A roof bit drill has a central shaft with a front end and a back end. The drill also has a base secured about the central shaft proximate to the front end, wherein the base has clearance channels extending axially therethrough. At least one cutting element is arranged on the base in a convex cutting pattern to permit loosened material to be evacuated. The roof bit drill may further include a drill depth locator to identify when the drill has been advanced within a mine roof to a predetermined depth. A method for using the roof drill bit is also disclosed herein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a roof bit drill and, more particularly, to a roof bit drill used for imparting within the roof of a mine, counter bores suitable for recessing roof mine bolts.
2. Description of Related Art
In mine work, such as coal mining, or in underground formations such as tunnels or other excavations, it is necessary to reinforce or support the roof and/or walls of the excavation to prevent rock falls or cave-ins. Among the most common means in use for such support are cable bolts or other suitable elongated members, such as rod bolts, which are inserted into bore holes and exposed to a resin mixture or anchored therein to hold a metal support or bearing plate in tight engagement with a roof or wall surface. With respect to cable bolts, a resin system introduces resin capsules or cartridges into the bore hole and then advances the cables to a blind end of the bore hole by the cable bolt backing the capsules. The spinning of the cable bolt ruptures the capsules and mixes the resin system supplied.
Each of these cable bolts or rod bolts utilize either a barrel or wedge assembly or a bolt head, respectively, to secure the metal support or bearing plate against the roof. Therefore, the barrels of the cable bolts extend into the usable walk/crawl or transportation space in a mine as defined by the distance from the floor to the ceiling of the mine tunnel. FIG. 1 depicts a prior art cable bolt including a wedge assembly 2 and a multi-strand cable 3 secured to a barrel 8 as situated with respect to a roof line in a mine. A drive head, such as a nut 9, may be attached to a free end of the cable 3. An exemplary height of the prior art barrel and wedge assembly 2 is approximately 3 inches. Accordingly, several inches (not including the thickness of the prior art bearing plate 6) of material extends below the roof line. The prior art barrel and wedge assembly 2 used in connection with typical low clearance tunnels requires that due care be exercised while moving within the tunnel, as the extending bolt head may be engaged by moving equipment or mine personnel.
FIG. 2 illustrates another prior art embodiment, wherein a countersunk recess 13, which may have a generally curved profile, such as substantially semi-spiracle, is formed through a roofline 10 into the roof 11 to accommodate a crater plate or dome plate 14 therein. The crater plate 14 includes a raised portion 16 that substantially corresponds to the shape of the countersink 13. As a result of the profile of the crater plate 14, a cable 21 or bolt may be positioned within a top portion 30a of the barrel 26 such that the cable bolt/cable rod is significantly recessed within the roof line thereby reducing the obstruction caused by this assembly. The barrel 26 of the bolt cable 21 illustrated in FIG. 2 has a bottom portion 32 which protrudes below the roof line.
However, drilling such a hole may be challenging because there are no drills known to the inventors capable of producing such a countersink and, furthermore, any drill that is capable of producing such a countersink would, in all likelihood, require accessories to collect material removed by the drill and minimize the production of dust.
FIG. 3 illustrates a drill bit tool 70 which includes a counter bore bit 72 securely fixed to a first drill shaft 74. The counter bore bit 72 is sized to create the countersink 13 (FIG. 2) to accommodate a crater plate having a corresponding shape. The counter bore bit 72 may include raised cutting surfaces or protrusions, such as ribs 73. However, this design makes no provisions for evacuating either dust produced by this operation or larger material removed during this operation.

Countersink roof bit drill and method for using the same


An optical disk apparatus which records/reproduces data on/from a plurality of types of optical disks. The optical disk apparatus has a plurality of laser diodes. Two laser light rays emanating from two laser diodes are coupled together by means of a coupling prism. The thus-coupled laser light is radiated onto an optical disk. A photodetector is disposed in close proximity to the coupling prism. The coupling prism guides, to the photodetector, a laser light component of at least one laser light ray of the two laser light to be coupled together, the component having not been radiated onto the optical disk on an optical path. Laser light which is not radiated onto the optical disk on the optical path includes diffracted light other than a main beam emanating from the laser diode or laser beam which has not been subjected to coupling at the coupling surface of the coupling prism. When laser light for a CD is caused to pass through the coupling surface and laser light for a DVD is reflected by the same, the CD laser light which is reflected from the coupling surface or the DVD laser light which passes through the coupling surface is guided to the photodetector. The power of a main beam of the laser light is controlled in accordance with the power of the laser light detected by the photodetector.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optical disk apparatus, and more particularly, to an optical disk apparatus which subjects a plurality of optical disks to recording and reproduction.
2. Related Art
There has recently been developed an optical disk apparatus which has a plurality of light sources for emitting laser lights of different wavelengths and subjects a plurality of types of optical disks to recording and reproduction through use of the plurality of laser lights. Examples of such an optical disk apparatus include an optical disk apparatus which subjects a CD and a DVD to recording and reproduction; an apparatus capable of reproducing data from a CD and a DVD; an apparatus which records and reproduces data on and from a CD and which reproduces data from a DVD; and an apparatus capable of recording and reproducing data from and on a CD and a DVD. An apparatus which records and reproduces data on and from a CD and reproduces data from a DVD is taken as an example. The apparatus has two light sources: that is, a light source for a CD (simply called a "CD light source") and another light source for a DVD (simply called a "DVD light source"). Laser light of recording power for recording data on a CD-R or a CD-RW is emitted from the CD light source. Further, laser light of reproduction power is emitted from the DVD light source. Here, the laser light emitted from the CD light source has a wavelength of about 780 nm, and the laser light emitted from the DVD light source has a wavelength of about 650 nm.
In order to record data on the CD-R, the recording power of the laser light emanating from the CD light source must be controlled to a desired value. For instance, in the case of a CD-R, a recording film is exposed to laser light, and a portion of the recording film is fused and evaporated by the thermal energy of the laser light, thereby forming a pit. Consequently, a deficiency or excess of recording power results in formation of a geometry failure, thereby deteriorating recording quality. Therefore, monitoring of intensity of the laser light of recording power, and feedback control for controlling the intensity of the laser light to a desired value are required.
Feedback control is achieved by, for example, providing a photodetector in the vicinity of the CD light source, providing a mirror in an optical path of the laser light emanating from the CD light source, causing the mirror to reflect a portion of the laser light so as to guide the reflected laser light to the photodetector, and detecting the intensity of the thus-guided laser light. More specifically, an optical system (optical pickup) is formed from a laser diode (LD), a collimator lens for converting into collimated light laser light emanating from the LD, and a mirror for reflecting the light emanating from the collimator lens toward an objective lens. A mirror is disposed on an optical path between the LD and the collimator lens, to thereby reflect and guide to a photodetector a portion of the laser light emanating from the LD. The power of the laser light that has been converted into an electric signal by the photodetector is supplied to a controller and an LD driver, thereby adjusting the value of a drive current for the LD driver.
However, in the case of the configuration in which a portion of the light traveling along the optical path is reflected and guided toward the photodetector, the light enters the objective lens, so that the power of the laser light to be radiated onto the optical disk decreases. Further, an optical component (i.e., a mirror) which is not essentially required for recording and reproducing data must be disposed on an optical path, thereby entailing an increase in the number of components, an increase in the size of the optical pickup, and a cost hike.


