A method of manufacturing box ladders having a pair of side rails and rungs wherein each of the side rails are assembled from a pair of section members having holes pre-formed prior to assembly of the side rail. The method provides reduced deformation in the manufacture of box ladders having cylindrical rungs and provides for the manufacture of box ladders having non-cylindrical shaped rungs.

Ladders formed of extruded aluminum, fibreglass or composite materials and comprising a pair of open C-shaped side rails and cylindrical or non-cylindrical shaped rungs are known. In the manufacture of such ladders having cylindrical rungs, each rung is inserted into round holes which have been drilled or stamped out of the side rail, and swaged therein for retention.
A major drawback of ladders having cylindrical rungs is that the rungs tend, upon continuous use, to rotate within the hole of the side rail. Another drawback is that the curved step surface of the cylindrical rung is conducive to allow of slipping by the climber and, thus, requires more attention when the climber is climbing up or merely standing on the rung.
To overcome these safety drawbacks of cylindrical rungs, non-cylindrically shaped rungs have been developed. One preferred form is the D-shaped rung, known as the D-rung. In a D-rung ladder, the rungs are set into a D-shaped aperture in the side rail with the flat side of the rung positioned at an angle, typically 15.degree., to the horizontal plane of the ladder when the ladder is held upright, such that when the ladder is leaned against a vertical surface, the flat or step side of the D-rung is substantially horizontal and parallel to the ground. In addition, this type of rung provides more safety in that it cannot rotate within its hole in the side rail and provides more comfort to a person standing on the rung for an extended period of time.
It will be appreciated that non-round holes cannot be drilled in ladder side rails and are generally made by stamping or punching out the desired shape in the C-side rail by means of a punch press assembly.
Extruded aluminum ladders having side rails of hollow, closed, generally rectangular form are known as box ladders. Within the term "box ladder", is also included, for example, side rails of a square, round or oval cross-sectional form. These box ladders, because of their greater inherent strength, are preferred over C-side rail ladders.
While it is relatively straight forward to produce round holes in box side rails by drilling, it is more difficult to economically provide non-round holes along the length of the box side rail by stamping, punching and the like, without some deformation of the box, even with use of a mandrel. Further, use of a mandrel in a stamping operation to stamp out holes in box side rails becomes increasingly difficult as the length of the side rail increases. Increased mandrel weight considerations, high tolerance requirements and physical manipulations of the punch press, dies and the like, make the manufacture of box side rails having non-round holes economically unattractive for ladder lengths greater than 6 feet. For these reasons, the acceptance of the more safer, non-cylindrical rung ladders, particularly the D-rung ladder, has been reduced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a box side rail ladder having non-cylindrical rungs.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing a box side rail ladder.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing a box side rail ladder having non-cylindrical rungs.
In its simplest aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacture of cylindrical and non-cylindrical rung box ladders from the assembly of a pair of box side rails and rungs wherein each box side rail is assembled from two lengths of section members each having pre-formed holes intermittent along their lengths.
Accordingly, in its broadest aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a box rail ladder having a first rectangular side rail, a second rectangular side rail and a plurality of rungs, which method comprises forming a series of holes intermittent along the length at pre-determined intervals of a first C-shaped section member;
forming a series of holes intermittent along the length at pre-determined intervals of a second C-shaped section member;
mating said first and second section members to form said first rectangular side rail;
mating said first and second section members to form said second rectangular side rail; and
mating said first and second side rails with said rungs to form said box rail ladder.
Preferably, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a box rail ladder as hereinabove defined wherein said rungs and said holes are non-cylindrical and, more preferably, D-shaped.
The first and second elongated C-shaped section members are generally made of a composite material, fibreglass or of aluminum extruded into appropriate lengths.
The invention, thus, generally provides a method of manufacture of a box ladder having a pair of box side rails, which side rails are formed from two halves of a side rail wherein each of the halves is pre-punched before assembly and which, upon assembly, form a substantially rectangular box section with holes, preferably, non-round holes, to receive the rungs; and box ladders made thereby.
In preferred forms, any non-cylindrically shaped rung having a shape which interferes with rotation of the rung in the side rail hole may be of use in the present invention. However, regard should be had to the utility of such a shape as a rung of a ladder.
A shaped rung providing a flat upper surface to the feet of a user, and, optionally, provided with serrations, is preferred. Examples of preferred rung shapes are triangular-shaped, square-shaped, rhomboidal-shaped and D-shaped rungs.
In the method according to the invention, the holes in a pair of mateable section members are preferably formed by stamping or punching out the members simultaneously. This operation can be readily achieved by positioning the pair of members in a "back-to-back" position wherein the flat body portion of the members fully abut each other. This feature allows for the use of a single punching action for each pair of corresponding holes and, thus, a reduction in capital equipment cost, and a better series of hole alignments.
Each pair of corresponding holes may be formed simultaneously as the other pairs of holes by a stamping operation along the lengths of the pair of abuting section members; but, preferably, each pair of corresponding holes are formed in individual stamping operations.
Thus, it can be seen that the above method provides for the relatively simple and economic manufacture of significant lengths of box ladder without the problem of deformation effected by stamping of a pre-formed rectangular box side rail.
In a further aspect, the invention provides cylindrical and non-cylindrical rung box ladders comprising a pair of box side rails and a plurality of cylindrical or non-cylindrical rungs wherein said box side rails are each formed of a first section member and a second section member engaged therewith.


A transmission apparatus of a data transmission and reception system includes a number of converters, multipliers, adders and a transmission unit. The converters convert information-bit sequences b(0), b(1) and b(2), respectively, into encoded x(0), x(1) and x(2), respectively. The multipliers multiply respectively the encoded sequences x(0), x(1) and x(2) by constants a(0), a(1) and a(2). The adder adds a constant-times encoded sequence a(0)x(0) produced by a first multiplier as a result of multiplication to a constant-times encoded sequence a(1)x(1) produced by a second multiplier. A second adder adds an additive encoded sequence a(0)x(0)+a(1)x(1) produced by a first adder to a constant-times encoded sequence a(2)x(2) produced by a third multiplier. The transmission unit transmits an additive encoded sequence g(=a(0)x(0)+a(1)x(1)+a(2)x(2), produced by the second adder to an external apparatus as a transmitted signal g′.

In recent years, research is conducted extensively and intensively in communication fields such as mobile communications and deep space communications as well as broadcasting fields such as ground-wave broadcasting and satellite digital broadcasting. Along with such research, there is also performed other research in a coding theory for the purpose of increasing the efficiencies of error-correction encoding and decoding processes.
As a theoretical limit of a communication-line encoding performance, there is known C. E. Shannon's limit given by so-called Shannon's communication line coding theorem.
The research in the coding theory is carried out for the purpose of developing a code exhibiting performance close to Shannon's limit. In recent years, as codes produced by encoding methods to exhibit performance close to Shannon's limit, for example, there have been developed the so-called Parallel Concatenated Convolutional Codes and the so-called Serial Concatenated Convolutional Codes, which are referred to hereafter simply as the PCCC and the SCCC respectively.
In recent years, on the other hand, there is also conducted research in methods of decoding these codes. To put it concretely, there is conducted research to decrease a symbol error rate by carrying out a soft-output operation on a decoded output of an internal code in concatenated codes and an output of each repetitive decoding operation adopting a repetitive decoding method. In addition, there is also extensively conducted research on decoding methods suitable for such codes. As a method to minimize a symbol error rate in a process to decode a predetermined code such as convolutional codes, for example, there are known a technique based on a BCJR algorithm and a technique based on a max-log-MAP algorithm and a log-MAP algorithm, which are each an improved BCR algorithm. The BCR algorithm is described by Bahl, Cocke, Jelinek and Raviv in a reference with a title of "Optimal decoding of Linear Codes for Minimizing Symbol Error Rate," IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, vol. IT-20, pp. 284–287, March 1974. On the other hand, the max-log-MAP algorithm and the log-MAP algorithm are described by Robertson, Villebrun and Hoeher in a reference with a title of "A Comparison of Optimal and Sub-Optimal MAP Decoding Algorithms Operating in the Domain," IEEE Int. Conf. on Communications, pp. 1009–1013, June 1995. The max-log-MAP algorithm and the log-MAP algorithm are referred to hereafter as a max-log-BCJR algorithm and a log-BCJR algorithm respectively. The PCCC and the SCCC described above are decoded by carrying out the so-called repetitive decoding operation among a plurality of decoders, which carry out a MAP (Maximum A Posteriori) probability decoding process based on the BCR algorithm, the max-log-BCJR algorithm and the log-BCJR algorithm.
By the way, an encoding process is followed by signal-point mapping for bit data obtained as a result of the encoding process. The signal-point mapping is based on a multi-value modulation technique determined in advance. Examples of the multi-value modulation technique are an 8-PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulation technique, a 16-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) technique and a 64-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) technique.
If an encoding process is followed by signal-point mapping based on the multi-value modulation technique determined in advance, however, it is impossible to make a margin for a noise of the encoded data completely match a margin for a noise found by the mapping. As a result, the transmission characteristics including a bit error rate deteriorate.
It is thus an object of the present invention addressing the problem described above to provide an information transmission apparatus and an information transmission method that are capable of implementing a high-performance encoding process with ease as a result of newly developing an encoding technique considered to be theoretically optimum for an encoding process adopting typically the multi-value modulation technique.
In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide an information reception apparatus and an information reception method that are capable of easily decoding data obtained as a result produced by the information transmission apparatus and the information transmission method with a high degree of precision.

