Open systems for performing submicroliter reactions are provided. The systems can include a support for performing the reaction; a liquid dispensing system for dispensing a submicroliter amount of a liquid to a site on or in the support; a temperature controlling device for regulating the temperature of the support; and an interface for controlling the amount of liquid dispensed from the liquid dispensing system are provided. Methods using the systems are also provided.

The invention relates generally to systems and methods for performing a reaction in a small volume without incurring an undesirable loss of the reaction volume due to evaporation, and more specifically to systems and methods for performing reactions involving polymers, particularly biopolymers, in a reaction volume of a few microliters or less in an unsealed environment.
Technological advances have allowed an examination of previously undiscernible phenomena. Such advances are particularly notable in the biological sciences, where the chemical and physical structures of many biopolymers have been described, and where such biopolymers, including DNA and proteins, routinely are synthesized and sequenced.
Although methods such as nucleic acid sequencing and synthesis have contributed to understanding the structure and function of biological molecules and their relationships to disease, the limitations of such methods are apparent. For example, it generally is agreed that knowledge of the entire sequence of the human genome would provide valuable insight into the prevention and treatment of disease. The human genome, however, contains over one billion nucleotides and a huge expenditure of labor and money would be required to sequence the entire human genome. Furthermore, using currently available methods, many years will be required to see the project to completion.
Similarly, it is a goal of most clinical researchers to develop rapid and simple tests for determining whether an individual has a disease or predisposition to a disease. In many cases, the signs and symptoms of many genetic diseases do not become apparent until an individual reaches a certain age or stage of development. Knowledge that an individual has a predisposition to a genetic disease can allow the clinician to take prophylactic measures to minimize or delay onset of the disease. Ideally, all individuals would be screened for potential genetically determined diseases, including screening a large number of genes in each individual. Unfortunately, such routine screening currently is not feasible because the assays are time consuming and the reagents for performing such assays are expensive and limited in availability.
In an effort to reduce the time and cost for analyzing biopolymers, including genes and proteins, processes are being developed to automate the analytic procedures. Automation provides a means for performing repetitive processes almost continually, except for periodic breaks for equipment maintenance, and allows researchers and technical staff to devote more time to other endeavors, including interpreting the results produced by the automated assays and trouble shooting problems that may arise. Automation of repetitive processes also provides the advantage that the likelihood of errors occurring, for example, due to fatigue or distraction is reduced and, therefore, more accurate results can be obtained.
The application of nanotechnology to the biological sciences promises to provide the next breakthroughs relating, for example, to the analysis, synthesis and utilization of biopolymers. Nanotechnology, which provides processes and apparatuses for performing procedures on a very small scale, has been developed by the semiconductor industry in order to produce smaller and smaller microchips, and to allow placement of a continually increasing number of instructions on a microchip.
Efforts are in progress to apply nanotechnology to chemical and biological procedures, thereby providing a means to perform assays in very small volumes, generally a few hundred nanoliters or less. Application of nanotechnology to biological assays can be particularly valuable because a critical limitation of many biological assays is the amount of biological material available for analysis. By performing such assays in nanoliter volumes or smaller, the effective concentration of a biopolymer in a biological reaction is increased, thereby providing the necessary kinetics for a biological reaction to proceed. In addition, the ability to perform biological assays in nanoliter volumes can provide a significant cost savings because much smaller amounts of reagents, which can be very expensive, can be utilized in the reactions.
The application of nanotechnology to biological assays has been hindered, in part, by the difficulty in manipulating and maintaining such small volumes. Many biological assays, for example, are performed in aqueous conditions, using water as a solvent, and at elevated temperatures, generally at least 37xc2x0 C., which is human body temperature. Water, like many liquid solvents, is susceptible to evaporation and, therefore, as the time or temperature of a reaction increases, the loss of water due to evaporation increases and the volume of the reaction decreases. As a result of evaporation, the effective concentration of reagents in the reaction increases, thereby changing the conditions of the reaction. Since most biological assays are quite sensitive to reaction conditions, loss of water or other solvent from a reaction can result in an assay that produces spurious results. Any loss of a solvent such as water is particularly deleterious when the reaction contains only a few hundred nanoliters or less of the liquid, since the reaction quickly can evaporate to dryness.
Various methods have been used to minimize the loss of solvent in a reaction due to evaporation in biochemical assays. For example, reaction mixtures can be drawn into glass capillary tubes, which then are sealed at both ends for the reaction. Small volume glass capillary tubes can be expensive, and the use of such tubes requires additional steps, including sealing and unsealing the tube, the latter which can produce glass shards.
In many cases, reaction mixtures are performed in a microcentrifuge tube or other open chamber, and evaporation is minimized by overlaying the reaction mixture with wax, mineral oil, or other nonvolatile compound during the reaction. Such a method, again, requires additional steps, including removing the sealing material following the reaction. In order to remove all or most of the sealing material, which can otherwise contaminate the sample and hinder further analysis, some loss of the sample being assayed inevitably occurs. Since most biological samples are limited to begin with, any loss of sample can preclude an interpretation of the results of the assay. In general, any additional manipulations of a sample will incur extra cost, either in terms of time or money, and loss or contamination of the sample.
More recently, biological reactions have been performed on microchips, which conveniently can be adapted to automated processes. Such microchips have been designed having a system including, for example, chambers, which hold the reactants, and channels, which connect the chambers and in which the reactants can be mixed and a reaction performed. Since the channels, in which the reaction occurs, provide a sealed or closed environment, there is little or no evaporative loss of the reaction volume. Thus far, however, the technology for preparing such a device allows for the placement of only one or few of such closed systems on a single microchip and, therefore, the number of reactions that can be performed at one time on a single chip is limited. Thus, a need exists for systems useful for performing reactions in a volume of a few microliters or less in an unsealed environment. Therefore it is an object here to provide systems and methods that satisfy this need and also provide additional advantages.