According to the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a silicon single crystal wafer, wherein a first heat treatment for holding a silicon single crystal wafer in an oxygen containing atmosphere at a first heat treatment temperature for 1 to 60 seconds and cooling it to 800° C. or less at a temperature falling rate of 1 to 100° C./second by using a rapid heating/rapid cooling apparatus is performed to inwardly diffuse oxygen and form an oxygen concentration peak region near a surface of the silicon single crystal wafer, and then a second heat treatment is performed to agglomerate oxygen in the silicon single crystal wafer into the oxygen concentration peak region. As a result, it is possible to provide the method for manufacturing a silicon single crystal wafer that enables forming an excellent gettering layer close to a device forming region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a silicon single crystal wafer that is suitable for fabrication of an image pickup device or a memory device and to an electronic device using this method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A silicon single crystal wafer for use in a semiconductor device is generally sliced out from a silicon single crystal ingot grown by a Czochralski method (which will be referred to as a [CZ method] hereinafter) and manufactured through processes such as polishing. Request items required for this silicon single crystal wafer are formation of a defect-free layer (a Denuded Zone layer: which will be referred to as a [DZ layer] hereinafter) in a surface layer, control over solid solubility oxygen concentration that affects mechanical strength, and control over an oxide precipitate (a Bulk Micro Defect: which will be referred to as a [BMD] hereinafter) formed in the wafer to remove a metal contamination element taken in during a device process from a wafer surface layer portion.
In a general silicon single crystal wafer is present a grown-in defect such as a COP (a Crystal Originated Particle) or an OSF (Oxidation Induced Stacking Fault) nucleus (a micro defect that can be a cause of occurrence of the OSF) produced in a crystal at the stage of growing a silicon single crystal by the CZ method. Therefore, as a method for annihilating the grown-in defect in a wafer surface layer and forming a high-quality DZ layer, a nitrogen (N) added wafer subjected to a high-temperature annealing treatment in an Ar atmosphere (e.g., Patent Literature 1) has been suggested. Further, a method for growing a silicon single crystal having no grown-in defect such as a COP or a OSF nucleus present therein (which will be referred to as a perfect crystal hereinafter) by controlling growth conditions of the CZ method has been also suggested (e.g., Patent Literature 2).
Besides, there is a method for performing epitaxial growth on a silicon single crystal wafer and using an epitaxial layer as a DZ layer.
The control over BMDs is important to all devices, and it is particularly important to a solid-state image pickup device. That is because the solid-state image pickup device which is a photoelectric conversion element generates electric charges in accordance with intensity of light that has hit upon an imaging surface and converts the light into an electrical signal. Therefore, it is desirable for an electric charge amount on an imaging plane when light is shielded, i.e., when light does not strike at all to be "zero". The electric charge amount is measured as a current, and it is desirable for the current when the light is shielded, i.e., a dark current to be as small as possible. However, when metal contamination or a grown-in defect is present in a photodiode region formed in a wafer surface layer, a deep level is formed in a forbidden band of a semiconductor. As a result, electric charges are generated through a defect even though light is not applied. This is known as a generation/recombination current, and this current degrades dark current characteristics, i.e., reduces electrical characteristics of the solid-state image sensing device.
However, even though metal contamination is introduced in a solid-state image pickup device fabrication process, if a BMD is formed at a position deeper than a device forming region, the BMD removes (getters) a metal contamination element from the wafer surface layer portion, and hence degradation of the electrical characteristics can be avoided.
To getter, a higher total volume of the BMDs (which is comparable to density×a BMD size per one BMD) is desirable, and having the BMD formed at a position that is close to the device forming region as much as possible (proximity gettering) is desirable. That is because, to getter a contamination element such as a metal, the contamination element must diffuse to a position of the BMD as a getter site during a heat treatment, but a diffusion distance of the contamination element tends to be shortened with lowering of a temperature/a time of a recent device process.
On the other hand, when the BMD size is too large, the BMD itself serves as a dislocation generation source, an adverse effect, i.e., deforming a wafer during a heat treatment in device manufacturing process and a reduction in yield rate arises by lowering of a device pattern matching accuracy in a photolithography process, and hence the size must be suppressed to a predetermined size or less. As described above, it is necessary that the density and the size of the BMD are controlled in a given fixed range. This can be likewise applied to a memory device.
An intrinsic gettering method (which will be referred to as an "IG method" hereinafter) for performing an oxygen precipitation heat treatment before epitaxial growth or the like and forming a BMD in a bulk can be applied to a silicon single crystal wafer that is used for the solid-state image pickup device. However, since the IG method requires a high-temperature/long-time heat treatment, there is concern in terms of cost or concern that the metal contamination is apt to occur during the heat treatment or slip might occur due to the heat treatment. Therefore, in recent years, a wafer obtained by forming an epitaxial layer formed on the wafer sliced out from a crystal in which carbon (C) is doped at the time of growing a silicon single crystal by the CZ method is often adopted. Although a BMD is not formed in this wafer at a shipping stage as a wafer, carbon is present in the wafer, and hence the wafer has characteristics that oxygen precipitation is apt to occur at a relatively low temperature, i.e., 400 to 800° C. and the BMD is easily formed by a heat treatment in the solid-state image pickup device fabrication process.
On the other hand, in case of a memory device, a silicon single crystal wafer that is sliced out from a perfect crystal and fabricated is widely adopted. Furthermore, a structure obtained by forming a very shallow grove that is called an STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) as element isolation and filling the inside of the groove with an oxide film is adopted. However, there is a problem that since a volume of the oxide film changes during a process of annealing the oxide film buried inside, large stress is generated around the STI, and a dislocation is thereby apt to occur from a corner portion of the STI. To alleviate this stress or pin the dislocation, a BMD having high density and a precipitous profile at a position close to an STI bottom portion is effective (Patent Literature 3).
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-353225
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 08-330316
Patent Literature 3: US 2001/0055689
Patent Literature 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 11-116390
Patent Literature 5: Japanese Patent No. 3763629
Patent Literature 6: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-40587
Patent Literature 7: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-170656
Patent Literature 8: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-203210
Patent Literature 9: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-297839
Patent Literature 10: WO 2010/119614

Method for manufacturing silicon single crystal wafer and electronic device


Circulating completion and workover fluids used in hydrocarbon recovery are filtered after monitoring for viscosity, which frequently causes plugging of filters. A viscometer generates a signal representative of viscosity in the fluid; the signal is used by a programmable controller to divert viscous fluid from the filter, or to take other action to prevent damage to the filter. The viscometer can be used in various positions in the system.