Information transmission apparatus, information transmission method, information reception apparatus, and information reception method


A single crystal casting having substantially improved high-temperature oxidation resistance, hot corrosion (sulfidation) resistance, and resistance to creep under high temperature and high stress is characterized by an as-cast composition comprising a maximum sulfur content of 0.5 ppm by weight, a maximum phosphorus content of 20 ppm by weight, a maximum nitrogen content of 3 ppm by weight, a maximum oxygen content of 3 ppm by weight, and a combined yttrium and lanthanum content of 5-80 pm by weight. It has been discovered that careful control of the deleterious impurities, particularly sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen and oxygen, in combination with a carefully controlled addition of yttrium and/or lanthanum provides unexpected improvements in corrosion and oxidation resistance, while also enhancing high-temperature, high-stress resistance to creep, without any detrimental effects on other mechanical properties, processing or producability, particularly castability.

Components cast from nickel-based superalloys are known to exhibit excellent mechanical tensile, fatigue strength and creep resistance at high temperatures. Such components are also required to exhibit good surface stability, and particularly oxidation and corrosion resistance. Nickel-based superalloys are employed in the casting of jet engine turbine blades and vanes for commercial and military aircraft. They are also employed in gas turbines used for utility, industrial and marine power generation.
Over the past thirty five years, the high temperature performance capability of cast superalloys has been improved very substantially due to the development of directionally solidified and single crystal casting technology and alloys such as those manufactured by Cannon Muskegon Corporation under the designation CMSX-4® and those alloys developed by GE (René N-5 alloy) and PWA (PWA 1484 alloy).
Single crystal (SX) CMSX-4® alloy castings have a 70% volume fraction of fine gamma prime (γ′) precipitate strengthening phase after very high temperature heat treatment solutioning, without incipient melting. Such casting components exhibit exceptional resistance to creep under high temperature and stress, particularly in that part of the creep-rupture curve representing one percent or less elongation, while also providing good oxidation resistance. The CMSX-4® alloys, described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,782 and 5,443,789, generally represent the state of the art. CMSX-4® alloy has been successfully used in numerous aviation and industrial and marine gas turbine applications since 1991. Close to ten million pounds (1300 heats) of CMSX-4® have been manufactured to date with total turbine engine experience of over 120 million hours. An improved version of CMSX-4®, which is pre-alloyed with lanthanum and yttrium and consists of low sulfur content of about 1 ppm (by weight), has good alloy cleanliness in terms of stable oxide inclusions, as represented by 1-2 ppm oxygen content over multiple heats. Rare earth element additions, such as lanthanum and yttrium have been beneficial to alloy oxidation performance by tying up deleterious sulfur (S) and phosphorus (P) as very stable sulphide and phosphide phases. Improvement in bare alloy oxidation behavior to minimize blade tip degradation and improve thermal barrier coating (TBC) adherence is of particular interest. The addition of rare earth elements dramatically improves the dynamic cyclic oxidation behavior of CMSX-4®. An example of the benefits of adding lanthanum (La) and yttrium (Y) can be observed in the surface microstructure following creep-rupture testing at elevated temperature (e.g., 1050° C.). After 1389 hours of testing at 1050° C., no evidence of gamma prime depletion was observed, whereas without lanthanum and yttrium addition, significant gamma prime depletion would have been expected due to the diffusion of aluminum to the alloy surface to reform the alumina scale layer due to oxide scale spallation, principally resulting from S in the alloy. This improvement translates to a substantial increase in useful component life. Studies have shown that La+Y additions to CMSX-4® alloy give the best oxidation results compared to Y or La alone (FIG. 2).
The objectives for CMSX-4® were to provide sufficient creep-rupture and oxidation resistance while also exhibiting a heat treatment temperature range which permits heat treatment at a temperature at which all of the primary gamma prime phase goes into solution without the alloy reaching its incipient melting temperature. These improvements were achieved primarily by partial replacement of tungsten (W) with rhenium (Re), lowering of chromium (Cr) to accommodate the increased alloying with acceptable phase stability, and increasing tantalum (Ta). These modifications achieved the desired improvement in creep-resistance relative to known nickel-based superalloys (CMSX-3®) without excessively narrowing the heat treatment window (the difference between the temperature at which the primary gamma prime phase goes into solution and the temperature at which incipient melting occurs) and without introducing microstructural instability, thereby facilitating economical production of high performance castings for aviation and industrial gas turbine applications. Re dramatically slows down element diffusion at high temperatures.
Although the CMSX-4® alloy has been extremely successful commercially, providing improved performance, service life and economy, single crystal nickel-based superalloy castings capable of operating at even higher temperatures and providing even longer service life are desirable.

Low sulfur nickel-base single crystal superalloy with PPM additions of lanthanum and yttrium


A magnetic tape cassette apparatus having a control device for controlling drive mechanism functions including the drawing in and ejection of a cassette. A control rod is longitudinally displaceable backwards and forwards by a servo motor between end points on its path of movement and, in certain operating positions, controls drive mechanism functions in conjunction with switching transmitters and a logic circuit. A catch rod is movably guided on the control rod in the longitudinal direction of the latter. The catch rod is lockable to the control rod and is mechanically coupled to the loading mechanism of the drive mechanism. The catch rod and the control rod act on a control switch to feed commands imparted by switch actuators on the rods to the logic circuit, which forms switching commands therefrom for apparatus functions.

The invention relates to a magnetic tape cassette apparatus having a control device for controlling drive mechanism functions including the drawing in and ejection of a cassette by means of a drive which is equipped with a motor and comprises a control rod which is longitudinally displaceable backwards and forwards by a servo motor, is drivable between end points on its path of movement and, in certain operating positions, controls drive mechanism functions in conjunction with switching transmitters and a logic circuit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,542 discloses a drive mechanism for a magnetic tape cassette apparatus, which has a rod which can draw in a magnetic tape cassette. During drawing in, this rod travels as far as an end point situated at the end of the path of inward movement and stops there. A switch nudged by the rod switches on the motor for the playing mode and a mechanism assumes the playing of the magnetic tape. The end point is determined by a pin which switches the motor switch and simultaneously switches over a servo gear unit, which is prepared to push the cassette out again in the reverse direction of rotation when the tape has come to a halt at the end of the tape.
It is the object of the invention to create a magnetic tape cassette apparatus having a control device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the movements of the control rod at and between the end points of movement can call into action drive mechanism functions with little technical expenditure.

Magnetic tape cassette apparatus having a control rod, switching transmitters, and a catch rod


A method, system and article for encrypting data by applying an encryption process, wherein the encryption process includes storing progress data relating to the progress of the encryption process so that the encryption process may be resumed after an interruption. Even more specifically, after the interruption, progress data relating to the progress of the encryption process is accessed. Portions of the progress data are compared to determine the last encrypted data segment. After the last encrypted data segment, the encryption process at the data segment is resumed.

This disclosure is related to systems and/or methods for encrypting data.
One difficulty with state of the art technology for encrypting data concerns the ability to interrupt and/or resume an encryption process. For example, during an encryption process, if the process is interrupted, it may be difficult to correctly resume the process without starting over, or there may be errors associated with not starting over.

System and/or method for encrypting data


A fish tape pliers is formed with opposed planar and curvilinear edges that form or channel disposed distally from the pliers' pivot connection axis. In one operable embodiment, the edges frictionally engage the fish tape within the channel. The fish tape in pulling an electrical wire through a conduit, is directed away from the handles and the users' grip hand. The jaws may have differently contoured or cross-ridged surfaces to provide the desired frictional engagement without damaging the fish tape. The fish tape pliers includes diverse complementary features for crimping, stripping, bending and/or cutting an electrical wire.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pliers. This invention also relates to tape pullers. Specifically, this invention relates to pliers for pulling a fish tape for pulling electrical wires through conduits. This invention also relates to a multi-tool for fish tape pulling and, electrical wire reconfigurations.
(2) Background and Discussion of the Prior Art
Tape pullers generally provide for grabbing the end of the tape by closed pliers jaws. The tape passes medially between the closed gripped handles. This prior art construction causes the tape to undesirably rub the user's grip hand. Such prior art tape pulling pliers are disclosed in Grimshaw et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,366, granted Oct. 21, 1961 and Higgins, U.S. Pat. No. 2,542,249, granted Feb. 20, 1951.
Attempts are made to direct the tape away from the grip hand of the user. One early attempt at redirecting the tape away from the grip hand is disclosed in Tays, U.S. Pat. No. 2,598,146, granted May 27, 1952 ("Tays"). The Tays construction nonetheless caused the angularly disposed tape to be disposed immediately adjacent one of the handles thereby causing undesired contact with the user's grip hand. A more recent attempt at redirecting the tape is disclosed in the accompanying FIGS. 1-3.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown the prior art fish tape pliers 10. Pliers 10 includes two members 11 and 12 pivotally connected by pivot member 13. Members 11 and 12 are formed with respective proximately disposed opposed handles 14 and 15 and respective distally disposed opposed jaws 16 and 17. Curvilinear surface or edge 18 of jaw 16 and surface or edge 19 of handle 15 are facingly disposed and form channel 20. Fish tape T passes through channel 20 and engages the distal portion 18a of edge 18 and the proximate portion 19a of edge 19, with the pliers at least partially closed (FIG. 3).
Additional respective portions of surfaces 18 and 19 engage the fish tape T with the further closure of the pliers. Channel 20 is proximately disposed from pivot member 13. With fish tape T frictionally held between edges 18 and 19, the user pulls the fish tape through conduit 25. The fish tape T undesirably engages or rubs against the users' grip hand in pulling the fish tape (FIG. 1). Surfaces 18 and 19 crimp or distort the fish tape thereby undesirably affecting the smooth spooling and unspooling of the fish tape in subsequent use.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An object of the present invention is to provide a fat and oil composition for spreads having good oral solubility and spreadability without greasiness. A fat and oil composition for spreads of the present invention is composed of a continuous fat and oil phase and a water phase, characterized in that the fat and oil phase comprises (a) a liquid-state fat and oil containing, as a main ingredient, triglycerides having fatty acids with 8 to 10 carbon atoms in an amount of not less than 10% by mass of the total constitutional fatty acids; (b) a low melting transesterified fat and oil obtained by subjecting 40 to 90 parts by mass of the palm based fat and oil and 60 to 10 parts by mass of a liquid-state fat and oil to transesterification with a 1,3-position-specific lipase; and (c) a solid-form fat and oil having an open-tube melting point under increasing temperature of 38° C. or higher.

