A wire bondless, double flip chipped discrete power package including a base plate for structural support, heat spreading, and thermal connection, power substrate for electrical interconnection and isolation, lead frames for external connections, an upper substrate for topside electrical interconnection, and injection molded housing for mounting, isolation, and protection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in power devices. The present invention is specifically directed to packaging for high temperature applications.
2. Description of the Known Art
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, wide band gap materials, such as Silicon Carbide, SiC, and Gallium Nitride, GaN, are ideal for next generation power devices, offering superior performance in comparison to traditional Silicon, Si, based switches. In particular, substantially higher voltage breakdown strengths allow devices to be fabricated with blocking layers up to an order of magnitude thinner, directly reducing channel resistances and increasing switching speed. Wide band gap power devices are a maturing technology with a growing selection of power components, diodes, MOSFETs, JFETs, HEMTs, and BJTs, available on the commercial market from a diversity of vendors.
While the intrinsic features of these materials, combined with advanced device design and fabrication techniques, have created power switches with unprecedented levels of performance, their true potential is hindered by conventional power packages, materials, attaches, and layout techniques.
In order to unlock the revolutionary performances promised by wide band gap power devices, the power packaging, gate drive, busing, heat removal, and control systems must be specifically designed around high temperature wide band gap technology. With these tools, a system level designer may significantly increase the efficiency and reduce the weight and volume of the entire power conversion system including motor drives, inverters, battery chargers, etc. This includes a reduction of the power module itself, reduced size or complexity of the heat removal system such as a heat sink, cold plate, etc., decreased output filter size by utilizing high frequency switching, and placement in high ambient environments such as under the hood of a vehicle without the need for thermal isolation.
High Performance Discrete Packaging
At the module level, multiple devices are co-packaged in various topologies such as half-bridge, full-bridge and paralleled in order to reach the current level desired or until the available area in the module is occupied. While this is a powerful approach for very high current levels like those >100 A and for large, integrated systems, there are few options at the discrete level, only single switches and a diode, if necessary for currents in the 50-100 A range that also offer low inductance, high temperature capability, and flexibility of use. Standard discrete or small footprint wire bonded power packages include transistor outline 10, TO packages, such as the TO-254, and small outline transistor 20, SOT, Isotop packages, each displayed in FIG. 1. While these packages are effective for conventional silicon, Si, devices, limitations are clearly encountered with the high frequency, high current density performances characteristic of wide band gap devices.
TO style packages 10 are often current limited due to small cross sectional area of the pin contacts, have a thin base plate which is not effective for heat spreading, and only have one mounting point at the edge of the package, making it difficult to form an efficient thermal path between the package and the heat removal system. Isotop packages 20 are capable of higher currents due to their blade style connections and have improved mounting features; however, they can suffer from a high lead inductance and are generally constructed with materials not capable of reaching temperatures above 175° C.
As shown in FIG. 2, vertical power devices 30 predominately have upper pads metallized with aluminum and are intended for wire bonding. Current flows through the die area vertically, which is ideal for minimizing the on-resistances. A metallized backside connection is soldered to a thermally and electrically conductive substrate, forming an efficient path, utilizing the entire die footprint, for the heat generated in the device during conduction and switching to be transferred to a heat sink. FIG. 2 displays a variety of wire bonded wide bandgap power devices.
Wire bonds are a core element providing topside interconnection in the majority of power modules today. However, they are a substantial source of parasitic impedances and reliability issues especially at higher temperatures. Parasitic inductances contributed by the packaging and internal interconnection of a power electronic module are a major factor limiting switching speed and performance in a power conversion system. This is even more relevant for high performance wide band gap power switches, which feature rise and fall times in the 10 s of ns. Wire bond interconnects impose enormous challenges for electronic package designers, including:                Considerable parasitic impedances due to small wire cross-sections such as 0.005 in to 0.020 in, relatively long lengths, and the need for bond loops.        Current crowding on die pads.        Under-utilization of the entire bonding surface.        Possibility of fusing during a current spike.        Stability in high vibration environments.        Clearance issues for the wire bonding equipment.        Potential reliability issues during power cycling.        Metallurgical compatibility concerns.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a lateral power device 40. In low power systems, such as high frequency RF devices, and semiconductor technologies where only lateral devices may be formed, including GaN, there are multiple wire bondless options in production. Many high frequency devices utilize a flip-chip attach, in which an array of electrical connections are established to the device by forming pillars of either copper, solder alloys, or gold balls on the device. These pillars are then soldered or ultrasonically welded to the package or another device. This approach, however, is a critical issue for power, as the pillar arrays form a poor thermal connection with the rest of the system due to their restrictive geometry. The thermal connection is further impeded by the use of underfill that is a stress relieving and voltage blocking material applied between and around the bumps, which generally has a low thermal conductivity. The backside of the device is typically left as the bare substrate i.e., Si, SiC, sapphire, etc. and is attached with epoxy, which also has a comparatively poor thermal conductivity to a soldered attach.
Accordingly, for both lateral and vertical devices, hereafter inclusively referred to as generic die device 60 a dual sided solder connection is desirable, providing an ideal electrical and thermal connection to both sides. This style of attach takes advantage of the efficient heat removal nature of a vertical device with the wire bondless interconnection of a flip chip attach. These metallic connections would be low profile, low inductance, low resistance, and highly effective at transferring heat. A dual sided connection requires vertical devices to have solderable top side metallizations and lateral devices to have electrical vias through the die and a solderable backside metallization. Lateral devices without backside connections could be incorporated with a thermally conductive epoxy, which an associated tradeoff in current density.
Power modules or packages are known in various forms. Patents include U.S. Pat. No. 7,687,903, issued to Son, et al. on Mar. 30, 2010 entitled Power module and method of fabricating the same; U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,486 issued to Casey, et al. on Aug. 31, 2010 entitled Double-sided package for power module; U.S. Pat. No. 8,018,056 issued to Hauenstein on Sep. 13, 2011 entitled Package for high power density devices; U.S. Pat. No. 8,368,210 issued to Hauenstein on Feb. 5, 2013 entitled Wafer scale package for high power devices; U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,755 issued to Williams, et al. on Oct. 23, 2001 entitled Surface mount semiconductor package, die-leadframe combination and leadframe therefore and method of mounting leadframes to surfaces of semiconductor die. Each of these patents is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Low profile high temperature double sided flip chip power packaging


An absorption structure for absorbing energy applied from knees of an occupant includes: an energy absorbing knee protector provided substantially along a back surface of a lid outer member of a lid portion; a clearance concave portion formed on a region of the energy absorbing knee protector corresponding to a location of a side-locking mechanism, which is provided in the lid outer member and has a rod portion and a locking mechanism, substantially in a vehicle width direction and detouring the side-locking mechanism; an auxiliary knee protector provided substantially along the back surface of the lid outer member in a region within the clearance concave portion corresponding to the rod portion; and a small concave portion formed on the auxiliary knee protector substantially in the vehicle width direction and detouring the rod portion.

The present invention relates to an absorption structure of a container device provided in an instrument panel, for absorbing energy or force applied from knees of an occupant.
Generally in a vehicle such as an automobile, an instrument panel is provided at front of a vehicle interior. As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 101 is provided with a container device 102 for the instrument panel 101 such as a glove box. The container device 102 includes a container device body 103, and a lid portion (lid body) 105 attached openably and closeably to an opening of the container device body 103. The lid portion 105 is normally structured by a lid outer member 106 and a lid inner member 107 (for reference, see JP2001-301531A).
Recently, it has been considered and studied to arrange an energy absorbing knee protector 108 to a region of the lid portion 105 in the container body 102 to which knees of an occupant approach, in order to protect the occupant's knees in a case of an emergency.
Such an energy absorbing knee protector 108 is structured by a plurality of steel plates 109, 110 and 111 for receiving energy (or force) applied from the knees of the occupant (hereinafter referred to as knee input energy), a steel bar-like member 112 fixed to upper and lower edges of the steel plates 109, 110 and 111 for increased strength and rigidity, and so on for example. The energy absorbing knee protector 108 is, for example, disposed substantially along a back surface of the lid outer member 106.
When the knees of the occupant approach the lid portion 105 in the emergency, the energy absorbing knee protector 108 provided substantially along the back surface of the lid outer member 106 receives the knee input energy and thereafter, deforms to optimally absorb the knee input energy. Thereby, the knees of the occupant are protected from damage.
However, in recent years, a side-locking mechanism as a locking device of the lid portion 105 has been increasingly employed in the container device 102 for the instrument panel 101 such as the glove box, which has advantage in expansion of storage capacity of the container device 102 as compared with an ordinary center-locking mechanism. The side-locking mechanism has rod portions which extend toward each side of the vehicle in a vehicle-width direction from a locking mechanism portion. In other words, the side-locking mechanism is provided throughout the entire area in the container device 102 relative to the lid portion 105 in the vehicle-width direction.
Therefore, in the conventional energy absorption structure of the container device 102 for the instrument panel 101 for absorbing the knee input energy, there has been a problem that the side-locking mechanism is disposed highly likely in the region of the lid portion 105 to which the knees of the occupant approach, and thus causing difficulty in designing of the energy absorbing knee protector as well as in mounting of the energy absorbing knee protector 108 and the side-locking mechanism, in a case where the side-locking mechanism is employed.
In addition, the steel bar-like member 112 of the energy absorbing knee protector 108 fixed to the upper and lower edges of the steel plates 109, 110 and 111 for increased strength and rigidity incurs increase in weight. Therefore, there has been also a problem that an operation feeling is worsened due to increased opening speed of the lid portion 105 and increased force required to close the lid portion 105 by the increased weight.