In the production of oil and gas from the earth, drilling and completion fluids are commonly recirculated through a filter. The benefits of clean completion and drilling fluids have been well established. The most common method of filtering the completion and drill-in fluids has been the use of diatomaceous earth (sometimes briefly "DE") filters and cartridge filters. In either case, the conventional filters are satisfactory for removing simple contamination, but frequent shutdowns are required to remove cake from the DE filters and to replace the cartridge filters. Cake or other solids buildup is detected or assumed from an increase in pressure or a decrease in flow rate. Cake and/or other solids cannot normally be removed by backflow or otherwise from cartridge filters, which utilize porous media. The expensive cartridge filters must be replaced.
Unfortunately, caking and solids loading of the filters are not the only cause of decreased flow or increased pressure. The widespread use of gelling agents, viscosifying agents and the like in brines, drilling mud, cleaning sweeps, and other well fluids greatly increases the incidence of filter fouling. They may be introduced to the fluid in the form of dissolved powder, circulation "pills," viscosifying solutions, and by any other means or in various solutions known to the hydrocarbon production art. The gels or viscous liquids can include, most commonly, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), but xanthan gum, various guar gum derivatives, polyacrylamide and other synthetic water soluble polyacrylates are frequently introduced to wellbores.
When circulated gel-inducing agents reach a fluid return tank or holding tank, they can remain intact or become mixed into the completion fluids. Almost immediately as the gel-inducing agents enter a filter, they are likely to blind off a DE filter or plug a cartridge filters. This blinding off requires a total shut down and cleaning of the filter as previously described. In the case of the DE filter, a minimum of one hour is required before filtration can resume, costing valuable rig time and expense. Replacing cartridge filters is likewise time consuming and expensive as some filter pods may hold as many as fifty (50) elements per housing.
In the current practice of filtration of well treatment fluids, there is no defense against the sudden introduction of fouling polymers and gels in the fluid entering the filters. Sudden and drastic reductions in flow and increases in pressure are common and the operators of the filters must be prepared almost without notice to shut down the filters and take action to return them to working order. Such interruptions in normal procedures are very expensive, especially in off-shore rigs and other remote sites.
Another difficulty in the re-use of well treatment fluids, and the preparation of fresh ones, is that polymeric additives can be present in a concentration too high or too low. In the case of recycled fluid, where several desired additives are present also but in varying concentrations too dilute for effective use, the question of how most efficiently to adjust them while also adjusting the polymer concentration is perplexing.

Viscosity control and filtration of well fluids


In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a system may include a first hypervisor, a second hypervisor, and a shared memory set. The first hypervisor and the second hypervisor run over a single logical partition. The shared memory set is accessible by both the first hypervisor and the second hypervisor, and the first hypervisor is configured to communicate with the second hypervisor by writing to the shared memory. The second hypervisor may provide support for hardware that is not supported by the first hypervisor, which hardware may be accessed by the first hypervisor through communications facilitated by use of the shared memory.

The present disclosure relates to virtual machines and, more particularly, to systems and methods for offloading hardware support by using a hypervisor subpartition on a single logical partition.
Although new hardware is constantly being developed, it may not always be a simple matter to provide support for new hardware to old systems that are used to manage one or more virtual machines. In some cases, a system may include years' worth of upgrades and modifications, which can make adding new hardware support costly as the support may require modifications to numerous system modules that have been added over the years.