Generally in the market of a fat and oil composition for spreads such as margarine, prepared margarine, and fat spread, good flavored products tend to be fond of. Particularly, spread-type margarine or the like for use in spreading on bread is generally composed of a high melting point fat and oil (e.g., a fat and oil having open-tube melting point under increasing temperature is 38° C. or higher), a middle melting point fat and oil (e.g., a fat and oil having open-tube melting point under increasing temperature in the range of 30 to 38° C.), and a liquid-state fat and oil (a fat and oil being liquid state at normal temperature). Margarine or the like is stored in a refrigerator when not in use and taken out from the refrigerator when used. To improve the spreadability (easy to spread) of margarine such that it may be spread on bread immediately upon taking out from a refrigerator, it is desired to increase the content of a liquid-state fat and oil, thereby attaining softness at low temperature.
However, when high priority is put on softness at low temperature in order to improve spreadability at low temperature, liquid-state fat and oil is separated off in the surface when margarine is left alone at room temperature or when margarine is stored back and forth between a refrigerator and room temperature. This phenomenon is called "oil-off". In addition to this, a phenomenon where grains called "graining" generates easily occurs. These phenomena are problems since they significantly reduce the commercial value of margarine.
To solve the aforementioned problems, Japanese Patent-Laid Open No. 9-241672 discloses a fat and oil obtained from a fat and oil (raw material) prepared by nonselectively transesterifying an oil mixture containing a liquid-state fat and oil, a fat and oil derived from palm oil, and laurin based oil. However, the fat and oil disclosed in the above document has a problem in that firmness significantly varies depending upon temperature change.
Japanese Patent-Laid Open No. 10-243793 discloses a plastic fat and oil composition obtained by subjecting a liquid state fat and oil and an extremely hydrogenated oil to a position-specific transesterification process. However, in the fat and oil composition disclosed in the above document, the resultant product is greasy. Thus, it may not be said that the composition has sufficient properties.
Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 11-500318 discloses a spread containing a palm based fat and oil and a chemically modified (hydrogenated, transesterified) fat and oil so as to have a specific triglyceride composition ratio. However, the spread disclosed in the above document has a feature of suppressing particle generation; however, it does not have features of improved oral solubility, greasiness and spreadability.
It may not be said that the fat and oil compositions disclosed in the aforementioned documents have good oral solubility and spreadability without greasiness. In the circumstances, it has been desired to develop a fat and oil composition having these features.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent-Laid Open No. 9-224570 discloses edible oil using palmstearin, and shortening and margarine using the edible oil as a raw material. The edible oil disclosed in the above document is excellent in oxidation stability and the like. However, it is further desired to develop a fat and oil composition improved in property for a fat and oil for spreads.


A joystick has a dome facing a flat position sensitive detector for use an electronic device. The dome is elastically mounted so that the apex of the dome rests on the detector. As the joystick is deflected, the dome and the detector roll against each other such that the apex of the dome moves to a different location of the detector surface. The joystick can be depressed to cause the dome to buckle in order to select a function of the electronic device. When the joystick is depressed, the contact area between the dome and the detector increases abruptly. After the dome is buckled, the user can exert an uneven pressure to the joystick to allow the electronic device to carry out another function.

Analog joysticks have been used on a gaming device to move an object shown on a screen and to select such an object. The traditional analog joystick has at least two potentiometers for reading the position of the joystick in X-axis and Y-axis. The joystick has a knob to guide the potentiometers for movement. In addition, the knob can be pressed, usually with the thumb of the user. The knob has a dome that buckles when the knob is pressed. The dome is a dome-switch module in the end of a mechanical stick or the like. Such an analog joystick is bulky.
It is thus advantageous and desirable to provide a less bulky joystick that can be used to shift a position in X-axis and Y-axis and to select a position.

Multi-functional touch actuator in electronic devices


In a digital/analog converter of a switched capacitor circuit type including at least one capacitor, at least one power supply terminal, and at least one output terminal, a switch circuit is adapted to carry out a charging operation upon the capacitor so that a charge is stored in the capacitor and then carry out a discharging operation upon the capacitor to discharge the charge to one of the power supply terminal and the output terminal in accordance with a digital input data signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital/analog (D/A) converter of a switched capacitor circuit type used in a multi-level D/A converter which is incorporated into a multi-bit ΔΣ D/A converter or a multi-bit A/D converter.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a prior art D/A converter of a switched capacitor circuit type, including at least one capacitor, at least one power supply terminal, and at least one output terminal, a switch circuit is adapted to carry out a charging operation upon the capacitor so that a charge is stored in the capacitor and then carry out a discharging operation upon the capacitor to discharge the charge to the output terminal in accordance with a digital input data signal (see: JP-9-307447-A). This will be explained later in detail.
In the above-described prior art D/A converter, if the D/A converter is incorporated into a multi-level D/A converter, even after a discharging operation is carried out, a charge in a capacitor stored during a charging operation may not be completely discharged, which would change the settling error. As a result, the total harmonic distortion (THD) characteristics and the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) characteristics would be degraded. This also will be explained in detail later.

Switched capacitor circuit type digital/analog converter capable of suppressing change of setting error


Feasibility of a requested action by a reader is predetermined in an RFID tag based on an available tag power level. A pretest that is designed to consume artificially high levels of power is performed and the power level monitored to determine if a preset condition is met. The pretest may include activation of selected components such as a memory and associated support circuitry. If the preset condition is not met, the requested action is aborted and an error message transmitted to the reader.

Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) systems typically include RFID tags and RFID readers (the latter are also known as RFID reader/writers or RFID interrogators). RFID systems can be used in many ways for locating and identifying objects to which the tags are attached. RFID systems are particularly useful in product-related and service-related industries for tracking large numbers of objects being processed, inventoried, or handled. In such cases, an RFID tag is usually attached to an individual item, or to its package.
In principle, RFID techniques entail using an RFID reader to interrogate one or more RFID tags. The reader transmitting a Radio Frequency (RF) wave performs the interrogation. A tag that senses the interrogating RF wave responds by transmitting back another RF wave. The tag generates the transmitted back RF wave either originally, or by reflecting back a portion of the interrogating RF wave in a process known as backscatter. Backscatter may take place in a number of ways.
The reflected-back RF wave may further encode data stored internally in the tag, such as a number. The response is demodulated and decoded by the reader, which thereby identifies, counts, or otherwise interacts with the associated item. The decoded data can denote a serial number, a price, a data, a destination, other attribute(s), any combination of attributes, and so on.
An RFID tag typically includes an antenna system, a power management section, a radio section, and frequently a logical section, a memory, or both. In earlier RFID tags, the power management section included an energy storage device, such as a battery. RFID tags with an energy storage device are known as active tags. Advances in semiconductor technology have miniaturized the electronics so much that an RFID tag can be powered solely by the RF signal it receives. Such RFID tags do not include an energy storage device, and are called passive tags.
Operations performed by RFID tags consume power, which is at a premium. For example, WRITE operation for storing data to a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) consumes a lot of power, and once it is started it should preferably be finished before the tag runs out of power.
Writing to the NVM may consume more power than doing some other tag operations. Writing may also take a long time compared to other reader-tag communication. If the tag runs out of power during a write operation, the time has been wasted, and it is possible that data on the tag has been corrupted. It is beneficial, therefore, to not start a tag write operation if there will not be sufficient power to finish it.

RFID tags circuits and methods for sensing own power to predetermine feasibility of requested action


An insulated cold pack for cooling a product, the cold pack including a viscous cooling agent that may serve as a plant fertilizer when discarded. The cooling agent encapsulated in at least one sealed flexible walled package, the one or more flexible walled packages located on the first side of the insulated cold pack. In addition, the cold pack includes biodegradable loose-fill insulation covering the second side of the insulated cold pack. An encapsulating barrier surrounds both the viscous cooling agent on the first side of the insulated cold pack as well as the loose-fill insulation on the second side. The loose-fill insulation secured in position within the encapsulating barrier and the insulation positioned in contact with the product or optionally closely spaced from the product to be cooled.