Systems are provided for performing a reaction in an unsealed environment. The systems are used for any desired reaction, including, but not limited to in situ biopolymer or polymer synthesis, such as nucleic acid and protein syntheses, protein and nucleic acid sequencing methods, such as oligonucleotide-based primer extension, nucleic acid amplification reactions, protein and nucleic acid protease- or nuclease-based degradations and others.
A system as disclosed herein is an open system for performing a reaction, such as a synthetic reaction or an assay, particularly in a submicroliter volume. The systems can include a support for performing the reaction; a nanoliter dispensing pipette for dispensing a submicroliter amount of a liquid to a target site on the support; a temperature controlling device for regulating the temperature of the surface of the support; and means for controlling the amount of liquid dispensed, where the amount of liquid dispensed corresponds to the amount of liquid evaporated from the support. A means for controlling the amount of liquid dispensed can include computer software that calculates the rate of evaporation and signals the dispensing pipette to deliver an amount of the liquid that corresponds to the amount lost due to evaporation. A means for controlling the amount of liquid dispensed also can be manual input, which can be performed by an individual.
A system as disclosed herein also can include a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the surface of the support. The support can be any support having a surface, including, for example, a bead, pin, comb, wafer, well or microchip, and the support can be functionalized such that a substrate, for example, a biopolymer can be linked, either directly or indirectly via covalent or non-covalent interactions, to the support and immobilized.
An open system, as disclosed herein, also can include a solid support, which has a target site that can contain a volume of liquid, for example, a reaction mixture; a liquid dispensing system, which can dispense a liquid to the target site; a temperature controlling system, which can regulate the temperature of the solid support; and an interface, which can indicate an amount of liquid to be dispensed to the target site from the liquid dispensing system. An interface can include, for example, a computer using an appropriate algorithm. A computer can monitor the temperature of the solid support and, based on various parameters, including, for example, the chemical nature of the liquid, the surface area of the liquid exposed to the environment, and the time the liquid is maintained at a particular temperature, and can provide information as to the amount of liquid to be dispensed from the liquid dispensing system to the target site to maintain the liquid at a predetermined volume. Based on that information, the liquid dispensing system can be manipulated manually, to dispense the liquid to the target site, or can be controlled automatically, for example, by interfacing it with the computer. In a system as disclosed herein, the amount of liquid dispensed from a liquid dispensing system to a target site generally corresponds to an amount of liquid lost from the target site due to evaporation, although the amount added also can be an initial amount added to a target site or an amount added to modify the conditions of a reaction.
An open system, as disclosed herein, also can include a solid support having a target site; a liquid dispensing system, which can dispense a liquid to the target site; a temperature controlling system, which regulates the temperature of the solid support; and means for regulating an amount of liquid dispensed from the liquid dispensing system. In addition, an open system, as disclosed herein, can have a means for containing a reaction mixture; a means for dispensing a liquid; a means for controlling the temperature of the reaction volume containing means; and means for regulating an amount of liquid dispensed from the liquid dispensing means.
A means for regulating an amount of liquid dispensed can be a computer having an appropriate algorithm. Such a computer can interface with the solid support, thereby monitoring the temperature of the support, and can provide an indication of an amount of liquid to be dispensed to a target site to maintain a predetermined volume, for example, of a reaction volume. The computer can cause to be displayed the amount of liquid to be dispensed, such that an individual can manipulate the liquid dispensing system and dispense the liquid, or the computer can further interface with the liquid dispensing system, thereby causing the amount of liquid to be dispensed. In addition, charts can be developed that predict the amount and rate of evaporation of a particular solvent at a particular temperature and, based on such charts, an individual can manipulate the liquid dispensing system as necessary. Also, a decrease in the volume of a liquid due to evaporation can be identified directly by including the liquid in a circuit, wherein, when the liquid falls below a predetermined point, the circuit is broken, thereby indicating that a liquid should be dispensed to the target site until the circuit is reestablished.
Methods for maintaining a volume of a liquid in an unsealed environment also are provided. A method for performing a reaction in a predetermined submicroliter volume in the open can be performed by dispensing the predetermined submicroliter volume of liquid onto the surface of a support; optionally monitoring the temperature of the substrate; determining the amount or rate of evaporation of the liquid from the support; and dispensing a further amount of the liquid to the surface of the support, wherein the further amount dispensed corresponds to the amount lost from the support due to evaporation, thereby maintaining the reaction volume at a predetermined volume throughout the course of the reaction. Such a method also can be performed, for example, by determining the temperature of a solid support, which has a target site that can contain a volume of liquid; and, based on the temperature, dispensing at the target site an amount of liquid required to maintain a predetermined volume of the liquid. The amount of liquid to be dispensed can be determined using a computer algorithm, which, based on various parameters, including the temperature of the support, the chemical nature of the liquid, the surface area of the liquid exposed to the environment, and the volume to be maintained, can indicate the amount of liquid that evaporates from the site and, therefore, the amount of liquid to be dispensed to maintain a predetermined volume. The volume of a liquid on a target site also can be monitored, for example, by microscopic examination, using an appropriate optical system or a video imaging device, such that, as the volume of a liquid at a target site decreases due to evaporation, a corresponding amount of liquid can be dispensed to maintain the volume within acceptable parameters.
Methods for performing a reaction in an unsealed environment also are provided. Such a method can be performed, for example, by determining the temperature of a solid support, which has a target site containing a volume of the reaction mixture, or determining the rate or amount of evaporation of liquid from the reaction mixture; and dispensing into the reaction mixture an amount of liquid required to maintain the volume at a predetermined level. Such a method is particularly useful where the reaction mixture has a volume of a few microliters or less, particularly a volume of about 500 nanoliters or less. The disclosed methods also are useful for performing submicroliter reactions at temperatures where the vapor pressure of a liquid in the reaction mixture is undesirably high, for example, about 2.5 kiloPascals (kPa) or greater, particularly about 5 kPa or greater, or about 10 kPa or greater, such that evaporation of the liquid can substantially change the volume of the reaction mixture and adversely affect the reaction. As such, the disclosed methods are useful for performing various chemical, physical and biological reactions, for example, a polymerase chain reaction, or a nucleic acid or polypeptide synthesis or sequencing reaction or other reaction or assay performed on a solid support.

Systems and methods for performing reactions in an unsealed environment


A water repellent for automobile window glass includes dimethyl polyorganosiloxane, an inorganic acid, a water-type solvent, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl group-containing polyorganosiloxanes each having a specific structure, fluorine resins each having a specific structure, and paraffin waxes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a water repellent for automobile window glass. More particularly, this invention relates to a water repellent for glass which prevents rain drops from adhering to automobile window glass (e.g., windshield glass) even when the automobile is traveling in the rain at a low speed of less than about 50 km/hr and allows the automobile window glass to offer a perfect field of view.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A method for preventing window glass from retaining rain drops on the surface thereof and enabling it to secure a perfect field of view in the rain by subjecting the glass surface in advance to a treatment for imparting water repellency thereto has been proposed heretofore. The treating agent which is used for this treatment is called a water-repellent type treating agent and is composed of dimethyl polyorganosiloxane, an inorganic acid, and a water-type solvent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,540).
The conventional water-repellent type treating agent indeed enables automobile window glass to secure a perfect field of view while the automobile is traveling at a high speed because rain drops hitting the glass surface are blown away by the pressure of wind. However, since dimethyl polyorganosiloxane exhibits strong adhesion with water molecules, rain drops adhere to the glass surface to the extent of impairing the field of view of the glass while the automobile is traveling at a low speed.
An object of this invention is to provide a water repellent for automobile window glass which prevents rain drops from adhering to the surface of automobile window glass and enables the window glass to offer a perfect field of view in the rain even while the automobile is traveling even at a low speed.

Water repellent for automobile window glass


A feed rate of a single-point cutting tool, which is an axial relative moving distance of the cutting tool along an outer peripheral surface of an unfinished commutator product per revolution of the unfinished commutator product, is reduced in an end part of a cutting region of the outer peripheral surface of the unfinished commutator product, which is adjacent to a commutator riser of each commutator segment provided in the outer peripheral surface of the unfinished commutator product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a commutator, and more specifically to a cutting process for finishing an outer peripheral surface of the commutator.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a commutator of a motor includes a generally cylindrical dielectric body made of resin and a plurality of commutator segments. The commutator segments are arranged at generally equal intervals along an outer peripheral surface of the dielectric body. In manufacturing of the commutator, a planar commutator segment material, which is cut out from a corresponding plate and has a predetermined shape, is rolled. Thus, the cylindrical commutator segment material, which has a plurality of commutator risers at one axial end, is formed. Next, a dielectric material is filled in a space defined radially inward of the cylindrical commutator segment material. Upon curing of the dielectric material, a plurality of slit grooves, which are arranged at predetermined angular intervals, is formed in the cylindrical commutator segment material using, for example, a cutter. The slit grooves divide the cylindrical commutator segment material into the commutator segments. Thereafter, a surface finishing operation of outer surfaces of the commutator segments is performed to remove burrs of the commutator segments formed around the slit grooves and/or to increase a degree of circularity of the outer surfaces of the commutator segments. At this time, a single-point cutting tool is used to cut the outer surfaces of the commutator segments in the surface finishing operation.
At the time of surface finishing operation of the commutator segments, depending on the material of the commutator segments, degradation of the single-point cutting tool (cutting edge), a moving speed of the single-point cutting tool and/or the like, a burr is likely formed in the vicinity of a cutting operation end point of a cutting region of each commutator segment, which is cut by the single-point cutting tool. When the burr is held in one of the slits, which divide the corresponding adjacent commutator segments, layer short circuiting could occur at the time of driving the motor. Such short circuiting causes a reduction in a product yield of the motor. To address such a disadvantage, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-163092 discloses a technique, which combines a rough cutting process and a finishing cutting process.
However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-163092, burrs, which are generated in an unfinished commutator product in the rough cutting process, need to be removed after the rough cutting process. Thus, the finishing cutting process is required to remove the burrs. More specifically, at the time of performing the surface finishing of an outer peripheral surface of the unfinished commutator product, a cutting process needs to be repeated two or more times using a single-point cutting tool. Thus, the number of cutting processes is disadvantageously increased, and thereby the manufacturing costs of the commutator are disadvantageously increased.

