A mailing machine base comprising, structure for a direction of the path of travel and feeding a sheet in a path of travel, a fence defining against which the an edge of a sheet is normally registered for alignment therewith and thus in the direction of the path of travel, structure for controlling the sheet feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor connected to the sheet feeding structure, the controlling structure including structure for sensing a sheet fed into and out of blocking relationship with the sensing structure and providing a corresponding signal to the microprocessor, the signal having a first magnitude when a sheet is not disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a second magnitude when a sheet is disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a variable magnitude between the first and second magnitudes for less than a predetermined time interval when a sheet is fed into blocking relationship with the sensing structure and the sheet edge is in alignment with the registration fence, and the signal having a variable magnitude between the first and second magnitudes for at least the predetermined time interval when a sheet is fed out of blocking relationship with the sensing structure and the sheet edge is not in alignment with the registration fence; and the microprocessor programmed for successively alternately obtaining a sample of the magnitude of the signal and delaying sampling thereof for the predetermined time interval, determining whether the magnitudes of any two successive samples are both between the first and second magnitudes, and causing implementation of a shut-down routine if the magnitudes of any two successive samples are both between the first and second magnitudes.

The present invention is generally concerned with apparatus including sheet feeding and printing structures, and more particularly with a mailing machine including a base adapted to have mounted thereon a postage meter, and improved drive systems and control structures therefor.
This application is one of the following four, related, U.S. Patent Applications concurrently filed by A. Eckert, Jr. et. al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention: Ser. No. 07/841,911 (Applicants file C-674) for Mailing Machine Including Sheet Feeding Speed Calibrating Means; Ser. No. 07/814,315 (Applicants file C-675) for Mailing Machine Including Printing Speed Calibrating Means; Ser. No. 07/841,915 (Applicants file C-687) for Mailing Machine Including Skewed Sheet Detection Means and Ser. No. 07,841,912 d(Applicants file C-692) for Mailing Machine Including Short Sheet Length Detecting Means. In addition, this application is related to each of the following five U.S. Patent Applications filed Dec. 19, 1991 by A. Eckert, Jr., et. al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention: Ser. No. 07/810,257, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,554, for Mailing Machine Including Shutter Bar Moving Means; Ser. No. 07/810,255, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,060 for Mailing Machine Including Sheet Feeding Control Means; Ser. No. 07/810,256 (Applicants file C-862) for Mailing Machine Including Shutter Bar Control System; Ser. No. 07/810,258 (Applicants file C-863) for Mailing Machine Including Printing Drum Acceleration And Constant Velocity Control System; and Ser. No. 07/810,597, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,836, for Mailing Machine Including Printing Drum Deceleration And Coasting Control System.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,446, for a Microprocessor Controlled D.C. Motor For controlling Printing Means, issued Sep. 27, 1988 to Salazar, et. al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, there is described a mailing machine which includes a base and a postage meter removably mounted thereon. The base includes sheet feeding structure for feeding a sheet in a downstream path of travel through the machine, and includes two sheet sensing structures located a known distance from one another along the path of travel. And, the postage meter includes a rotary printing drum for printing postage indicia on a sheet while feeding the sheet downstream in the path of travel therebeneath. The sensors successively sense the sheet in the path of travel and provide successive signals to a microprocessor to permit the time lapse between the signals to be used for calculating a count corresponding to the sheet feeding speed. Moreover, the base includes a d.c. motor for driving the postage printing drum, and an encoder coupled to the drum drive shaft for providing signals indicative of the position thereof to a counting circuit which, in turn, provides a count to the microprocessor indicative of the peripheral speed of the postage printing drum. And, the computer is programmed to successively sample the counts corresponding to the sheet feeding speed and the speed of the periphery of the drum to adjust the motor drive between sampling time instants and generate a motor drive signal for causing the motor to drive the drum at a velocity which matches the peripheral speed of the drum with the sheet feeding speed.
Thus it is know in the art to provide a closed loop, sampled data, feed back control system in a mailing machine base for continuously matching the peripheral speed of a postage printing drum to the feeding speed of a sheet.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,505 for a Postage Meter Drive System, issued Sep. 5, 1989 to Miller, et. al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, there is described a mailing machine base having a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the base includes a first d.c. motor for driving the postage printing drum via a drum gear in the meter, a second d.c. motor for driving the structure for feeding a sheet through the machine, and a third, stepper, motor for driving a linkage system connected in bearing engagement with the postage meter shutter bar for moving the shutter bar out of and into locking engagement with the drum drive gear.
Thus it is known in the art to provide three separate motors for driving the sheet feeding, shutter bar moving and postage printing drum driving structures in a mailing machine base. And, it is known to provide a stepper motor for driving a linkage system to move the postage meter shutter bar into and out of locking engagement with the drum drive gear.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,311, for a Mailing Machine Envelope Transport System, issued Nov. 29, 1988 to Hans C. Mol and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. There is described a mailing machine base having a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the time lapse between spaced sensors in the path of travel of a sheet is utilized by a microprocessor for calculating a sheet feeding speed, and wherein the speed of a stepper motor, connected for driving the postage printing drum under the control of the microprocessor, is adjusted to match the peripheral speed of the drum with the sheet feeding speed.
Thus it is known in the art to provide a microprocessor driven stepper motor in a mailing machine base for driving a postage printing drum at a peripheral speed which matches the speed of a sheet fed therebeneath.
As noted above, the structures utilized in the prior art for sheet feeding, shutter bar moving and postage printing drum driving purposes include the sophisticated feedback control system of the '446 patent, which continuously controls the motion of a postage printing drum to conform the same to a trapezoidal-shaped velocity versus time profile, having a constant velocity portion which results in the peripheral speed of the drum matching the speed of sheets fed through a mailing machine, and include the relatively inexpensive alternative of the '311 patent, which includes a stepper motor operated for matching the peripheral speed of the drum to the sheet feeding speed without regard to the acceleration and deceleration velocity versus time profile characteristics of the drum. Each of such systems has its drawbacks, for example, encoders are expensive, as are software solutions which take into consideration the technical specifications of the motors controlled thereby. And both of such expenses are major considerations in competitively pricing mailing machines for the marketplace. Further, stepper motors are noisy, as are linkage systems, which tend to suffer from wear and tear over time and become noisy. Moreover, the combination of a stepper motor and linkage system for driving a shutter bar tends to cause the moving shutter bar to be noisy. In addition to being irritable to customers, noise-normally signals wear and tear and, since mailing machines must normally withstand the wear and tear of many thousands of operational cycles in the course of their expected useful life, maintenance problems are compounded by the use of noisy systems in mailing machines. And, such considerations are of major importance in generating and retaining a high level of customer satisfaction with the use of mailing machines. Accordingly:
an object of the invention is to provide an improved, low cost, low operational noise level, mailing machine base;
another object is to provide improved microprocessor controlled sheet feeding, shutter bar moving and postage printing drum driving structures in a mailing machine base;
another object is to provide a microprocessor controlled d.c. motor for accelerating sheet feeding rollers at a substantially constant rate to a substantially constant sheet feeding speed;
another object is to provide a microprocessor controlled shutter bar moving system in a mailing machine base;
another object is to provide a microprocessor controlled d.c. motor for timely accelerating a postage meter drum from rest, in its home position, to a substantially constant velocity, and then maintaining the velocity constant;
another object is to provide a microprocessor controlled d.c. motor for timely controlling deceleration of a postage printing drum from a substantially constant velocity to rest in its home position;
another object is to provide a method and apparatus for calibrating the sheet feeding speed of sheet feeding rollers to conform the speed to a predetermined speed;
another object is to provide a method and apparatus for calibrating the printing speed of a rotary printing drum to conform the printing speed to the speed of a sheet fed thereto;
another object is to provide a method and apparatus for detecting skewed sheets fed to a mailing machine base; and
another object is to provide a method and apparatus for detecting sheets of insufficient length fed to a mailing machine for printing postage indicia thereon.