A phase change material is a substance which releases/absorbs sufficient energy at phase transition to provide useful heat/cooling. Generally, the transition will be from one of the first two fundamental states of matter—solid and liquid—to the other. The energy released/absorbed by phase transition from solid to liquid, or vice-versa, the heat of fusion is generally much higher than the sensible heat. Ice, for example, requires 333.55 J/g to melt, but then water will rise one degree further with the addition of just 4.18 J/g. Water/ice is therefore a very useful phase change material and has been used to store winter cold to cool buildings in summer for centuries.
Desirable phase change materials should possess the following properties: (1) Melting temperature in the desired operating temperature range; (2) High latent heat of fusion per unit volume; (3) High specific heat, high density, and high thermal conductivity; (4) Small volume changes on phase transformation and small vapor pressure at operating temperatures to reduce the containment problem; (4) Congruent melting; (5) Kinetic properties (6) High nucleation rate to avoid supercooling of the liquid phase; (7) High rate of crystal growth, so that the system can meet demands of heat recovery from the storage system; (8) Chemical properties; (9) Chemical stability; (10) Complete reversible freeze/melt cycle; (11) No degradation after a large number of freeze/melt cycles; (12) Non-corrosiveness, non-toxic, non-flammable and non-explosive materials; (13) Economic properties; (14) Low cost; and (15) Availability.


A Stirling cycle refrigerating system has a pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b, each comprising a warm head 8a and 8b of which the temperature rises as the reversed Stirling cycle engine is driven, a cold head 7a and 7b of which the temperature falls as the reversed Stirling cycle engine is driven, and a piston and a displacer that vibrate inside a cylinder along the axis thereof with an identical period and with a predetermined phase difference maintained. Inside a machine chamber 15, the pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b is arranged coaxially with the axes thereof aligned with each other and with the cold heads 7a and 7b thereof facing away from each other, and the pistons or displacers of the pair of reversed Stirling cycle engines 3a and 3b are driven to vibrate in phase with each other. This Stirling cycle refrigerating system, despite being manufactured at low costs, offers cooling performance on the order of several hundred watts and produces no annoying vibration or noise when operating.

In recent years, much attention has been paid to a thermodynamic cycle conventionally known as the reversed Stirling cycle, and mush research has been done on Stirling cycle refrigerators exploiting it. A Stirling cycle refrigerator is an external combustion engine that has a heat absorber portion and a heat rejector portion, that adopts an environmentally harmless gas, such as helium, nitrogen, or hydrogen, as a working medium, and that is so structured that cold (cryogenic heat) is obtained in the heat absorber portion.
However, most Stirling cycle refrigerators in practical use offer cooling performance as low as a few watts or lower and are designed for cryogenic applications. That is, no Stirling cycle refrigerators have ever been in practical use as refrigerators having cooling performance on the order of several hundred watts, the rank of cooling performance most sought-after in refrigerators for home and business use.
Now, taking up as an example a typical free-piston-type reversed Stirling cycle engine (hereinafter referred to as the reversed Stirling cycle engine) shown in FIG. 11, the problems that remain to be tackled in it will be explained. In terms of its external appearance, the reversed Stirling cycle engine 186 is composed of a pressure vessel 174, a warm head 182, and a cold head 183. Inside, a working space 178 is secured, which is filled with a working medium, such as helium.
Inside a cylinder that constitutes part of the pressure vessel 174, a piston 171 and a displacer 172 are arranged coaxially so as to be slidable along the inner wall surface of the cylinder. A rod 175 has one end fixed to the displacer 172, penetrates the piston 171 at its center, and has the other end resiliently supported on the pressure vessel 174 by a displacer support spring 177. The piston 171 is resiliently supported on the pressure vessel 174 by a piston support spring 176.
The working space 178 has a compression space 181a and an expansion space 181b. The piston is made to reciprocate axially inside the compression space 181a with a predetermined period by a piston driving member 180, such as a linear motor, housed in a back space 179. The piston support spring 176 serves to stabilize the period of the piston 171 by keeping it substantially constant once the piston 171 starts reciprocating.
A regenerator 173, on the one hand, collects cold from the working medium moving from the expansion space 181b to the compression space 181a and accumulates the cold. The regenerator 173, on the other hand, transfers the accumulated cold to the working medium moving from the compression space 181a to the expansion space 181b and thereby cools the working medium. In this structure, the temperature of the working medium moving between the compression space 181a and the expansion space 181b varies greatly as a result of the working medium being compressed and expanded, and this makes it possible to obtain cold efficiently from the reversed Stirling cycle engine 186.
When compressed in the compression space 181a, the working medium passes through the regenerator 173 and moves toward the expansion space 181b. This causes the displacer 172 to reciprocate axially with the same period as the piston 171 and with a predetermined phase difference kept relative to the piston 171. As a result, in the expansion space 181b, the working medium is repeatedly compressed and expanded in such a way as to exhibit sinusoidal pressure variation.
The displacer support spring 177 has its spring constant and other parameters so set that, once the displacer 172 starts reciprocating, it stabilizes the period of the displacer 172 by keeping it equal to that of the piston 171 and keeps the phase difference relative to the piston 171 constant. Expanded in the expansion space 181b, the working medium becomes cooler and thus cools the cold head 183, absorbing heat from outside. On the other hand, compressed in the compression space 181a, the working medium becomes warmer and thus warms the warm head 182 provided at the compression space 181a side end of the regenerator 173, rejecting heat to outside.
To reduce the vibration of the reversed Stirling cycle engine 186 that occurs mainly axially as a result of the reciprocating movement of the piston 171 and the displacer 172, a vibration damping mechanism, composed of a vibration damping spring 184 and a block 185 made of a metal or the like and having a predetermined weight, is provided at that end of the reversed Stirling cycle engine 186 which faces away from the cold head 183.
This reversed Stirling cycle engine 186, however, generally offers cooling performance as low as, for example, several tens to a hundred and several tens of watts if its size is limited to be comparable with that of refrigeration cycle apparatus of a vapor compression type as are used in modern refrigerators for home use. Thus, to obtain cooling performance on the order of several hundred watts most sought-after on the market of home-use products, the following measures need to be taken.
First, the volume of the working medium that is compressed and expanded is increased by giving the piston 171 and the displacer 172 larger diameters. Second, the strokes (amplitudes) over which the piston 171 and the displacer 172 are made to reciprocate are increased. Third and last, the frequency at which the piston 171 and the displacer 172 are made to reciprocate is increased.
However, the first measure has the following disadvantages. To give the piston 171 and the displacer 172 larger diameters, it is necessary to give the pressure vessel 174, in which they are housed, a larger external diameter. This permits the piston 171 and the displacer 172 to stagger more in the direction perpendicular to the axis as they slide inside the cylinder, and thus makes the piston 171 and the 172 more likely to make contact with the pressure vessel 174. If such contact occurs frequently, or if an external force is unexpectedly applied to the pressure vessel 174, the breaking stress that occurs as a counteracting force is accordingly larger. This leads to trouble, such as a crack in the pressure vessel 174.
Thus, it is necessary to make the entire pressure vessel 174, including the warm head 182 and the cold head 183, somewhat thicker. Making these thicker, however, increases the weight and thus the costs of the engine as a whole.
Moreover, making the warm head 182 thicker increases heat resistance, in particular in radial directions, and thus makes it more difficult for heat to conduct to the heat exchanger for heat rejection (not shown) provided around the warm head 182, while reducing heat resistance in the axial direction and thereby making it easier for heat to conduct from the warm head 182 to the cold head 183 through the components constituting the pressure vessel 174 and the like. This lowers the efficiency of the reversed Stirling cycle engine 186. Furthermore, the larger the piston 171 and the displacer 172, the heavier the reversed Stirling cycle engine 186 as a whole, increasing the burden on the power source, the support springs, and the like.
The second measure has the following disadvantages. Since the piston 171 is resiliently supported on the pressure vessel 174 by the piston support spring 176 and the displacer 172 is resiliently supported on the pressure vessel 174 by the displacer support spring 177, increasing the strokes over which they are made to reciprocate axially increases the strokes of the support springs 176 and 177.
As their strokes are increased, the support springs 176 and 177 become more likely to receive excessive force and thus more prone to damage, such as breakage. This eventually leads to lower performance of the reversed Stirling cycle engine 186. Furthermore, as the strokes of the support springs 176 and 177 are increased, the piston driving member 180, such as a linear motor, is inevitably required to exert higher power. This increases electric power consumption, contrary to energy saving.
The third measure has the following disadvantages. The spring constants of the support springs 176 and 177 are proportional to the square of the frequency at which they are used. Thus, if an attempt is made, for example, to double the performance of a Stirling cycle refrigerator by increasing its operation frequency, the resulting vibration puts at least four times the load on the support springs 176 and 177. Given the constraints on the materials of the support springs 176 and 177, there is a risk of their elastic limit being exceeded.
Because of the problems explained above, in a home-use refrigerator that is required to offer cooling performance on the order of several hundred watts, with a single unit of the free-piston-type reversed Stirling cycle engine 186 described above, it is not possible to obtain sufficiently high cooling performance. That is, it is not possible to achieve the desired cooling effect in the space to be cooled. Moreover, the vibration damping mechanism described above is indispensable in practical terms. This increases the dimensions and weight of the reversed Stirling cycle engine 186, and thus increases its manufacturing costs accordingly.