Absorption structure of a container device for an instrument panel for absorbing energy applied from knees of an occupant


Disclosed herein are a magnetic memory device and method for storing and retrieving data. The magnetic memory device includes a read disk and a storage disk. The read disk comprises of an array of read heads wherein the individual read head corresponds to a storage element on the storage disk.

Within the field of memories, there is continuing interest in finding ways to increase the storage density and speed. As the personal use of small devices gain popularity, the memory of these equipments has to be modified to match the function and design of these small devices. Particularly, as more and more data needs to be stored in the memory, the memory needs to have the capacity and speed to handle such demand.
The discovery of new phenomena of magnetoresistive (MR) and giantmagnetoresistive (GMR) effect provided a significant advancement in the field of memory technology. This phenomena demonstrated that resistance of multilayer thin film comprised of ferromagnetic layers sandwiching a conducting layer can change significantly depending on the direction of an external magnetic field.
GMR is observed in magnetic metallic layered structures in which it is possible to orient the magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic layers relative to one another. One such type magnetic metallic layered structure consists of a stack of four magnetic thin films: a free magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic conducting layer, a magnetic pinned layer and an exchange layer. Magnetic orientation of the pinned layer is fixed and held in place by the exchange layer. By applying an external magnetic field, the magnetic orientation of the free layer may be changed with respect to the magnetic orientation of the pinned layer. The change in the magnetic orientation generates a significant change in the resistance of the metallic layered structures. The resistance of the structure determines the logical value to be stored therein.
Currently this technology is predominantly used in the disk drives. Disk drives use discs which are coated with a magnetizable medium for storage of digital information in a plurality of concentric data tracks. A track is a concentric set of magnetic bits on the disk. A sector is a part of each track that is defined with a magnetic marking and an ID number. A cylinder is group of tracks with the same radius. In a typical magnetic disk drive, a magnetic disk rotates at high speed and a read-write head uses air pressure to "fly" over the top surface of the disk. The head records information on the surface of the disk by impressing a magnetic field on the disk. Information is read back using the head by detecting magnetization of the disk surface. To access the disk requires a sequence of steps. The total time required to complete such sequence of steps is generally known as the access time. Access time has two major components: seek time and rotational latency. Seek time is the time needed for the read-write head to move radially to the cylinder containing the desired sector. Rotational latency is the additional time waiting for the disk to rotate the desired sector to the disk head. The access time is a sum of the seek time and the rotational latency time. The disk drives available today has an access time of 14 ms and this is too long for the future demand. The speed of the disk drive is negatively impacted by such long access time.
Spindle motors are generally used to rotate the disk at high speeds. A read-write head carried by a head slider is positioned over a track on the surface of the disk to write data to or read data from the track. The head slider is supported by a movable actuator which is controlled to position the read-write head carried by the head slider to a location with respect to the disk while the disk is rotating. However this arrangement using spindle motors are known to have problems. Even minor vibrations or bumps can cause the disk drive to crash. Mechanical constraints are limiting the function of the disk drive. Moreover, as the disk drives are being produced with increasing track densities and decreasing access time, the feedback control systems in modern disc drives must move the sliders to the correct position in a very short period of time. Seek errors may occur if the slider is not moved to the correct position.
As can be seen there is a clear need in the industry to have disk drives with shorter access time and without the mechanical constraints.
Meanwhile, a magnetic memory device known as Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) has been developed on an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip. This type of memory device generally includes conductive lines positioned perpendicular to one another. Each conductive lines act as either write or a bit line. A magnetic stack is placed where the two conductive lines cross. An electrical current flowing through one of the conductive line induces a magnetic field around that conductive line. A different current flowing through the other conductive line induces another magnetic field around the second conductive line. The induced magnetic fields align or realign the magnetic dipoles in the magnetic stack. The resistance of the magnetic stack determines the logical value to be stored therein.
For the MRAM the transistor logic circuits are embedded in the IC chip itself. As a a result of having transistor logic circuit in close proximity with the magnetic stack, the magnetic field interferes with the functions of the logic circuit. The magnetic field interference with the control circuits also makes it difficult to integrate MRAM various devices. Moreover, the amount of memory available through the use of an MRAM is only in the range of 1 Mbit. This amount of memory is not suitable for most applications. Also, since the MRAM is basically an IC chip it is not adaptable to other types of fabrications especially into memory devices like a disk drive.
While MRAMs provide a non-volatile memory it is not suitable for most of the present day applications due to its small amount of memory and inability to integrate, small amount of memory.
As can be seen there is clear need in the industry to have a memory device that is fast with a large memory and is durable.

Magnetic memory device and method for magnetic reading and writing


A processing solution for forming a hexavalent chromium free, corrosion resistant trivalent chromate conversion film on zinc or zinc alloy plating layers comprises: trivalent chromium and oxalic acid in a molar ratio ranging from 0.5/1 to 1.5/1, wherein the trivalent chromium is present in the form of a water-soluble complex with oxalic acid; and cobalt ions, which do not form a hardly soluble metal salt with oxalic acid and are stably present in the processing solution without causing any precipitation; wherein the solution reacts with zinc when bringing it into contact with the zinc or zinc alloy plating to form a hexavalent chromium free, corrosion resistant, trivalent chromate conversion film containing zinc, chromium, cobalt, oxalic acid and silicon on the plating. The film is quite thin, free of any hexavalent chromium, has corrosion resistance identical to or higher than that achieved by the conventional hexavalent chromium-containing film and can be formed using a processing solution having a quite low concentration.

The present invention relates to a processing solution for forming a hexavalent chromium free and corrosion resistant conversion film on zinc or zinc alloy plating layers, a hexavalent chromium free and corrosion resistant conversion film and a method for forming the hexavalent chromium free and corrosion resistant conversion film.
As methods for rust preventing the surface of a metal, there has been known a zinc or zinc alloy-plating method. However, it is not possible to ensure sufficient corrosion resistance of the metal by such plating alone. For this reason, there has widely been adopted, in this industrial field, the treatment with chromic acid containing hexavalent chromium or the so-called chromate treatment after the plating. Nevertheless, it has recently been pointed out that the hexavalent chromium may adversely affect the human body and the environment and there has correspondingly been such a strong and active trend that the use of hexavalent chromium should be controlled.
As one of the substituent techniques therefor, the formation of a corrosion resistant conversion film, in which trivalent chromium is used, has been known. For instance, Japanese Examined Patent Publication (hereunder referred to as "J.P. KOKOKU") No. Sho 63-015991 discloses a method, which comprises the step of treating the surface of a metal with a bath containing a mixture of trivalent chromium and a fluoride, an organic acid, an inorganic acid and/or a metal salt such as cobalt sulfate. However, a fluoride is used in this plating bath and therefore, a problem of environmental pollution would arise. In addition, J.P. KOKOKU No. Hei 03-010714 discloses a method, which makes use of a plating bath comprising a mixture of trivalent chromium and an oxidizing agent, an organic acid, an inorganic acid and/or a metal salt such as a cerium salt. However, this method makes use of an oxidizing agent and cerium and therefore, the trivalent chromium may possibly be oxidized into hexavalent chromium, during the processing and/or the storage of the bath.
Furthermore, Japanese Un-Examined Patent Publication (hereunder referred to as "J.P. KOKAI") No. 2000-509434 discloses a method, which comprises the step of treating the surface of a metal using a plating bath comprising 5 to 100 g/L of trivalent chromium and nitrate residues, an organic acid and/or a metal salt such as a cobalt salt. This method uses, for instance, trivalent chromium in a high concentration and the plating operation is carried out at a high temperature. Therefore, this method is advantageous in that it can form a thick film and ensure good corrosion resistance. However, the method suffers from a problem in that it is difficult to stably form a dense film and that the method cannot ensure the stable corrosion resistance of the resulting film. Moreover, the processing bath contains trivalent chromium in a high concentration and also contains a large amount of an organic acid. This makes the post-treatment of the waste water difficult and results in the formation of a vast quantity of sludge after the processing. Although one can recognize that it is advantageous to use a processing solution free of any hexavalent chromium for ensuring the environmental protection, the method suffers from a serious problem in that it may give a new burden to the environment such that the method generates a vast quantity of waste.
Moreover, there have been proposed a method for processing the surface of a metal with a bath containing trivalent chromium in a low concentration and an organic acid and a metal salt such as a nickel salt (U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,122) and a processing method, which makes use of a bath containing trivalent chromium in a low concentration and an organic acid (U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,655). However, these methods never ensure sufficient corrosion resistance of the resulting film as compared with the conventional hexavalent chromate treatment.
As has been discussed above in detail, it has been known that if zinc or a zinc alloy is immersed in a solution of a trivalent chromium salt, a chromium-containing film is formed thereon.
However, the resulting film is insufficient in the corrosion resistance effect. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the resulting film by increasing the chromium concentration in the processing solution, raising the processing temperature and extending the processing time in order to obtain a film having the corrosion resistance effect identical to that achieved by the conventional corrosion resistant conversion film derived from hexavalent chromium. However, this leads to an increase in the energy consumption and in the quantity of the waste sludge, which is not desirable from the viewpoint of the environmental protection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Processing solution for forming hexavalent chromium free and corrosion resistant conversion film on zinc or zinc alloy plating layers, hexavalent chromium free and corrosion resistant conversion film, method for forming the same