Mailing machine including skewed sheet detection means


The method manufactures a nozzle plate including a nozzle having a tapered section where a diameter gradually decreases from a liquid supply side toward a liquid ejection side, and a straight section which is substantially cylindrical and is situated nearer a liquid ejection side of the tapered section. The method comprises the steps of: forming a first photosensitive material in a form of a layer on a substrate; placing a straight section forming member including a hole section having a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of the straight section, on the first photosensitive material; filling a second photosensitive material into the hole section; radiating a prescribed light toward the straight section forming member, in such a manner that substantially all of the second photosensitive material is exposed and the first photosensitive material is exposed in a tapered shape having a diameter which gradually increases toward the substrate; removing the straight section forming member from the first photosensitive material and the second photosensitive material; carrying out development of the first photosensitive material and the second photosensitive material after removing the straight section forming member from the first photosensitive material and the second photosensitive material; forming a metal layer which is to serve as the nozzle plate, on the substrate, by a plating method where the first photosensitive material and the second photosensitive material left on the substrate after carrying out the development of the first photosensitive material and the second photosensitive material are used as a mold; and removing the metal layer from the substrate, the first photosensitive material and the second photosensitive material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a nozzle plate, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a nozzle plate having a nozzle of a cross-sectional shape which is formed by combining a tapered section and a straight section.
2. Description of the Related Art
An inkjet recording apparatus (inkjet printer) is known which forms a desired image on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles toward a recording medium, while causing a print head including a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles on an ejection surface opposing the recording medium to move relatively with respect to the recording medium.
In a print head of this kind, if dimensional accuracy is poor in terms of the shape and position of the nozzles formed in the nozzle plate, or the like, then variations occur in the size (volume) of the ink droplets, their direction of flight and their speed of flight. Consequently, image deterioration may occur and the ink ejection efficiency may decline. Therefore, various methods of manufacturing a nozzle plate have been proposed in order to resolve this problem (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-329392, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-193144, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-154210 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-166595.)
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-329392 discloses a method of manufacturing a nozzle plate where tapered nozzles are formed by forming a taper-shaped electroforming mold by light exposure using diffused light, in order to stabilize the position of the ink meniscus and suppress the loss of ejection energy.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-193144 discloses a method of manufacturing a nozzle plate in order to stabilize the ink ejection direction. In the method, a member having guaranteed nozzle diameters formed by pressing a metal is obtained, a photosensitive dry film is laminated thereon, and light exposure with scattered light is performed from the metal side, thereby forming nozzles in which the metal side has a straight shape and the dry film side has a tapered shape.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-154210 discloses a method of manufacturing a nozzle plate in order to stabilize the ejection direction of very fine ink droplets. In the method, a photosensitive resin is exposed in a straight shape by using a normal mask, and the photosensitive resin is then exposed using a graduated mask having a light transmissivity that changes gradually rather than being uniform. When the resin is developed, nozzles are obtained in which the ink inlet side has a curved shape and the outlet side has a straight shape.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-166595 discloses a method of manufacturing a nozzle plate, in order to stabilize the ink ejection direction. In the method, resist is coated onto the entire surface of a nozzle forming member in which nozzles having an overhang shape have been formed, exposure and development are carried out from the ejection surface side, and electroforming is carried out from the opposite side (ink supply side), thereby forming nozzles having a substantially cylindrical shape (or a substantially circular conic/trapezoid shape).
However, there are problems of the following kinds in the above methods of manufacturing nozzle plates.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-329392, there is no straight section in the nozzles and the ink ejection direction is not stable. Furthermore, since a tapered electroforming mold is used, then if there is variation in the thickness of the electroforming film, albeit a very slight variation, this could cause variation in the nozzle diameters, and hence lead to a decline in ejection efficiency.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-193144, resin material (dry film) is disposed on the ink flow channel side, and there is a possibility that problems with the resistance to ink may arise.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-154210, since exposure steps are required to be performed twice, positional displacement can readily occur between the steps, leading to a decline in the dimensional accuracy of the nozzles, which in turn causes a decline in the ejection efficiency and fluctuation in the ejection direction.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-166595, since the nozzles have an overhang shape, variation in the nozzle diameter is liable to occur and it is difficult to stabilize the ink ejection direction.


A connector element for connecting frame parts at a joint location in a bicycle frame is made of a single part of structural fiber based material, typically carbon fiber material, after reticulation in a mold exploiting the expansion of a core on which windings of fiber fabric material are provided, to obtain the application of a uniform radial pressure on the layers of fiber based material. In one embodiment, the connector element defines a bicycle bottom bracket and tubular extensions extending therefrom for connection to elements of the bicycle frame.

Structural fiber fabrics incorporated in a plastic material matrix are known and have been used for some time. They are made with yarn obtained from structural fibers, such as carbon fibers, for example. These fabrics are then subjected to a calendering process to associate them to a plastic material matrix, typically a thermosetting plastic material.
The Applicant has recently conducted various studies and tests to make bicycle components, such as wheel hubs or bottom brackets for housing the bicycle crank axle, using structural fiber based material, typically carbon fiber based material. The advantage offered by this type of material is that it is lightweight with respect to the metal materials commonly used, given equal structural characteristics. Making such a component out of a single part of carbon fiber based material, however, proved to be difficult heretofore, due to the complex conformation of such components.
The object of this invention is to overcome this technical problem.

Method for producing a connector element for connecting frame parts at a joint location in a bicycle framework and connector element obtained thereby


Disclosed herein is a continuous tubular reactor based conversion of acetophenones to amino substituted acetophenones wherein the nitration is carried out at −10 to 10° C. followed by reduction to m-nitrophenone resulting in uniform output of product, said process comprising the steps of: a) Nitrating acetophenone with nitrating agent (nitration mixture or fuming nitric acid) at −10 to 10° C.; b) Isolating m-nitro acetophenone from a mixture of o and m-nitro acetophenone and c) Reducing the m-nitro to obtain m-amino acetophenone.

The nitro derivatives of aromatic compound find applications in the manufacture of dyes, API's, pesticides and fine chemicals. Typically the exothermic nature of nitration of aromatic substrates does not facilitate an easy scale-up based on laboratory experiments and more precautions are taken to make the entire process safer with larger scales. Also, as it is mentioned in the analysis of industrial and laboratory nitration processes (ACS Symposium Series, 22, ACS, 1976, 201) in general the aromatic nitration is a heterogeneous system and the rate of nitration strongly depends upon the interfacial mass transfer rates and the nature of dispersion. Relative rates of mass transfer and the rate of parallel reactions affect the overall conversion as well as the selectivity of a specific isomer. Thus providing adequate heat transfer area to take care of the heat duty and provide efficient mixing to enable high diffusion rates is essential for the scale-up of nitration processes. While some of these constraints are observed while doing nitration in batch or semi-batch mode, they can be overcome effectively in continuous mode of operation.
Continuous flow nitration of organic substrates has been reported in a few patents U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,042 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,498 discuss the continuous adiabatic nitration of nitrobenzene. EP0436443B1 covers a continuous process for nitration of nitratable organic substrates including hydrocarbons and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. More recently, the patent (WO2007087816A1) based on. Corning's Advanced Flow reactor on nitration of aromatic substrates demonstrates the ability of the specific device towards nitration of a few organic and specifically aromatic substrates.

Continuous two step flow synthesis of M-amino acetophenone

COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH


A packaged integrated circuit (IC) (100) includes a first substrate (110) comprising a first plurality of layers and a first circuit coupling features (112) at an upper surface of the first substrate (110), the first plurality of layers including a first electromagnetic interference shielding layer (132). The packaged IC also includes a second substrate (106) having an upper surface attached to a lower surface of the first substrate (110) by an electrically conductive adhesive material (136). The second substrate (106) includes a second plurality of layers and a second circuit coupling feature (108) at a lower surface of the second substrate (106). The first plurality of layer includes a second EMI shielding layer (134). The packaged IC further includes a functional die (124) disposed between the first (110) and the second (106) substrates and functionally coupled to the first (112) and/or the second (108) circuit coupling features. In the packaged IC, the adhesive material (136) electrically couples the first (132) and the second (134) shielding layers.

As the demand for faster, smaller electronic products with increased functionality is increased, some designers have turned to system-in-package (SIP) solutions. A SIP typically includes several different types of integrated circuits (ICs) integrated into a single IC package. However, in recent years, stacked packaging schemes, such as package-on-package (POP) configurations, have been used in place of SIP's. Typically, by allowing stacking of different semiconductor packages, the required footprint size for a semiconductor package in an electronic product can be reduced. Furthermore, because some stacked packages, such as POP packages, provide a modular solution by allowing different combinations semiconductor packages to be stacked, designers can generally design different types of electronic devices using a few single semiconductor package footprints.
Some types of integrated circuits (ICs), including those used in stacked packages, are known to radiate a relatively large amount of electromagnetic energy during periods of operation. For example, microprocessors and other digital processing devices are recognized as major sources of electromagnetic radiation in computer systems. The electromagnetic energy radiated by such devices can interfere with the operation of other devices or circuits in the vicinity of the radiating IC, including those ICs in the same stacked package, and is therefore generally undesirable.
A number of techniques have been used in the past to reduce the level of electromagnetic interference (EMI) emanating from an IC, or to protect ICs from EMI. Typically such techniques require that a generally conductive cage structure be formed around the IC using a stamped sheet metal cage member that can have a plurality of legs spaced about a periphery thereof. The cage member is then placed over the IC package and is coupled to a corresponding ground pad on an underlying circuit board. The ground pads of the circuit board are each conductively coupled to a ground plane of the circuit board using, for example, via connections. In this manner, the generally conductive shield for blocking EMI, known as a Faraday cage, is formed around the IC. However, the use of conventional Faraday cages in stacked packaging schemes, such as POP packaging, typically increases the overall dimensions of the package and can eliminate at least a portion of the sizing advantages originally obtained through stacked packaging schemes.

Integrated circuit package having integrated faraday shield


An optically active compound which itself generally exhibits no antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase, but which can be added to an antiferroelectric liquid crystal or composition thereof having a high threshold voltage to reduce the threshold voltage of the resulting composition. Also disclosed is an antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition containing the optically active compound, a process for reducing the threshold voltage of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition, a process for producing the optically active compound, and a process for producing an optically active carboxylic acid as an intermediate.