Stirling refrigerating system and cooling chamber with the refrigerating system


The present invention aims to provide techniques for efficiently synthesizing inorganic microparticles. According to the present invention, inorganic carbonate microparticles can be synthesized by generating ultrafine bubbles containing carbonic acid gas by injecting a gas containing carbonic acid gas and a liquid into a reaction vessel through a nozzle to deposit an inorganic carbonate having an average primary particle size of 300 nm or less in the presence of the ultrafine bubbles.

In general, calcium carbonate is mainly classified into "natural calcium carbonate" prepared by mechanically grinding and classifying natural limestone, weathered shell or the like and "synthetic calcium carbonate" (precipitated calcium carbonate) prepared by chemically reacting limestone. Known processes for synthesizing the synthetic calcium carbonate include the carbonation process, the lime-soda process, and the Solvay process, among which the carbonation process is typically employed for the industrial synthesis of calcium carbonate while the use of the lime-soda process and the Solvay process is limited to special applications.
Synthesis of calcium carbonate by the carbonation process involves reacting quick lime and carbonic acid gas, and typically comprises a slaking step in which water is added to quick lime CaO to give slaked lime Ca(OH)2, and a carbonation step in which carbonic acid gas CO2 is injected into the slaked lime to give calcium carbonate CaCO3. Currently, various techniques for controlling the particle shape or particle size or the like of the product calcium carbonate by regulating reaction conditions of the steps of synthesizing calcium carbonate, especially the carbonation step have been proposed.
For example, PTLs 1 and 2 describe controlling the morphology or the like of calcium carbonate by adding a chelating agent during the carbonation step. Thus, PTL 1 proposes a process for preparing calcium carbonate with good dispersibility and little secondary aggregation by adding a material capable of forming a complex with metal ions during the carbonation reaction. On the other hand, PTL 2 proposes a process for preparing calcium carbonate having uniform mesopores by adding a sequestering agent at multiple stages during the carbonation step. Additionally, PTL 3 proposes controlling the shape of calcium carbonate by performing the carbonation reaction in two stages under specific conditions.
Further, PTLs 4 and 5 describe techniques for preparing calcium carbonate by supplying a suspension containing slaked lime and a gas containing carbon dioxide to a reactor while mixing them using an injector. In addition, PTLs 5 and 6 describe preparing calcium carbonate having a small particle size by the carbonation process in the presence of bubbles.

Processes for preparing inorganic carbonates


A copolymer comprising trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene units and vinylidene fluoride units, and methods of making the same. A method of preventing biofouling on an article of manufacture, comprising applying such copolymer to the article of manufacture. A process of preparing a surface having a surface energy of between about 20 and about 30 mJ/m2, comprising applying such a copolymer to a support. A method of preventing accumulation of ice on an article of manufacture, comprising applying such a copolymer to an article of manufacture. A method of preparing a polymer, comprising a step of adding trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer as a polymer processing additive/aid to said polymer.

Over past decades, fluoropolymers have found more and more applications, ranging from optical devices, corrosion-resistant coatings, fuel cell membranes, to elastomeric materials. There are a variety of fluorinated monomers suitable for the preparation of fluoropolymers, such as tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), trifluoroethylene (TrFE), chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE), vinylidene fluoride (VDF), vinyl fluoride (VF), hexafluoropropene (HFP), pentafluoropropene (PFP), tetrafluoropropene (TFP), trifluoropropene (TrFP), and perfluoroalkylvinyl ether (PAVE), etc. Among these fluorinated monomers, 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (CF3CH═CFH; HFO-1234ze) is one of the least studied monomers. Due to the low reactivity of 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene monomers with respect to radical polymerization, 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene homopolymer and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer have only been made by radiation-induced polymerization at high pressures between 5,000 and 15,000 atm. See J. Polymer Sci. A: Polym. Chem. (1973) 11, 1973-1984. This method makes it extremely difficult to produce 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene homopolymer and copolymers on an industrial scale. Copolymers of vinylidene fluoride (CF2═CH2; VDF) with one of several fluorinated monomers, including 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, was claimed in GB Patent No. 1,281,976. However, this patent provided little information regarding the synthesis of such copolymers.
There remains a need for new fluoropolymers and new methods of making such fluoropolymers. The present invention addresses this need.
Biofouling is any non-desirable accumulation and growth of living matter on wetted surfaces. It is a significant, world-wide problem in almost every industry that relies on water-based processes. Industries particularly affected by biofouling include the pulp and paper manufacturing industry and the food industry, as well as industries connected to underwater construction, ship building, fish farming and water desalination, to name just a few.
One approach to prevent biofouling is the use of non-toxic coatings that create hydrophobic surfaces to which microorganisms cannot attach. Fluoropolymers are generally considered useful with respect to preventing biofouling because of their non-stick and friction reducing properties.
Similar to biofouling, the non-desirable accumulation of ice on surfaces is often a problem in certain industries. One way to address this problem has been to use non-toxic coatings that create surfaces that do not allow ice to accumulate.
Research has shown that the optimal surface energy for resistance to biofouling in marine environments is always between 20 and 30 mJ/m2. See J Mater Sci: Mater Med (2006) 17:1057-1062. So far, few fluoropolymers have been shown to produce this particular surface energy range. For example, on one hand, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), poly(hexafluoropropylene) (PHFP), and poly(2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene) (poly-1234yf) have a surface energy below 20 mJ/m2; on the other hand, the surface energy of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) is around 30 mJ/m2. Only one fluoropolymer, polytrifluoroethylene (PTrFE), was reported to have a surface energy within the range of 20 to 30 mJ/m2.
There remains a need for improved methods and articles of manufacture for the prevention of biofouling and accumulation of ice on surfaces. The present invention addresses this need.

Synthesis and use of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymers


A method and apparatus for combining data packets having different protocol encapsulations within a circuit is described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a number of Internet Protocol (IP) packets over Ethernet on a real circuit. Each IP packet over Ethernet has an Ethernet header and an IP address. The method also includes removing the Ethernet header from the number of IP packets. Moreover, a number IP packets within a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) over Ethernet are received on at least one virtual circuit. Each of the number of IP packets within the PPP over Ethernet includes a PPP header, a PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) header, an Ethernet header and an IP address. Additionally, the at least one virtual circuit runs within the real circuit. The method also includes removing the PPP header and the PPPoE header from the number of IP packets within the PPP over Ethernet and removing the Ethernet header from the number of IP packets within the PPP over Ethernet. The number of IP packets over Ethernet and the number of IP packets within PPP over Ethernet are forwarded based on the IP address.

With the advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW), the need for connectivity to and across different networks has become increasingly important. This increased need for connectivity translates into a need for a number of different network elements for the passing of the data traffic. These network elements can include routers, cables, hubs, relays, switches, etc., to carry communications between and among different networks. An increasing number of network elements have been deployed to support increasing network traffic; however, advancements in network technology have also been necessary to support the explosion in network traffic.
Such network elements assume multiple tasks such as terminating network connections, switching, routing and access functions. These network elements have been developed to support the vast and growing number of subscribers communicating across networks and across the Internet. Network elements have advanced from serving hundreds to serving thousands of subscribers, and now to hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Moreover, these network elements are configured to support a variety of communication protocols employed by the multitude of subscribers. Examples of these supported communication protocols may include Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and Frame Relay. In addition, data transmitted by these network elements can be in stacks of protocols. For example, a subscriber may send data that is a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet, which is over ATM. Accordingly, the circuits connecting to a network element is configured for the type of traffic that is being transmitted.
Moreover, such a need for network connectivity is no longer limited to a business setting. In particular, residential consumers are not only wanting connectivity for computing devices in their homes but also connectivity that allows for higher speed data transmission. The current array of choices for residential consumers is continuing to increase. For example, connectivity can include lower-speed connections at different rates, such as 56 kilobits/second, by employing a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) line from the residence. Other choices for connection, which are at higher speeds, into the Internet can include Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Digital Subscribe Line (DSL) service, both over a POTS line, and cable modem service over a RF cable line.
Current networking capabilities are limited in how the data is transmitted through such connections. Typically, residential homes connect to the Internet through a network element using Internet Protocol (IP) packets that are encapsulated in Ethernet and/or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) for the transmission of data between the residential home and the network element connecting into the Internet. However, some residential homes can also connect to the Internet through a network element using IP packets that are encapsulated in a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), Ethernet and/or ATM for the transmission of data between the residential home and the Internet. The employment of Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) over Ethernet (PPPoE) for the transmission of IP packets allows the network elements connected to the residential homes to associate a given computer within and among different homes that are communicating on a single line into the network elements with the different IP packets being received. In particular, the PPPoE protocol includes identification of the source of the data being transmitted into a network element. However, not all computing devices in residential homes incorporate the PPPoE protocol into their communication with network elements connected thereto. In particular, certain software on such computing devices have not incorporated the functionality to handle the PPPoE encapsulation of the IP packets.

Method and apparatus for combining packets having different protocol encapsulations within a circuit


A printing apparatus having a printhead for printing by discharging liquid on a printing medium performs a toggle preliminary discharge operation of alternately performing discharge from main nozzles and dummy nozzles in order to establish a good discharge state of the liquid from the main nozzles. The main nozzles and the dummy nozzles communicate with liquid chambers, which in turn communicate with a common liquid chamber. A control circuit for the printhead and a control method are also provided.