A method, apparatus and computer program product selectively delete records from a cache in a manner that not only takes into account usage of the record, but also the cost associated with the generation of the record. In regards to a method, a cost associated with generation of a record maintained in a cache is determined. The cost may be defined in terms of the time consumed to generate the record. The method also determines usage of the record. At least one of the cost or the usage may be determined on a relative basis with respect to the cost or the usage, respectively, of other records maintained in the cache. Further, the method determines whether the record should be deleted from the cache based upon the cost and the usage of the record. Based on this determination, the record may be selectively deleted from or retained within the cache.

Databases frequently store large quantities of data in an organized fashion. Although databases may store a wide variety of different types of data, one example of a database that stores a substantial quantity of data may be a database that stores medical records. A database may be queried in order to identify data stored within the database or information regarding the data stored by the database. As such, a database query may return database search results responsive to the query. In this regard, in response to receipt of a database query, the database is reviewed and data or other information that is responsive to the database query may be provided. The process of responding to a database query therefore consumes processing time and processing resources.
To avoid unnecessarily expending processing time and processing resources in an instance in which a database query is repeated, particularly in an instance in which the database has not been updated since the same database query was previously processed, records may be maintained of the database search results. As such, in instances in which the same database query is repeated, the record that includes the database search results for the prior database query may be provided in a more timely and efficient manner without having to again consume the processing time and processing resources that would otherwise be required to review the database in response to the same database query.
The records of the database search results may be maintained in memory, such as a cache. Because a database may be repeatedly queried and/or because the database search results for database queries may be sizable, the records stored by the cache and, as a result, the size of the cache may become larger than is desired. In some instances, the cache may become so large that the performance of the cache is adversely impacted. As such, techniques have been developed in order to delete records from the cache in an instance in which the cache exceeds a predefined size. In this regard, in an instance in which the cache exceeds the predefined size, records may be deleted in accordance with a least recently used (LRU) technique in which the least recently used records are initially deleted, a least frequently used (LFU) technique in which the least frequently used records are initially deleted or an adaptive replacement cache (ARC) technique. In each of these techniques, the records are deleted until the cache is within the bounds established by the predefined size.

Method and apparatus for selectively deleting cached records


Systems, methods, and data structures are described which allow limiting of dissemination of content in a multiplayer game, for example, limiting dissemination of goal-activated content in a massively multiplayer game (MPP).

A massively multiplayer game ("MMP") is a computer game played by a large number of users through a communications network, which can be a local area network (e.g., Ethernet), a medium-area network (e.g., an intranet), or a wide-area network (e.g., the Internet). In addition, the communications network can be a wireless network, a cellular network or any other system which facilitates the transmission of data. In MMPs, humans and their avatars within the game ("players") are free to interact with other players as well as autonomous "non-player characters" which inhabit and are part of the game. Early examples of MMPs include games such as Ultima Online, EverQuest, and CrossGate.
Most MMPs are fantasy role-playing games ("RPGs") which take place within a mythical or mystical world. Most MMPs appear timeless, in that from the player's perspective they have no beginning and no end. New players can join a game in progress at any time, and do not need to wait for the start of a new game. In addition, many MMPs do not even define an absolute game endpoint, making the end of a game a logical impossibility. Thus, once a game has started, it can continue indefinitely. The players of that MMP are thereby involved in a continuing storyline akin to life within the real world. MMPs allow players to develop their avatars, form personal relationships with other players, and to enjoy social interaction through the reality of the game.
In order to make MMPs more immersive for their players, MMP creators constantly strive to provide a richer and more complete sensory interaction. To that end, MMP creators often develop content to be displayed to players as a reward for completing a challenging portion of the game. MMP creators may seek to limit the ways in which a player could view or disseminate such content. In this way, the MMP creators may attempt to ensure that the content is viewed only by a player completing the challenge.
Accordingly, new methods are needed to improve the ability of MMP creators to limit dissemination of content.


A holding device for fastening elements which is securable to screw-driving power tool and includes at least two clamping members (20) which abut a stem (74) of the fastening element in a release position of the clamping members and which are displaceable upon an application of a force thereto into their release position, with the clamping members (20) having at least one contact region which forms, at least in the support position of the clamping members (20), a front stop of the holding device (10) in a drive-in direction (22) of the power tool (2).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device securable on a screw-driving power tool for holding and supporting a fastening element insertable in a tool bit of the power tool, with the holding device including at least two clamping members which abut a stem of the fastening element in a support position of the clamping members and which are displaceable upon an application of a force thereto into their release position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Holding devices of the type described above provide for an automatic retention of fastening elements in a screw-driving power tool and, thereby, noticeably facilitate the driving-in process. Because the holding devices support screws radially and, thereby, prevent wobbling of the screws and the resulting damage of the surfaces the screws are driven through, the holding devices are particularly advantageous for securing elongate self-drilling screws to sensitive surfaces, e.g., lacquered sheet metal of sandwich elements such as used in, e.g., shop-window constructions and in sheet metal roofs. In addition, the use of a holding device permits to dispense with a time-consuming, preliminary boring in many cases. In summary, holding devices permit to simplify the screw-in process and to prevent damage of constructional components and workpieces.
German Publication DE-4037547 discloses a device for holding screws that are secured in a screw-driving power tool with a sleeve-shaped component. A likewise sleeve-shaped support part is telescopically displaced over the sleeve-shaped component and carries two clamping members rotatable about respective pins. The clamping members are formed as holding jaws and extend, in the off-position, transverse to the inner wall, projecting inwardly therefrom, with the free ends of the holding jaws supporting the stem of a fastening element. Upon the screw being driven in, the front side of the support part, which faces the operational or drive-in direction, abuts the workpiece in which the screw is being driven. Upon continuation of the screw-in process, the support part is displaced by the counter-pressure of the workpiece relative to the sleeve-shaped component and relative to the screw. With the displacement of the support part relative to the screw, the screw head passes past the holding jaws, pivoting them in the direction of the workpiece and out of the drive-in path of the screw.
In order to insure that the screw can be driven into the workpiece up to a stop, it is necessary that the holding jaws be displaced, in the drive-in direction, completely behind the end surface of the tool bit of the screw-driving tool. The drawback of the foregoing procedure consists in that, among others, the displacement length of the support part relative to the sleeve-shaped component should correspond to the length of the holding jaws. As a result, it is necessary to use a special extension for connecting the spindle of the drive-in tool with the tool bit or to produce a special, elongate tool bit. Both solutions are associated with additional manufacturing costs.
Moreover, the known solution cannot be used for driving-in screws with large head or large plain or sealing washer. In this case, particularly long holding jaws should be used which, in turn, would require a particularly long displacement length and, therefore, a particularly unwieldy length of the holding device. Moreover, the production of such long holding jaws is relatively expensive, as they should insure an adequate stability during the support of the screw.
A further drawback of the known device follows from the sleeve-shaped construction of the components which provide a very limited view of a screw. Moreover, the components have a relatively large weight which, with the arrangement of the device at the front end of the screw-driving tool, leads to an unfavorable weight distribution and, as a result, to a poor handling of the screw-driving tool. In particularly, during the driving-in of the screw in a facade, a poor balance of a screw-driving tool is a hindrance.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a holding device for screws in which the foregoing drawbacks are eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a holding device for screws having a simpler construction resulting from a reduced length of the holding device.


Apparatus and methods for applying solder paste to circuits, such as integrated circuits, are disclosed. The apparatus and methods comprise a squeegee blade having a pair of elongated face sides spaced apart by a selected thickness and a corresponding pair of elongated substantially parallel narrow sides spaced apart by a selected width. The elongated face sides and elongated narrow sides join together to form squeegee operating edges. The squeegee blade is free of mounting aperture as to provide four operating edges. The squeegee blade is mounted to a resilient clamping structure which applies a regular and controlled gripping force so as to avoid deformation of the squeegee blade edge due to excessive mounting force. The plurality of fasteners are received by the clamping structure for adjusting the gripping force to the squeegee blade.