Method for manufacturing commutator having commutator segments


An air assist fuel injector having an armature and a solenoid for actuating the armature. The armature includes a conduit having a conical portion for delivering liquid fuel and gas to a poppet of the air assist fuel injector. The conduit includes an inlet for receiving the liquid fuel and gas from a cap of the air assist fuel injector. The cap includes a number of channels for delivering the liquid fuel and gas, and the outlets of the channels are located radially inward of the periphery of the inlet to the armature conduit. The armature also includes a flow path located between an area upstream of the inlet to the armature and an area downstream of the armature. The flow path may include one or more recesses in the armature or one or more recesses in an armature guide of the air assist fuel injector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to air assist fuel injectors and, more particularly, to the armatures of such air assist fuel injectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional fuel injectors are configured to deliver a quantity of fuel to a combustion cylinder of an engine. To increase combustion efficiency and decrease pollutants, it is desirable to atomize the delivered fuel. Generally speaking, atomization of fuel can be achieved by supplying high pressure fuel to conventional fuel injectors, or atomizing low pressure fuel with pressurized gas, i.e., xe2x80x9cair assist fuel injection.xe2x80x9d
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional air assist fuel injector 50. The conventional air assist fuel injector 50 receives a metered quantity of low pressure fuel from a conventional fuel injector (not illustrated) and pressurized air from an air/fuel rail (not illustrated). The air assist fuel injector 50 atomizes the low pressure fuel with the pressurized air and conveys the air and fuel mixture to the combustion chamber of an engine.
The pressurized air from the air/fuel rail and the metered quantity of fuel from the conventional fuel injector enter the air assist fuel injector 50 through a cap 52, which delivers the fuel and air to a throughhole of an armature 54. Thereafter, the fuel and air travel through a passageway of a poppet 56, and exit the poppet through small slots near the end or head of the poppet. The poppet 56 is attached to the armature 54, which is actuated by energizing a solenoid 58. When the solenoid 58 is energized, the armature 54 will overcome the force of a spring 60 and move toward a leg 62. Because the poppet 56 is attached to the armature 54, the head of the poppet will lift off a seat 64 when the armature is actuated so that a metered quantity of atomized fuel is delivered to the combustion chamber of an engine.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the throughhole of the armature 54 is enlarged at the end of the armature 54 facing the cap 52. This enlarged cylindrical volume receives a protrusion from the cap 52 and serves to pass the liquid fuel and air to the passageway of the poppet 56. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, it was conventionally thought to minimize the air volume between the armature 54 and the cap 52. However, this conventional construction often causes liquid fuel to accumulate between the cap 52 and the armature 54, which, in turn, causes poor transient response time between different fueling rates.
For example, if the air assist fuel injector 50 were installed in the engine of an automobile or motorcycle and the operator of the vehicle let off the throttle to slow down the vehicle, the amount of fuel supplied to the air assist fuel injector 50 would decrease. Ideally, the flow rate of fuel exiting the air assist fuel injector 50 would instantaneously decrease when the flow rate of fuel supplied to the air assist fuel injector decreases. However, as described above, liquid fuel tends to accumulate in the area between the cap 52 and the armature 54; it takes time for the air flowing through the air assist fuel injector 50 to scavenge this accumulated fuel out of the injector. At steady fueling rates, this accumulated fuel generally does not create problems. However, this accumulated fuel is delivered from the air assist fuel injector when changing fueling rates and thus adversely affects the amount of delivered fuel when the operator lets off the throttle. This effect essentially delays the response time between the different fueling rates, and decreases the reliability and overall performance of the conventional air assist fuel injector 50.
A further problem associated with other conventional air assist fuel injectors concerns the amount of time it takes the poppet to close, i.e., abut the seat, after the solenoid has been de-energized at high fueling levels. This problem is thought to be caused by surface adhesion and hydraulic delay due to pressure differentials. When increasing the fueling rate supplied to such conventional air assist fuel injectors, the pressure in the volume between the armature and the leg may have a lower pressure than volumes upstream of the armature and downstream of the leg because the pressure is not easily relieved past the bearing for the armature. This pressure differential is most prevalent in the spring pocket when the armature abuts the leg during increasing fueling rates. Because the pressure in the volume between the armature and the leg is not equal with the pressure of volumes upstream of the armature or downstream of the leg at high fueling rates, the spring must overcome a pressure differential that tends to keep the armature in its actuated position and thus keeps the poppet open when the solenoid is de-energized. This effect erratically delays the closure of the poppet at high fueling rates and is termed xe2x80x9chydraulic delay.xe2x80x9d Surface adhesion, i.e., xe2x80x9cstictionxe2x80x9d between the abutting armature and leg also contributes to this erratic closing behavior.
Hence, besides suffering from poor transient response time between different fueling rates, conventional air assist fuel injectors also suffer from erratic closing behavior due to hydraulic delay and surface adhesion at high fueling levels, which further decreases the reliability and performance of conventional air assist fuel injectors.
In light of the previously described problems associated with conventional air assist fuel injectors, one object of one embodiment of the present invention is to decrease the likelihood that fuel will accumulate in the air assist fuel injector and adversely affect transient response times between different fueling levels. A further object of one embodiment of the present invention is to decrease the likelihood that the air assist fuel injector will close erratically due to hydraulic delay and/or stiction.
Other objects, advantages and features associated with the embodiments of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not limitative.


A toner cartridge (1) has a cylindrical toner hopper (61) with a rear wall (61a) defining an output opening well above the lower part of the hopper. A paddle (63) is rotated in the hopper. The exit surface (61aaa) declines downward to form a chamber for the toner adder roller (45) and developer roller (43). This configuration discourages toner from returning to the hopper after it has been electrically charged.. To improve movement of toner past the opening an agitator bar (65) extends across the cartridge near the exit surface. The bar is pivoted at both ends and has a portion (65a) which extends into the path of the paddle. As the paddle rotates, it moves the agitator upward until the curved paths of the two members reach separation, at which time the bar drops by gravity. The bar jars toner loose and eliminates jams of toner. The flat surface of the bar, when it has been moved up, partially blocks the exit opening, which desirably limits toner flow.

The assignee of this invention has manufactured and sold commercially toner cartridges of two different general designs. For its larger laser printers the cartridge has contained a pump to meter toner of the kind disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,012,289 to Aldrich et al. and 5,101,237 to Molloy, while the external structure of the cartridge is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,333 to Craft et al. Details of other elements in the cartridge have varied.
For a smaller, light emitting diode printer, the cartridge is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,032 to Baker et al., which has a toner hopper extending well below a level having the toner adder roller and which has independent driven systems for the photoconductor roller and for the developer roller system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,378 to Baker et al.
This cartridge has a hopper exit above a vertical barrier. The outside of the barrier is a declining surface. Such a configuration is believed to be generally conventional. This invention employs an agitator operative at the exit surface, which is not believed to be in the prior art.

Toner cartridge with hopper exit agitator


Provided is a connector including a first connector having a first terminal and a first mating guide portion, and a second connector having a second terminal engaging the first terminal and a second mating guide portion fitted with the first mating guide portion, in which the first mating guide portion includes a fixed terminal for detecting the mating of the first connector and the second connector, the second mating guide portion includes a resilient terminal for detecting the mating of the first connector and the second connector, and the fixed terminal or the resilient terminal has a piezoelectric electric element.

The Present Disclosure relates, generally, to a connector, and, more particularly, to a board-to-board connector that detects the mating of a first connector and a second connector, and prevents incomplete mating, even when the mating process is for a compact and low-profile connector, by arranging a piezoelectric element for detecting the state of a fixed terminal and elastic terminal when the first connector and the second connector are mated.
In order to electrically connect a pair of parallel boards to each other, connectors such as board-to-board connectors are used. Such connectors are provided on opposing surfaces of a pair of boards such as circuit boards, and are then mated with each other to establish an electrical connection. Reinforcing metal fittings attached to both ends function as locking members to hold the opposing connector in a mated state.
However, the bottom surface of each connector is mounted on a board which is much larger than the connector, and it can be difficult to visually confirm whether two connectors are mated. In recent years, connectors have become even more compact and have a lower profile. These connectors are interposed inside a very narrow space between opposing boards, which makes it even more difficult to determine whether two connectors have been mated properly.
A technique has been proposed to detect whether connectors have been mated properly using a sensor rather than visual confirmation by the operator performing the mating operation. One example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-8880, the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIG. 13 is a diagram used to explain a conventional board-to-board connector able to detect mating. In FIG. 13, 861 is a plug terminal serving as a terminal for a plug which is one of the connectors, and 961 is a receptacle terminal serving as a terminal for a receptacle which is the other connector. When both connectors are mated, as shown in the drawing, the plug terminal 861 is screwed into the receptacle terminal 961. A piezoelectric element 893 is arranged near the receptacle terminal 961, and the tip of the plug terminal 861 applies pressure to the piezoelectric element 893 when the plug terminal 861 is screwed into the receptacle terminal 961. When the plug terminal 861 applies pressure, the piezoelectric element 893 generates voltage V corresponding to the pressing force. A detection device 897 detects the value of the voltage V, and a light-emitting element 898 emits light when the value of the voltage V is a predetermined value indicating that mating of both connectors has been completed.
However, the plug terminal 861 has to be screwed into the receptacle terminal 961 in conventional connectors, and the connectors are large. Therefore, this technique is difficult to use inside the case of a small electronic device such as a cellphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or digital camera. Also, because the complete mating of connectors is detected based on the amount of pressing force received by a piezoelectric element 893 when a plug terminal 861 is screwed in, detection accuracy is difficult to achieve.


A method for detecting defect in a semiconductor device using IDDQ testing techniques that are not dependent upon the background leakage current for defect resolution. One embodiment of the present invention uses device sampling, i.e. creates a small sample of a device that is representative of the whole device, such that the ratio of the quiescent current of the device to the quiescent current of the sample exhibits a linear relationship to the ratio of the component count of the device to the component count of the sample.