Systems and methods to offload hardware support using a hypervisor subpartition

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided are nucleic acid sequences from Brassica oleracea plants that encode enzymes involved in the synthesis of a glucosinolate molecule, including BoGSL-ALK, and BoGSL-ELONG, and methods of their use. The sequences find particular use in modifying the glucosinolate content of a plant. Also provided are primers for these two genes and a third key gene in the glucosinolate pathway, BoGSL-PRO, that can be used for developing molecular markers for assisted selection of plants with specific glucosinolate compositions. Additionally, compositions and methods for a simple, reliable and efficient PCR-based marker system, named sequence-related amplification polymorphism (SRAP), that finds use in the identification of coding sequences in the genome of a plant are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to compositions and methods of using nucleic acids and amino acids that encode enzymes involved in the synthesis of glucosinolates (GSL). The invention is exemplified by nucleic acids and amino acids encoding a BoGSL-ALK, an enzyme involved in glucosinolate side-chain desaturation, isolated from Brassica oleracea (Groups Botrytis (Cauliflower and Broccoli), Italica (Broccoli) and Viridis (Collard)), and methods of using these sequences to increase or decrease the levels of alkenyl glucosinolates in Brassica oleracea plant varieties. The invention also relates to methods and compositions for marker assisted gene selection, exemplified by primers and methods of using them for selecting BoGSL-ALK and two other key genes in GSL synthesis, BoGSL-PRO and BoGSL-ELONG.
2. Introduction
GSL are a diverse class of thioglucosides that are synthesized by many species of the order Capparales, including Brassica and Arabidopsis Heynh. The GSL molecule consists of two parts; a common glycone moiety and a variable aglycone side chain (Fenwick et al., Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr., 18:123-301 (1983); Rosa et al., Hort Rev, 19:99-215 (1997)). The aglycone part may contain aliphatic, indolyl, or aromatic side chains and is derived from a corresponding α-amino acid. In the general GSL biosynthetic pathway proposed by Underhill, Glucosinolates. Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology (New Series), Vol. 8, Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp. 493-511 (1980); Larsen, Glucosinolates. In: The Biochemistry of Plants (EE Conn, ed.), Vol. 7, Academic Press, New York, pp. 501-525 (1981); and Haughn et al., Plant Physiol, 97:217-226 (1991), aliphatic GSL are derived from methionine. Genetic studies in Arabidopsis thaliana (Mithen et al., Heredity, 74:210-215 (1995); Mithen and Campos, Entomol. Exp. Appl., 80:202-205 (1996)) and Brassica sp. (Magrath et al., Plant Breeding, 111:55-72 (1993); Magrath et al., Heredity, 72:290-299 (1994)) support the biochemical pathway proposed for biosynthesis of aliphatic GSL. The synthesis of these compounds is determined by a simple genetic system containing two distinct sets of genes, one determining side-chain elongation and the second one for chemical modification of the side-chains. Aliphatic GSL profiles vary considerably in A. thaliana ecotypes and in Brassica crops and species. These GSL are synthesized in the following sequence: methylsulfinylalkyl, alkenyl and hydroxy-types, which can be divided into three-carbon (3C) four-carbon (4C) and five-carbon (5C) groups based on their side-chain length.
A number of studies suggest that consumption of vegetables, in particular, crops such as broccoli [Brassica oleraca (Italica Group)] and other crucifers, reduces the incidence of cancer in humans and other mammals (Block et al., Nutr. Cancer, 18:1-29 (1992); Fahey and Talalay (1998) pp. 16-22. In: T. Shibamoto, J. Terao and T. Osawa (eds.). Functional foods for disease prevention I. Fruits, vegetables and teas., Amer. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser., 701. Amer. Chem. Soc., Washington, D.C.; Prochaska et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:2394-2398 (1992)). This seems to be due to the presence of inducers of phase II enzymes, that detoxify carcinogens and mutagens in various mammalian organs (Prestera et al., Adv. Enzyme Regulat., 33:28 1-296 (1996); Prochaska et al., (1992) supra; Talalay et al., pp. 469-478 (1992). In: L. W. Wattenberg, M. Lipkin, C. W. Boone, and G. J. Kelloff, (eds.). Cancer chemoprevention, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.). In broccoli, the isothiocyanate sulfurophane, derived from the GSL glucoraphanin by the action of the enzyme myrosinase, was identified as a potent inducer of these enzymes, conferring protection against mammary tumor growth in rats after treatment with dimethyl benzanthracene, a carcinogenic agent (Zhang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91:3147-3150 (1994)). Glucoraphanin is one of the major GSL present in some crops of B. oleracea such as broccoli (Farnham et al., J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 125:482-488 (2000)) cauliflower, [B. oleraca (Botrytis Group)], cabbage [B. oleraca (Capitata Group)] and brussels sprouts [B. oleraca (Gemmifera Group)] (Rosa et al., Hort Rev, 19:99-215 (1997)). Unfortunately, the wide range of glucoraphanin in broccoli can lead to consumer confusion. At the present time the consumer that eats broccoli might assume that it has high sulfurophane content and that therefore this produce is conferring health benefits by carcinogen detoxification. However, this is not always true. For example, the heads of broccoli inbred plants have been found to contain from 0.28 to 4.0 mol/gram of fresh weight glucoraphanin content (Farnham, et al. (2000) J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125(4):482-488). Because most of the existing broccoli varieties in the supermarket have not been selected for glucoraphanin content, the precursor of sulfurophane, certain produce could actually possess only small concentrations of this compound and in reality be ineffective for its assumed anticarcinogenic properties.
Although certain GSL derivatives have a protective effect against cancer (Rosa et al., (1997) supra), there are some that may have detrimental effects such those derived from alkenyl GSL in rapeseed seed meal (Brassica napus L.). Such GSLs act as anti-nutrients affecting not only animal growth and development, but also lowering food intake. Additionally, modified isothiocyanates from the aliphatic GSL progoitrin may have goitrogenic effects in animals (Rosa et al., (1997) supra). There is therefore an interest in methods and compositions for lowering the amount of these antinutritional GSL and for providing crucifer varieties with consistently increased amounts of protective GSL in plants intended for human and animal consumption.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is widely used in genomic DNA analysis. One of its main applications has been on the development of DNA markers for map construction, which are useful in breeding, taxonomy, evolution and gene cloning. Several PCR marker systems are available varying in complexity, reliability and information generating capacity. These include random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), simple sequence repeat polymorphism (SSR), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and a few others (Lee, Adv. Agronomy, 55:265-344 (1995); Rafalski et al., in Non Mammalian genome analysis: A practical guide, Acad. Press, pp. 75-134 (1996)). Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, RAPD is a simple method to fingerprint genomic DNA, but poor consistency and low multiplexing output limit its use. SSR has the advantage that it produces mostly co-dominant markers, however the development of these is expensive and time-consuming. AFLPs are now widely used for a variety of applications due to their high multiplexing ratio (Vos et al., Nucleic Acids Res, 23:4407-4414 (1995)). The main disadvantage of this method is its complexity, it being necessary to perform multiple steps including DNA digestion, ligation and amplification, which makes it difficult to optimize the conditions for each step. Furthermore, methylation of genomic DNA can result in pseudo polymorphism when the restriction enzyme used is methylation-sensitive. Also the use of the MseI restriction enzyme, which recognizes AATT restriction sites, often results in uneven marker distribution in the genome of some species (Haanstra et al., Theor Appl Genet, 99:254-271 (1999)). Ability to isolate specific bands for sequencing is another concern when selecting a marker system, especially for the development of new markers for gene tagging. In most cases, both RAPD and AFLP markers need to be cloned into vectors, which adds to the labor. In addition, for AFLP bands it is notoriously difficult to isolate the correct fragment due to band overlapping. Therefore, there is a need for a PCR marker system that combines the desired attributes of simplicity, reliability, moderate throughput ratio, facile sequencing of selected band, with targeting of coding sequences in the genome and efficient identification of a moderate number of co-dominant markers.
3. Relevant Literature
Brassica napus seeds, and plants producing them, obtained by genetic mutation and having a maximum total glucosinolate content of about 3.4 micromoles per gram of seed and a maximum 4-hydroxy-3-indolylmethyl glucosinolate content of 1.9 micromoles per gram of seed are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,533.
In Arabidopsis thaliana, several genes involved in the glucosinolate pathway have been identified by genetic analysis (Mithen et al., Heredity, 74:210-215 (1995); Mithen and Campos, Entomol. Exp Appl., 80:202-205 (1996)). In rapeseed, genes regulating aglycon side-chain elongation and modification have been reported (Magrath et al., Plant Breeding, 111:55-72 (1993); Parkin, et al. (1994) Heredity 72:594-598 (1994)). Campos de Quiros et al., Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 101:429-437 (2000)) disclose the mapping and sequencing of a GSL-ELONG gene from A. thaliana. However, many steps in side-chain elongation, glycone formation, and aglycone modification remain to be characterized biochemically and genetically.
Hall et al., Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 102:369-374 (2001)) disclose the fine mapping of the OHP locus in A. thaliana, which contains a gene cluster of three open reading frames with high homology to sequences encoding 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (2-ODDs). The 2-ODD translation products associate with glucosinolate hydroxylation activity, and Hall speculates that the ALK and OHP loci in A. thaliana may either represent two closely linked genes or different alleles of the same gene. Hall et al. do not provide either a nucleic acid or an amino acid sequence. Kliebenstein et al., Plant Cell, 13:681-693 (2001)) disclose the identification of genes encoding two 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases from Arabidopsis that control the conversion of methylsulfinylalkyl glucosinolate to either the alkenyl or the hydroxyalkyl form. Kliebenstein et al. expressed these genes in E. coli to determine their catalytic activity. WO 99/27120 discloses cloning of GSL-ELONGASE gene alleles from Arabidopsis.