The antiferroelectric liquid crystal was discovered by Chandani et al. in 1988 (Chandani et al., Jpn.J.Appl.Phys., 27, L279 (1988)), and has been proposed as a future material substituting for nematic liquid crystals which are presently used in liquid crystal displays.
The switching time of the nematic liquid crystal which is presently used in liquid crystal displays is typically as slow as 30 milliseconds. Thus, these display devices are fabricated using a driving method employing a thin film transistor (TFT) called an active matrix having a very high production cost. Furthermore, a display based on a twisted nematic (TN) system is disadvantageous in that it essentially provides a narrow viewing angle.
The antiferroelectric liquid crystal has a switching time as fast as several tens of microseconds. In the antiferroelectric liquid crystal, liquid crystal molecules respond in plane such that a wide viewing angle can be obtained. Furthermore, the antiferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits a definite threshold voltage even under an applied DC voltage and is thus easily driven. Accordingly, the antiferroelectric liquid crystal can constitute a display device driven by a simple matrix requiring a low production cost.
On the other hand, a ferroelectric liquid crystal disclosed by Meyer et al. in 1975 (R. B. Meyer et al., J. Phys. (France), 36, L69, (1975)) was proposed as a high definition liquid crystal display because of its fast response. However, a full color image display using the ferroelectric liquid crystal has not yet been realized because of the difficulty in producing gray levels. With the antiferroelectric liquid crystal, a gray scale has been realized. Therefore, a full-color animation display has already been achieved, though on an experimental basis.
As mentioned above, the liquid crystal display employing an antiferroelectric liquid crystal is expected to achieve a high definition display having a wide viewing angle using a low cost simple matrix.
However, compounds exhibiting an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase are extremely restricted from a structural viewpoint. Most of these compounds have a terminal structure such as a 1-substituted alkyl benzoic acid ester exemplified by the following structural formula (see Future Liquid Crystal Display and Its Materials, supervised by Atsuo Fukuda, CMC, (1992)): ##STR1## wherein Y represents an alkyl group or a perfluoroalkyl group.
The antiferroelectric liquid crystal incorporated into display devices must have a practical working temperature range such as nematic liquid crystals in general use and must also exhibit various properties relating to display quality. Thus, it is necessary to mix antiferroelectric liquid crystal compounds having different properties to form the desired liquid crystal composition. However, because the structure that allows the appearance of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase is restricted as mentioned above, the only allowable structural modifications are the introduction of an alicyclic group, condensed ring or heterocyclic group into the core structure and the introduction of an ether bond into the chiral terminal alkyl chain. The resulting compound is much like the original compound in its properties. Thus, a practical liquid crystal composition having the above properties is difficult to obtain.
Thus, the development of liquid crystal compounds having a range of properties is indispensable in obtaining an antiferroelectric liquid crystal having practically useful properties.
On the other hand, the present inventors have found that a compound having the following structure can exhibit an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase (see JP-A-4-82862 (The term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application")). ##STR2##
This compound has 2-methylalkanoic acid incorporated therein and thus exhibits a stable antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase. However, this compound has a high viscosity because its core structure is similar to that of known antiferroelectric liquid crystals and also has a high threshold voltage. The present inventors also found that an antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase appears when 2-methylalkanoic acid is introduced into the core of a heterocyclic compound such as diphenylpyrimidine (see JP-A-9-31063). This compound has a lower viscosity than the foregoing ester compounds and thus is useful. However, this compound also has a high threshold voltage. That is, there is a need to solve the above problems of the prior art.

Optically active compound, antiferroelectric liquid crystal composition containing the same, process for producing the same and process for producing an optically active carboxylic acid


A vertical cavity surface emitting laser with a mode-selective mirror. A filter is formed on the top DBR stack of a VCSEL. The filter includes semiconductor layers that are etch stops for immediately superior layers. The filter is selectively etched to create a first region that is phase matched to the top DBR stack and a second region that is phase mismatched to the top DBR stack. The second region inhibits undesired modes and provides additional absorption for the undesired modes. The first region is formed using a wet-etch process whose etch depth is controlled because the semiconductor layers are etch stops for immediately superior layers.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to single mode vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for VCSELs with varying reflectance and absorption across the VCSELs aperture.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers are continuing to evolve and are becoming increasingly useful in many applications. Because VCSELs emit from a direction perpendicular to the active region, they are well suited for low-cost wafer-scale fabrication. They are also suitable for array applications.
VCSELs typically have a short cavity length which implies that there is limitations on the relationship between the cavity resonance and the gain bandwidth. VCSELs may only have a single longitudinal mode. However, the cavity diameter of a VCSEL is relatively large and may permit more than one transverse spatial modes. In other words, VCSELs may be multi-mode devices. In a wide variety of applications, it is desirable to have a single mode output. The challenge faced today is the ability to reliably manufacture a VCSEL that is single mode.

Mode selective semiconductor mirror for vertical cavity surface emitting lasers


High silver chloride photographic materials can be processed with a process comprising two fixing steps, one before and another after a hydrogen peroxide bleaching step. The first fixing step utilizes a sulfite fixing agent.

In the field of low silver coverage photographic materials intended for redox amplification (RX) processes it has been proposed to use a fixer comprising an alkali metal sulfite as fixing agent and a bleach comprising a peroxide and an alkali metal halide. These proposals are described in European Publications. 0,540,619, 0,506,909, and 0,470,083.
Such fixers and bleaches are more environmentally friendly than thiosulfate fixers or bleaches containing ferricyanide ions or complexes of iron as the bleaching agent.
The silver level, however, in conventionally processed materials is much higher than those used with RX processes hence process times are expected to be longer when they are applied to conventional materials. For example if there is more silver halide to remove, more time will be taken for the fixing step.
The silver from the image can be removed by a conventional bleach-fix but this contains iron(III) EDTA that is considered a problem in the environment when sewered.
A peroxide bleach immediately following the developer results in increased density caused by continued redox amplification that may result in staining. It is also difficult to maintain the desired sensitometry in such circumstances. This problem can be alleviated by incorporating an acid stop or wash bath after image formation.
When the silver level is higher than those used with the lowest silver RX materials it has been found that when they are processed through a process consisting of developer, sulfite fixer, peroxide rehalogenating bleach then wash, the silver chloride will print-up slowly in image areas and is very sensitive to darkening caused by sulfide in the atmosphere.
The problem is therefore to use a sulfite fixer and a peroxide rehalogenating bleach on color silver halide materials while retaining full bleaching and fixing without suffering from variations in the sensitometric keeping properties.

Method of processing photographic silver halide materials


A differential capstan roller for a thermal printer is provided by dividing a capstan roller into first and second end segments, and an intermediate middle segment drivingly engageable with a drive shaft to drive the middle segment, and gearing the first and second end segments together differentially. The first and second end segments are driven with the middle segment through the gearing so that the average velocity of the end segments is equal to the velocity of the middle segment at any instant in time but the velocities of the two end segments are not always equal to each other.

In transporting and accurately metering long lengths of web material, a capstan roller with a pinch roller may be used as the metering device. When the web fed through the nip between the capstan roller and pinch roller with a web travel axis at 90.degree. to the capstan axis, and with upstream lateral guidance, the rolling action of the capstan will try to urge the web toward the 90.degree. approach angle. This action requires not only the lateral movement of the web on the roller, but also requires the rotation of the web in its own plane. That rotation causes a non-uniform velocity as measured across the width of the web as it passes over the capstan, which in turn, requires various degrees of slip and/or overdrive on the capstan. This action, which is restricted by the pinch roller, not only detracts from the accurate metering of the capstan, but requires the web to be highly tensioned and in danger of damage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,152 which issued to Wolfgang Hendrisck on Jul. 26, 1983 discloses two friction rollers joined on a drive shaft with a differential being keyed to that shaft to cause one of the rollers that is not held to be driven. The rollers are ultimately held by, preferably, latching devices which are operated on limit positions of the print head. A differential is used to selectively drive or brake two coaxial rollers with one power source while transporting two webs. If the drive selector mechanism is removed, the action of the roller segments will allow web tracking corrections to be made. However, such a use is done in the presence of a strong steering torque which may damage the web. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a web tracking correction mechanism that does not produce a dangerous amount of torque.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,971, which issued to Charles F. de Mey on Jun. 22, 1982, discloses a metering roller that is segmented to allow the web to rotate in its own plane at the roller for web alignment. The center segment of the roller is driven while the end segments are free to turn about the shaft at the same or different speeds. When a thin web is being transported and the center segment is driven, diagonal folds could develop from points in the web adjacent the driven segment to the edges of the web. It is also possible for nonuniform stretching to occur which would cause distortion in the web operation. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it will be highly desirable to have a capstan mechanism that allows the web rotation in its plane for tracking alignment and also provide web drive in the entire roller length.