In the manufacture of semiconductor devices it is important to have methods for testing a device and determining if it is a good device or if it contains defects before selling such a product to a customer. If the results of the test are within a manufacturer's tolerance levels then the device is presumably a good or non-defective device and may be sold to a customer. If the results are not the same and are not within the manufacturer's tolerance levels then the device is a defective device and cannot be sold to a customer.
One particular method for testing a device for defects is called IDDQ Testing. In a CMOS device when the clock is stopped, the device is said to be in a quiescent state, thus the current in the device is called drain to drain quiescent current (IDDQ). IDDQ derives from quiescent IDD which is the current drawn by the Vdd power supply. The Vdd supply is typically held at a voltage above ground and fixed within narrow bounds. The other supply is typically called Vss and is taken to be ground (i.e. arbitrarily assigned a value of zero electrical potential. In IDDQ testing, a device is tested by measuring the current while the device is in the quiescent state. Since defects often result in significant leakage currents, measuring the quiescent current allows defects such as open and short circuits to be detected. If the IDDQ is above a preset threshold, then the device is termed "defective" and is not sold to the customer.
Prior methods for IDDQ testing require a low background leakage current while in the quiescent state. In such prior methods, the background leakage current is typically required to be less than a few hundred microamps (.mu.A). As is illustrated in FIG. 1, a statistical sample of devices under test (DUTs) is taken in order to determine a median background leakage current 110. Once a median background leakage current is established then an IDDQ pass/fail limit 120 is set. The pass/fail limit must be set such that it is greater than the median background leakage current but such that it is less than the average current caused by a device defect. Typically in prior methods the pass/fail limit is set at a current much higher than the median, usually from three (3) to six (6) standard deviations greater than the median background leakage current. For example, the pass/fail limit may be in the range of approximately 500 microamps (.mu.A) to 1.5 milliamps (mA). Any device exhibiting an IDDQ current greater than the pass/fail limit is assumed to be a defective device 130 and is not sold to a customer.
One of the problems with prior art methods for IDDQ testing is that they can only detect defects where the defect causes an IDDQ current larger than the background leakage current. As device dimensions of semiconductor devices become smaller and more dense, the background leakage current increases in relation to the defect currents which must be resolved.
This increase in background leakage current can be traced to several factors. The most prominent of these are the increase in the number of devices on a single substrate and an increase in the subthreshold leakage across a given device as the length of its polysilicon gate decreases. The latter, in turn, can be divided into several components, each of which contributes a share to the total current. For example in submicron CMOS devices, background leakage currents in the range of approximately several tens of milliamps (mA) are likely due to the short channel lengths.
As is illustrated in FIG. 2, a wider distribution in background leakage current makes resolution of the same level of defect current problematic. Since the background leakage is higher, the pass/fail limit 220 must be increased proportionately to avoid the improper rejection of functional devices. Meanwhile, the standard deviation of the background leakage 230 has increased sufficiently to make resolution of smaller defect currents impossible.
An additional problem with current IDDQ testing is the variability of the background leakage current from wafer to wafer and from device to device within a wafer. In an ideal case, for example, the background leakage in a wafer should be I.sub.1 if there are no defects. When measuring the current of that wafer a different current I.sub.2 which is in excess of I.sub.1 is due to the existence of one or more defects. This difference in currents is attributable to the defect equal to I.sub.2 -I.sub.1. This is a magnitude which can be differentiated on a tester. The problem, however, is not solving this differential between the magnitude of the defects, but rather is determining the actual background leakage current when shifting from wafer to wafer. For example, wafer1 may have a background current of I.sub.1, wafer2 may have a current of 12, and wafer3 may have a background current of I.sub.3.
Currently, an average or median is calculated for the background leakage current for a number of wafers. As illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the number of wafers measured may vary. The fewer number of wafers measured in FIG. 3a exhibits a magnitude 310a and a variability 320a. The variability 320a is illustrated by the difference between the sides of the bell curve. In FIG. 3b, a larger number of wafers are measured and although the magnitude 310b is lower than the magnitude 310a of FIG. 3a, the variability 320b is twice as large as the variability 320a, in FIG. 3a. In other words, from FIGS. 3a and 3b, it can be observed that a given defect can be resolved only if the additional current due to the defect (I.sub.2 -I.sub.1) is significantly greater than the standard deviation of the background leakage current over the sample size. As illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, while the distribution in FIG. 3b has an identical mean value (I.sub.average) as the distribution in FIG. 3a, its higher standard deviation makes the resolution of some of the defects nearly impossible. Thus, the larger number of wafers tested the larger the variability of the background leakage current from wafer to wafer.
When testing devices for defects, if the background leakage current was the same from wafer to wafer, it would be relatively simple to set the pass/fail criteria for determining if a device defect exists. For example, if it is known that every device on every wafer being tested has a background leakage current of 5.0 mA, whatever is in excess of 5.0 mA would necessarily correspond to a defect. For instance, an IDDQ measurement of a device is determined to be 5.2 mA. The portion of that IDDQ measurement attributable to the background leakage current is 5.0 mA, and the remaining 0.2 mA (200 .mu.A) is attributable to a defect. However, as is illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the background leakage current varies from wafer to wafer. This variability of the background leakage current from wafer to wafer may cause considerable problems in determining if a defect exists from one wafer to the next.
In the prior art a mean (or average) background leakage current is used to set the pass/fail limit for determining device defects (i.e. in the prior art the pass/fail limit is set several standard deviations larger than the mean background leakage current). Since an average background leakage current is used, those devices with a background leakage current much less than the mean that still contain a defect may not be screened out because the background defect current and the defect current combined may not exceed the mean background leakage current or the pass/fail limit set by using such a mean. Also, those devices with a background leakage current much larger than the mean that do not contain a defect, but still exceed the mean background leakage current or the pass/fail limit set by using such a mean, are screened out as being defective, when they are actually good devices.
As the variability of the devices will change with the number of wafers being tested, so to will the average of that variability. The more devices you test the more the average will change either higher or lower depending upon the background leakage current measured in each device. Some prior art methods have tried to combat this problem by trying to lower the average background leakage using low temperature testing or by using multiple power grids. Each of these methods have significant disadvantages.
For example, in order for low temperature testing to be effective, the temperature would have to be brought very low. Significantly lowering the temperature of a wafer in a device may cause problems in future processing and could cause condensation in some of the devices so that they would not work later. Using multiple power grids imposes difficulty for device design because of the need to expand pin count to match background leakage. Multiple power grids also pose noise problems due to use of multiple V.sub.cc busses.
Thus, what is needed is a method for IDDQ testing which takes into account not only the magnitude of the background leakage currents, but also the variability from device to device of the background leakage current.

Leakage tracking device sample for IDDQ measurement and defect resolution


This invention relates to a process for chemically modifying polysaccharides in a densified fluid. In particular, the modification includes esterification and/or etherification of a starch in supercritical carbon dioxide. The process is advantageous in that it allows for a high degree of substitution without the use of organic solvents or repeated reactions.