Nucleic acids encoding glucosinolate biosynthesis enzymes and methods of their use


A method of removing olefinic impurity, such as perfluoroisobutylene, from fluoroperhalocarbon liquid, such as perfluorinated liquid, comprising the step of contacting the fluoroperhalocarbon liquid with a body of particles comprising particles selected from the group consisting of alumina, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkaline earth oxide, alkaline earth hydroxide, silicon oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, alkaline earth basic carbonate, and alkaline earth basic phosphate, transition metal oxide particles and mixtures thereof.

Fluoroperhalocarbon liquids (e.g., perfluorinated liquids) have many industrial uses, such as coolants for electronic devices (e.g., supercomputers) and as heat transfer media in vapor-phase soldering processes. However, upon heating many of these liquids at high temperatures, toxic impurities such as certain perfluoroolefins and perfluorochloroolefins may form. These impurities may be hazardous to persons handling the liquid or operating equipment containing the contaminated liquid.
For example, perfluoroisobutylene (hereinafter, for brevity referred to as PFIB) is a colorless gas at room temperature and is widely recognized as a toxic material, Exposure of persons to even low concentrations of PFIB may be lethal (e.g., Turbini, L. J., Zado, F. M., "Chemical and Environmental Aspects of Condensation Reflow Soldering", Electronic Packaging and Production, Vol. 20 (1980), Smith, L. W., Gardener, R. J., and Kennedy, G. L. Jr., "Short Term Inhalation Toxicity of Perfluoroisobutylene", Drug and Chemical Toxicology, Vol. 5, (1982) pp. 295-303, Danishevskii, S. L., and Kochanov, M. M., "Toxicity of Some Fluoro-Organic Compounds", Oigiena Truds i Professional'aye Zebeleveniay, vol. 5, (1961) and Waritz, R. S., and Kwon, B. K., "The Inhalation Toxicity of Pyrolysis Products of Polytetrafluoroethylene Heated Below 500 Degrees Centigrade", American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Vol. 29 (1968).
Various methods have been suggested for reducing the hazard of PFIB exposure of operators of equipment that produce PFIB (Turbini, L. J., Zado, F. M., "Chemical and Environmental Aspects of Condensation Reflow Soldering", Electronic Packaging and Production, Vol. 20 (1980), "Fluorinert.TM. Liquids", 3M Publication No. 98-0211-4411-2(78.2)R1 XY). Some of these methods include techniques of operating and maintaining vapor-phase soldering equipment to avoid superheating perfluorinated liquids, thus reducing the amount of PFIB produced, and standards of designing work areas to provide sufficient ventilation to maintain PFIB levels at less than hazardous levels. However, maintenance and operating techniques probably cannot completely prevent the formation of PFIB, and venting PFIB to the atmosphere is not environmentally desirable. U.S. Defensive Publication T983,009 (Treat) describes a method of converting PFIB in a mixture of fluorine-containing compounds into a nontoxic ether by contacting the mixture with a solution of methanol and a selected hydrogen halide. While this method does produce products which are generally less toxic than PFIB, it has disadvantages, including 1) being complex to operate in a continuous mode, since various feed streams of reactants must be controlled, 2) use of hazardous hydrogen halides (e.g., HF and HCl) as reactants and 3) yielding products which may create a disposal problem. U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,156 (Weeks) describes a method of removing perfluoroolefins and perfluorochloroolefin impurities from saturated fluoroperhalocarbon compounds having two to six carbon atoms, by contacting the impure fluoroperhalocarbon in the vapor phase at about 180.degree. to 250.degree. C. with alumina containing a basic alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide or oxide. One of the disadvantages of this process is that it requires handling hot gas contaminated with hazardous compounds.
Thus, it would be useful to develop a process to remove perfluoroolefin and perfluorochloroolefin impurities from fluoroperhalocarbon compounds that permitted purification of the compounds in their liquid state at lower temperatures.

Method of purifying saturated fluoroperhalocarbon liquids

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A process for optimizing the growth of fish reared in a pond, comprising injecting oxygen into the pond in a controlled quantity according to different cycles.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for optimizing the growth of fish reared in a pond.
(ii) Description of Related Art
In aquacultural farming, oxygen, feed and water are three essential factors. Furthermore, the availability of oxygen directly influences the performances of the fish farming. To cover the basic physiological requirements of the fish (maintenance, movement and the like) but also to provide for the growth of this fish, the latter uses the energy obtained by the oxidation of the feeds, by virtue of the oxygen dissolved in the water. This concentration of oxygen dissolved in the water varies according to various parameters and it is important to remain above the critical oxygen concentration threshold at the limit of which the fish has a reduced metabolic activity and exhibits respiratory insufficiencies. Below this threshold, the lethal threshold, that is to say the death of the fish, is rapidly reached.
Whereas a liter of air contains about 300 mg of oxygen, a liter of fresh water at saturation contains about 30 times less, that is to say about 10 mg. This concentration varies according to the source of the water (sea water, fresh water, stagnant water, underground water, river water and the like), the temperature of the water (an increase in temperature reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen at saturation), and the presence of organisms in this water (algae or plants, which produce or which consume oxygen). To these different factors, there should be added the density of the fish in water, knowing that in intensive farming, the density of fish is high and that the latter therefore rapidly depletes the resources of the medium.

Process for optimizing the growth of fish by controlled injection of oxygen

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude


The polarization-dependent distortion of an optical signal transmitted through an optical fiber is reduced by aligning the polarization of the optical signal to minimize the received signal distortion. A polarization controller (a device which can change the polarization of light in an optical fiber) may be located at either the input or output end of a long haul optical fiber system and is used to align the polarization of the signal to minimize the received signal distortion. Automatic operation of the polarization controller can be obtained by using a steepest-descent method based on a distortion measure of the received signal for the optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber to generate control signals which are used to control the polarization controller.

