent years, as demands for finer semiconductors have been increasing, there have been conducting active developments of next generation lithography technology using shorter wavelength light sources (see Y. Kamon et al., J. Photopolym. Sci. Technol., 15, 535 (2002)). In such developments, the resist composition development has been holding an important position. Now, a major resist type is a positive-type resist composition, in which an acid is generated by light irradiation and then solubility of a resin of the resist composition in alkali aqueous solution changes due to a chemical change of the resin by an action of the acid as catalyst. In the trend toward shorter wavelength light source, there are problems that resins (e.g., novolak resins, acrylic resins and styrene resins) used in current resists are insufficient in transparency.

Fluorine-containing allyl ether compounds, their copolymers, and resist compositions and anti-reflection film materials using such copolymers

Abstract: wherein R represents an organic group containing at least one fluorine atom and an alicyclic structure. The invention further relates to a fluorine-containing copolymer containing a first unit derived from the fluorine-containing allyl ether represented by the formula 1; and a second unit derived from a vinyl monomer.


An image extraction system includes a connected pattern extracting part for extracting partial patterns respectively having connected pixels from an image which is formed by a block frame having a table format and including one-character frames or a free format frame, characters, graphics or symbols, a one-character frame extracting part for extracting one-character frames from the image based on the partial patterns extracted by the connected pattern extracting part, a straight line extracting part for extracting straight lines from the partial patterns which are extracted by the connected pattern extracting part and is eliminated of the one-character frames by the one-character frame extracting part, a frame detecting part for detecting straight lines forming the frame from the straight lines extracted by the straight line extracting part, and a frame separating part for separating the straight lines detected by the frame detecting part from the partial patterns so as to extract the characters, graphics or symbols.