The modification of polysaccharides by chemical derivatization is well known in the art. Suitable derivatives include esters, such as acetate, and half esters, such as the succinate and octenyl succinate, prepared by reaction with acetic anhydride, succinic anhydride, and octenyl succinic anhydride, respectively; ethers such as hydroxypropyl ether, prepared by reaction with propylene oxide; phosphate derivatives prepared by reaction with sodium or potassium orthophosphate or sodium or potassium tripolyphosphate; or any other starch derivatives or combinations thereof known in the art.
Techniques used in preparing polysaccharide esters have generally involved aqueous reactions for low degree of substitution esters and non-aqueous systems such as anhydrous pyridine for the high degree of substitution starch esters. Degree of substitution (DS), as used herein, is a measure of the average number of hydroxyl groups on each D-glucopyranosyl unit which are derivatized by substituent groups. Since the majority of D-glucopyranosyl units in starch have three hydroxyl groups available for substitution, the maximum possible DS for starch is 3.0.
A good review of the preparation of starch esters may be found in Starch: Chemistry and Technology, 2.sup.nd Edition, Ed. Whistler, BeMiller, and Paschall, Academic Press, 1984, Chapter X. This reference teaches that low degree of substitution starch acetates can be made by the treatment of an aqueous starch suspension with acetic anhydride at pH 7-11. The maximum degree of substitution obtainable without gelatinization varies with the particular starch, but the upper limit is about 0.5 DS. To reach this DS of 0.5, it is necessary to increase repeatedly the reagent concentrations by filtering the starch from the reaction mixture, resuspending it in 1.25-1.5 parts of water per part of starch, and continuing the acetylation.
Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry, Vol. IV, Ed. Whistler, Academic Press, 1964, 286-287, discloses that no more than 10.2 g (0.1 mole) of acetic anhydride for 162 g (1.0 mole) of starch, dry basis, should be used when reacting an aqueous slurry of starch with acetic anhydride because the efficiency of the reaction decreases with dilution. If a higher treatment is needed, the dilution effect can be offset by removing the excess water through filtration followed by resuspension of the starch in water. The treatment can be repeated using a second portion of acetic anhydride. Treatment with 0.1 mole of acetic anhydride yields a starch acetate with a DS of about 0.07. By repeated treatment, it is possible to make a starch acetate having a DS of 0.5. For higher degrees of substitution, pyridine is the preferred catalyst/solvent in the non-aqueous acetylation.
Several methods of preparing polysaccharide esters in aqueous systems are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,461,139 issued Feb. 8, 1949 to Caldwell discloses the reaction of starch with organic acid anhydrides in an aqueous alkaline medium preferably using 0.1 to 5% organic acid anhydride based on the dry starch with quantities higher than 10% being less desirable. The preparation of low DS starch esters in water using magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide to control pH is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,320 issued Oct. 1, 1974 to Bauer.
Accordingly, while it is known to prepare starch esters using aqueous systems as described above, such methods have been limited to the preparation of low DS derivatives and even require multiple or repeated treatments because of difficulties that result when using higher amounts of anhydride and alkaline reagents.
Billmers, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,132, disclose a method of preparing starch esters having an intermediate DS of about 0.5 to 1.8 by using a one step aqueous process with organic acid anhydrides, by reacting starch with high treatment levels of anhydride and high concentrations of alkaline reagent. The anhydride is added over a period of time and the pH is controlled by the addition of alkali during the reaction.
The presence of organic solvent is a disadvantage in the preparation of modified starches. Removal of this solvent requires time and energy and is therefore generally less preferred commercially. Simply leaving the solvent in the dispersion is often unacceptable as an object of preparing starches may be to eliminate organic solvent at the point of product use. Further, reduction of organic solvents is an aim of many businesses from an environmental standpoint.
Wurzberg also discloses the well known reaction of reacting succinic anhydrides with polysaccharides to form the half ester. Such reaction may be carried out in pyridine or, to obtain a high degree of substitution, in glacial acetic acid. There is a limit, however, as to how much succinic ahydride can be reacted with granular starch because at above a 3% treatment level, which results in about a 0.02 DS, the granules swell to such a degree that filtration becomes difficult.
Polysaccharides may also be reacted with substituted cyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydrides of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a dimethyl or trimethyl radical and R' is the substituent group, generally a long hydrocarbon chain. The most important commercial products of this class are the alkenylsuccinnate substituted starches. This reaction is more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,661,349 issued to Caldwell and Wurzburg on Dec. 1, 1953 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,613,206 issued to Caldwell on Oct. 7, 1952.
Techniques for starch phosphoration, by reaction with sodium or potassium orthophosphate or sodium or potassium tripolyphosphate, are well known in the art and described, for example, in Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry, pp. 294-295. Reaction with sodium tripolyphosphate gives substantially undegraded starch phosphates of a low DS (about 0.02) and with orthophosphate salts gives starch phosphates at a maximum DS of 0.2. Further, pH must be strictly controlled as severe hydrolysis occurs at pH levels below 5.0 and the reaction is inefficient at pH levels above 6.5.
Techniques for etherification of polysaccharides are also well known in the art, particularly the commercially important hydroxypropyl ether prepared by reaction with propylene oxide. A good review of the preparation of starch ethers may also be found in Starch: Chemistry and Technology, Chapter X or Modified Starches: Properties and Uses, Ed. Wurzburg, CRC Press, 1986, Chapters 5 and 6.
The most common method of preparing hydroxyalkyl starch derivatives is by reaction with alkylene oxide under strongly alkaline, aqueous conditions. High alkalinity is necessary for good reaction efficiency. However, it is recommended that such reaction be conducted in a closed vessel under a blanket of nitrogen because of the explosibility of alkylene oxide-air mixtures. A further disadvantage of this process is that salts need to be added to repress swelling and at a DS greater than 0.1, the product becomes difficult to purify.
Granular hydroxyalkyl starch ethers with a DS in the range of 0.75 to 1.0 can be prepared by suspending the alkaline starch in organic solvents such as lower aliphatic alcohols or ketones or higher alcohols. However, the presence of organic solvent is disadvantageous as removal of the solvent requires time and energy and is therefore generally less preferred commercially.
A third method of preparing hydroxyalkyl starch derivatives are the so-called "dry" reactions in which starch is reacted with alkylene oxide under pressure in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Starch moisture levels must be kept above 5% for efficiency and a DS of up to 3.0 may be achieved.
Other polysaccharide modifications known in the art include acid hydrolysis, oxidation, and cross-linking.
Densified, particularly supercritical, fluids offer a desirable alternative to both solvent and aqueous based synthetic methods. Densified fluids, as used herein, refers to fluids which have a density of greater than 0.0001 g/mL at one atmosphere and 0.degree. C. Densified carbon dioxide is of particular interest in that it provides a non-toxic, nonflammable, inexpensive, recyclable and environmentally acceptable solvent.
Carbon dioxide is known to accelerate the absorption of additives into polymers and thus has been used to assist polymer impregnation. Berens, et al., "Application of Compressed Carbon Dioxide in the Incorporation of Additives into Polymers, AlChE Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 1988) disclose that the high solubility, diffusivity, and plasticizing action of carbon dioxide makes compressed carbon dioxide useful as a temporary plasticizer to facilitate the absorption of additives into glassy polymers, specifically poly(vinyl chloride), polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(vinyl acetate) Sand, U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,006 and Berens, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,752 disclose impregnating a polymer with an additive under pressure, i.e., at or near supercritical conditions.
Chemical modification of polysaccharides in densified liquids has been limited up to this point. Yalpani, in Carbohydrates and Carbohydrate Polymers, Analysis, Biotechnology, Modification, Antiviral, Biomedical and Other Applications, Yalpani, M. (ed.), ATL Press, 1993, Ch. 23, and Yalpani, "Supercritical Fluids: Puissant Media for the Modification of Polymers and Biopolymers," Polymer vol. 34 (1993) pp. 1102-1105 disclose modification of glycans, such as chitosan, by reaction with glucose or malto-oligosaccharides in an aqueous/supercritical carbon dioxide mixture to produce water soluble, imine-linked branched chitosan derivatives. The water facilitates this reductive alkylation of the imine functions of the chitosan by the carbohydrates which can produce materials of up to 0.8 DS.
Enzymatic hydrolysis of starch to glucose in supercritical carbon dioxide has also been investigated by Lee, et al. See "Starch Hydrolysis Using Enzyme in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide," Biotechnology Techniques, vol. 7, no. 4 (April 1993) pp. 267-270. In this reaction, the enzyme is necessary for the hydrolysis reaction to proceed.
However, the problem of carrying out efficient chemical modifications of polysaccharides in reactions conducted in densified fluids has remained largely unaddressed until the present invention.

Polysaccharide modification in densified fluid

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation


A cosmetic applying device includes a soft tube with an end member connected to the open end of the soft tube in which fluid cosmetic material is received. The end member has two through holes in the closed end and an engaging portion extending from an inner end of the closed end. A core piece has an end inserted into the end member and an applying head extends through a passage in the core piece. A cap is threadedly connected to the soft tube to protect the applying head. When the cap is connected to the soft tube, the passage of the core piece is sealed by the engaging portion to prevent air and cosmetic material from entering the soft tube. When the cap is removed from the soft tube, the core piece is moved and the engaging portion is disengaged from the passage.

A conventional cosmetic applying device for applying fluid cosmetic material is shown in FIG. 1, and generally includes a hollow applying head which is connected to a soft tube in which the fluid cosmetic material is received. The fluid cosmetic material flows through the hollow applying head by squeezing the soft tube. However, when the user does not use the cosmetic applying device, the fluid cosmetic material mixed with air flow back into the soft tube and the air can easily contaminate the cosmetic material. Furthermore, the cosmetic material is solidified when mixing with air and dust and germs in the air may change the nature of the cosmetic material and be harmful to the users.
The present invention intends to provide an improved cosmetic applying device which seals the soft tube to prevent the surplus cosmetic material and air from entering the soft tube to improve the shortcoming of the convention cosmetic applying device.