A golf cart foot unit includes an upper rod and a lower rod combined together. The upper rod and the lower rod have the same structure wherein they have a plurality of projecting walls and plural grooves defined by the walls on their inner surfaces. The walls and the grooves of the upper rod fit with the grooves and the walls of the lower rod with substantial dimensions so that the foot unit has a considerable stability in operation of collapsing and spreading of the golf cart.

This invention concerns a golf cart foot unit, particularly consisting of an upper rod and a lower rod combined together by means of plural projecting walls and grooves formed by the walls to fit with one another so as to enable the foot unit spread or collapse smoothly and increase the golf cart strength as well.
A common known conventional golf cart shown in FIG. 4 includes a club bag frame 11, a pair of foot units 12, two wheels 13, and a push rod 14 as main components combined together.
An upper supporter 111 and a lower supporter 112 are fixed on the club bag frame 11 for a band to bind a club bag 15 on the frame 11, and a sustainer 113 under the lower supporter 112 to sustain the bottom of the bag 15.
Further, a connecting plate 114 is movably fixed on the club bag frame 11, and combined with upper ends of the foot units 12 at two sides. Then lower ends of the foot units 12 are combined pivotally with pivots 121 with plates 131 fixed on the wheels 13 so as to enable the wheels to move on the ground. Then the upper and the lower rod 122 and 123 form a parallelogram. Further, a support rod 116 connects pivotally the lower end 123 with the upper supporter 111 so that the foot unit 12 can swing inward to collapse or outward to spread. And a push rod 14 is provided movable rearward and bendable downward, having a grip 141 and a record plate 142.
Though the known conventional golf cart has advantages of light weight and easy collapsiblity, it also has disadvantages as follows in use.
1. The upper rod and the lower rod of the foot unit are considerably loose in the combined condition, and will become quite looser after a period of use. So the whole golf cart will hardly work soon. PA1 2. A golf cart should have enough stability to move around on a golf ground with many uneven surfaces, and this conventional golf cart does not have that.


A wearable tag for use with an electronic house arrest monitoring (EHAM) system, or equivalent, is held against a limb of its wearer by a lockable strap. The tag includes tamper detection circuitry for detecting any attempt to remove the tag by cutting or breaking the strap, even when such cutting occurs in the presence of an electrolyte. The strap has a conductor imbedded therein that is in electrical contact, through known resistances, with respective terminals on the tag. The tamper detection circuit detects any change in the resistance of the strap. Further, the terminals are made of, or coated with, dissimilar metals, so that should the tag be immersed in an electrolyte, and the strap cut, the resulting galvanic action between the terminals allows the cut strap to be detected.

The present invention relates to detecting the unauthorized removal (tamper) of a wearable transmitter tag. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tamper detection circuit and method for detecting the unauthorized removal of a transmitter tag used in an electronic house arrest monitoring (EHAM) system, or equivalent system designed to monitor ambulatory objects or persons.
EHAM systems are known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,885,571; 4,918,432 and 4,952,913, issued to Pauley et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. As indicated in those references, house arrest (a court-ordered mandate that requires a convicted law breaker to remain at a specific location, e.g., his or her house, at specified times) represents a very significant and viable alternative to conventional incarceration of convicted law breakers, especially those found guilty of non-violent crimes.
A typical EHAM system includes a transmitter tag that is securely attached to a limb of the person being monitored, and a field receiver that is mounted within the location whereat the offender is to remain. The transmitter tag periodically transmits an identifying signal that uniquely identifies its wearer. If the offender is within range of the field receiver, i.e., at the designated house arrest location, the field receiver receives and logs the identifying signal. If the offender is not within range of the field receiver, i.e., not at the designated house arrest location, the field receiver notes the absence of the identifying signal. Periodically or as needed, telecommunicative contact is established between the field receiver and a central monitoring computer so that the information received by the field receiver can be downloaded to the central computer.
While those sentenced to house arrest (hereafter the "offender") will generally recognize the need and benefit of complying with the sentence imposed, there nonetheless remains the need to monitor the presence or absence of the offender to ensure that the sentence imposed is being followed. Disadvantageously, the offender may sometimes attempt to foil the monitoring system by removing the transmitter tag. Hence, there is a further need in the house arrest monitoring art to detect any attempts by the offender to remove the transmitter tag, so that such events (hereafter "tamper events") can be promptly reported to the central monitoring computer.
One type of transmitter tag that has been used in EHAM systems of the prior art is essentially a two-piece molded structure inside of which the electronic circuits and batteries of the transmitter circuits are placed. Once the electronic circuits and batteries are placed inside of the unit, the two pieces of the case are permanently bonded or glued to each other, thereby creating a unitary construction. Unfortunately, such unitary sealed transmitter tag is useful only for the life of the battery, and then the tag must be discarded.
Another type of tag is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,823 issued to Dickerson, incorporated herein by reference. Dickerson teaches a tag case having a removable battery pack assembly that can be lockably secured to the tag case. As disclosed in Dickerson, an important feature of a portable tag used in personnel monitoring is that a strap that closes the tag around the wearer of the tag should be tamper resistant. One way of making such straps tamper resistant is to include a tamper detection circuit within the tag that detects an attempt to cut or otherwise violate the strap. Advantageously, such tamper detection circuit not only provides a means of notifying an operator at a remote location that the wearer has violated the strap, but also provides a substantial psychological deterrent to such violations. Dickerson teaches the use of a conductive material for the strap, thereby allowing anti-tamper electrical circuits within the tag to periodically perform electrical continuity checks to verify that the strap has not been cut.
Problematically, however, the Dickerson tamper detection means may be foiled by the wearer of the tag in at least two ways. First, the wearer may attach a parallel electric current path to opposite ends of the strap, e.g., by using a jumper cable having an alligator clip at both ends. Having attached the parallel electric current path to the strap, the strap can then be cut near the middle of the strap without breaking the electrical continuity of the anti-tamper electrical circuits. Thus, the wearer of the tag may easily defeat the Dickerson tag's anti-tamper circuits.
Second, if the Dickerson tag is immersed in an electrolyte solution and then the strap is cut, the electrolyte solution serves as a parallel electric current path to the strap. The strap can thus be cut without breaking the electrical continuity of the antitamper electrical circuits.
One possible way to detect tampering with the strap that cannot be easily foiled by using a parallel electric current path (a jumper) is through the use of a capacitance detector consisting of at least two electrodes. Such a capacitance detector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,571, issued to Pauley et al., previously incorporated herein by reference. In '571 Pauley, a continuity check of a conductive strap or band that holds the tag on the wearer is combined with a capacitance detector. The capacitance detector comprises the strap or band (a first electrode) and a capacitor plate (a second electrode). A capacitance detection circuit is used to detect a change in the capacitance between the two electrodes. Normally, when the tag is worn, the strap wraps around a limb of the offender, e.g., around the offender's ankle. The capacitor plate, being housed within the tag case, is coupled to the strap via electrostatic coupling though the body mass around which the strap is closed. In the event the strap is cut after establishing a parallel electrical path using a jumper cable or equivalent, the capacitance detector detects a change in the capacitance between the two electrodes. The change in capacitance is due to the fact that the body mass around which the strap was closed is absent, thereby causing the electrostatic coupling to occur through a different medium, e.g., air, instead of through the body mass. Such different coupling causes the dielectric material of the capacitor to change; and, as a result, causes the capacitance of the capacitor to change. Thus, such detectable change in capacitance is used to indicate that the strap has been violated.
Problematically, however, the '571 Pauley tag can still be foiled by first immersing the tag in an electrolyte before cutting the strap. For example, saltwater, which is a good conductor and will serve as a parallel electrical path, has approximately the same dielectric characteristics, i.e., permittivity, as the body mass, i.e., flesh. Thus, by immersing the Pauley tag in an electrolyte, the anti-tamper circuits can be foiled.
What is thus needed is a way to detect violations of the strap of a wearable transmitter tag that cannot be foiled by either (1) creating an electric current path parallel to the strap before violating the strap; or (2) immersing the tag and strap in a suitable electrolyte before violating the strap.
The present invention advantageously addresses the above and other needs.

Tamper detection circuit and method for use with wearable transmitter tag


A water-cooled engine mounted on a vehicle wherein a mass concentration keeps the center of mass at a low position. In a saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle, a radiator and a fuel tank are supported on lower frames, and are arranged, side by side, so as to be distributed respectively on the right-hand side and on the left-hand side so as to overlap each other when viewed from a side. In addition, the fuel tank and the radiator are disposed at the rear of a front suspension arm and at the rear of an engine. As a result, the concentration of mass and the keeping of the mass at a lower position are achieved. Moreover, the fuel tank and the radiator are allowed to stretch outwards beyond the upper frames. Consequently, the fuel tank can have a larger capacity and a ventilation path that leads to the radiator can be secured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to an advantageous structure for disposing a fuel tank and a radiator.
2. Description of Background Art
A saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle of a publicly-known type is sometimes equipped with a right-and-left pair front wheels as well as a right-and-left pair of rear wheels, and is provided with a handlebar for steering. In a vehicle of this type, an engine is disposed in the center of the vehicle body, and a fuel tank is disposed at the front of the engine. See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-281916.
A water-cooled engine is sometimes adopted as an engine for a vehicle of this type. In this case, a heavy radiator and a heavy fuel tank have to be arranged appropriately. In the arrangement, the mass of the vehicle has to be kept at a low position and has to be concentrated as much as possible.
Positioning these relatively massive assemblies is not an easy task if the above-mentioned requirements have to be met.