With recent development of personal computers, the technique of printing apparatuses has also abruptly advanced. The printing apparatus prints an image on a printing sheet on the basis of image information.
These days, the most attention-getting printing method of the printing apparatus is an inkjet printing method. According to the inkjet printing method, ink is discharged from a printhead onto a printing sheet to print. As the advantages of this method, a high-resolution image can be printed at a high speed, and the inkjet printing method is superior to other printing methods in various aspects such as the running cost and quietness.
There is known a method using an electrothermal transducer which generates thermal energy as ink droplet discharge energy of the inkjet printing method. According to this method, small ink droplets are discharged from small nozzles arranged in an inkjet printhead, thereby printing on a printing medium such as a paper sheet.
Generally in an inkjet printhead using an electrothermal transducer formed from a driving system for forming ink droplets and a supply system for supplying ink to the driving system, the electrothermal transducer is arranged in a pressure chamber, and an electrical pulse serving as printing data is supplied to apply thermal energy to ink. An abrupt phase change in ink at this time, i.e., a bubble pressure generated by gasification is utilized to discharge ink droplets.
The structure of a general inkjet printhead will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a general inkjet printhead.
In FIG. 2, the inkjet printhead has nozzle arrays for discharging inks of a plurality of colors. Reference numeral 1 denotes a black (Bk) nozzle array for discharging black ink; 2, a cyan (C) nozzle array for discharging cyan ink; 3, a yellow (Y) nozzle array for discharging yellow ink; and 4, a magenta (M) nozzle array for discharging magenta ink.
The detailed structure of each nozzle array will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a view showing the layout of the nozzle array of the inkjet printhead.
As shown in FIG. 3, the mainstream of the inkjet printhead is a printhead having a staggered nozzle layout. In FIG. 3, printing main nozzles include 320 black (Bk) nozzles and 128 color (COLOR) nozzles (for each color) (FIG. 3 illustrates nozzles for one of cyan, magenta, and yellow).
The nozzle array of each color is formed from two arrays. In the nozzle array of each color, the left side of FIG. 3 is an EVEN nozzle array, and the right side is an ODD nozzle array.
Each of the EVEN and ODD nozzle arrays has 160 nozzles for black and 64 nozzles for each color.
The positional relationship between nozzles is designed so that two nozzle arrays of the same color each prepared by arraying many nozzles at a predetermined pitch py in the y direction (sub-scanning direction) are spaced apart in the x direction (main scanning direction) by a distance px corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels, and nozzles between the arrays are shifted by (py/2) in the y direction.
The main scanning direction is a direction in which the inkjet printhead is scanned, and the sub-scanning direction is a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.
This layout can implement printing at double the resolution of one array by only adjusting the discharge timing between the two nozzle arrays.
The schematic structure of the nozzle array will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 4 is a view showing the schematic structure of the nozzle array of the inkjet printhead. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the sectional structure of the nozzle array in FIG. 4 taken along the X direction.
Especially, FIG. 4 illustrates the schematic structure of the nozzle array of an inkjet printhead which discharges ink of a predetermined color. In FIG. 4, the nozzle array is formed from a plurality of main nozzles 5 which discharge ink, a plurality of ink chambers 6 in which the main nozzles 5 are open, and an elongated common ink chamber 7 which supplies ink to the ink chambers 6.
An inkjet printhead for a color printer comprises a plurality of nozzle arrays, e.g., four nozzle arrays shown in FIG. 4 in correspondence with four color inks of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in order to print with multicolor ink. In the above-mentioned inkjet printhead, the main nozzles 5 are arranged at an interval as small as possible in order to downsize the apparatus.
Since the inkjet printhead (to be abbreviated as a printhead hereinafter) treats a liquid, it is applied to an inkjet printer having a suction/recovery mechanism which uses a cap and discharges a liquid within the printhead from the printhead as the liquid thickens, and a preliminary discharge mechanism which drives a driving element (preliminary discharge is executed regardless of a print signal and is also called idle discharge), or having a cleaning mechanism which cleans the nozzle surface.
In order to maintain a good state of the main nozzle 5 of the printhead, the inkjet printer executes "cleaning", "head refreshing", and "wiping" as working sequences.
In the first two of these sequences, a negative pressure is applied to the cap which covers the main nozzle 5, and ink in the common ink chamber 7 is sucked to unclog the main nozzle 5. After that, preliminary discharge is performed. By wiping, thickened ink attached to the nozzle surface is removed.
Time-base preliminary discharge is executed at a predetermined time interval even during printing in order to prevent a discharge failure in the next discharge that is caused by thickening of ink in a main nozzle 5 not used for printing upon the lapse of time.
Liquids of different colors or liquids having different characteristics may be mixed between printheads for respective colors regardless of whether nozzle arrays of a plurality of colors are arranged integrally or separately. There are known various means for solving this problem.
Of these means, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-295033 discloses a technique of preventing color mixing between adjacent printheads by arranging dummy nozzles between them. More specifically, inks from adjacent printheads are guided to the dummy nozzles, and the mixed ink is discharged from the dummy nozzles, thereby removing the mixed ink.
According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-129997, as shown in FIG. 6, some of the main nozzles 5 are used as dummy nozzles 8 along the array direction of the main nozzles 8. Dummy ink chambers 9 of the dummy nozzles 8 communicate with the common ink chamber 7 of the array of the main nozzles 5. In a printhead recovery process, ink staying in the common ink chamber 7 can also be preliminarily discharged from the dummy nozzles 8.
Since bubbles at the two ends of the common ink chamber 7 are discharged from the dummy nozzles 8 together with the liquid, mixed ink can be quickly discharged. In particular, the liquid flow can be promoted between the dummy nozzles 8 and the ends, in the longitudinal direction, of the elongated common ink chamber 7 which receives ink. Thickened ink which tends to stay at the ends of the common ink chamber 7 in the longitudinal direction can be smoothly, reliably discharged outside the printhead from the dummy nozzles 8.
In suction and recovery of the printhead during "cleaning" or "head refreshing" described above, all the nozzle arrays (black, cyan, magenta, and yellow) or the black nozzle array and color nozzle arrays (cyan, magenta, and yellow) are simultaneously sucked through one cap, and all inks are mixed within the cap.
The mixed ink within the cap may be attached to the nozzle surface of the printhead, and after suction operation stops, may be sucked by a negative pressure within the ink tank.
If printing is done in this state, an ink different from an intended one is discharged, greatly degrading the printing quality. In order to prevent this error, mixed ink sucked into the printhead is preliminarily discharged after suction and recovery.
In the common ink chamber 7 shown in FIG. 6, ink tends to stay at the ends in the longitudinal direction because of an elongated structure. To prevent this, preliminary discharge is first performed from the main nozzles 5 used for printing, and then from the dummy nozzles 8 upon the lapse of a predetermined time.
Accordingly, thickened ink at the ends in the longitudinal direction can be discharged from the printhead. As for time-based preliminary discharge during printing, preliminary discharge from the main nozzles 5 used for printing and preliminary discharge from the dummy nozzles 8 are executed.
The state of preliminary discharge by the main nozzles 5 and dummy nozzles 8 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are views schematically showing the state of preliminary discharge.
FIG. 7A shows the state of preliminary discharge from the main nozzles 5, and FIG. 7B shows the state of preliminary discharge from the dummy nozzles 8.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when ink is discharged from the main nozzles 5, ink can be satisfactorily discharged from the common ink chamber 7 toward the outlets of the main nozzles, but ink tends to stay at the two ends of the common ink chamber 7. These portions will be called stagnation portions 10.
The stagnation portions 10 readily become sticky owing to stayed ink. To prevent this, ink staying at the stagnation portions 10 is discharged by discharging it from the dummy nozzles 8 after discharge from the main nozzles 5, as shown in FIG. 7B.
As for preliminary discharge, the discharge count for performing discharge is generally equal between the main nozzles 5 and the dummy nozzles 8. Thus, execution of preliminary discharge from the main nozzles 5 used for printing requires preliminary discharge from the dummy nozzles 8 at the same discharge count. A discharge time corresponding to double the preliminary discharge count of the main nozzles is necessary.
As a method of shortening the preliminary discharge time, the discharge frequency of preliminary discharge may be increased. However, the response characteristic of the printhead which performs preliminary discharge is physically limited. The preliminary discharge time cannot be shortened by simply increasing the discharge frequency of preliminary discharge.

Printing apparatus, control method therefor, printhead control circuit, and printhead driving method


A system for modifying behavior of passengers in passenger vehicles includes housings and video tape recording equipment. When the system is used with a plurality of vehicles there is at least one fully operational vide recording arrangement in housings in one of the vehicles along with empty housings set up to have the appearance of being operational arrangements in the other vehicles. The operational video recording arrangement is for keeping a video taped record of activity in a passenger area of the vehicle. The empty housings set up to appear operational help reduce the expense of the system and complement the operational arrangement to deter undesirable behavior of passengers in the passenger areas of the vehicles.