An unlocking and resetting device for an opto-electronic module comprises a casing having a blind hole and a horizontal slide slot, and first and second mounting parts; an elastic piece; a shell; first springs; an insert block adapted to be inserted into the blind hole; a brake member adapted to be inserted and disposed in the horizontal slide slot; second springs; first and second pressing blocks adapted to be mounted onto first and second mounting parts; and a bail having a cam portion. The single-arm bail of the unlocking and resetting device can return the start position automatically without manual repositions.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an unlocking and resetting device for opto-electronic module used in optical communication field, and particularly, to an unlocking and resetting device for hot pluggable opto-electronic module such as an optical transceiver, which is provided with a bail.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there are mainly two types of unlocking manner in which a hot pluggable opto-electronic module can be unlocked: the first unlocking manner in which the hot pluggable opto-electronic module is unlocked by pushing the locking elastic piece of the shielding cage up, and the second unlocking manner in which the hot pluggable opto-electronic module is unlocked by lowering a projecting block on the housing of the opto-electronic module having locking functions below the top surface of the housing.
Chinese Utility Model Application CN2687957Y has disclosed an unlocking device in which the second unlocking manner is employed, and the unlocking device comprises a casing, a shell, an insert block, a brake member, a bail, a pin, and springs.
The insert block is inserted into a vertical groove of the casing, and the shell is fitted over the casing from above so as to limit the insert block. The brake member is inserted into a horizontal slot and the bail is mounted to the casing by means of the pin so as to rotate about the pin. The horizontal beam of the bail pushes against the rear end surface of the brake member so as to push the brake member toward the cage. The second bevel at the front end surface of the brake member abuts against the first bevel of the insert block, so that the insert block is pressed down so as to achieve the unlocking.
The springs are disposed between the insert block and the casing and between the brake member and the casing and used to restore the insert block and the brake member. The second unlocking manner is applicable to a compact cage.

Bail type unlocking and resetting device for hot pluggable opto-electronic module

Wuhan Telecommunication Devices Co., Ltd.


A determination is made, by a first device, that data in a first database is modified. The first database is associated with the first device. A notification is generated by the first device. The notification includes information associated with the data modification in the first database. The notification is transmitted by the first device to at least one second device. At least one second database is associated with the at least one second device.

In the big data era, data owners usually build more than two data centers for the purpose of disaster recovery. In a conventional cold standby disaster recovery solution, an active data center is used as a primary service, and other data centers are used to back up data in the active data center. A problem with this solution is that the active data center and a standby center cannot be directly reused, and the standby data center can function only in a disaster, resulting in low resource utilization. In addition, it is time-consuming and complicated for the standby data center to take over the active data center as the primary service, and it usually severely affects processing of a normal service.
A distributed multi-active data center (multi-active for short) technology is proposed for the problem with the cold standby technology. An implementation idea is as follows: there are no active and standby services in a plurality of data centers, the data centers cooperate with each other in normal mode, and provide a service for service access in parallel. This prevents standby data centers from being idle and doubles the service capability of the system. When one data center fails, other data centers can quickly take over all services.
In the multi-active solution, because data centers each have relatively equal footing, a requirement on speed of data synchronization between data centers is relatively high. Especially in an application scenario where data centers are deployed at different locations, improving the speed of data synchronization between two locations at a relatively long communication distance is a problem in current multi-active data center construction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Data synchronization method, apparatus, and system


Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for providing positional audio cues for an vehicle warning system. In one embodiment, a sensor disposed in a vehicle detects a warning event and generates a corresponding signal. In response to receiving the signal, a controller uses a positional audio algorithm to generate an audible warning via an audio system associated with the vehicle. The audible warning uniquely identifies the warning event and provides a location cue indicating the location of the warning event. In embodiments of the present invention, a sensor coupled with the controller may detect the proximity of and external object with reference to the vehicle and generate a corresponding signal. In embodiments of the present invention, the audible warnings may comprise steering cues indicating a desired direction, or a wrong direction, to a destination in response to input from a vehicle navigation system.

Today's vehicles utilize a variety of sensors to monitor operating conditions of the vehicle and to provide feedback to the driver, especially when an unsafe operating condition is detected. Indicators may include fuel level warnings, car navigation signals, door ajar indicators, speedometer speed limits, etc. Typically, this feedback comprises a warning light, an audible warning (e.g., a warning tone or buzzer), or a combination of the two. However, this feedback can be confusing and/or an unwanted distraction to the driver and may result in unsafe operation of the vehicle while the driver determines the problem indicated by the feedback.
For example, when the oil pressure is below a minimum parameter, an oil pressure warning light provides feedback to the driver. Typically, these warning lights are in the drivers peripheral field of vision. Thus, the driver can see that a warning light is illuminated, but cannot determine what condition is being reported unless he directs his/her vision off of the road and to the warning light. In so doing, the driver is no longer able to concentrate on driving the vehicle which can result in reduced reaction time to traffic conditions and/or emergencies.
Alternatively, when a passenger's seatbelt is not fastened, a warning tone may provide an audible indication which requires the driver's attention. Sometimes, the audible tone may be in conjunction with a warning light being illuminated. Again, the driver may not be presented with enough information to quickly determine what the problem is and may become distracted from operating the vehicle.
Consequently, conventional vehicle warning systems often fail to provide a driver with a sufficient amount of information concerning a warning condition in a manner that does not distract the driver from operating the vehicle.

Positional audio cues for an vehicle indicator system


An image forming apparatus of the present invention is operable with a waste toner bottle removably mounted thereto for collecting residual toner left on an image carrier after image formation. The image forming apparatus includes a handle to be held by an operator for holding the waste toner bottle, and a locking mechanism included in the handle for preventing the waste toner bottle from coming off the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copier, printer, facsimile apparatus, multifunction apparatus or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus and more particularly to an image forming apparatus of the type including a process cartridge and a method of mounting or dismounting a waste toner bottle.
2. Description of the Background Art
Today, there is an increasing demand for toner with a small grain size or produced by polymerization that implements high image quality required of a printer, copier or similar image forming apparatus. Also, a current trend is toward an image forming apparatus of the type operable with a process cartridge removably mounted thereto. In this type of image forming apparatus, a waste toner bottle is removably mounted for collecting residual toner removed from a photoconductive element after image transfer. The problem with the waste toner bottle is that it is apt to come off the image forming apparatus and cause the toner to fly about or drop, smearing the operator of the apparatus or the apparatus itself.
In light of the above, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-36011, for example, discloses a mechanism in which a locking portion, included in a lever for releasing an intermediate image transfer belt, locks or unlocks a waste toner bottle to or from an apparatus body in interlocked relation to the contact or the release, respectively, of the belt. This mechanism, however, has a drawback that because the waste toner bottle is simply positioned in an unstable condition, it is apt to drop due to, e.g., an impact when the user unlocks the waste toner bottle by holding the lever and turning it in the unlocking direction. To solve this problem, it is necessary for the user to unlock the waste toner bottle while holding it.

Image forming apparatus and method of mounting and dismounting a waste toner bottle