Many factors in lightwave communication systems make the optical signal propagation polarization dependent. These factors include polarization-dependent loss and polarization mode dispersion in the fiber and the system components.
For example, consider polarization mode dispersion (PMD). The core of an optical fiber is not truly symmetrical, and therefore the propagation of an optical signal at one polarization, for example, vertical, will be different than the propagation of the optical signal at another polarization, for example, horizontal. With no polarization-dependent loss, for each frequency there exist a pair of orthogonal input states of polarization for which the corresponding output states of polarization are orthogonal and are independent of wavelength to the first order. These states are referred to as the principle states of polarization (PSP) in the fiber. With sufficiently narrow bandwidth, such as with external modulation of a single-frequency laser, optical signals transmitted in either of these two states are undistorted at the receiver, but have, in general, different time delays. A signal with arbitrary polarization can be expressed in terms of a sum of signals in each PSP, and thus will be received as two signals with different delays. The received signal is therefore distorted unless it is transmitted with one of the two PSPs.
If the PSPs of the fiber remained constant, then one-time corrective measures could be taken when a system is installed to avoid its adverse effects. However, the PSPs as well as the time delay changes with time. Factors that cause the PSPs and delay to change with time include changes in temperature caused by, e.g., sunlight and ocean currents. In addition, any change of position or movement of the optical fiber will cause a change of PSPs and also a change in the time delays. Thus, for a given input polarization the received signal distortion varies with time.
With large PMD, or with wider bandwidth signals, such as with direct laser modulation, or with polarization-dependent loss, the signal propagation may no longer be adequately described by the PSP model. However, the distortion of the received signal is still polarization dependent. Furthermore, since, for a given input state of polarization, the state of polarization of the optical signal in the fiber changes with time, the distortion of the received signal also changes with time, even when the distortion is due to components whose polarization-dependent properties are constant.
It is recognized that if the polarization-dependent distortion of an optical pulse signal traversing an optical fiber can be minimized, then the bit rate with which, and/or distance over which, information can be transmitted over a fiber optic transmission channel can be increased.

Fiber-optic transmission polarization-dependent distortion compensation


A liquid jet recording head comprising discharge energy generating means for generating discharge energy in the recording liquid, and a liquid flow passage forming substrate for forming liquid flow passages through which the recording liquid is flowed toward the discharge ports, characterized in that the surface of said liquid flow passage forming substrate and the lateral faces of said liquid flow passages are constituted of a plane of single crystalline silicone and a pair of planes perpendicular thereto, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid jet recording head for use in a liquid jet recording apparatus of an ink jet system for discharging the recording liquid (ink) as liquid droplets from the discharge ports (orifices), and a manufacturing method thereof, as well as a liquid jet recording apparatus with said liquid jet recording head mounted thereon.
2. Related Background Art
The liquid jet recording apparatuses of ink jet systems are very sensitive to disturbance, while features such as sufficiently high frequencies of producing droplets, ease of achieving the higher speed, higher precision, and multi-color printing are greatly expected in the future.
A liquid jet recording head of such a liquid jet recording apparatus comprises a substrate having discharge energy generating elements, and a nozzle layer (liquid flow passage forming layer) for forming liquid flow passages or a liquid chamber in communication to discharge ports (orifices) thereon, said substrate being typically subjected to thermal oxidation of the surface of a Si substrate of single crystal, and then formed with discharge energy generating elements such as electrothermal converting elements by well-known photolithography, its surface covered with an electrically insulating layer made of SiO.sub.2, SiC, or Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, and a protective layer such as a Ta film for preventing damage (cavitation erosion) to discharge energy generating elements caused by mechanical impact in discharging the recording liquid, with a Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film provided to reinforce the intimate contact between the electrically insulating layer and the Ta film, if necessary. Also, a glass ceiling plate with an inlet opening for supplying the recording liquid such as ink to the nozzle layer is laid on the nozzle layer, said ceiling plate being bonded to the nozzle layer by adhesive.
The manufacturing methods for the liquid jet recording head with the above constitution can be classified into the four types as follows.
(1) Patterning a glass ceiling plate bonded with a dry film, and joining it to a substrate (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 56-123869).
(2) Molding a nozzle layer made of resin by injection molding, and joint it to a substrate (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-101954).
(3) Providing a resist pattern on a substrate, applying a resin film thereto, joining a ceiling plate thereto, curing the resin film, and then dissolving away the resist (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 62-253457).
(4) Subjecting the surface of a second substrate which is comprised of a Si substrate of single crystal, as parent material, like a first substrate (heater board) having discharge energy generating elements, to anisotropic etching, to create V-character grooves, and bonding this substrate as a nozzle layer to the first substrate. Processing the surface of the second substrate constituting the nozzle layer to be a (100) plane, and forming the grooves of V-character in cross section by anisotropic etching at an etching rate for (111) plane of substantially zero (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 54-150127).
In recent years, the liquid jet recording apparatus has advanced for the faster speed, greater precision, and higher image quality, and therefore, the development of liquid jet recording heads with ease of fabrication for the higher density of liquid flow passages, and the capability of higher discharge frequency, is desired. Also, one way of printing on plain paper is to use a strong base ink with the addition of urea. In this case, it is also necessary to improve the ink resistance property of structural members constituting the liquid flow passages in the liquid jet recording head, and the chamber.
However, according to the above-mentioned conventional arts, the liquid jet recording heads fabricated by the methods of (1) to (3), as previously described, all have the nozzle layer formed of resin, and are significantly limited in the materials from the viewpoint of the ink resistance property. Also, to promote the higher density of liquid flow passages, each liquid flow passage is required to have a high aspect ratio, i.e., a narrow width and greater height in cross section, but with the methods of (1) and (2), which use photosensitive resin, it is difficult to produce a high aspect ratio, and with the method of (3), which adopts the injection molding, it is also difficult to attain a sufficient shape precision if the liquid flow passages have a high aspect ratio.
To provide the liquid jet recording head operable at high frequencies for discharging, the cross-sectional dimensions of each liquid flow passage are required to be large, and to avoid the larger dimensions of the liquid jet recording head, the liquid flow passages are also required to have a high aspect ratio.
A method of (4) is superior in the ink resistance property, satisfactory in heat resistance, and simple in the manufacturing process, because the second substrate for the nozzle layer is the same Si material as the first substrate for the heater board, further with the advantages of having uniform ink wettability and stable discharge performance, owing to the orifice face to which discharge orifices are opened being constructed by the end faces of both Si substrates. However, since the grooves formed by anisotropic etching as above described do not allow the aspect ratio to be changed, and the second substrate has its bottom surface having the V-character shaped grooves facing down toward the heater board and joined thereto, the liquid flow passages with higher density will reduce the unetched width, resulting in unsolved problems of producing a lot of defectives.