The present invention generally relates to image extraction systems, and more particularly to an image extraction system for extracting characters, graphics and the like which touch a character frame, a rule and the like in a hand-written character recognition apparatus such as an optical character reader (OCR).
As more input/output devices are designed for hand-written characters, the demands for hand-written character recognition apparatuses are increasing. In order to achieve a high recognition rate of individual characters in a hand-written character recognition apparatus, it is important that the process of extracting the character is carried out accurately prior to the recognition stage.
As many kinds of document are the subject of character recognition, there are documents such as form sheets which specify the positions where characters should be written. In such documents, a frame or the like which specifies the position where the character should be written is printed not in faded color, but in the same color and density as the character. That is, a black frame, a black rule or the like is printed on such a document. Accordingly, if characters are clearly written within specified ranges, it is possible to automatically recognize characters at a relatively high recognition rate. However, if the hand-written character exceeds the specified range and touches or penetrates the frame or rule which indicates the specified range, there was a problem in that the recognition rate greatly deteriorates.
FIG. 1 shows an image extraction system previously proposed in a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 192,592 filed Feb. 7, 1994. An input pattern to be subjected to the processing is a binary image that is already subjected to a preparation such as correcting extreme inclination or rotation (that is, skew), noise elimination and filling of gaps introduced by grazing or the like. In other words, with regard to the character frame, a plurality of block frames which are elongated in the horizontal direction are arranged, and the size, position and inclination of the block frames are unknown. Hand-written characters are written in such block frames, and only the block frame is eliminated even if the character touches the block frame or the character projects out from the block frame.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image extraction system includes a connected pattern extracting part 40, a line segment detector 41, a straight line detector 42, a frame detector 43, and a frame separating part 44. The connected pattern extracting part 40 extracts a partial pattern having pixels which are connected from the input pattern which is formed by the straight line portion such as the frame and rule and the character, graphic or symbol. The line segment detector 41 detects the line segment or a portion of the straight line at a predetermined length for every connected pattern using "adjacent projection". The "adjacent projection" will be described later. The straight line detector 42 detects a long straight line by integrating a plurality of line segments or portions of the straight line which are obtained. The frame detector 43 detects the straight line forming the character frame based on the intervals or the like of the plurality of straight lines which are obtained. The frame separating part 44 divides the block frame into frames of one character (that is, 1-character frames) based on the intersection of the frames to calculate the width of each frame, and separates the character frame from the connected pattern depending on the width.
On the other hand, if the frame to be eliminated from the input pattern which is to be subjected to the processing is of a kind other than the block frame described above, there are other frame extraction methods such as those proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. 62-212888 and No. 3-126186. According to such frame extraction methods, format information related to information such as the position and size, and information related to the inclination are input in advance and prestored in the form or form data. The frame is eliminated based on the prestored information.
However, the previously proposed image extraction system shown in FIG. 1 has the following problems and there is still room for further improvement. First, if the frame is other than the 1-character frames or the block frames arranged in the horizontal row, that is, in the case of a block frame having a table format or a free format frame, the frame extraction process could not be carried out. Second, since the straight line detector 42 includes a thinning part and carries out a thinning process, the processing time was extremely long. In addition, when the thinning process is carried out, the linearity of the original image was lost. As a result, an original image shown in FIG. 2A, for example, became as shown in FIG. 2B after the thinning process, and it was difficult to extract the frame from the thinned image shown in FIG. 2B. Third, when one character connects to a plurality of adjacent 1-character frames and a discontinuity of the straight line is found during a search, the subsequent processes were not carried out by regarding that the frame is neither a block frame nor a 1-character frame. Fourth, because the frame extraction is made by the search when eliminating the 1-character frame, the frame extraction could not be made if the search failed.
The fourth problem described above will be described in more detail, by referring to an example shown in FIG. 3. When the search is started from a starting point A in FIG. 3, the search for the partial pattern is made from the top to bottom, and from the left to right by a predetermined number of pixels corresponding to the width of the frame, for example, if the search cannot be made in the downward direction. Hence, the search is made satisfactorily as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3. However, if the search is started from a starting point B in FIG. 3, the search for the partial pattern cannot advance in the downward direction. In addition, even if the search advances from the left to right by the predetermined number of pixels, no partial pattern exists in the downward direction. As a result, the search started from the starting point B will fail as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3. Therefore, in the latter case where the search is started from the starting point B, it is impossible to extract the frame.
On the other hand, according to the frame extraction methods proposed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. 62-212888 and No. 3-126186, it is possible to extract the frame even if the frame to be subjected to the processing is the block frame or the like having the table format. However, the format information related to the position, size and the like and the information related to the inclination must be input and stored in advance in the form of the form data. For this reason, there was a fifth problem in that the process is easily affected by even the slight inclination or unevenness of the character frame itself. In other words, there were cases where the character frame projecting from a predetermined position is regarded as a character and not extracted during the character extraction or, on the contrary, the character portion is extracted as the frame. Furthermore, it takes an extremely long time for a user to input all of the information related to each of the frames, and there was a problem in that the load on the user is extremely large.


An apparatus including a receiver coupled to receive an input signal from a communication link and operable to employ decision feedback equalization to the input signal of the communication link and generate an edge sample signal. The apparatus also includes a timing recovery module coupled to the receiver and operable to receive the edge sample signal and use the edge sample signal to generate a data sampling phase signal, wherein the edge sample signal influences a settling point of the data sampling phase signal.

Often times high-speed serial data streams are sent without an accompanying clock signal. Clock and data recovery (CDR) methods allow for a receiver to generate a clock from an approximate frequency reference. As input/output speeds become higher, the data sampling point used by CDR becomes increasingly critical to the link performance. The sampling point is typically determined by bang-bang CDR, where the settling point may not be where the vertical eye opening is largest or at the middle of the eye. As a result, the sampling point may not be optimal and signal integrity issues may arise.