In a gas laser blower, the lower end opening of the oil passage (14) extends below the liquid level of the oil reservoir (17), so that the internal chamber (18) of housing and the oil passage (14) are separated by the oil within the oil reservoir. Further, a cylindrical guard (24) is disposed around the lower bearing (6) which supports the shaft so that the oil and oil mist scattered from the bearing are caught by the guard (24) and is returned to the oil reservoir.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas laser blower which forcibly circulates a laser gas in a processing gas laser apparatus and the like.
2. Prior Art
Recent high-speed axial flow type carbonic acid gas laser apparatuses (a CO.sub.2 gas laser oscillation apparatuses) not only can provide a high output while it is compact but also can generate a high quality laser beam, so that they are becoming widely used for a laser processing such as cutting of metallic or non-metallic materials, welding of metallic materials and the like. Particularly, their applications are increasing rapidly in the field requiring a material to be cut to a complicated shape at a high speed and a high accuracy in the form of CNC laser processing machines which is connected to, a CNC computerized numerical control apparatuses.
In the carbonic acid gas laser apparatus, about 20 percent of electric energy inputted is converted into a laser beam and the remainder thereof is consumed in heating a laser gas. Theoretically, a laser oscillation gain is in proportion to -(3/2) power of an absolute temperature T. Accordingly, in order to raise the oscillation efficiency, it is necessary to forcibly cool the laser gas so as to lower the temperature of the laser gas as much as possible. Thus, in the case of a carbonic acid gas laser apparatus of a high-speed axial flow type, a turbo blower for a gas laser and the like are employed for forcing the laser gas into the cooling device by forced circulation of the laser gas within the apparatus.
An example of a conventional turbo blower for a gas laser is shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, a turbo vane 1 of a turbo blower 100A for a gas laser is connected to an upper end of a shaft 2 by a nut 7. A rotor 3 is fixed to the shaft 2 along the outer periphery thereof by a shrinkage fit. A stator 4 is provided outside the rotor 3. The stator 4 is fixed to a housing 120 and constitutes a high frequency motor 30 with the rotor 3. The shaft 2 and the turbo vane connected thereto are rotated at a high speed of tens of thousands RPM by this high frequency motor 30.
An upper portion of the shaft 2, that is, a portion of shaft between an upper end of the rotor 3, constituting the high frequency motor 30, and an upper end of the turbo vane 1, which are respectively mounted on the shaft 2, is supported by a ball bearing 5 mounted on an upper portion of the housing 120, and a lower portion of the shaft 2 is supported by a ball bearing 6 mounted on a shaft supporting portion formed in a lower portion of the housing 120, respectively.
Oil in an oil reservoir 170 is supplied to the ball bearings 5 and 6 by a pump 16 which utilizes a centrifugal force to lubricate these ball bearings 5 and 6. Then, the oil supplied to the ball bearings 5 and 6 is returned to the oil reservoir 170 after passing through an oil passage 140 and an internal chamber of the housing 180. The oil is cooled by cooling water which flows in a cooling water passage 190 provided along the oil passage 140 when the oil passes through the oil passage 140. By this cooling, the oil gives off its heat absorbed while lubricating the ball bearings 5 and 6.
In this way, the oil is repetively heated and cooled as it circulates during operation of the turbo blower 100A for the gas laser, so that a large amount of oil and oil mist 160 exist within the housing 120.
In order to prevent the oil and oil mist 160 from passing the interior of the housing 120 to enter the carbonic acid gas laser apparatus, it is structured that a vacuum pump (not shown) discharges the laser gas from the internal chamber 180 of a housing through a vacuum discharge port 22 so as to always keep the pressure in the internal chamber 180 of housing lower than that within the turbo vane chamber.
In the above structure, the oil, particularly the oil which lubricated the upper bearing 5, scatters into mist while returning to the oil reservoir passing through the oil passage 140 and to the internal chamber 180 of housing, thereby floating in the internal chamber 180 of housing. Thus, when the gas within the internal chamber 180 of housing is discharged through the vacuum discharge port 22 by the vacuum pump, the floating oil mist is discharged together with the laser gas so that a considerable amount of oil is lost during a long period of time.


A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector that is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. A fluid passage includes an energy damping structure. A fluid flow source is operable to cause the fluid to flow through the passage along the energy damping structure. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquid drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Printing systems that deflect drops using a gas flow are known, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,241, issued to Yamada, on Jan. 10, 1978.
The device that provides gas flow to the gas flow drop interaction area can introduce turbulence in the gas flow that may augment and ultimately interfere with accurate drop deflection or divergence. Turbulent flow introduced from the gas supply typically increases or grows as the gas flow moves through the structure or plenum used to carry the gas flow to the gas flow drop interaction area of the printing system.
Drop deflection or divergence can be affected when turbulence, the randomly fluctuating motion of a fluid, is present in, for example, the interaction area of the drops (traveling along a path) and the gas flow force. The effect of turbulence on the drops can vary depending on the size of the drops. For example, when relatively small volume drops are caused to deflect or diverge from the path by the gas flow force, turbulence can randomly disorient small volume drops resulting in reduced drop deflection or divergence accuracy which, in turn, can lead to reduced drop placement accuracy.
Accordingly, a need exists to reduce turbulent gas flow in the gas flow drop interaction area of a printing system.

Energy damping flow device for printing system


An apparatus for processing data relating to software defects operates within an on-line analytical processing environment that includes an on-line analytical processing presentation tool (60). An on-line analytical processing cube model builder (32) builds a plurality of interrelated tables (22) with on-line analytical processing cube model metadata (30). The cube model (30) is configured to be processed by the associated on-line analytical processing presentation tool (60). A data extraction tool (36) communicates with a defect tracking database (10, 12) containing said data relating to software defects. The data extraction tool (36) extracts said data from the defect tracking database (10, 12), transforms the extracted data into the software defect entries, and loads the software defect entries into the tables (22).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of computer software development. It finds particular application in tracking and analyzing identified software defects in large commercial, business, and military software development projects, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, the invention also finds application in analysis of smaller scale software development projects, in analysis of defects in other types of computer system developments such as, for example, an installation of a complex distributed database system for a nationwide or global business concern.
2. Description of Related Art
Modern computer software development projects are highly complex undertakings that involve teams of software developers each working on selected software components or modules destined to be combined to form the final software product. Quality control groups test modules, interactions between modules, interactions between modules and the supporting operating system, and so forth using hardware testbeds to identify software defects during the development. Project engineers coordinate the workflow, forecast project timelines, and otherwise manage project activities.
Software defects inevitably are introduced during development of large, complex software products. Resolution of defects in complex software development projects is a difficult task due, among other reasons, to a high degree of interrelatedness of various software components. Resolution of one identified defect can give rise to other defects. Such defect interaction is reduced but not eliminated through the use of modular programming concepts.
Quality control groups test software modules to identify and characterize software defects. When a defect is identified, information pertaining to the defect is recorded in a database, and the associated software module or modules are tested to identify characteristics of the defect such as the scope of affected software components, the software versions or releases which exhibit the defect, operating conditions under which the defect manifests, severity of the defect, and so forth. The identified defect information is forwarded to a software development team which is assigned the task of remedying the defect.
In a complex software project, defects are discovered and subsequently resolved on a continuing basis, and it is useful to maintain accurate, up-to-date records and statistics pertaining to the discovered software defects. For example, a decrease in a rate of newly discovered defects in a component over time is typically indicative of increasing robustness and reliability of that component, and is thus an indicator that good progress is being made. Conversely, an increasing rate of newly discovered defects, or a large time interval between discovery and resolution of severe defects, can be indicative of substantial problems with the associated software component or components.
In the past, data pertaining to software defects has been stored and tracked using dedicated source control or defect tracking systems that are optimized to provide an efficient defect remediation workflow. In these systems, each defect is typically classified based on its severity, assigned a resolution priority based on its impact on software performance, and assigned to a software developer or development team for resolution. A defect status is stored in a relational database or other storage entity, and is monitored and tracked until the defect is remedied. After remediation is complete, the defect information is preferably retained for statistical defect analyses or other purposes.
Existing defect tracking systems are suitable for managing remediation of specific defects, but provide limited information relevant to workflow coordination and forecasting for the software development project as a whole. Information for high-level management tasks come in various data formats and from various sources. Project engineers study incoming defect rates, risk factors associated with defects, defect resolution rates, and the like in order to generate development timeline projections, to allocate development resources, to identify problematic software components, and so forth.
Existing defect tracking systems that are targeted toward efficient defect remediation workflow typically do not provide information on defects in a form that is readily applied to these high level project engineering tasks. Moreover, information contained in these defect tracking systems is not readily integrated with other types of information related to project development. Project engineers would benefit from a system, apparatus, method, or article of manufacture for integrating information on software defects with other types of information, and for arranging such integrated data compilations in a format that is supportive of high level project development tasks. Preferably, such a system, apparatus, method, or article of manufacture would be compatible with existing data analysis tools that are familiar to typical software project engineers, such as commercial spreadsheet programs that provide tabular and graphical representations of data compilations.
The present invention contemplates an improved method and apparatus which overcomes these limitations and others.

Method and apparatus for processing information on software defects during computer software development

International Business Machines Corporation


A New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisnics Orred,’ particularly distinguished by the deep orange-red flower color, large, zygomorphic flowers well above the foliage, medium green foliage, relatively small and narrow leaves, compact during greenhouse cultivation, later becoming medium to tall, but not very wide, early flowering and rich flowering throughout the summer.

The present invention comprises a New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Fisnics Orred'.
'Fisnics Orred' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has large, orange-red flowers, medium green foliage, narrow leaves and about medium sized plant habit.
'Fisnics Orred' originated from a hybridization made in the summer of 2004 in a controlled breeding program in Hillscheid, Germany. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as 'K04-3516-6,' with red flowers having a small pink eye, and with compact plant habit.
The male parent of 'Fisnics Orred' was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as 'K02-0172-1' with orange flower color in combination with dark green foliage and fairly tall plant habit.
'Fisnics Orred' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in the spring of 2005 in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Fisnics Orred' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in July 2005 in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal.
Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in February 2006 in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for 'Fisnics Orred' are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
'Fisnics Orred' has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Canada on Apr. 29, 2008 and in Switzerland on Mar. 20, 2008. 'Fisnics Orred' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.