Electrical connections between circuit components and a PCB (printed circuit board) or integrated circuit substrate are typically made by solder ball connections or by dipping the side of a board into molten solder. The PCB in combination with a screen mask or stencil is typically placed connector or back side up such that only related connections are exposed by the stencil or screen mask. The combination PCB and screen mask is placed on a machine such as a MicroStar BGA Solder Ball Attaching Machine. The machine then provides a selected volume of solder paste at one edge of the PCB in front of the squeegee apparatus. The squeegee apparatus is then placed so as to contact the PCB before it is moved across the PCB. As the squeegee moves across the PCB, it evenly distributes solder paste through apertures in the screen mask or stencil to the exposed connection points. Thus, the apertures assure that the selected connections will be coated by solder paste before they receive solder. To assure even distribution of the solder paste, the squeegee blade must be carefully aligned so that the squeegee edge contacting the PCB is parallel to the surface of the PCB. Since a straight and undamaged squeegee edge is necessary to assure the even distribution of the solder paste, the squeegee blade is frequently replaced and/or reoriented such that a new and undamaged edge is available. Further, since the squeegee blade is typically made of a resilient rubber, mounting of the squeegee blade must be accomplished with extreme care to assure that the edge of the squeegee blade that will contact the PCB is parallel to the PCB. In addition, prior art methods of mounting the squeegee blade typically require attaching the blade to holding apparatus by a plurality of bolts. However, the bolts must be carefully torqued or tightened to avoid deforming the rubber due to unequal pressure being applied by the plurality of bolts. Finally, significant amounts of solder paste may be wasted if it is allowed to flow around the ends of the squeegee and beyond the PCB.

Screen printing squeegee for applying solder paste


Disclosed is an electrochromic device, which includes a first electrode formed on a first region of a first substrate, a second electrode formed on a second region of the first substrate, an electrochromic layer formed on the first electrode, an electrolyte layer formed on both of the electrochromic layer and the second electrode, and a second substrate formed on the electrolyte layer; and a display device including the electrochromic device.

In general, display devices are broadly classified into light-emitting display devices, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display panel (PDP), a light-emitting diode (LED), and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and non-emissive display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). The former has a disadvantage in that a displayed image is vaguely shown in a light space although it has a fast response speed, and the latter has a disadvantage in that the response speed thereof is slow although a displayed image is clearly shown in the light space. Among these display devices, an electrochromic device (ECD) is a type of non-emissive display device, like the LCD. The electrochromic device is a display device which adjusts the color of electrochromic material by controlling a chemical reaction through the application of an electric signal.
Meanwhile, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the basic structure of an electrochromic device. Referring to FIG. 1, the electrochromic device 1 includes a first electrode 11 formed on a first glass substrate 10, and a second electrode 16 formed on a second glass substrate 17, in which the first and second electrodes 11 and 16 are spaced while facing each other. In addition, the electrochromic device 1 includes an electrochromic layer 12, an electrolyte layer 13, and an ion storage layer 15. The electrochromic layer 12 is formed on the upper surface of the first electrode 11 and includes electrochromic material, the color of which changes depending on an applied electric signal. The electrolyte layer 13 is formed on the top of the electrochromic layer 12 and includes ions concerned in an electrochromic reaction. The ion storage layer 15 is formed on the second electrode 16 and gathers ions having a polarity opposite to that of the ions concerned in the electrochromic reaction.
Generally, at least one of the first and second electrodes 11 and 16 employs a transparent electrode, for example, an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode. The ion storage layer 15 may be omitted.
When forward voltage is applied to the electrochromic device 1 so as to let an electric current flow from the electrochromic layer to the ion storage layer, the electrochromic layer 12 is colored, and when reverse voltage is applied to the electrochromic device 1 so as to let an electric current flow from the ion storage layer to the electrochromic layer, the electrochromic layer 12 is bleached. Meanwhile, according to the material of the electrochromic layer, the electrochromic layer may be colored or bleached by the flow of electric current in the opposite directions.
FIG. 2a is a view illustrating the layout of an electrochromic layer for displaying numbers in a 7-segment pattern, and FIG. 2b is a view illustrating the layout of a conventional electrode for applying an electric signal to the electrochromic layer of FIG. 2a. FIGS. 2a and 2b show an example of a direct-driving type electrochromic display device in which separate electrodes are connected to each segment or each pixel, respectively.
Meanwhile, an active-matrix-driving type electrochromic display device is constructed, for example, such that a number of electrochromic pixels are mounted on a panel equipped with a switching element for each pixel. Since the on/off operation of each pixel in such an electrochromic display device is independently controlled, the electrochromic display device has advantages in that it can realize a relatively higher image quality and a relatively faster response speed, and has excellent resolution and moving picture realization capability. In this case, it is well known that a thin film transistor (TFT) is used as the switching element.
FIG. 3a is a view illustrating the structure of an electrode of a thin film transistor in a typical active-matrix-driving type electrochromic device. Herein, an electrode 21 for applying a signal directly to a pixel corresponds to the first electrode 11 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view of the thin film transistor shown in FIG. 3a. A direct-driving type device and an active-matrix-driving type device have structures similar to each other, except for a TFT existing beneath the first electrode.
FIG. 3c is a view illustrating the simplest structure obtained when the electrochromic device of FIG. 1 is formed on the TFT of FIG. 3b.
Meanwhile, observer's eyes to the electrochromic device are oriented toward a second substrate 27. Therefore, the observer's eyes need to pass through an ion storage layer 25 and a second electrode 26 in order to see a displayed color. Then, the contrast ratio is degraded as much.
Particularly, when the ion storage layer 25 is a colored layer, a color reproduction rate as well as a contrast ratio is degraded Background Art

Electrode structure of electrochromic device


A pressure relief valve for use with inflatable devices such as life rafts and escape slides which provide significant improvement in exhaust flows while maintaining a highly desirable compact configuration, particularly as to the height dimension. The pressure relief valve including a poppet having a protected skirt thereon which is biased within a valve body to maintain pressure within the inflatable device unless a preselected maximum pressure is exceeded whereby the poppet releases and opens a fluid passage to exhaust ports. The protected skirt providing a more efficient and thus improved "pop action" which results in improved low pressure PRV performance.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a valve for use in pressure relief applications. More particularly, the invention relates to a pressure relief valve for use with inflatable devices where the valve provides super high and efficient exhaust capabilities. Specifically, the invention is a low profile pressure relief valve of a "pop action" design for instantaneous over-pressure exhausting at very high flow rates where the poppet assembly further includes a protected skirt around the poppet seal for an enhanced "pop action" providing improved flow rates.
2. Background Information
In recent years, the use of and demand for inflatable devices has grown significantly. Inflatable devices are now commonly used by the military, shipping and airline industries in such specific applications as life rafts and escape slides.
It is highly recommended and often required that at least one pressure relief valve (PRV) be installed on these inflatable devices to provide for over-pressure exhausting. Occasionally, these inflatable devices are inflated to a pressure greater than the recommended maximum pressure for the particular inflatable device. Over-inflation, which may damage or burst the inflation device thereby subjecting the surrounding environment and persons to possible damage and injury, is prevented by this over-pressure exhausting. This release of the fluid contents returns the inflation device to a safe working pressure.
These pressure relief valves have been in use with inflation devices for many years. Generally, two different classes of these pressure relief valves are used by the inflatable device industry. The first class being an older or "conventional" PRV, often referred to as a low or medium flow PRV. These low/medium flow PRVs provide a gradual valve opening during exhausting. The second class of PRVs is the newer "pop action" PRV, often referred to as a high flow PRV. These high flow PRVs provide an initially gradual and partial opening followed by a "pop action" or rapid complete opening that permits rapid and high flow exhausting.
A common low/medium flow PRV is shown in FIGS. 6-7. These low/medium flow PRVs have a low profile design with a poppet assembly that is fully housed within the valve so as to be protected from external damage. These low/medium flow PRVs generally supply reasonable exhaust rates of approximately 10 to 20 cfm at pressures of 3.0 to 3.5 psi.
In many applications, significantly higher exhaust flow rates per valve are desirable in order to minimize the number of PRVs required to manage the potential over-pressure within an inflatable device. The invention of high flow PRVs met this demand. One type of high flow PRV, often referred to as a bonneted PRV, is shown in FIGS. 8-9. The bonneted PRV modified the low/medium flow PRV by redesigning the upper throat by adding a capped or a bonneted configuration which results in "pop action" over-pressure exhausting. This "pop action" significantly improved exhausting. The exhaust flows achieved by high flow PRVs were often as high as 40 cfm or more at pressures of approximately 3.5 psi.
However, the bonnet of the high flow PRVs extends above the valve body exposing the bonnet to damage from the external environment. A protective cage was thus added to the high flow PRVs to protect the poppet assembly. These protective cages and to a lesser degree these bonnets add undesirable height and bulk to the overall valve assembly. In response, internal poppet PRVs with "pop action" were developed such as the PRV shown in FIGS. 10-11 and described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,549.
These internal poppet PRVs as shown in FIGS. 10-11 were successful in maintaining the high exhaust flow expected of high flow PRVs while protecting the poppet assembly from damage. However, the industry continued to seek high flow capabilities coupled with the lowest feasible overall valve profile. In response, Mirada Research and Manufacturing in the mid-1980s reduced the height of these internal "pop action" PRVs by moving the spring in between the inflatable device and the poppet rather than extending outward from the poppet as shown in the '549 patent.
Although this Mirada.TM. High Flow PRV functions efficiently and provides a compact valve design that has generally been the industry standard for a decade or more, higher flow rates at reduced valve opening pressures continue to be a desirable objective. The reason for this objective is twofold.
First, the industry prefers valves with standard exhausting pressures of below 3.0 psi since this assures less stress on the raft or slide fabric, particularly on the seams thereof. The current designs typically offer either no flow or only low flow exhausting prior to reaching 2.5 to 3.0 psi. Therefore, although many of the current designs offer high flow, it is at a pressure of typically 3.0 to 4.0 psi, which is higher than preferred by the industry. As a result, the industry clamors for high flow at lower yet reliable exhausting pressures.
The importance of high flow coupled with lower and reliable exhausting pressures is especially critical whenever the raft or slide is to be used in a warm climate. The fluid supply for the raft or slide is filled under conditions unrelated to and often dissimilar from actual use conditions. The actual volume of fluid in actual use conditions is directly correlated to temperature since volume, pressure and temperature of any fluid are all interrelated and defined. It is well-known that as the atmospheric temperature rises that the pressure or volume rises if the other is held constant. The result in the raft and slide industry is that the fluid supply in a warm climate, such as one exceeding 100.degree. F., is always excessive thus requiring exhausting during and/or after inflation. This cannot be overcome by reducing the initial fluid supply because this supply would then be deficient when the raft or slide is deployed in a cold climate, such as in Canada where the temperatures may reach -40.degree. F. or below. It is thus critical that rafts and slides both fully inflate at all temperatures including sub-zero and tropical temperatures and include relief mechanisms for allowing pressure relief at tropical temperatures.
Second, a sufficient increase in the flow rate directly decreases the quantity of PRVs needed on larger flotation devices which presently include multiple PRVs. This, of course, directly reduces raft or slide production costs as well as maintenance costs.
In response to these objectives, Mirada modified its "High Flow PRV" to include approximately twice as many ports (16 instead of the industry standard of 8) of approximately one-half of the standard diameter and arranged the ports in a unique double row, "lazy Z" or zig-zag pattern. This smaller diameter, 16-hole zig-zag pattern provided flow rate increases of approximately 15% to 20% in comparison to the previous designs as described above when tested with identical throat diameters under identical pressure conditions. As a result, this modified high flow PRV reduced the quantity of PRVs needed in a given inflation device and supplied improved flow rates at a lower operating range.
However, the additional ports add additional cost to each PRV because each port must be bored and deburred--both of which are time consuming and cost adding processes. In addition, the industry continues to seek increased exhaust flow rates at lower operating pressures. These lower pressures reduce the stress on the raft fabric seams. The higher exhaust flow rates reduce the quantity of PRVs needed to accomplish such relief. It also continues to be desirable to provide "pop action" exhausting at between 2.0 to 2.5/2.8 psi rather than at higher pressures.