A dual or multiple row package (300) is provided which comprises a first plurality of terminals (303, 304, 305) and a second plurality of terminals (306, 307), which first and second plurality of terminals are exposed outside the encapsulation at a first side of the package. The terminals of the first plurality of terminals (303, 304, 305) are arranged in a first row (301), wherein a distance between each pair of adjacent terminals in the first row (301) is greater or equal than a first threshold value. Furthermore, the terminals of the second plurality of terminals (306, 307) are arranged in a second row (302), wherein a distance between each pair of adjacent terminals in the second row (302) is greater or equal than a second threshold and a distance between the first row (301) and the second row (302) is smaller than at least the first threshold value.

One of the major trends in the semiconductor packaging industry is to use surface-mount technology (SMT) as a replacement for conventional plated-through-hole (PTH) technology. SMT offers several distinct advantages over PTH technology, such as greater packaging density, higher lead counts with shorter interconnection lengths and easier automation. Since SMT requires electronic devices and components to be mountable on the surface of a printing wiring board, the materials and structure of traditional leaded components including capacitors, resistors and inductors have to be redesigned to meet the modern-day demand for short, thin, light and small electronic devices.
Examples of semiconductor devices accomplishing these objects include "quad flat non-leaded (QFN)" packages. Quad flat non-leaded electronic devices have a relatively new package structure, in which space-consuming outer leads protruding laterally out of a package are eliminated. Instead, external electrode pads to be electrically connected to a motherboard are provided on the backside of the QFN package.
A quad flat non-leaded package, especially a leadless leadframe package (LLP) makes use of a metal leadframe-type substrate structure in the formation of a chip scale package (CSP). In a typical leadless leadframe package, a copper leadframe strip or panel is patterned by stamping or etching to define a plurality of arrays of chip substrate features. Each chip substrate feature includes a die attach pad and a plurality of contacts (bonds) disposed about their associated die attach pad. During assembly, dice are attached to the respective die attach pads and conventional wire bonding is used to electrically couple each die to their associated bond pad contacts on the leadframe strip. After the wire bonding process, a synthetic resin cap is moulded over the top surface of each array of wire-bonded dice. The dice are then singulated and tested using conventional sawing and testing techniques.
In the following, referring to FIG. 5, a conventional dual row package 500 having equal spacing will be shortly explained. The conventional dual row package 500 comprises a first row 501 of terminals and a second row of terminals 502. Each of the rows comprises a plurality of terminals, which are schematically depicted as rectangular terminals 503, 504 and 505 for the first row 501 and as rectangular terminals 506 and 507 of the second row 502. Furthermore, a first arrow 508 shows a longitudinal axis of the dual row package 500 and a perpendicular direction showing towards a center of the dual row package 500 is shown by a second arrow 509. Thus, the second row 502 may form an inner row of the package. Such a conventional dual row package 500 has a spacing between the terminals of one row, i.e. in the first direction 508, the so-called pad-pitch of about 200 μm, for example. By the same time the spacing between the two rows, i.e. in the second direction 509, the so-called row-pitch is also about 200 μm. That is, the pad-pitch and the row-pitch is the same in the conventional dual row package 500.
The resulting packaged chip can then be surface mounted on a printed circuit board or other substrate using conventional techniques. Solder is printed well in a rectangular shape, suitably using stencil soldering. However, under reflow (heat) conditions the solder adheres to a ball and may generate shorts between adjacent pads. Thus, in order to reduce the probability of shorts, large distances between the terminals are used to be able to solder the components without opens and without shorts. However, to provide a given (desired) number of pads, larger distance between pads will result in a relatively large amount of space needed for the total package, which is a drawback in use for nowadays and future short, thin, light and small electronic devices.


An apparatus comprising a movable optical element having an optical axis and including one or more focusing elements, an image sensor positioned along the optical axis and substantially normal thereto, and a radiation source attached to the movable optical element, wherein the radiation source directs a beam of radiation onto the sensor at a selected angle relative to the optical axis. A process comprising positioning a sensor along, and normal to, an optical axis of a movable optical element, projecting a radiation beam onto the sensor from a radiation source attached to the movable optical element, wherein the radiation beam is at a selected angle relative to the optical axis, and adjusting the position of the movable optical element until the position where the radiation beam falls on the sensor corresponds to the position where the radiation beam is expected to fall on the sensor when the movable optical element is in focus. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

FIG. 1 illustrates a simple lens system 100 in which a lens 102 focuses an image of an object 104 onto an image plane 106. The object 104 is a front focus distance ff from the lens, while the image plane 106 is a back focus distance fb from the lens. For the lens 102 to maintain an optimally focused image on the image plane 106, the laws of optics dictate a certain relationship between ff and fb—in other words, for a given ff there is a specific value of fb that must be maintained for an image to be properly focused on the image plane 106.
What is true of the very simple lens system 100 is also true of more complex focusing systems: for a given ff there is a specific value of fb that must be maintained. In devices including more complex focusing elements, however, various factors such as thermal expansion, mechanical part tolerances, and the like may cause the focusing elements to move, thus altering the values of ff and fb and affecting the quality of the focused image. To correct these movements of the focusing elements, some devices incorporate movable optical elements whose positions are controlled by a control system. The control system senses when the image is going out of focus and adjusts the position of the movable optical elements until ff and fb are returned to their proper values and, as a result, the image is returned to optimal focus.
Before a control system can work properly, though, it must have some way of detecting the position of the movable optical element. The most common way of detecting the position of the movable optical element uses mechanical sensors. Mechanical sensors, however, tend to be bulky, expensive, and difficult to integrate into small systems. Since they are mechanical, their accuracy is also limited because of mechanical tolerances within the sensor and, moreover, the sensors are also subject to inaccuracies brought on by factors such as thermal expansion. Optically-based position sensors have been developed, but these are also bulky and expensive and depend mostly on measuring the front focal distance ff by, for example, transmitting and receiving a signal and measuring the delay to compute the distance. There is therefore a need in the art for an apparatus and method that accurately measures positions of a movable focusing element while being inexpensive, compact, and easy to integrate into optical systems.

Focusing system using light source and image sensor


A packaging apparatus, in particular for packaging smoking articles, includes a wrapping device for wrapping a barrier film around an item to be packaged, such as a pack of smoking articles; and at least one sealing head having a contact surface for contacting the barrier film wrapped around the item and sealing the barrier film along a seam to form a protective enclosure around the item. The contact surface of the sealing head is at least partially discontinuous to provide a non-sealing region in the sealing head. In this way, the non-sealing region can be positioned to at least partially, and preferably wholly, overlie a frangible part or strip provided in the barrier film.

A pack of smoking articles, e.g. cigarette pack, is typically produced in a packing process in which a container is formed around a charge of the smoking articles. After the packing process, the packs are finally wrapped and sealed with a barrier film that is designed both to protect against external influences, such as moisture, and also to retain aroma and to maintain the freshness of the smoking articles. The barrier film is typically a flexible sheet, which is preferably transparent and may be formed of cellophane, polypropylene, or another similar synthetic film material, with the barrier film typically being heat-shrunk, heated and bonded around the pack.
The barrier film can be configured to tear or break along a line to enable a consumer to access the smoking articles in the pack after purchase. In this regard, the line may be a line of weakness formed in the barrier film material, e.g. by scoring, or a line that follows a tear tape adhered to the barrier film. A tab or flap is typically located at an end of the line to allow a user to initiate the tearing or breaking of the barrier film. However, it has been found that bonding or sealing of the barrier film can interfere with the line of weakness. In particular, the tab or flap may stick to the barrier film such that the usual ease of tearing or breaking the film is compromised, making it more difficult for a consumer to remove the barrier film and access the smoking articles.