The present invention relates generally to a behavior modification system, and more specifically to a system which includes housings for a video tape recording system which when mounted in a school bus with a video camera and a video cassette recorder contained therein can monitor and keep a video history of activity in the passenger seating area and wherein when the housings are empty have the appearance of being a fully operational monitoring system.
The instant invention is generally related to the field of surveillance and monitoring and more particularly relates to the ongoing problems with discipline on school buses. Most of the time the only adult on a school bus is the driver and it is usually the driver's responsibility to drive the bus in a safe manner in addition to maintaining the discipline of the students riding on the bus. A lack of discipline among the students on a school bus can be very distracting for the driver and can potentially be the cause of a serious accident.
Most school districts rely on the school bus driver to report incidents involving a lack of discipline to a transportation director who in turn must either take action to remedy the situation or report the incident to the school systems' administration for remedial action. In either case the foremost concern is to alleviate the possibility of an accident or injury.
The problem frequently encountered when attempts are made to remedy a situation involving discipline of students is the denial by the students and/or the disbelief by parents of the reports of unacceptable behavior on the bus. All too often disputes over the validity of the report are the focus of discussions and the unacceptable behavior is left uncorrected. The result being that the behavior pattern which may cause an accident or injury is unchanged and the bus driver is then in the position of having to transport a student or group of students who have not been properly disciplined after having been involved in a reported and disputed incident. Situations such as this are not uncommon and often result in worse behavior problems that in turn result in more situations with the potential for accidents or injury.
Monitoring systems in vehicular environments are known and various approaches have been taken. One approach, depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,679, shows a camera mounted in the inside of a taxi such that a photo record of all the passengers can be accurately provided. Another approach, depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,818, shows a tape recording system and weapon system for dealing with airplane hijackers. Yet another approach, found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,463, shows a tape recording system in a vehicle used to keep a record of information concerning the operation of the vehicle.
The one viable prior known answer to the problem of maintaining discipline on school buses has been to have a parent volunteer ride the bus and help the driver. Other than this, there has not been a viable solution proposed and there is no known prior art which teaches a behavior modification system as disclosed and claimed herein.

System for recording and modifying behavior of passenger in passenger vehicles


A double-annealed steel sheet is provided. The composition of which includes, expressed in percent by weight, 0.20%≤C≤0.40%, 0.8%≤Mn≤1.4%, 1.60%≤Si≤3.00%, 0.015≤Nb≤0.150%, Al≤0.1%, Cr≤1.0%, S≤0.006%, P≤0.030%, Ti≤0.05%, V≤0.05%, B≤0.003%, N≤0.01%. A remainder of the composition includes iron and unavoidable impurities resulting from processing. The microstructure of the steel sheet includes, in area percentages, 10 to 30% residual austenite, 30 to 60% annealed martensite, 5 to 30% bainite, 10 to 30% fresh martensite and less than 10% ferrite A fabrication method and vehicle parts are also provided.

The strong demand for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions combined with increasingly strict requirements for automotive safety and rising fuel prices have given the producers of motor-driven land vehicles an incentive to make increasing use of steels that offer improved mechanical strength in the body of their vehicles to reduce the thickness of parts and therefore the weight of the vehicles while maintaining the mechanical strength performance of the structures. To this end, steels that combine high strength and sufficient formability for forming without the appearance of cracks are becoming increasingly important. Over the course of time and in succession, numerous families of steels have therefore been proposed that offer various levels of mechanical strength. These families include DP (Dual Phase) steels, TRIP (Transformation Induced Plasticity) steels, Multiphase steels and even low-density steels (FeAl).
To respond to this demand for increasingly lighter-weight vehicles, it is therefore necessary to have increasingly strong steels to compensate for the low thickness. In the field of carbon steels, however, it is known that an increase in mechanical strength is generally accompanied by a loss of ductility. In addition, the producers of motorized land vehicles are designing increasingly complex parts that require steels that exhibit high levels of ductility.
EP1365037A1 describes a steel that contains the following chemical components in percent by weight: C: from 0.06 to 0.25%, Si+Al: from 0.5 to 3%, Mn: from 0.5 to 3%, P: 0.15 or less, S: 0.02% or less, and also optionally containing at least one of the following components in percent by weight: Mo: 1% or less, Ni: 0.5% or less, Cu: 0.5% or less, Cr: 1% or less, Ti: 0.1% or less, Nb: 0.1% or less, V: at least 0.1%, Ca: 0.003% or less and/or REM: 0.003% or less, combined with a microstructure composed principally of tempered martensite or tempered bainite representing 50% or more in area percentage, or tempered martensite or tempered bainite that represents 15% or more with regard to a space factor in relation to the overall structure and also comprising ferrite, tempered martensite or tempered bainite and a second phase structure comprising tempered austenite which represents from 3% to 30% by area percentage and also optionally comprising bainite and/or martensite, the residual austenite having a concentration C (C gamma R) of 0.8% or more. This patent application does not make it possible to achieve sufficiently high strength levels necessary to significantly reduce the thicknesses and therefore the weight of the sheets used in the automobile industry, for example.
In addition, US20110198002A1 describes a high-strength and hot-dip coated steel with a mechanical strength greater than 1200 MPa, an elongation greater than 13% and a hole expansion ratio greater than 50% as well as a method for the production of this steel, starting from the following chemical composition: 0.05-0.5% carbon, 0.01-2.5% silicon, 0.5-3.5% manganese, 0.003-0.100% phosphorus, up to 0.02% sulfur, and 0.010-0.5% aluminum, the remainder consisting of impurities. The microstructure of this steel comprises, in terms of area percentages, 0-10% ferrite, 0-10% martensite, and 60-95% tempered martensite and containing, in proportions determined by X-ray diffraction: 5-20% residual austenite. Nevertheless, the ductility levels achieved by the steels according to this invention are low, which has an adverse effect on the shaping of the part starting with the product obtained on the basis of the information contained in this application.
Finally, the publication entitled "Fatigue strength of newly developed high-strength low alloy TRIP-aided steels with good hardenability" presents a study of a steel having the following composition: 0.4% C, 1.5% Si, 1.5% Mn, 0-1.0% Cr, 0-0.2% Mo, 0.05% Nb, 0-18 ppm B for automotive applications. This steel exhibits very good fatigue strength exceeding that of conventional steels. This property is enhanced even further by additions of B, Cr and Mo. The microstructure of this steel has a TRIP effect with a high level of metastable residual austenite that prevents pre-cracks and their propagation on account of the plastic stress relief and the formation of martensite during the transformation from austenite. This article discloses a method for the production of steels that offer an excellent strength-ductility compromise, although the chemical compositions disclosed as well as the production methods are not only not compatible with industrial production but result in coatability problems.

Double annealed steel sheet having high mechanical strength and ductility characteristics, method of manufacture and use of such sheets


A method for the production of a mirror element (10) that has a reflective coating (10a) for the EUV wavelength range and a substrate (10b). The substrate (10b) is pre-compacted by hot isostatic pressing, and the reflective coating (10a) is applied to the pre-compacted substrate (10b). In the method, either the pre-compacting of the substrate (10b) is performed until a saturation value of the compaction of the substrate (10b) by long-term EUV irradiation is reached, or, for further compaction, the pre-compacted substrate (10b) is irradiated, preferably homogeneously, with ions (16) and/or with electrons in a surface region (15) in which the coating (10a) has been or will be applied. A mirror element (10) for the EUV wavelength range associated with the method has a substrate (10b) pre-compacted by hot isostatic pressing. Such a mirror element (10) is suitable to be provided in an EUV projection exposure system.

The invention relates to production methods for mirror elements and to mirror elements comprising a reflective coating for the EUV wavelength range and a substrate.
It is known that the density of many materials, especially materials containing silicon, changes under irradiation with high-energy radiation. That effect is referred to in the literature as "compaction". For applications in extreme environments (reactors, outer space) in particular, studies were carried out and those effects were quantitatively determined a long time ago (see W. Primak, Nucl. Sci. Eng., 65, 141, 1978: "Radiation Behaviour of Vitreous Silica" and R. A. B. Devine, "Macroscopic and Microscopic Effects of Radiation in Amorphous SiO2", Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 91 (1994), 378-390).
It has been found that the change in volume or density in silicon dioxide typically attains, after sufficiently long irradiation, a saturation value on the order of about 2%-3% within the penetration depth reached by the radiation. The penetration depths of the high-energy types of radiation considered therein were typically in a range of from 0.5 μm to about 10 μm or more.
Comparable effects are also known in microlithography, especially for the VUV wavelength range; however, owing to the relatively low level of interaction of the VUV light with the optical material used, especially quartz glass, the changes in volume in that case are as a rule in the ppm range and therefore, typically, no saturation value is attained, the optical materials used in that case being completely penetrated by the radiation.
A method is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,818 B1 by which quartz glass (SiO2) is to be made insensitive to compacting caused by long-term irradiation with UV laser radiation. The method provides for the quartz glass material to be pre-compacted by being exposed to high-energy radiation or by being pre-treated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The high-energy radiation is said to make a compaction of between about 10 ppm and 100 ppm possible, while a change in volume of the entire quartz glass body of from about 0.1% to about 3% is said to be achievable by hot isostatic pressing.
Since microlithography will have to rely in future on the EUV wavelength range in order to obtain a further increase in resolution and since, owing to their coating, the mirrors used in that case are capable of reflecting only about 70% of the incident light and consequently absorb about 30% of the incident light, materials having a low coefficient of thermal expansion are normally used as substrate material for such mirrors. Such so-called "low expansion materials" are, for example, Zerodur®, ULE® or Clearceram®. Those materials normally have an amorphous silicate glass content of above about 50% and, in extreme cases, of even 100%. For a projection exposure system to be capable of functioning on a long-term basis it is necessary to ensure, therefore, that the energy absorbed in the substrate material during operation does not lead to changes in the substrate and thus to degradation of the mirror surface. In other words, it is necessary to ensure that changes of any kind in the shape or roughness of the surface, which can lead to a no longer tolerable increase in aberrations or stray light, do not occur.