The present disclosure relates to methods for forming reclosable bags with slider zippers which can be used in high pressure pasteurization. In particular, these methods form reclosable bags with a shroud formed over the slider zipper, with a patch or cap for protecting the slider during high pressure pasteurization. When the user tears the shroud from the bag, the patch or cap remains attached to the shroud but releases from the slider. An alternative embodiment forms an air pocket in the shroud to protect the slider.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a slider zipper assembly with a shroud that has high pressure pasteurization protection attached to the inside thereof. The present invention further pertains to a method for application of the zipper assembly to the film to form a reclosable package.
2. Description of the Prior Art
High pressure pasteurization (HPP) of food-containing packages is accomplished by placing the package in a chamber that is typically raised to 85,000 psi for a predetermined time period. Typical reclosable food packaging with "press to close" zippers will survive high pressure pasteurization. However, packages containing slider zipper assemblies have proven to be problematic. The zippers are typically enclosed in the packaging by the top portion of the packaging film, known as the shroud. During the high pressure pasteurization process, the extreme pressure pushes the shroud film onto the slider with such force as to punch holes in the film, rendering the package useless.
Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/020,607 entitled "Sleeve Cover for Slider", filed on Dec. 23, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a semi-soft sleeve cover to shield the slider during high pressure pasteurization. Likewise, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/103,751 entitled "Reclosable Package with Slider Zipper Shielded for High Pressure Pasteurization", filed on Apr. 12, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a shrouded reclosable bag wherein the slider shield is secured to the tear-away header so that the slider shield and the tear-away header are removed as a single piece. While these solutions are effective for their intended purpose, further improvements are desired with respect to the automated manufacture of these reclosable packages, particularly in combination with form fill and seal methods.

Slider zipper assembly and shroud with high pressure pasteurization protection system


A method for searching identifying data in a library or a collection of libraries. The method includes the steps of compiling a master library of data and determining the overlap of data from an independent library to sub-library within the master library. The purpose is to determine the range of overlapping data between two libraries, and make recommendations of data omitted from one of the libraries if the libraries are determined to be closely related. In determining the proximity of the libraries, a comparison of names between the libraries is conducted based upon a factor. Thereafter, the libraries are assigned a rank based upon a criteria and a score is assigned to the library based upon the closeness of the rank of the data in the library to the data in the master library.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a method of compiling a library of data and categorizing the collected data. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for determining commonality of the collected data.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The matter of locating and determining common data among libraries of collected information is an issue facing information technology today. The prior art methods of addressing this problem have been used in the consumer industry. For example, electronic vendors make product recommendations to customers based upon other products purchased by other customers who also purchased your product. This is one solution of using collected information to make product recommendations. However, this solution is solely based upon a common product purchase, and prior purchase information in the vendor's database. There is a need in information technology to use collective libraries to determine consumers who share interests in products. The prior art algorithms are designed for use with libraries of users who have not ranked their sub-libraries, but have merely expressed an interest in the items in the library by having them included therein. Accordingly, there is a need for an algorithm that will search libraries of information for commonality data between multiple libraries.

Method for searching a collection of libraries


A room temperature cross-linkable aqueous composition which contains an emulsion-polymerized copolymer comprising (I) a reaction product prepared by reacting (A) a monomer having at least one polymerizable double bond and a silyl group represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 : monovalent hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-10 alkyl, aryl and aralkyl, X: a halogen, alkoxy, hydroxyl, acyloxy, aminoxy, phenoxy, thioalkoxy, or amino, a: 0, 1 or 2, and (B) a basic compound; and (II) a vinyl monomer copolymerizable with said (I) reaction product, and a process for preparing the same. The composition of the present invention has excellent storage stability and excellent room temperature cross-linkability which can be polymerized in stable condition without gelation.

The present invention relates to a novel room temperature cross-linkable aqueous composition and a process for preparing the same, and more particularly to a novel room temperature cross-linkable aqueous composition which can give excellent film properties to materials for which weatherability, durability and the like are required, such as outer walls of buildings, automobiles and household electric appliances, and a process for preparing the same.
In recent years, there have been made some attempts to replace paints and adhesive agents containing an organic solvent with those containing an aqueous solvent from the viewpoint of preventing environmental pollution and saving resources.
Conventional paints and adhesive agents containing an aqueous solvent are, however, remarkably inferior in formed film properties such as weatherability, water resistance and stain resistance to these containing an organic solvent by the following reason. A water-disperible resin is generally used in conventional paints and adhesive agents. The water-disperible resin is prepared by emulsion-polymerization using an ionic or nonionic surfactant. Therefore, the water-disperible resin dose not have a crosslinkable functional group in its molecule and is easily influenced by the surfactant.
Various attempts to solve the above-mentioned defects have been proposed. One of the attempts is using a copolymer which is obtained by emulsion-copolymerizing a vinyl monomer having a hydrolyzable silyl group with other copolymerizable vinyl monomer to improve water resistance and weatherability of a polymer obtained by the emulsion polymerization using an ionic or nonionic surfactant (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 254116/1988).
However, since the copolymer has trimethoxysilyl group or triacetoxysilyl group as a hydrolyzable silyl group, the copolymer has defects that the copolymer is apt to gelate during preparing an emulsion or being stored and cannot stably be prepared and stored.
An object of the present invention is to provide an aqueous composition having excellent storage stability and excellent room temperature cross-linkability which can be polymerized in stable condition without gelation.
This and the other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the descriptions hereinafter.

Room temperature cross-linkage aqueous composition

Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


A telecommunication device for the deaf operates under conventional Baudot communication protocol, but has enhanced features enabling it to handle interrupts either from a conventional or a similar TDD. The improved TDD is also capable of pseudo-duplex communication with a similar TDD in which each device transmits packets of characters alternatively to the other thus making it appear to the users that simultaneous transmission is occurring. The implementation of these features is done in such a way that the TDD is fully capable of communication with existing TDD devices and the device obeys normals rules and conventions for Baudot communication.