The semiconductor memory device according to the present invention has a memory cell array which includes a plurality of memory cells provided in array form and a plurality of bit lines and word lines that are respectively connected to the memory cells, where the bit lines are arranged so as to form a group of paired lines, sense amplifiers which are provided one for each of the bit line pairs, for amplifying the potential difference between the lines of the bit line pair in response to an activating signal, a delay circuit which uses said activating signal as its input signal, for generating a selection signal by giving to said activating signal a delay time that varies in response to a control signal from a switching circuit, and selection switch means for connecting a predetermined one of said bit line pairs and I/O lines in response to said selection signal.. When a read error is detected by a function test, the switching circuit is set so as to generate an active level control signal DS, when the read error is eliminated by the setting, it is possible by setting the switching circuit so as to permanently fix the control signal to the active level to convert articles that had to be classified as defective conventionally to conforming articles, thereby making it possible to contribute to an enhancement of the yield.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device which enables the use of articles that used to be classified conventionally as defective as conforming articles without relying upon the use of a redundant circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array consisting of a plurality of memory cells provided in array form and a plurality of bit lines and word lines that are respectively connected to the memory cells, and a row decoder and a column decoder that are respectively arranged adjacent to the memory cell array so as to select a specified memory cell. The plurality of bit lines in the memory cell array includes a plurality of bit line pairs, the levels of lines of each bit line pair becoming complementary with each other, and one sense amplifier is provided for each of the bit line pair. The sense amplifier is activated in response to a sense amplifier activating signal, and amplifies the potential difference between the two bit lines that constitute the bit line pair.
A selection switch selects one bit line pair in response to a selection signal from the column decoder, and electrically connects the selected bit line pair to the I/O pairs for read and write of a data to a memory cell.
In a conventional semiconductor device described as in the above, the column decoder is controlled by a delayed signal of a sense amplifier activating signal in order to realize the connection between a predetermined bit line pair and the I/O lines at the time of data read after the amplification of the potential difference of the bit line pair by means of a sense amplifier has proceeded sufficiently well. Namely, the semiconductor memory device is given a constitution in which a sense amplifier amplifying signal is delayed by a predetermined time (6 to 10 ns) by a delay circuit so as to have a selection signal generated by the column decoder after sufficiently long period of time (about 6 to 10 ns) for adequately amplifying the potential difference of the bit line pair following the activation of the sense amplifier by the sense amplifier amplifying signal, then a selection signal is generated when the delayed signal is applied to the column decoder.
Now, the function test of a semiconductor memory cell is carried out generally in the wafer state, and when a defective spot is discovered, the defective spot is corrected with a redundant bit line of a redundant word line to make it usable as a conforming article. One of the various kinds of factors for the generation of defective spots is a read error caused by the formation of electrical connection a bit line pair and the I/O lines during the period from the activation of a sense amplifier to the action of the selection switch before the sense amplifier sufficiently amplified the potential difference of the bit line pair. That is, there is a case where the potential difference of the bit line pair is small due to fluctuations of the characteristics of the transistors or the capacitor elements that constitute the memory cell selected, or a case where the performance of the sense amplifier is deteriorated due to fluctuations of the characteristics of the elements that constitute the sense amplifier. In such a case, it is not possible to raise the amplification of the potential difference of the bit line pair by the sense amplifier to a sufficiently high level during the predetermined time. If the connection between the bit line pair and the I/O lines is formed in such a state, it will not only prolong the read time but also it may lead to the generation of a read error due to reversal of the potential levels of the pair of bit lines depending upon circumstances.
Even for a read error due to the above-mentioned cause, it has been conventional to use the device as a conforming article by replacing the relevant bit line pair by redundant bit lines. However, when there are many bit line pairs that generate the read errors, it is not possible to replace all of the bit line pairs that produce the read errors, so that these has been a defect in that it results in a deterioration of the yield and a rise in the cost.

Semiconductor memory device having column selection circuit activated subsequently to sense amplifier after first or second period of time


A monitoring device arrangement is disclosed comprising a mounting rail, and at least two fixed monitoring devices, said fixed monitoring devices each being mounted on a respective holder, said holders being arranged on said mounting rail, wherein each said holder comprises a lock device locking said holder in a determined position on said mounting rail, and wherein said lock device is releasable to allow sliding repositioning of said holder on said mounting rail.

Monitoring device arrangements may include a number of monitoring devices, such as cameras and IR detectors. The monitoring devices may be mounted on a support and may be used for monitoring an area around the monitoring device arrangement. The monitoring devices in such a monitoring device arrangement may all be of the same type, or they may be of different types. For instance, one monitoring device may be a fish-eye camera and another monitoring device may be a fix focus lens camera.
It may be desirable to monitor, e.g., a 360° field of view around the monitoring device arrangement. However, in some locations, there may be objects, such as walls, blocking the view of one or more of the monitoring devices, reducing the usable field of view of the monitoring device arrangement. Further, the most important parts of the scene to monitor may be located such that they are near the edge of the field of view of one of the monitoring devices, whereas it would be desirable to have these parts at the centre of the field of view. It would therefore be desirable to have a monitoring device arrangement allowing flexibility in the positioning of the monitoring devices.
WO 2004/095386 discloses a surveillance apparatus incorporating a plurality of CCTV cameras individually adjusted and fixed to survey the required areas of a site. The cameras are mounted from a camera support ring by a hinged bracket arrangement. The cameras are manually adjustable in azimuth by sliding the bracket arrangements around the support ring and clamping them in the required positions.


An organic light-emitting diode display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a first connection line extending in a first direction and electrically connected to an OLED configured to emit light, a repair line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and an insulating layer formed between the first connection line and the repair line and configured to electrically insulate the first connection line from the repair line. The repair line includes a joining portion extending from the repair line in the first direction and at least partially overlapping a portion of the first connection line.

Field
The described technology generally relates to an organic light-emitting diode display.
Description of the Related Technology
Types of flat panel displays include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, field effect displays (FEDs), and electrophoretic displays.
An OLED display includes a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and an organic emission layer interposed therebetween. Electrons injected from one electrode and holes injected from the other electrode are combined in the organic emission layer to generate excitons, and the generated excitons release energy to emit light.
Since OLED displays are affected by manufacturing process variations which can lead to cutoffs, short-circuits, or the like in a pixel circuit, an overcurrent of greater than a normal driving current can flow to some pixels and cause pixel defects to present themselves as bright spots.
In addition, various kinds of pixel defects caused by contaminants entering from the environment can also occur. Pixel defects can be repaired by using dummy lines inside the OLED display.

Organic light-emitting diode display having a repair line


A gift tag is disclosed. The gift tag includes a flexible material having a first portion, a second portion, and an elongated portion formed between the first and second portions. The gift tag also includes a second formed in the tag operable to release the first portion from the elongated portion. The first portion is operable to be released from the elongated portion and secured to a gift package, and the first portion, second portion, and elongated portion and secured to a gift package, and the first portion, second portion, and elongated portion and secure to a gift package, and the first portion, second portion, and elongated portion are operable to enclose at least a portion of the gift package when the first portion is secured to the second portion.

This invention relates generally to the field of tags and labels, and more particularly to a labeling system and method.
A variety of tags and labels have been developed to secure to items such as gifts for many occasions. For example, holiday and/or other special-occasion labels and/or tags may be used to identify the recipient and/or donor of a gift. These tags may be secured to the gift using a variety of methods. For example, a tag may be attached to the gift using an adhesive such as tape, or other suitable attachment method, such as string or ribbon. Other types of labels may be provided with an adhesive that may be used to secure the label to the gift.
On the other hand, some tags have been developed to provide functionality that may be desired in addition to package identification. For example, some tags may employ folding means to selectively display information on one or more folded surfaces of the tag that would otherwise be displayed using a single surface. Other tags may be folded to transform the tag from an easily-dispensed form to another form that may be used for a specific purpose, such as identifying luggage for travel or jewelry for sale.
From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for a labeling system and method. In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided that substantially reduce or eliminate disadvantages and problems of conventional systems.
One aspect of the invention is a gift tag. The gift tag includes a flexible material having a first portion, a second portion, and an elongated portion formed between the first and second portions. The gift tag also includes a section formed in the tag operable to release the first portion from the elongated portion. The first portion is operable to be released from the elongated portion and secured to a gift package, and the first portion, second portion, and elongated portion are operable to enclose at least a portion of the gift package when the first portion is secured to the second portion.
The invention provides several important advantages. Various embodiments of the invention may have none, some, or all of these advantages. The invention allows flexibility in using a single label to identify a variety of types and shapes of packages. For example, one technical advantage of the invention may allow a user to select how to identify a package such as a gift bag. The user may identify the gift bag by alternatively securing the label to the gift bag, or may enclose at least a portion of the gift bag, such as a handle, with the label. Another technical advantage of the invention allows a user to use two different methods of labeling to identify two different kinds of packages such as a book and the gift bag.
Another technical advantage of the invention is that it may be used to quickly and effortlessly enclose a portion of a package. Such an advantage may allow the user to identify the package without precise alignment of the label. Other technical advantages may be readily ascertainable by those skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims.


An apparatus comprising a stack of printed circuit board (PCB) layers having a primary longitudinal structure forming a radio frequency (RE) via including a principal tuning section (223) and a constant longitudinal structure (227) along a conductive column support (255) journaled through the layers in the via. The principal section (221) comprising a first tuning sub-assembly (229 A) in a first portion of the RE via above the longitudinal structure (227) and at an entrance of the primary longitudinal structure (221) and comprising a first set of pad, anti-pad pairs (445, 545, 645) tuned to receive an RE band. A second principal tuning sub-assembly (229B) in a second portion of the via below the longitudinal structure (227) and at an exit of the primary longitudinal structure and comprising a second set of pad, anti-pad pairs (445, 545, 645) tuned to receive the band and mirroring the first set of pairs.