Influence clock data recovery settling point by applying decision feedback equalization to a crossing sample


A boat landing apparatus with elevation device includes a boat landing apparatus and at least one elevation device. The at least one elevation device may be attached to either or both ends of the boat landing apparatus. Each elevation device includes a drive shaft, a pair of elevating arms, a pair of elevating rollers, and a drive assembly. The drive shaft is pivotally retained by a pair of roller assemblies. The pair of elevating rollers are pivotally retained by one end of each elevating arm and the other end of each elevating arm is rigidly attached to the drive shaft. The drive assembly is used to rotate the drive shaft such that thereof rotates the elevating roller into an elevated orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to landing a boat on shore and more specifically to a boat landing apparatus with elevation device which may be used to easily land and elevate either end of a boat without removing thereof from the water.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There are numerous boating landing devices such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,658,354 to Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,247 to Smith, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,112 to Travioli. All three of the these patents have the same drawback. Only a small length of the boat is guided when the boat is in contact with the boat landing device. A boat landing device which only contacts a small length of the boat lacks stability. Another problem occurs to a small boat when it rains. If it rains hard enough, the small boat anchored at a pier will fill with rain water and sink. The alternative is to pull the boat on to the shore. However, this is an inconvenient and time consuming process.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a boat landing apparatus with elevation device provides greater stability when landing a boat than that of the prior art; easily stores a small boat in a secure position; and may be used to elevate either end or both ends of a boat.
The present invention provides a boat landing apparatus which is easier to use than that of the prior art. The boat landing apparatus includes a pair of roller assemblies, a pair of cross members, four cross member brackets, and at least two retention stakes. Each roller assembly includes a plurality of rollers pivotally retained in a roller frame. Each cross member bracket is mounted to substantially each end of each roller assembly. A wedge spacer may be mounted to a bottom of the roller frame before attachment of the cross member bracket. The wedge spacer enables the roller assembly to have an inward tilt. An opening is formed through substantially a center of the bracket and the roller frame. Each cross member bracket is sized to slidably receive the perimeter of the cross member. Each cross member has a plurality of openings formed along a length thereof. The width of the boat landing apparatus may be adjusted by aligning the opening in the roller frame with one of the openings in the cross member. A single stake is then inserted through the openings in the roller assembly and cross member into the mounting surface.
A height spacer may be used to tilt the boat landing device. The height spacer allows the boat landing apparatus to be tilted for raising or lowering either end of the boat. The rear of the boat may be tilted downward to drain water therefrom, if necessary. The height spacer preferably includes a post retainer, a tubular post, and a flange retainer. A single post retainer is attached to a bottom of each end of each roller assembly. The tubular post is retained by the post retainer. The flange retainer is clamped to the tubular post to prevent thereof from sinking into the lake bottom.
A second embodiment of the boat landing apparatus includes a pair of roller assemblies, at least two cross members, at least four support brackets, at least four support posts, and at least four support spacers. Each roller assembly includes a plurality of rollers pivotally retained in a roller frame. One end of each roller assembly is mounted to one of the cross members and the other end of each roller assembly is mounted to the other cross member. Additional cross members may be used to support extra weight. A wedge spacer may be inserted between a bottom of the roller frame and a top of the cross member. The wedge spacer enables the roller assemblies to have an inward tilt. A single support bracket is secured to each end of each cross member. A single support post is secured to a bottom of each support bracket. A single support spacer is attached to each support post.
The second embodiment of the boat landing apparatus is preferably installed as follows. The support posts are located and then inserted into a bottom of the body of water. A single support spacer is then slid on to each support post. The support spacers are then pushed against the bottom of the body of water and secured to the support posts. A single support bracket is attached to a top of each support post. Each cross member is slid through a pair of support brackets and secured thereto. The pair of roller assemblies are then attached to the cross members. A single guide post may be attached to a top of each support bracket. A boat may be tied to at least one guide post. Providing at least two cross members with a sufficient length will allow an access plank to mounted thereto. The second embodiment of the boat landing apparatus may also be assembled and then placed on a bottom of a body of water.
A boat landing apparatus with elevation device includes a boat landing apparatus and at least one elevation device. Either embodiment of the boat landing device disclosed in this application may be used. The at least one elevation device may be attached to a front, rear, or to both front and rear of the boat landing apparatus. Each elevation device includes a drive shaft, a pair of elevating arms, a pair of elevating rollers, and a drive assembly. The drive shaft is pivotally retained by a pair of roller assemblies. The pair of elevating rollers are pivotally retained by one end of each elevating arm and the other end of each elevating arm is rigidly attached to the drive shaft. The drive assembly is used to rotate the drive shaft such that thereof rotates the elevating roller into an elevated orientation. The pair of elevating rollers are preferably contoured to receive a bottom of the boat.
The drive assembly preferably includes a gear reduction drive, at least one ratchet gear, and a ratchet arm. The gear reduction drive provides a mechanical advantage to the crank. The at least one ratchet gear retains the pair of elevating rollers in an elevated orientation. The ratchet arm will be rotated several times to provide a small amount of angular movement to the drive shaft. A direct drive assembly may be used instead of the drive assembly. The direct drive assembly does not include gear reduction. A reversible ratchet gear may be used instead of two ratchet gears.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boat landing apparatus which provides greater stability when landing a boat than that of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boat landing apparatus which may be tilted to adjust to a sloped lake bottom.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a boat landing apparatus which allows a boat to be accessed from a side thereof.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a boat landing apparatus which may be pitched to allow a small boat to be drained of rain water.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a boat landing apparatus which allows a boat to be held in a secure position.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a boat landing apparatus which has an adjustable width to accommodate different size boats.
Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide an elevation device which may be used to lift either end of a boat without adjusting a boat landing apparatus.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