Persons who are deaf or hearing impaired who cannot hear well enough to use the telephone commonly make use of communication terminals specifically constructed in design to enable such persons to converse over telephone lines. Such devices are referred to as telecommunication devices for the deaf, or TDD's, and include both a keyboard and a display connected to the telephone through a modem (modulator/demodulator). The modem is typically built into a TDD connected either by hard wiring directly to a telephone line or through an acoustic coupler which couples the modem to a normal telephone handset. TDD's are normally capable of transmitting information over a telephone line by means of coded tones to another compatible TDD connected at the opposite end of the telephone line through another modem.
There are several protocols that are used for transmitting digital information through analog lines such as telephone lines. The most commonly used information protocol in the electronics industry is referred to as ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange). The ASCII code was designed for and is most commonly used for information interchange between computers. However, largely due to historic reasons, TDD's have operated on a different protocol, originally developed specifically for TDD communication. This TDD protocol is referred to here as the Baudot/Weitbrecht, or standard Baudot, and includes both a specific 5-bit Baudot code and a frequency shift keying (FSK) protocol of electronic communication. The standard Baudot communication is simplex, that is to say it is capable of only transmitting in one direction at one time. Therefore, during normal TDD communication, one station must be silent while the other is transmitting. It has become a convention that one TDD user informs the other TDD user when it is the other user's turn to utilize the communication link.
The inability of the traditional Baudot/TDD communication network to permit bi-directional or duplex communication of the network created by this form of communications has been an inadequacy since its inception. Under current TDD/Baudot communication protocols, if both users attempt to transmit at the same time, each station will only display to the user the characters it is transmitting. This is because standard Baudot TDD's are designed to give priority to transmission. Since prior TDD's cannot receive data while transmitting, when transmitting standard TDD's make no attempt to receive incoming characters. This creates obvious difficulties in the use of TDD systems for communication between individuals and makes such communication not similar to normal human communication. As in even a brief monitoring of oral communication between hearing individuals will indicate, human speech is characterized by constant interruptions and interchange. The current TDD/Baudot communication network is incapable of handling such interruptions and interjections, and hence is less similar to audible human conversations than would be desired in an ideal system.
In addition, it is often desired that during a TDD communication that one user be able to signal or interrupt the other user. Often, for example, one user may be launched onto a long description, or explanation, which the other user is already aware of or has heard before. In normal human audible conversation, a listener can indicate to the speaker that he has already heard that part of the explanation. In TDD communication, due to the simplex nature of the communication link, the receiver is unable to communicate with the transmitter until the transmission is complete. Since communications can sometimes be quite long, this is a source of frustration and time delay, and hampers normal human tendencies during conversation. Heretofore the standard Baudot/Weitbrecht network has been incapable of handling such tendencies.
There was one instance known of an attempt to permit interruption in a communication device operating under Baudot protocol. One of the early originators of TDD communications in the United States, Mr. Weltbrecht instituted a "news service" for the deaf community in the United States accessible by telephone. Mr. Weitbrecht constructed what was, in essence a recording device, which played out a periodic news compilation in Baudot communication to any TDD that would dial the phone number associated with the news service. In that time period, it was common for TDD's to listen for space tones (1800 Hertz) only, and to not even sense mark tones (1400 Hertz). A receiving TDD would simply assume absence of space tones during a character meant mark. Utilizing this characteristic, Weitbrecht constructed the news service device so that if it was to transmit a bit sequence of three marks (or 1's) at any point during the transmission, the device would simply stop transmitting the mark tone and listen for tones from the communicating station. If tones were sensed during the interval, the news service device would cease transmission. This feature was transparent to users at that time since most TDD's of the era did not detect mark tones. This characteristic is no longer true of modern electronic TDD's.

Telecommunication device for the deaf with interrupt and pseudo-duplex capability


A methane (CH4) gas is synthesized from carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) using catalyst-dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. In the method and apparatus for synthesizing methane gas of the invention, methane (CH4) gas, which is synthetic natural gas, can be effectively synthesized only from carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) using DBD plasma at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, and also, additional heating and pressurization devices are not used during the methane gas synthesis process, thus reducing production costs and realizing high-value-added processing due to the absence of risks during the processing.

Natural gas is regarded as the cleanest fuel for use in power generation, heating and vehicles, and is thus of great use. However, naturally occurring natural gas is in limited supply, and processes for synthesizing natural gas are becoming a high-value-added industry.
Recently, a technique for synthesizing a liquid hydrocarbon compound by mixing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen is exemplified by a Fischer-Tropsch process. This process first began in 1923 with the development of a technique for producing synthetic fuel from syngas through coal gasification by the German chemists Fischer and Tropsch.
The Fischer-Tropsch process is mainly performed using a metal catalyst such as cobalt (Co) or iron (Fe) at a temperature of 150° C. or more and a pressure of 10 atm or more.
However, the Fischer-Tropsch process requires an additional heating device and an additional pressurization device for applying pressure, and may suffer from increased processing costs and maintenance costs and from difficulties and risks encountered during the processing.
Also, thorough research is ongoing these days into a variety of synthesis methods using carbon dioxide in lieu of carbon monoxide in order to remove or recycle carbon dioxide, which is receiving attention as a global greenhouse gas.
Therefore, there is a need to develop a novel technique for producing synthetic natural gas, which is able to contribute to environmentally friendly techniques as well as a reduction in global warming due to the removal of carbon dioxide, and is also considered a high-value-added technique.

Method and apparatus for synthesizing methane gas from carbon dioxide and hydrogen at room temperature and atmospheric pressure

INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION CHOSUN UNIVERSITY


An apparatus and method for reducing surface friction drag on the hull of a surface vessel by entraining air into water flowing in the boundary layer flow along the hull. A hemispherical protrusion creates flow separation by diverting a portion of the water flow away from the surface of the hull, which results in a reduced pressure region downstream from the protrusion. A vent located on the protrusion allow air to flow into the reduced pressure region. The air in the reduced pressure region is entrained into the water due to turbulent mixing from vortices shed on to the rear of the protrusion.

The invention relates to devices and methods for reducing surface friction drag on the hulls of shallow-draft watercraft, such as recreational boats and personal watercraft, and water sport devices, such as wakeboards and water skis. As used herein and in the claims, the term "watercraft" is intended to include all of the above-described watercraft and water sport devices.
Surface friction drag or "skin friction" drag is a significant component of the total power required to propel a watercraft through water. Reducing surface friction drag enables watercraft to travel at higher speeds and/or more efficiently. Accordingly, reducing surface friction drag has been the subject of a great deal of research in the field of watercraft design.
The magnitude of surface friction drag on the submerged surface of a watercraft depends, in part, upon the viscosity of the liquid through which the watercraft is traveling (usually fresh or salt water), the density of the liquid and the surface tension between the liquid and the submerged surface.
The effects of surface friction drag are focused in a "boundary layer," a layer of liquid in which momentum is transferred from the submerged surface to the liquid. Momentum transfer is the greatest in the portion of the liquid that is closest to the submerged surface and decreases to the edge of the boundary layer. Momentum transfer in the boundary layer results in a reduction in the velocity of the water relative to the submerged surface, as well as turbulence.
One means of reducing surface friction drag is the introduction of a gas into the boundary layer, which reduces the fluid density and viscosity in the boundary layer. The relatively low density and viscosity of the gas results in less momentum transfer, and therefore, less surface friction drag. This technique is sometimes referred to in the art as "air lubrication".
Air lubrication has been successfully implemented in hovercraft, in which the vessel sits atop a large cushion of air. Air cushions are not practical for use with most other types of watercraft, however, because water pressure increases with depth, which causes the air cushion to quickly rise to the surface of the water. Enormous amounts of power are required to push an air cushion down into even a few inches of water. This problem has been addressed, in part, by using small bubbles of air (i.e., micro-bubbles) instead of a larger air cushion. Small bubbles rise much more slowly in water than a large air cushion.
Full-scale use of micro-bubbles has been proven very difficult. The inventions of the prior art have faced three major technical challenges in successful use of micro-bubbles to reduce surface friction: (1) injecting micro-bubbles at a sufficient volumetric rate to fill a significant portion of the boundary layer, (2) keeping the micro-bubbles from migrating out of the boundary layer, and (3) adjusting the volumetric flow rate of micro-bubbles as the velocity of the watercraft changes.
Most prior art air lubrication systems use either a pump or pressurized air to supply the volume of micro-bubbles. This approach is deficient in several respects. Firstly, power must be expended to pump or pressurize the air. In all known prior art systems, the power expended to pump or pressurize the air completely offsets the power savings from reduced surface friction drag. Secondly, it is very difficult to inject pumped or pressurized air into the boundary layer. A typical boundary layer is only a few millimeters thick near the bow of the watercraft, which is where the air is injected in most prior art systems. Given that the micro-bubbles themselves are at least one millimeter in diameter and are typically injected at an angle to the direction of flow of the boundary layer, it is very difficult to prevent the micro-bubbles from passing through the boundary layer and into the free-flow water area. Thirdly, the prior art does not provide for an injection flow rate for micro-bubbles that varies in proportion to the watercraft's speed. This results in the micro-bubble injection rate being ideal at only one speed. At all other speeds, the injection rate is higher or lower than the ideal rate.
Pumped or pressured air systems are particularly unsuitable for recreational watercraft because they add significant weight and cost. In the case of wakeboards and water skis, these types of systems are completely impractical.
Accordingly, there is a need for an efficient, light-weight and inexpensive air lubrication system that is capable of entraining air bubbles into the boundary layer of a wide variety of shallow-draft watercraft.