Mirror elements for EUV lithography and production methods therefor


A driving controller of electric vehicles. An angular accelerative dimension error calculator calculates error information having a dimension of angular acceleration of a car body. A feedback torque calculator calculates the feedback torque on the basis of the error information according to the sign of a steering angle and the error information, and ON/OFF of an accelerator. A vehicle controller corrects the reference torque, determined according to an accelerator angle and braking force, by the feedback torque, and outputs the corrected reference torque toward motor controllers, thereby improving vehicle running safety.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric vehicle (hereafter, called EV ), and especially to an EV provided with a vehicle running motor for every driving wheel, in other words, a wheel motor type EV. More particularly, the present invention relates to a driving controller which is mounted on board the wheel motor type EV in order to control the respective vehicle running motors.
b) Description on the Related Art
"Electric vehicle" is a general term for vehicles driven by electric motors. EVs can be classified according to types of power trains from the vehicle running motors to the respective driving wheels into one-motor type EVs, in which output of one common motor is distributed to right and left driving wheels via a differential gearing and the like, and wheel-motor type EVs, in which an electric motor is arranged to every driving wheel in order to drive the driving wheel corresponding to the electric motor. The wheel-motor type EV is superior to the one-motor type EV in several points. One superior point of the wheel-motor type EV is that such an EV requires only a small sized battery for supplying driving power to the electric motor because a torque transmission/distribution mechanism, such as a differential gearing, is unnecessary and energy consumption is small because of small transmission loss. A further advantage of the wheel-motor type EV is that the respective vehicle running motors can be made small because every electric motor drives only a driving wheel corresponding to that electric motor. A third advantage of the wheel-motor type EV is that integration level is increased (cabin space is enlarged) because the respective vehicle running motors can be built inside the respective driving wheels. The wheel-motor type EVs, in which the respective vehicle running motor are built inside the respective driving wheels, are hereafter called wheel-in-motor type EVs.
A fourth advantage of the wheel-motor type EV is that the output can be controlled separately for every driving wheel. The wheel-motor type EV disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607, intend to improve vehicle straight line stability by utilizing this fourth advantage. Specifically, the wheel-motor type EV disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607 is provided with a driving controller for separately controlling the rotational speed of the respective vehicle running motors. This driving controller first predicts the motion of the car body utilizing a vehicle motion model prepared beforehand when the expected reference number-of-rotation has actually been supplied to the respective vehicle running motors. In further detail, the yaw-rate of the vehicle about the center of gravity of the vehicle body, that is, the angular velocity of the car body in the yawing direction, is calculated on the basis of the detected values of both of the steering angle and the vehicle speed and according to the vehicle motion model. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607, the difference between the predicted yaw-rate derived in this way and the yaw-rate detected by a yaw-rate sensor is called yaw-rate noise. The driving controller disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607 supplies the reference number-of-rotation corrected so as to reduce the yaw-rate noise to the respective vehicle running motors.
The yaw-rate noise in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607 is the value obtained by subtracting unpredictable errors, such as shifts due to differences between dynamically loaded radiuses of right and left tires, difference between loads of right and left wheels, inclination and undulation of roads, wind direction, etc. in the detected values of the steering angle and the car speed from the detected yaw-rate. Therefore, if speed control as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607 can be achieved, straight line stability of a vehicle may be achieved against the respective factors mentioned above in addition to the difference between dynamically loaded radiuses of right and left tires.
However, the control disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607 is in fact difficult to realize. First, in order to keep and improve the straight line stability of a vehicle, the predicted yaw-rate of the vehicle motion model should be estimated in real time so as to accurately reflect the behavior of an actual vehicle. On the other hand, EVs are designed so that the rotational speed of the vehicle running motors can be dynamically changed within the wide speed range in order to steadily realize the running speed and the acceleration/deceleration or the like required by a driver, in other words, in order to realize them so that the driver does not feel a sense of unnaturalness. Consequently, the rotational speed of the vehicle running motors and further the vehicle speed may largely or rapidly change in EVs. In such a state, the predicted yaw-rate of the vehicle motion model estimated on the basis of the detected car speed often does not fit the actual car speed. Taking into consideration further that control of electric motors over a wide speed range is difficult in general, it is seen that realization and effects of maintaining and improving the straight line stability of a vehicle according to the art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607 is difficult and limited.
Even if straight line stability of a vehicle can be improved by the control disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607, perfect running safety of the vehicle can not be maintained and improved merely by improving the straight line stability of the vehicle. There are other important factors such as factors governing the running stability of a vehicle in the cases of speed changes, turns, and lane changes. In other words, in order to realize perfect running safety, control for maintaining the running stability of a vehicle against slip during speed changing, spin during turn, oversteer/understeer at lane changing is necessary. However, the control disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607 can not accomplish perfect vehicle running stability. In other words, the control disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 5-91607 can not cope with the above-mentioned negative factors such as slip during speed changing, because cornering powers Kf, Kr are presumed as constants, which in actuality, they vary with car speed, acceleration, and angular velocity.


Harmonic selection for track following is described for a hard disk drive comprising at least one magnetic disk capable of storing data and spinning, a controller capable of controlling a read/write head capable of reading and writing data while following a track on a surface of the at least one magnetic disk, and a memory device capable of storing data relating to the operation of the hard disk drive. A drive function test on the hard disk drive is performed, during which harmonic frequencies are identified which cause disturbances for the hard disk drive. Data regarding the harmonic frequencies which cause the greatest disturbances for the hard disk drive is stored in the memory device. The data regarding the harmonic frequencies which cause the greatest disturbances is forwarded to the controller upon the at least one magnetic disk spinning.

At least one hard disk drive (HDD) is used in almost all computer system operations. In fact, most computing systems are not operational without some type of HDD to store the most basic computing information such as the boot operation, the operating system, the applications, and the like. In general, the HDD is a device which may or may not be removable, but without which the computing system will generally not operate.
The basic HDD model uses a read/write head to read and write information or data on a magnetic disk. In some operations, as the magnetic disk spins, the read/write head follows a track or path along the surface of the magnetic disk. Disturbances or deformations, due to mechanical root cause, may occur as the disk spins. These disturbances or deformations cause off-track displacement as the read/write head follows the track along the surface of the magnetic disk. This may lead to inefficiency and errors in reading and writing information or data on the magnetic disk.

Harmonic selection for track following on a hard disk drive

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.


Systems and apparatus for providing fluid communications are described. In an example, a vial access cap includes a connector having an opening for providing access to a fluid pathway; a canella extending into an interior of a vial, the canella having a fluid lumen operatively coupled to the fluid pathway and a gas lumen; and a gravity-assisted valve comprising a valve body defining an elongated valve cavity, a first port, a second port operatively coupled to the gas lumen, and a valve member movable between a sealable end of the elongated valve cavity proximal to the first port and a non-sealable end of the elongated valve cavity proximal to the second port. In other examples, a syringe including a gravity-assisted valve and a system including gravity-assisted valves are described.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to vials and syringes, and, in particular, to vial access systems and apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medications and similarly dispensed substances are typically stored in a vial that is sealed with a vial cap having an access port for injecting fluid into or removing fluid from the vial. A closure of the vial usually include a pierceable rubber stopper formed of an elastomeric material such as butyl rubber or the like. The vial cap, typically formed of metal, is crimped over the pierceable rubber stopper and a flange of the vial to hold the stopper in place in the opening of the vial. The vial cap has an opening, or access port, through which the stopper and the vial opening may be accessed. A sharp cannula, such as a needle, or the piercing end of a vial adapter is typically inserted into the access port of a vial cap to make fluid connection with the contents of a vial.
Some medications for administration, such as many types of chemotherapy preparations, are packaged and shipped in a concentrated or dehydrated form, such as, but not limited to, a concentrated liquid or a dehydrated powder. Before these dehydrated or concentrated medicaments can be administered to patients, the medicaments must be reconstituted by adding a liquid rehydration or dilution component or constituent to the concentrated or dehydrated medicament. Gases from the reconstitution process, particularly for some chemotherapy preparations, can be toxic and require a closed or non-vented arrangement during processing and administration.

Vial access cap and syringe with gravity-assisted valve


Improvements in placement of timing patterns in self servo writing include correcting for random and systematic errors due to geometric effects. In a disk drive having a recording head with separate read and write elements, a method for determining separation between the elements and for correcting for such errors as a function of skew angle between the head and the disk. Errors resulting from misalignment and non-parallelism of the elements as well as misalignment of the head on it its actuator are also detected and corrected. Errors due to changes in rotational velocity of the disk and misplacement of timing patterns with respect to adjacent timing patterns are detected and corrected. In general, a single revolution process may be used to both write and detect random errors on each track and corrected on subsequent tracks.

Field Of The Invention
The invention relates generally to hard disk drive memory storage devices for computers. More particularly it relates to disk drive apparatus and to a method for writing servotrack information therein. More specifically it relates to alleviating the need for a complex mechanical and/or optical positioning system to establish servopatterns on the recording surfaces of the recording media.

Method and apparatus for determining systematic errors

International Business Machines Corporation