Embodiments relate to an apparatus and method for impedance balancing of long radio frequency (RF) via.
Increasingly complex, multi-level, thick and densely packed PCBs requiring long RF signal routes suffer from complex and often large impedance imbalances due to their long routes and multiple transitions especially at high frequency bands such as Ku (frequencies from 12 to 18 gigahertz (GHz)) and Ka (frequencies in the range 26.5-40 gigahertz (GHz)). This leaves conventional methods such as quarter wave stubs to be employed along the trace to mitigate losses, however in increasing challenging densely packed routings this may not be practical and in some cases impossible to accomplish.
To address long via impedance matching, conventional methods used are to place tuning stubs, some significantly long and wide, and to straighten out the signal pathways leading into and out of a long transitional via while also limiting multiple stacked jogs of transitions. However, this method breaks down when the circuit card is significantly populated with signal traces thereby reducing the area available for stub placement or, in some instances, outright eliminating available areas for stub placement. Once that area is removed or limited it is then impossible to balance out the transition leading to unacceptable signal blockage or attenuation.

Apparatus and method for impedance balancing of long radio frequency (RF) via


Disclosed is a charging method for one or more non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries by n steps of constant-current charging processes, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2. The n steps include: (1) charging the secondary batteries at a current Ic(k) until a charge voltage per one battery reaches a voltage Ec(k), where k is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or smaller than n−1; and (2) when the charge voltage per one battery reaches the voltage Ec(k), charging the secondary batteries at a current Ic(k+1) smaller than the current Ic(k) until the charge voltage per one battery reaches a voltage Ec(k+1) higher than the voltage Ec(k), in which (3) the currents Ic(k) and Ic(k+1) are set according to frequency of use or number of charge and discharge cycles of the secondary batteries.

Lithium ion secondary batteries with high voltage and high energy density have been widely used as power sources for electronic devices such as notebook personal computers, cellular phones, and audio-visual (AV) devices. Lithium ion secondary batteries are one of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries using a non-aqueous electrolytic solution as electrolyte. Lithium ion secondary batteries typically use a carbon material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium as a negative electrode active material, and a lithium-containing composite oxide (e.g., LiCoO2) as a positive electrode active material.
In recent years, as electronic devices have been smaller in size and higher in performance, there has been increasing demand for higher capacity and longer life of lithium ion secondary batteries. In addition, as electronic devices have been more frequently used in association with the advance of ubiquitous society, there also has been increasing demand for shorter charging time.
In order to achieve a higher capacity of secondary batteries, increasing the packing density of active material is generally regarded as effective. In lithium ion secondary batteries, however, if the packing density of active material is increased, lithium ion-acceptability of the active material tends to degrade during charging. As a result, the charge and discharge cycle life characteristics (hereinafter simply referred to as "cycle characteristics") may deteriorate.
Meanwhile, in order to achieve a longer life of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, i.e., to improve the cycle characteristics, decreasing the charge current has been proposed. By decreasing the charge current, deterioration in cycle characteristics can be prevented even when the active material is packed at a high density.
Furthermore, a high upper limit of charge voltage facilitates the decomposition of non-aqueous electrolyte, which leads to deterioration in cycle characteristics. Therefore, by lowering the upper limit of charge voltage, deterioration in cycle characteristics can be prevented.
However, if the charge current is decreased, the quantity of electricity that can be charged to secondary batteries per unit time is reduced, which inevitably results in a longer charging time. With regard to the charging time of secondary batteries, a shorter charging time has been demanded in various fields. Merely decreasing the charge current fails to satisfy the demand. On the other hand, lowering the upper limit of charge voltage results in reduced discharge capacity, and consequently, the length of time for which the device can be used on one charge is reduced.
Under these circumstances, various charging methods have been conventionally proposed in order to shorten the charging time of secondary batteries without deteriorating the cycle characteristics thereof.
For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes that when charging a battery by a constant-current charging method in which charging is performed at a constant current, the current be changed stepwise. Specifically, the battery is charged first at a large constant current until the battery voltage reaches a predetermined cut-off voltage (end-of-charge voltage). When the battery voltage reaches a predetermined cut-off voltage, the charge current is decreased so that the battery voltage is decreased temporarily. Subsequently, the battery is charged at a constant current smaller than the initial current value until the battery voltage reaches the predetermined cut-off voltage. In this manner, the battery is constant-current charged at a current value in multiple steps, while the current value is sequentially switched to a smaller value. In the charging method of Patent Literature 1, the cut-off voltage (end-of-charge voltage) is changed at each step of the constant-current charging, according to the amount of voltage drop due to internal resistance of the battery.
Patent Literature 2 also proposes that when charging a battery by a constant-current charging method in which charging is performed at a constant current, the current be changed stepwise. Specifically, in the charging method of Patent Literature 2, the battery is charged at a comparatively large first current until the charge voltage reaches a first upper limit voltage of 3.8 to 4.0 V which is lower than an end-of-charge voltage. Subsequently, the battery is charged at a second current smaller than the first current until the charge voltage reaches a second upper limit voltage which is higher than the first upper limit voltage (and equal to or lower than the end-of-charge voltage). The procedures above are repeated, to charge the battery to the end-of-charge voltage.

Charging method for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and battery pack

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An improvement in a computer-implemented rule processing method that provides conflict or selection advice to help guide a user achieve satisfiability of a business or engineering rule represented by a zero-suppressed binary decision diagram (ZDD) rule model. The improvement comprises obtaining at least one Exclude ZDD rule component from the ZDD rule model, identifying covers within the Exclude ZDD rule component, removing covers identified in the identifying step thereby to produce abridged Exclude ZDD rule component, determining satisfiability of the rule model utilizing the abridged Exclude ZDD component, and utilizing results of the determining step during automated decision support to help guide the user to attain satisfiability of the rule. An apparatus that implements the aforementioned method is also disclosed.

This invention relates to a rule processing system or method that provides automated decision support, but more specifically, to an improvement utilized during decision automation to provide more succinct conflict and selection advice.
During automated rule-based processing, a user may input one or more selections of rule parameters to achieve satisfiability of a rule. Generically, user selections may take the form of enumeration values of rule attributes the relationships among which define the rule. In a product configuration rule for a desktop computer system, for example, an attribute may comprise a computer bundle type and selectable enumerations of that attribute may comprise multimedia, power PC, business workstation, or entry level. Depending on an initial selection of bundle type, enumerations of other product attributes (e.g., CPU speed, DVD speed, Hard Drive Capacity, RAM memory size, etc.) may or may not be compatible.
In order to lessen the amount of effort required of the user to determine and select other compatible enumerations for other attributes, it is desirable to automatically indicate to the user of further compatible selections of enumerations based on the user's initial selections, i.e., to automatically identify or suggest further inputs that satisfy the product configuration rule according to the user's manually-supplied inputs. This requires identification of enumerations that are valid with each other and also valid with the user's initial selections. Such advice more quickly guides the user in choosing correct enumerations for all attributes of the overall rule being processed. Automatic identification/selection of further compatible enumerations is also desirable for other types of business or engineering rule processing system or method.
Thus, this invention is an improvement to the invention disclosed in commonly-owned, incorporated U.S. application Ser. No. 10/101,151 filed Mar. 20, 2002 relating to various rule processing methods, e.g. zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (ZDDs). The '151 disclosure describes how to generate and combine sets of rules and then to assess satisfiability of those rules as applied to a business or engineering problem.
The related disclosures of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/101,151 filed (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,887) and Ser. No. 10/101,154 also show that a ZDD rule representation may be divided into at least two distinct components, i.e., an Include ZDD component and an Exclude ZDD component. This invention deals with improvements to the Exclude ZDD component.
The Include ZDDs contain sets of combinations (e.g., rule components) that are valid together while the Exclude ZDDs contain sets of combinations that can never be valid together. The results from both ZDDs are processed simultaneously to determine the validity of the overall rule represented by the individual Include and Exclude ZDDs. The improvements herein, however, do not necessarily change the underlying validity determination system or method of the aforementioned related disclosures.
The related disclosures also show how to create selection and/or conflict advice based on a set of initial enumerations selected by a user. Such advice is extracted from the Include and the Exclude ZDD representations, as well as an attribute relations ZDD of the rule, to help guide the user in selecting valid combinations of attributes and compatible enumerations for such attributes of the overall rule.
To obtain advice from the Include ZDD rule component, each attribute is considered individually. The processor inspects each attribute in relation to other attributes to determine how potential user selections of enumerations affect the advice for that attribute.
Exclude advice, on the other hand, is generated for all of the attributes at the same time because they indicate enumeration selections that can never be valid together. All of the Exclude enumeration selections are used to find the excluded combinations. Then, the processor calls a ReduceX function to pare down those combinations to the ones that can be excluded on a next user selection.
Lastly, advice from the Include ZDD is compared with the advice from Exclude ZDD. The Include advice identifies which enumerations can be included. The Exclude advice removes some of those Included enumerations.
The present invention also provides an enhancement to commonly-owned incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/950,815, filed Sep. 28, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,102, entitled "Rule processing method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium to provide improved selection advice." The '815 disclosure, among other things, shows how to remove cover details from an Exclude ZDD but the techniques disclosed therein did not effect removal of cover details in all cases. The extent to which the '815 method or the apparatus implementing the same fails to remove cover details, however, was dependent on the particulars of the specific Exclude ZDDs being inspected. Additionally, techniques shown in the '815 disclosure did not necessarily remove all cover details in more than the most trivial of circumstances. The present invention, on the other hand, provides a method (and apparatus implementing the same) that removes cover details across a full range of circumstances.