Boat landing apparatus with elevation device


A conductive female terminal includes a cylindrical main body formed of a conductor, and formed with a first opening in which a male terminal is to be inserted, and a first protrusion formed of a conductor, and formed so as to protrude from the main body in a direction becoming apart from an axial center of the main body. The first protrusion includes a first inclined portion inclined so as to approach the axial center of the main body toward the first opening, a first plane portion extending from the first inclined portion toward the first opening, and disposed so as to overlap with an outer face of the main body, and a first interconnecting portion that interconnects the first inclined portion with the main body.

As for conductive terminals utilized for a water-proof connector that includes a water-proof mat seal, various technologies have been conventionally developed. For example, a receptacle contact that formed by performing a bending work, and the like, on a sheet metal having undergone a punching work already is disclosed in National Patent Publication No. 2012/173961.
The receptacle contact showed in that patent publication includes a structure where many burr edges are exposed on the outside of the receptacle contact. Hence, when the receptacle contact is inserted in the cavity of the housing, the burr edge may be trapped in the mat seal and so on that the housing includes, easily resulting in any damage to a waterproofing member such as the mat seal.
In addition, the receptacle contact includes an elastic contact arm that applies pressure to a pin contact. When the pin contact is inserted in the receptacle contact, the upper wall of the receptacle contact may be deformed by elastic force originating from the elastic contact arm. The deformation of the upper wall decreases the contact load to the pin contact, and thus the electrical connection reliability may decrease.

Conductive female terminal, connector and method of manufacturing conductive female terminal


The TFT substrate includes a conductive region electrically conducted to the transparent conductive film and a terminal region, on a first side not covered with the counter substrate. The terminal region includes a ground terminal connected to the conductive region and an adjacent terminal which is adjacent to the ground terminal and supplies signals or power source to the peripheral circuit. The adjacent terminal is connected to the peripheral circuit through a first wiring installed along a third side of the TFT substrate toward a second side facing the first side. The first wiring is extended to a middle point of the third side and then connected to the peripheral circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device provided with a transparent conductive film on an outer surface of a counter substrate.
2. Background Art
Liquid crystal display devices include a liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal layer and a pair of transparent substrates (counter substrate and TFT substrate) sandwiching the liquid crystal layer therebetween.
In a liquid crystal display device of a lateral electric field type (In-Plane Switching: IPS), both of a pixel electrode and a common electrode are formed on the TFT substrate. In such a liquid crystal display device of the lateral electric field type, static electricity from a display surface side (counter substrate side) of a liquid crystal panel affects an electric field controlling a liquid crystal layer to cause abnormality in display, as shown in JP-A-9-105918. Therefore, a transparent conductive film is provided on an outer surface (surface on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer) of the counter substrate for shielding from the static electricity or the like. The transparent conductive film is connected to a terminal for conduction (hereinafter referred to as conductive region) provided on the TFT substrate through a conductive member as shown in, for example, FIG. 12 of JP-A-9-105918 (US family is U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,757). A ground potential is supplied from, for example, a flexible printed board (hereinafter referred to as FPC) to the transparent conductive film through the conductive region.