Apparatus and method for reducing fluid drag on a submerged surface


The invention provides caYAE1 polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such caYAE1 and a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing such caYAE1 for the treatment of infection, particularly fungal infections. Antagonists against such caYAE1 and their use as a therapeutic to treat infections, particularly fungal infections are also provided. Further provided are diagnostic assays for detecting diseases related to the presence of caYAE1 nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides in a host. Also provided are diagnostic assays for detecting polynucleotides encoding caYAE1 and for detecting the polypeptide in a host.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome project has identified many unknown, hypothetical proteins (EMBO Journal 15, 2031-2049, 1996). These sequences may be a useful starting point for the discovery of biologically important sequences. Using these sequences as research tools to discover essential genes is one of their uses. Discovering and understanding essential genes in pathogenic organisms provides reagents to screen for antipathogen compounds.
Many techniques are available to identify genes which are essential to survival per se, or essential to the establishment/maintenance of an infection. These techniques include, for example, differential display (Chuang et al., J. Bacteriol. 175:2026-2036 (1993)), generation of conditional lethal mutants by transposon mutagenesis (de Lorenzo, V. et al., Gene 123:17-24 (1993); Neuwald, A. F. et al., Gene 125: 69-73(1993); and Takiff, H. E. et al., J. Bacteriol. 174:1544-1553(1992)), and generation of conditional lethal mutants by chemical mutagenesis (Beckwith, J., Methods in Enzymology 204: 3-18(1991)). Certain of these techniques were applied to discover the genetic sequences of the present invention, caYAE1. Clearly, there is a need for factors, such as essential polynucleotide and polypeptides from fungal pathogens, since they may be used to screen compounds for antifungal activity and which may also be used to determine their roles in pathogenesis of infection, dysfunction and disease. There is a need, therefore, for identification and characterization of such factors which can play a role in preventing, ameliorating or correcting infections, dysfunctions or diseases.
The polypeptide of the present invention has amino acid sequence homology to known essential protein YAE1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae hereinafter referred to as "scYAE1."


A system is provided for prepaid handset credit activation. The system includes a prepaid handset, a subscriber identity module, and a server. The prepaid handset is associated with a prepaid handset identifier. The subscriber identity module is associated with a subscriber identity module identifier. The server communicates with a communication device to receive the prepaid handset identifier and the subscriber identity module identifier and determines whether both of the prepaid handset identifier and the subscriber identity module identifier are associated with prior activation. The server also applies credit to account information associated with the prepaid handset in response to a determination that both of the prepaid handset identifier and the subscriber identity module identifier are not associated with the prior activation, and activates the prepaid handset for user communication in response to applying credit to the account information associated with the prepaid handset.

A handset may be a mobile phone, a wireless handset, a pager, a personal digital assistant, a gaming device, an inventory control device, a media player, a digital camera, a digital calculator, a portable computer, a tablet computer, or a laptop computer. Many mobile phones, and other types of handsets, have become so inexpensive to purchase and use that many customers may purchase a prepaid mobile phone at a convenience store, activate the phone, use the phone, and discard the phone when a prepaid service plan's usage limit is reached.


Polyol polyesters are purified by a process comprising bleaching with a specific silica gel and/or heat treatment and removal of volatile products by steam deodorization. Any steam deodorization is at reduced temperatures or in admixture with triglycerides to minimize thermal degradation of the polyol polyesters.

Processes for preparing polyol fatty acid polyesters, including solvent-free transesterification reactions, have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,699, Rizzi et al., issued Jun. 15, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,360, Volpenhein, issued May 14, 1985; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,772, Volpenhein, issued May 21, 1985; all of said patents being incorporated herein by reference.
In order to have a better commercial process it is desirable to have available a number of improvements, e.g., purification procedures that can better remove undesirable color materials from the polyol fatty acid polyesters. Each of said improvements individually can improve the finished product and the combination of the improvements can provide a truly superior product.


A system package using flexible optical waveguides and electrical wires, and a signal processing method thereof are disclosed. Several rigid substrates having highly integrated electronic elements and optical elements mounted thereon can be electrically and optically connected by using flexible substrates that are electrically wired and optically connected. The package can be variously changed when configuring the package by the flexible substrate and the heat dissipation device and the electromagnetic shielding device are installed in the inside of the package, making it possible to solve electromagnetic wave interference problems and thermal problems occurring in the inside of the package.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system package that uses flexible optical and electrical wiring, which connects two rigid substrates having at least one integrated circuit mounted thereon by using a flexible substrate with opto-electric wiring (optical waveguides and electrical wiring) and a signal processing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system package technology utilizes a technology that forms a package with a multi-chip module formed of several chips, including highly integrated circuits, such as microprocessors in one package.
Conventional system package technology electrically connects a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RF IC) 110, a digital integrated circuit (Digital IC) 120, an analog integrated circuit (Analog IC) 130, and an optical integrated circuit (Optical IC) 140, and the like and then mounts them on a substrate 100 for a single rigid package (see FIG. 1).
The system package is formed by mounting various integrated circuits on one substrate at high density, making it possible to reduce a size of the entire package, as well as perform various electrical functions.
However, as various devices become more highly integrated, electromagnetic interference and thermal problems occur between the devices, such that errors in processing and transmitting data become possible. As a result, there occurs a disadvantage in that the devices do not fully function as the system package.
Therefore, there is a need for a package system that can solve the electromagnetic interference and thermal problems while performing various electrical functions.

System package using flexible optical and electrical wiring and signal processing method thereof


This invention relates to a device and method for multi-processing EVR adjustment where in an electric volume register adjustment device includes: a plurality of operation mode means having exclusive adjustment conditions from each other, a plurality of switches causing adjustment for the plurality of operation mode means, a control means for controlling system according to the operation of the plurality of switches, an adjustment voltage application means forapplying voltage required for an adjustment to the plurality of operation mode means according to the control of the control means, and, a memory for storing the adjustment data which will be applied to the plurality of operation mode means according to the control of the control means and a method for multi-processing electric volume register adjustment includes steps of adjustment operation mode selection for selecting one operation mode from a plurality of operation modes having exclusive adjustment conditions from each other in an adjustment mode adjustment finish volume storage for storing adjustment finish values after selecting to-be-adjusted part on which the adjustment of the operation mode selected in the step of the adjustment operation mode is to be executed and executing adjustment of the operation mode thereon; and, an adjustment finish value application for applying the stored adjustment finish value to the to-be-adjusted part on which the desired operation mode of the plurality of modes having exclusive adjustment conditions from each other if executed in normal mode, will be executed.

A conventional EVR controller has problems of requiring many parts for EVR adjustment and the consequential increase of production cost because the EVR adjustment has been carried out, in case the operation modes of many operation mode parts 1a, 1b are 1c and different from each other as shown in FIG. 1, by applying adjustment values from many EVR adjustment 2, 2b and 2c or VR(Volume Register) to the respective operation mode parts 1a, 1b and 1c connected to each of the EVR adjustment 2a, 2b and 2c OR VR.

Device and method for multi-processing EVR adjustment


High chroma colored thermoplastic polyolefin compositions having enhanced weatherability are disclosed. The compositions incorporate ultraviolet light absorbers and hindered amine light stabilizers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to high chroma polyolefin compositions stabilized by the incorporation of a hindered amine light stabilizer.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Various exterior components of automotive vehicles can be made from lightweight durable plastic materials, such as thermoplastic polyolefin-based mixtures. The component can be painted, or can have colorants mixed or blended into the plastic mixture itself. A concern with painted components is the adhesion of the paint to the surface of the plastic component. While concerns about paint adhesion are not present with plastic mixtures that incorporate the colorants, there are concerns about the degradation and durability of the colorants due to exposure to environmental extremes in temperature, humidity, stress, and light, especially ultraviolet radiation.
It is known to incorporate UV absorbers or screeners, along with other light stabilizers into plastic mixtures. One category of known light stabilizer is the hindered amine light stabilizer (hereinafter "HALS"). Plastic mixtures must be carefully formulated in order to meet structural requirements, to meet weight requirements, to maintain color characteristics, to prevent "bloom" or haze from forming, to meet cost objectives, and to meet these various objectives over the lifetime of the product into which a component made from the plastic mixture is incorporated.
Many thermoplastic components utilized for automotive exterior applications are muted in color intensity, or chroma value. Black and gray bumpers, claddings, grilles, and skid garnishes are typical automotive exterior applications for low chroma thermoplastics.
Trends in automotive vehicle design utilize more intense color palettes for both exterior and interior components. A need exists for higher color saturation or chroma thermoplastic compositions which can meet rigorous physical and chemical demands for weatherability and color longevity required for the automotive applications.