A method of fabricating a solar cell with a connecting sheet includes a fixing step of bonding at least a portion of a peripheral region of a back electrode type solar cell (8) to a connecting sheet (10). A method of fabricating a solar cell module includes the step of sealing the solar cell with a connecting sheet obtained by the method on a transparent substrate (17) by a sealing material (18). A solar cell with a connecting sheet has a first adhesive arranged between a back electrode type solar cell (8) and a connecting sheet (10), and a second adhesive arranged at at least a portion of a peripheral region of the back electrode type solar cell (8) to bond a back electrode type solar cell (8) with a connecting sheet (10). A solar cell module has the solar cell with a connecting sheet sealed on a transparent substrate (17) by a sealing material (18).

In recent years, the expectation for solar cells that convert solar energy into electric energy as the energy source for the next generation has increased significantly from the standpoint of protecting global environment. Among the various types of solar cells employing compound semiconductor and/or organic material, solar cells employing silicon crystal have become the main stream.
Solar cells that are now most fabricated in quantity and available on the market are the double-sided electrode type solar cells based on a configuration in which an n electrode is formed at the surface corresponding to the sunlight incident side (light receiving face), and a p electrode is formed at the surface opposite to the light receiving face side (back surface).
In addition, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-310830 (Patent Literature 1), for example, discloses a back electrode type solar cell absent of an electrode at the light receiving face of the solar cell, and having the n electrode and p electrode formed only at the back surface of the solar cell.
The electric energy that can be utilized by a single back electrode type solar cell of the configuration disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is limited. Therefore, an approach to electrically connect a plurality of back electrode type solar cells of the aforementioned configuration to obtain a solar cell module is now under study.

Solar cell with connecting sheet, solar cell module, and fabrication method of solar cell with connecting sheet


A security arrangement for preventing removal of a bolt or nut threaded fastener including a shielding sleeve receiving the fastener hex portion, the threaded body passing out through a hole in a closed end in the sleeve. A socket wrench can be received in the open end and engage the hex element for wrenching. A blocking cap is received over the open end and a locking pin driven through a hole in one side of the cap, a pair of aligned holes in the sleeve end, and a blind hole extending partially into the inside of the opposite side of the blocking cap.

This invention concerns security arrangements for defeating the removal of the bolts (or nuts) incidental to unauthorized removal of equipment by thieves. A very common modern-day problem is the theft of air bag canisters from automobiles. Often, removal of two bolts enables removal of the air bag unit making it a tempting target in view of the high value of this component.
Many arrangements have been devised to defeat or deter unauthorized removal of bolts or nuts, including installing a shielding sleeve over the bolt or nut, with a locking plug held in the sleeve to block wrench access to the nut or bolt head.
The present inventor has heretofore filed a patent application on such a device, U.S. Ser. No. 08/782,633, filed on Jan. 14, 1997.
Such a device is effective but requires a key to remove the locking plug and a key locking mechanism adds significant cost to the device.
It is sufficient if thieves would be delayed in defeating a security device to an extent that they will simply select another car rather than make an attempt to defeat the security device. Thus, if a simpler device could accomplish this, it would be preferable over a more complex but more secure device.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple security arrangement for a nut or bolt head which sufficiently delays any removal attempt to provide effective deterrent against unauthorized removal.

Security arrangement for deterring removal of a nut or bolt


A tensioner that controls tension of a loop-shaped connecting body linking an output portion of an engine body and an output-input portion of a motor generator is fixed to the motor generator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a mounting structure of a motor generator for an internal combustion engine in which the motor generator is attached to an engine body of the internal combustion engine and coupled to and driven by the output thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to such a mounting structure for which a tensioner, which applies tension to a power transmission belt coupled to the internal combustion engine, is attached to the motor generator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Art is known in which the output of an engine is utilized to drive a water pump, an air conditioner compressor, an alternator, and the like. Moreover, a motor generator is sometimes adopted in place of an alternator, and used to provide torque assistance. In this case, the motor generator is driven by the output of the engine instead of the alternator.
FIG. 3 shows a known motor generator mounting structure e of this type. A pulley 12 is provided on an engine block 10 and rotated by a crank shaft of the engine.
In addition, a water pump 14 is provided on one side of the engine block 10 (more specifically, the right side as shown in FIG. 3). The water pump 14 is a coolant pump that uses rotation of a pulley 16 to circulate coolant to the engine and a radiator (not shown).
A motor generator 18 is disposed next to the water pump 14. The motor generator 18 uses torque of the engine to generate electricity for recharging a battery (not shown), and, in addition, assists engine output torque when necessary by rotating an output shaft of the engine (namely, the crank shaft). The motor generator 18 has a rotating shaft to which a pulley 20 is attached. Moreover, an air conditioner compressor 22 is disposed near to the water pump 14 and the motor generator 18. The compressor 22 is driven by a pulley 24.
A belt 26 is wound around the pulleys 12, 16, 20 and 24. Accordingly, driving force of the pulley 12 is used to drive the water pump 14, the motor generator 18, and the compressor 22.
Note that, in order to transmit driving force it is essential that the belt 26 is pressed against the pulleys 12, 16, 20 and 24 so that it does not slip. To achieve this, a tensioner 28 is provided that applies tensioning force (tension) to the belt 26.
The tensioner 28 includes a body 34, and a pair of rollers 36a and 36b. The pair of rollers 36a and 36b apply tension to the belt 26 by pressing the outer sides thereof. The tensioner 28 is fixed at one side to a boss of the engine block 10 using a bracket 38a, and at the other side to an external wall of the water pump 14 using a bracket 38b.
In the previously described structure, provision of the tensioner 28 enables a desired amount of tension to be applied to the belt 26. Accordingly, driving force can be reliably transmitted using the belt 26.
Note that, the tensioner 28 is highly versatile, and may be used with various different types of engines. However, in the case of another engine, the position of the boss to which the tensioner can be fixed is different, and thus it is necessary to manufacture a bracket to match. Moreover, if a suitable boss is not provided on the engine block, it is necessary to make changes to the engine block itself.
It should be noted that there are various ways in which tensioners can be fitted to an engine. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-201857 discloses a configuration in which a tensioner is attached to an oil pump that is driven by an engine via a chain. The tensioner applies tension to the chain.

Mounting structure of motor generator for internal combustion engine


A blow molding machine, includes a base frame, a blow mold adapted for receiving a tubular parison and having a first mold support plate for support one mold half and a second mold support plate for support of another mold half. A transport unit is mounted to the base frame for so moving the first and second support plates that the mold halves are free from any direct, form-fitting coupling, with the transport unit including a first drive mechanism operatively connected to the first support plate and a second drive mechanism operatively connected to the second support plate and operating independent of the first drive mechanism. Secured to the support plates is a locking mechanism for pinching off the tubular parison and clamping the mold halves during the blow molding operation.

The present invention generally refers to a blowing molding machine, and in particular to a blow molding machine of a type having a base frame without tie bars for the production of blow-molded hollow plastic bodies, in which two blow mold halves for receiving the tubular parison are displaceable in horizontal direction by means of a transport device acting on the mold support plates or on the associated support columns carrying the mold support plates, and which has an independent separate locking system acting on the mold support plates and having its own drive for pinching off the tubular parison and for locking the blow mold halves during the blow molding operation.
German Patent No. 34 16 871 C3 discloses a blow molding machine of this type which is notable for its simple housing design without tie bars, in which the moving masses are considerably reduced compared with other conventional blow molding machines through decentralization of the movement systems and provision of a separately operating transport device and an independent locking system. Both movement systems are hydraulically driven. The blow mold halves are coupled to one another by way of a mechanical synchronizing device which includes a rack-and-pinion combination. An asynchronous actuation of the blow mold halves with respect to one another is not possible.
It is also known from German Pat. No. 16 04 575 to provide a blow molding machine with electrical drive of the blow mold halves or of the two support columns carrying the blow mold halves. The drive and synchronization of the blow mold halves is effected by way of four right-hand/left-hand rotatable threaded spindles having threads of different design (right-hand/left-hand threads) which are guided through threaded bores in the support columns.
The two support columns are coupled directly in positive-locking manner by way of these rotatable threaded spindles acting as a synchronizing device. The threaded spindles are driven by an electric motor by way of a toothed wheel/chain combination. As a result, the blow mold halves always execute synchronous opening and closing movements. This design does also not permit an asynchronous movement of the blow mold halves with respect to one another so that this type of blow molding machine is no longer able to meet current demands, since the translatory movement of the support columns is effected by way of track wheels on ground rails and a precise guidance of the blow mold parts in a manner free from play and free from tilting is not guaranteed. Such a blow molding machine cannot be constructed as a machine with two or more stations.