A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes receiving on a mobile device a search query associated with a geographic location, providing one or more search results in response to the search query, the search results each being associated with a geographic location, and presenting on a graphical display of the computing device icons corresponding to each search result and also corresponding to a key on the computing device.

Handheld mobile devices, such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), are becoming increasingly powerful both in terms of processing power and the ability to provide access to data. The usefulness of these enhancements is often limited, however, by an inability of mobile devices to display data effectively due to the small size of the display, to the limited bandwidth available for wirelessly delivering data, and to mobile device's limited memory resources relative to laptop and desktop computers.
There are beginning to be some applications that are specifically designed for handheld mobile devices. Many such applications are based on application development platforms also specifically designed for mobile devices, such as Java 2 Platform Micro Edition (J2ME) and Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW). Some applications that are designed for retrieving data from a remote location to a handheld mobile device are browsers that correspond to conventional browser applications in that they enable users to enter uniform resource locators (URLs) to retrieve information from any internet web site. Other applications enable data to be retrieved by launching a separate browser application in response, for example, to selecting a hyperlink in a user interface. In addition, specialized, limited functionality applications are available that provide a mechanism to access data from dedicated application service providers.
One useful application for mobile devices is that of "local search." Such an application allows a user to specify a particular geographic location or area when submitting a search so that the search results relate to that location or area. For example, a user may enter "dim sum restaurants 56523" to be provided a list of all dim sum restaurants in the 56523 zip code. Or the user might submit "hotels near LAX" to receive a list or map showing all hotels near Los Angeles International airport. Such local search can be particularly helpful to users of mobile devices because they are often looking for information about things around them, e.g., attempting to find directions, from their car, to a particular store or building. Thus, there is a need for computer programs or interfaces that provide users with convenient access to information and useful presentation of that information.

Multiple views of a geographic area on a mobile device


A computer and a BIOS clear button thereof are provided. The BIOS clear button is adapted to be electrically connected with a motherboard of the computer. The BIOS clear button includes a body, a key, and a connecting part. The body has a recessed portion and a plurality of protrusion portions disposed beside the recessed portion, wherein the protrusion portions protrude from the recessed portion. The key is disposed on the recessed portion, and the connecting part is connected to the body and is electrically connected with the motherboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a BIOS clear button and, more particularly, to a computer and a BIOS clear button thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the popularization of assembling computers by oneself, users usually improve the a computer performance by the overclocking technology. Normally, a basic input/output system (BIOS) of the computer can be set to control the operating frequency of the CPU of the computer. Generally speaking, the BIOS of the computer is set only when the computer is in a normal working state. The improper setting of the BIOS not only results in crash of the computer host, but also makes the computer host fail to boot after it is shut down. If the computer host fails to boot, the users cannot restore the BIOS by setting the BIOS.
The improper setting of the BIOS results in crash of the computer. Further, as the crash time increases, internal components of the computer may be seriously damaged. Conventionally, the users should press the power button of the computer for four seconds first to shut down the computer. Then the housing of the computer can be opened. Next a jumper is electrically connected to specific pins in a front panel of the motherboard to clear (or reset) basic setting of the BIOS. However, steps of clearing the basic setting of the BIOS are very troublesome, and the jumper is too small to be lost.
Therefore, in another conventional method, the jumper is replaced with a slide switch which is provided at an input/output area of the motherboard. Thus the users can clear the basic setting of the BIOS by the slide switch without opening the housing of the computer host. However, the slide switch exposed out of the housing may easily be touched by mistake. For example, if the computer host has entered an operating system which is in a normal state, when the users connect an earphone plug to an audio output jack of the input/output area, the slide switch for clearing the basic setting of the BIOS may be touched by mistake. Thus the operating system may produce unpredictable errors.

Computer having a BIOS clear button which is capable of avoiding mistouch