Liquid jet recording head manufacturing method by anisotropic etching


A tool fixture device for positioning tools to repair defects adjacent to the sealing grooves in a pressure vessel head. The device includes a two pair of parallel, spaced apart, arcuate segments adapted to fit into one of the sealing grooves. A support plate is attached to the first and the second pair of parallel, spaced apart, arcuate segments. The fixture includes a plurality of threaded rods for expanding the ends of the parallel arcuate segments to engage the inside walls of one of the grooves to hold the fixture in place. In the preferred embodiment, a tool positioner is adapted to be attached to the support plate for positioning a repair tool to permit the repair tool to be used to repair defects adjacent to the sealing grooves. The tool positioner includes a planar table and a tool jig attached to the planar table for receiving the repair tool.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the repair and maintenance of nuclear reactor pressure vessel heads and, more particularly, to a tool positioning device for positioning tools to repair defects adjacent to sealing grooves in a nuclear reactor pressure vessel head.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The reactor pressure vessels (PVs) of pressurized water nuclear reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs) must be opened periodically for maintenance and/or repair. This process involves lifting the reactor head for access to the reactor internals and later reinstalling the head when maintenance is complete. For certain types of PWR's this maintenance includes replacing two O-rings on the underside of the reactor head perimeter. Because the reactor heads are quite heavy, in some cases weighing over 20 tons, and quite large, reaching diameters over 20 feet, it is impractical to turns heads over for easy access to the O-rings. As a consequence, workers replacing the O-rings must work over their heads in an awkward fashion. Aligning tools correctly for work on the PV head can be difficult particularly as workers begin to tire. Compounding the problem is the fact that the reactor head may be quite radioactive requiring workers to wear bulky protective clothing.
The reactors which are the object of the present invention may include two concentric O-rings which are recessed into the PV head. As will be discussed in more detail below, steps are taken to ensure that hardware components used to hold the O-rings in place do not fall into the reactor core.
It follows that any tool which can expedite whatever steps are necessary to replace the O-rings will result in cost savings by reducing reactor down time, reduced personnel radiation exposure, and provide a better quality finished product.
Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved tool for working on the underside of a PV head that permits precise placement of a tool while, at the same time, reduces worker fatigue and radiation exposure time.

Reactor vessel head tool positioning device


A universal DMA (Direct Memory Access) engine can be dynamically configured to function in either a receive or transmit mode. DMAs are logically assembled and bound as needed, without limitation to a fixed, pre-determined number of receive engines and transmit engines. Because a DMA engine may be dynamically assembled to support the flow of data in either direction, varied usage models are enabled, and components used to assemble a receive DMA engine for one application may be subsequently used to assemble a transmit engine for a different application. An application may request a specific number of each type of engine, depending on the nature of its input/output traffic. The number of receive or transmit engines can be dynamically increased or decreased without suspending or rebooting the host. A universal DMA architecture provides a unified software framework, thereby decreasing the complexity of the software and the hardware gate count cost.

This invention relates to the fields of computer systems and data communications. More particularly, a universal DMA (Direct Memory Access) architecture is provided, capable of transferring data in either the receive or transmit direction.
Many I/O components and devices (e.g., a network interface circuit) include DMA engines for transferring data to or from host memory. Traditional DMA engines are constructed statically, and are permanently limited to transferring data in one direction only (i.e., receive or transmit).
The quantity of DMA engines for transferring data in either direction must be selected during design of the component, and once this aspect of the design is set there is no flexibility to alter the mix of receive and transmit engines. Each engine is inextricably bound to either a receive client or a transmit client and thus can only process communications in either the receive or transmit path. This severely limits the component's flexibility in that it cannot evolve or be reconfigured to more efficiently meet the needs of a particular application or set of applications.
For example, if a component is constructed with an equal number of receive and transmit DMA engines, it may adequately satisfy input/output demands for applications that have roughly equivalent input and output demands. However, this configuration will be very inefficient for an application or group of applications that receive significantly more data than they transmit (or vice versa).

Universal DMA (direct memory access) architecture


A sleeve is wrapped around a package and enveloped within a film. The sleeve can be removed from the interior of the film and used independently of the package and film. The sleeve can include printed information for use by consumers such as product identifier information. The interior of the sleeve can be printed with information such as coupon or prize information.

1. Technical Field
The technical field is packages. More specifically, the technical field includes packages having additional surface areas for conveying information to consumers and other users.
2. Background Art
Film envelopment of packages, such as packages containing cigarettes and other tobacco products, is known. Cigarette packaging typically includes a paper or cardboard package enveloped in a film. In some applications, films may not have sufficient surface area or may not be sufficiently durable. Information printed on those films may therefore be lost or damaged when removed from the package.

Sleeve with pull tab for cigarette pack and method of making


An optical wavefront control pattern generating apparatus (1) relating to the present invention includes: a target image detector unit (60) configured to detect spatial information of the object (B) as a target image; a reconstructed image detector unit (40) configured to detect the reconstructed image displayed on the reconstructed image display unit (30); and an optimizer unit (50) configured to evaluate, on the basis of the target image detected by the target image detector unit (40), the reconstructed image detected by the reconstructed image detector unit (40), and to apply a modification process to the optical wavefront control pattern in a way that a result of the evaluation satisfies a predetermined condition, so as to generate the optimum optical wavefront control pattern.

Conventionally, as a method and an apparatus for obtaining three-dimensional data (spatial information) indicating an external appearance of an object, a three-dimensional data obtaining apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been known. According to this three-dimensional data obtaining apparatus, it is possible to form virtual three-dimensional data of the object in a computer.
However, in the above three-dimensional data obtaining apparatus, attention is not given to displaying a stereoscopic image based on an obtained three-dimensional data of an object by using a three-dimensional image presentation technology such as computer holography. For this reason, in order to display a stereoscopic image based on an obtained three-dimensional data of an object, the above three-dimensional data obtaining apparatus needs to convert or calculate the three-dimensional data in compliance with a type and a display format of the stereoscopic image.
In order to generate a hologram for displaying a stereoscopic image of an object, technologies for recording interference fringes of light by using an image pick-up device, such as a CCD camera, are disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Non-patent Document 1.
The above technologies are configured to obtain interference fringes of light themselves by using an image pick-up device such as a CCD camera. Here, because a spatial resolution of a general CCD camera is about 5 μm, three-dimensional images, which can be obtained with the CCD camera, are limited to those within a viewing range of about 5 to 10 degrees.
For this reason, when a viewing range of a three-dimensional image intended to be reconstructed exceeds the viewing range of 5 to 10 degrees, the interference fringes of light is denser than the spatial resolution of the CCD camera. As a result, the interference fringes of light cannot be recorded with a good contrast.
That is, in each of the above technologies, there arise problems that angles, from which a stereoscopic image reconstructed by the generated hologram can be checked on, are limited, and that sizes of the respective stereoscopic images, which can be reconstructed, are limited.
In each of the above technologies, there is a problem that it is difficult to record the interference fringes of light with a simple apparatus or environment for the following reasons. A special light source, such as a laser, is necessary in order to secure coherence of a light source, and an influence, such as vibration, occurs considerably. As a result, it is necessary to apply a special treatment, such as a vibration control treatment, to an entire image reconstruction system.    (Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-37396    (Patent Document 2) Japanese Patent Application No. H9-237029    (Non-patent Document 1) Sato et al., "Recording Hologram and Reconstructing Three-dimensional Dynamic Image", the 2004 General Conference of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers
As has been described above, in the conventional technologies, there are following problems. At the time when three-dimensional data is obtained, attention is not given to displaying a stereoscopic image (refer to Patent Document 1). As a result of attempting to directly obtain the interference fringes of light, the interference fringes of light cannot be obtained with a simple apparatus or environment because a high degree of precision of a device, coherence of a light source, a vibration control measure and the like are necessary (refer to Patent Document 2 and Non-patent Document 1).