Rule processing method and apparatus providing exclude cover removal to simplify selection and/or conflict advice


This invention relates to the preparation of polyamide block copolymers by sequential monomer addition. More particularly, it relates to catalysts capable of copolymerizing not only cyclic amides, but other monomers such as cyclic esters and epoxides as well, using sequential addition so as to produce useful and novel block copolymers.

Block copolymers are important components of materials for a variety of applications such as dispersants, crosslinkers, curing agents, resists, compatibilizers, inks, paints and surfactants. In particular, there is a wide range of potentially useful properties and applications for block copolymers of nylon 6 [see e.g. Bouma et al (Polymer Engineering and Science, March 2001, 41(3), 466-474].
Block copolymers of nylon 6 and poly(ethylene terephthalate) ("PET") can be made by amide-ester interchange reactions that occur when the two polymers are blended in the melt. However, this is not a useful, well-controlled process. As the interchange reactions continue, randomization takes place [see e.g. Denchev et al, Macromol. Chem. Phys., 2001, 202(4), 574-586]. Also, the polymer chain ends play an important role in the amide-ester interchange. For example, when PET and nylon 6 are melt blended in the presence of a toluene sulfonic acid catalyst, a hydrolytic reaction of the PET occurs and produces PET chains with reactive carboxyl groups (Samperi et al, J. Polymer Sci., Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 2003, 41, 2778-2793].
U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,746, and Udipi et al [Polymer, 1997, 38(4), 927-938], describe the polymerization of caprolactam using various activating systems. However, this method is characterized by the disadvantage that, in the effort to polymerize caprolactam and a second monomer in chain growth fashion, the reactive group is continually transferred from the polymer chain end to a monomer.
Previous efforts were made to prepare block copolymers using post polymerization modification strategies. For example, Bouma, supra, modified PET and poly(butylene terephthalate) ("PBT") with 0.1-1 mol % diamide units in an extrusion process in order to facilitate polyester crystallization. In addition, Ahn et al [Polymer, 1993, 34(10), 4156-4165] prepared polyarylate-nylon 6 block copolymers by anionic polymerization. Dihydroxy-terminated polyarylate was reacted with toluene diisocyanate, and the reaction product was in turn dissolved in and reacted with molten ε-caprolactam. When melt blended with nylon 6 and polyarylates, the block copolymer enhanced the partial miscibility of the two homopolymers. While this approach was successful in preparing block polymers containing nylon 6, the large number of post-polymerization modifications limited the commercial utility of this process.
There thus remains a need for a straightforward, industrially-viable process to prepare polyamide block copolymers.

Preparation of polyamide block copolymers


Disclosed are devices, materials, systems, and methods, including a device that includes one or more structural components, at least one of the one or more structural components comprising substantially HfO2—TiO2 material. Also disclosed is a hemispherical resonator that includes a hemisphere including one or more structural components with at least one of the one or more structural components comprising substantially HfO2—TiO2 material, a forcer electrode configured to apply an electrical force on the hemisphere to cause the hemisphere to oscillate, and one or more sensor electrodes disposed in proximity to the hemisphere and configured to sense an orientation of a vibration pattern of the hemispherical resonator gyroscope.

Hemispherical resonator gyroscopes are high performing vibratory rotation sensors. The hemispherical resonator gyroscope may measure rotation rates or rotation angles through rotational-vibrational coupling (e.g., Coriolis coupling) between structural modes of the gyroscope. One of the modes, designated the drive mode, is initially made to oscillate at high levels of velocity. Rotation induced Coriolis force then couples motion from the first mode into a secondary structural mode with a magnitude proportional to the magnitude of the input rotation. Commonly used vibrational modes used in hemispherical resonator gyroscopes are the two cos 2θ modes, named for their mode shape.
The ring down time is a figure of merit of hemispherical resonator gyroscopes and is commonly designated by the symbol τ. The ring down time may be considered to be the amplitude decay constant of the hemispherical resonator of the gyroscope if all external forces are removed and the hemisphere is allowed to freely oscillate. The ring down time may also quantify the amount of effort required to maintain the oscillation pattern of the hemispherical resonator, where a hemispherical resonator with a larger ring down time requires less effort. The ring down time is generally dependent on to the equivalent mass (m) and damping coefficient (b) of the hemispherical resonator where τ=2m/b.

Gyroscope and devices with structural components comprising HfO2-TiO2 material


A clamping apparatus is operable in a closure position detection mode for detecting closure of a mold on the basis of a change in a physical quantity because of closure of the mold, detecting a position of a crosshead of a toggle mechanism at the time of detection of the closure, and obtaining a closure position of a movable platen at the time of the closure from the detected position of the crosshead. The apparatus is previously operated in the closure position detection mode to store, as a reference value, the closure position at which a target mold clamping force is obtained. In the production operation, the apparatus is operated in the closure position detection mode to obtain an actual closure position (detection value). The mold clamping force is corrected on the basis of a deviation of the detection value from the reference value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mold clamping force correction method for a toggle-type mold clamping apparatus, which method is suitable for correcting mold clamping force, which changes during production operation, to a correct clamping force.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional toggle-type mold clamping apparatus for clamping a mold of an injection molding machine is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication (kokoku) No. 6(1994)-61806. As disclosed in this publication, a toggle-type mold clamping apparatus includes a toggle mechanism which connects a movable platen for supporting a movable mold half and a crosshead advanced and retracted by a drive unit, and has a function of transmitting pressing force of the crosshead to the movable platen while amplifying the force. In such a mold clamping apparatus, when the toggle mechanism is completely extended, a predetermined mold clamping force determined on the basis of an extension of tie bars is generated. As shown in FIG. 8, in a mold clamping operation, high-speed mold closing is typically performed from a mold open position Xa, and the operation mode is switched to low-speed mold closing at a predetermined low-speed changeover position Xb. The period during which the low-speed mold closing is performed serves as a foreign object detection zone, during which a molded product not having been properly ejected or the like is detected as a foreign object. When a predetermined high-pressure changeover position Xc is reached, the operation mode is switched to high-pressure mold clamping so as to clamp the mold under high pressure. In FIG. 8, Xd shows a mold clamping end position. Load torque T of a drive motor for driving the mold clamping apparatus changes as shown in FIG. 8 during the mold clamping operation.
Incidentally, unlike a direct-pressure-application-type mold clamping apparatus, because of its operation principle, a toggle-type mold clamping apparatus has a drawback in that slight expansion or contraction of a mold and tie bars, stemming from disturbing factors such as heating temperature of the mold and ambient temperature, causes a considerable change in mold clamping force, which results in deterioration in quality, in particular at the time of molding of precision products. FIG. 9 shows a change in mold clamping force Fm with time for the case where the correct value (target value) of mold clamping force Fm is 400 kN. As is apparent from FIG. 9, during a period in which the mold temperature elevates, the mold clamping force Fm increases from 400 kN to 500 kN because of thermal expansion of the mold. After completion of the temperature elevation, since heat is transferred from the mold to the tie bars, the tie bars expand, whereby the mold clamping force Fm gradually decreases. Notably, thermal expansion of the mold is a factor which increases the mold clamping force Fm, and thermal expansion of the tie bars is a factor which decreases the mold clamping force Fm.
As described above, in a toggle-type mold clamping apparatus, disturbing factors such as heating temperature of a mold and ambient temperature are influential factors which must be taken into consideration so as to accurately maintain the mold clamping force Fm. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 62(1987)-32020 discloses a mold clamping force control method which can cope with such disturbing factors. In the disclosed method, the thickness of a mold or a mold clamping force during a molding operation is detected by means of mold-thickness detection means consisting of an optical or magnetic scale supported on a stationary mold plate and a position detector disposed on a movable mold plate, and a correction value determined from the detected thickness and its target value is fed back to mold-thickness adjustment means, whereby mold clamping force is maintained constant.
However, the mold clamping force control method disclosed in the publication has the following problems.
First, as described above, in a toggle-type mold clamping apparatus, slight expansion or contraction of a mold results in a considerable change in mold clamping force. Since the conventional mold clamping force control method detects the thickness of a mold (mold clamping force) by use of mold-thickness detection means consisting of a scale supported on a stationary mold plate and a position detector disposed on a movable mold plate; i.e., the method detects slight expansion and contraction, the method cannot accurately detect mold clamping force, and thus cannot perform accurate correction of mold clamping force.
Second, since the thickness of a mold (e.g., position of a pressure receiving plate) is detected directly, separate mold-thickness detection means such as a scale and a position detector are needed, leading to an increase in the number of parts, higher cost, and increased degree of complexity of configuration; in particular, an increased degree of complexity of the structure around a mold.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mold clamping force correction method for toggle-type mold clamping apparatus