High chroma hals stabilized polymer composition


An assembly machine for assembling disposable syringe-driven filter is provided, which includes a rack and an automatic controller arranged on the rack. The automatic controller is electrically connected with a rotating table, a first automatic loading mechanism, an automatic filter disc-sucking mechanism, a second automatic loading mechanism, and an automatic unloading mechanism. Using the first and second automatic loading mechanisms, the automatic filter disc-sucking mechanism, and the automatic unloading mechanism, as well as the automatic controller, the assembly machine can realize the automatic loading of the upper cover of a disposable syringe-driven filter, the automatic placing of filter disc, the automatic loading and assembling of the lower cover of filter and the automatic unloading of the disposable syringe-driven filter, so that the automatic production of the disposable syringe-driven filter can be realized.

The disposable syringe-driven filter generally includes an upper cover, a lower cover of disposable syringe-driven filter, and a filter disc which is arranged between the upper cover and the lower cover. Currently, the production of the disposable syringe-driven filter is semi-automatic, and the production process mainly includes three steps of: first, preparing a strip-shaped filter sheet and putting it on a blanking mould to punch a filter disc of a desired shape, then putting the filter disc to a predetermined position of lower cover of disposable syringe-driven filter manually; second, mounting the upper cover of disposable syringe-driven filter to the lower cover of disposable syringe-driven filter manually, then the production of the disposable syringe-driven filter is completed.
The current production of the disposable syringe-driven filter has the following disadvantages: first, the production of the products is semi-automatic, and the semi-finished products need to be carried from a blanking device to an assembly workshop, so that the turnover time of the products during production is extended, so is the production time, thereby leading to a low productivity. In addition, the labor intensity of the workers is increased due to mounting the upper cover of disposable syringe-driven filter onto the lower cover of disposable syringe-driven filter manually; second, since the filter disc is manually put into the lower cover of disposable syringe-driven filter, the phenomenon that filter disc in the lower cover of disposable syringe-driven filter is in an incorrect position occurs frequently during the operation process. Therefore, there are defective products after putting the upper cover onto the lower cover of disposable syringe-driven filter, resulting in a low yield of finished product.

Assembly machine for disposable syringe-driven filter


An LED package used as a light source in a backlight assembly for an LCD includes a substrate, a plurality of light scattering protrusions on the upper surface of the substrate, LEDs separated from each other by designated intervals and arranged in a line on the substrate, and a molding portion, for sealing the upper surface of the substrate including the LEDs, and having an upper surface including two cylindrical surface sections. Each of the cylindrical surface sections has a curvature for totally reflecting light emitted from the LEDs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LED (Light Emitting Diode) package used as a light source for a backlight assembly for an LCD, and a backlight assembly for an LCD comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an LED package having improved uniformity in luminance and color of light so as to be used as a light source for a backlight assembly, and a backlight assembly for an LCD comprising the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) are passive optical elements, which cannot emit light by itself, and thus displaying images using a backlight assembly attached to a rear surface of an LCD panel. Recent backlight assemblies having various structures have been developed to satisfy slim and lightweight trends for assuring competitiveness of obtained products. Particularly, the LCDs are mainly used in notebook computers and wall-mounted large TVs, thus being required to satisfy the slim and lightweight trends.
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp (hereinafter, referred to as a "CCFL") was used as a conventional light source for generating light for the above backlight assemblies, but is now being replaced with an LED having a high luminance so as to meet the slim and lightweight trends. While the conventional CCFL is a line light source for emitting a nearly uniform white ray to a designated length, the LED is a point light source for emitting a single colored ray. Accordingly, a great deal of research into emitting a white ray having uniform luminance to a designated length or designated dimensions is currently underway.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional backlight source for an LCD using an LED. With reference to FIG. 1, the conventional backlight source 10 comprises LED packages 11, which are spaced from each other by designated intervals, and a light guide plate 12 provided with a designated pattern 121 formed thereon and separated from the LED packages 11 by a designated distance (d).
Each of the LED packages 11 of the above conventional backlight source 10 may be one package including RGB (Red, Green and Blue) LEDs, or is one of the above colored LEDs. In order to obtain light having uniform luminance, it is most preferable that a plurality of LED packages be densely arranged. However, the dense arrangement of the LED packages increases costs of the light source and the electric power consumption rate, thus being incapable of being practically employed.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, the LED packages 11 are spaced from each other by designated intervals. In this case, dark regions (D) are generated due to emitting angle of light emitted from the LED packages 11. In order to reduce the effect of the dark regions (D), the light guide plate 12 must be separated from the LED packages 11 by a sufficient distance (d). The distance (d) between the light guide plate 12 and the LED packages 11 increases the volume of the LCD, thus having a negative effect on the slim and lightweight trends.
The light guide plate 12 is necessary to obtain a uniform white ray by mixing red, green and blue rays generated from the LED packages 11. The light guide plate 12 is provided with the designated pattern 121 formed thereon, thereby extending an optical route in the restricted area and facilitating the mixing of the colored rays.
However, the light guide plate 12, separated from the LED packages 11 by the designated distance (d), increases the size of the LCD, and the intensity of light emitted from the LED packages 11 is concentrated on the central area, thus having a negative effect on the miniaturization of the LCD and deteriorating the uniformity of luminance.
Accordingly, there are required a novel LED package, which is usable as a light source for a backlight assembly of an LCD using an LED, and a light source, using the same, which provides a white ray having uniform luminance to a designated length and designated dimensions.

LED package and backlight assembly for LCD comprising the same


A kit for the repair of a tub or shower includes an inlay comprising a PVC thermoplastic and a one-part adhesive comprising an polyurethane-modified functional compound. A method for repairing a tub or shower use the kit to apply adhesive the inlay to secure it to the tub or shower floor. A preferred adhesive for use with the kit and the method exhibits excellent adhesion to many substrates including porcelain, steel, fiberglass and many plastics. Preferably, the adhesive cures fast, even at low temperatures, contains no solvents or isocyanates and is non-yellowing.

This invention relates to bath tub and shower repairs.
When a bath tub or shower floor is cracked, dented or stained, it can be repaired by placing a new floor over the old floor. Typically, the new floor is a plastic inlay with the same shape and dimension of the existing floor with contours or cut-outs to allow spacing for drains. The inlay is glued over the existing tub or shower floor. Most applications requiring permanent adhesion use a fiberglass or PVC inlay for a fiberglass or acrylic tub or shower floor surface. In this application, a two-part adhesive is utilized, which typically contains methacrylate. The two-part adhesive has several disadvantages, because it may be flammable, have a strong odor, contain significant quantities of volatile organic compounds, have a short shelf life and may be difficult to work with.


The present invention provides a preparation method for a fluorine-free water repellent, comprising (A) a homogenization step in which the raw materials are mixed in single step to obtain a mixture; and (B) a polymerization step to react said mixture into said water repellent. The operation of the present method is simple, and the water repellent produced has the advantage of high stability and high washing durability.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is related to a fluorine-free water repellent; especially to an improved preparation process for the fluorine-free water repellent.
2. Description of Related Art
Textile Repellents have existed in the industry for a long history. In 1950, E. I. du Pont de Nemours firstly applied polytetrafluoroethylene emulsion in textile for water repellence and oil repellence. Several years after that, 3M Company successfully developed a fluorine-containing water repellent named "Scotchgard" and since then, the era of using fluorine monomer-containing water repellents began. However, fluorine-containing water repellents have environmental hazards and carcinogenic risks and therefore do not comply with the requirements of environmental protection. Moreover, the fluorine-containing water repellents also have a relatively expensive price. Therefore, fluorine-free water repellents of using organic dendrimers, polyurethane, wax mixture, organic silicon, inorganic-organic mixing materials, or nano-metal-particle mixing materials as the main component had been launched. Unfortunately, among them, only the dendrimers, inorganic-organic mixing materials, or nano-metal-particle mixing materials types of them exhibited promised water-repellent effect.
Nevertheless, the preparation of dendrimers, inorganic-organic mixing materials, or nano-metal-particle mixing materials requires complicated process and strict reaction conditions as well as particular grinding and dispersing technology. Therefore, the price of the aforesaid water repellents remains at high level. In addition, the dispersion of hydrophobic polymers and inorganic materials in water is bad and the storage stability thereof is also problematic. Accordingly, the conventional fluorine-free water repellents are not ideal.
To sum up, both of the conventional fluorine-containing water repellents or fluorine-free water repellents have drawbacks that make them not ideal for the market; therefore, it is continuously a need for an environmental-friendly, low cost, and high quality water repellent.

Fluorine-free water repellent, preparation thereof, and applications thereof