Optical wavefront control pattern generating apparatus and optical wavefront control pattern generating method


An insulation structure of rotary electrical machinery which electrically insulates teeth of a stator from a winding wound on the teeth includes: an insulator made from hard insulation material, disposed on both axial ends of the teeth, and having a side wall disposed along a side surface of the teeth crossing to a circumferential direction thereof, and a high-heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet disposed along the side surface of the teeth and insulating the teeth from the winding, wherein an axial end portion of the high-heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet is disposed between the side wall of the insulator and the side surface of the teeth and is stacked on the side wall in a prescribed axial extent.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an insulation structure of a rotary electrical machinery such as electric motors or electric generators.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-082474, filed Mar. 24, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
In stators of rotary electrical machinery such as electric motors or electric generators, electrical insulation between an iron core and a winding of the stator is needed. For example, in an electric motor of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-112205, teeth are electrically insulated from a winding by providing an insulator formed from a hard insulating material (e.g., a resin) at both ends of the axial direction of the teeth of an iron core, providing an insulating paper along the side surface of the teeth crossing the circumferential direction of the teeth, and providing the insulator and the insulating paper so as to be stacked on each other at the end portion thereof along the axial direction.
The electric motors generate heat at the winding by energizing them. Therefore, it is important to radiate the heat efficiently for downsizing and improving the output of the electric motors. For this purpose, radiating heat efficiently from the iron core by transferring the heat generated at the winding to the teeth via a heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet which is used alternatively to the insulating paper is investigated.
FIGS. 9 to 11 show an insulation structure of an electric motor developed prior to the present invention. The stator of the electric motor is constituted from a plurality of stator pieces arranged circularly. FIG. 9 shows a single stator piece 100 before winding. An insulation structure of a combination of a heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet and an insulator is adopted for the stator piece 100. Hereafter, the axial direction of the teeth is the same direction as the axial direction of the stator and conforms to the axial direction of the rotor.
Teeth 102 of an iron core (hereafter, a split iron core) 101 of the stator piece 100 is provided with insulators 110 at both ends along the axial direction. The insulator 110 includes an end wall 111 which is arranged along an axial direction end surface 103 of the teeth 102 and a side wall 112 extending along a side surface 104 of the teeth 102 crossing the circumference direction of the teeth 102. The heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 is arranged so as to cover substantially the whole of the side surface 104 of the teeth 102 along the side surface 104. Axial direction end portions 121 of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 are arranged so as to be stacked on the side walls 112 of the insulator 110. A superposition portion 130, which is a stacked combination of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 and the insulator 110, is set to a prescribed axial size in order to maintain an insulation range. FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the teeth 102 at the axial middle part. FIG. 11 shows a cross section at the superposition portion 130.
The axial direction end surface 103 of the teeth 102 is electrically insulated from a winding (not illustrated) by the end wall 111 of the insulator 110. The side surfaces 104 of the teeth 102 are electrically insulated from the winding (not illustrated) by the side wall 112 of the insulator 110 and the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120.
The heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 needs to be in contact with the winding in the stator piece 100 for efficiently transferring the heat generated at the winding to the stator piece 100. Therefore, the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 needs to be thicker than the side wall 112 of the insulator 110.
However, if an end portion 121 of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 which is thicker than the side wall 112 of the insulator 110 is stacked on the side wall 112 of the insulator 110, the end portion 121 of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 would be elastically compressed by the winding wound thereon, and the side wall 112 of the insulator 110 would be stressed by the reaction force of the compression. The permanence of the insulator 110 is adversely affected by use under stress.
In view of this, a step is formed at the end of the side wall 112 of the insulator 110 in order to thin the side wall 112 at the superposition portion 130 and a step is formed at the end portion 121 of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 in order to thin the end portion 121 at the superposition portion 130 so that the thickness of the superposition portion 130 before the winding is wound (i.e., the thickness of the side wall 112 of the insulator 110 and the end portion 121 of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120) becomes the same as that of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 except at the superposition portion 130. Thereby, the deformation volume of the end portion 121 of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 is lessened: and the stress applied to the side wall 112 of the insulator 110 can be decreased. However, it is difficult to form the step at the end portion 121 of the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 since the heat-conductive electrical-insulation resin sheet 120 is comparatively thin.
In addition, a small gap would be unavoidably formed between the side surface 104 and the side wall 112 at the superposition portion 130 since the side wall 112 of the insulator 110 which is in contact with the side surface 104 of the teeth 102 is made from a hard material. As a result, an air layer between the side surface 104 and the side wall 112 is formed, and the heat conduction is deteriorated.

Insulation structure of rotary electrical machinery


A lithium ion secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and an electrolyte prepared by dissolving a lithium salt in a non-aqueous solvent, wherein the separator comprises a porous film layer containing basic solid particles and a composite binder, the porous film layer is adhered to at least one surface of at least one of the positive and negative electrodes, the composite binder comprises a primary binder and a secondary binder, the primary binder comprises polyether sulfone and the secondary binder comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone.

In chemical batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries, a separator is interposed between positive and negative electrodes in order to electronically insulate the electrodes and to retain an electrolyte. Currently, lithium ion secondary batteries typically utilize a separator comprising a microporous thin film made of polyolefin resin such as polyethylene.
Meanwhile, in order to enhance high rate and cycle life characteristics, proposed has been a structure in which a porous film layer is formed on at least one surface of at least one of positive and negative electrodes, instead of a conventional structure in which a microporous thin film is interposed between positive and negative electrodes (see specifications of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications Nos. Hei 10-106530 and Hei 7-220759, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,882,721 and 5,948,464). Currently known porous film layer comprises a binder made of resin material and a filler made of solid particles.
The formation of a porous film layer on at least one surface of at least one of positive and negative electrodes has such advantages as the simplification of a battery structure and that of the production process because it does not further require a separator comprising a microporous thin film. Additionally, a separator comprising a microporous thin film could be misaligned from its correct position, but such defect does not occur in the case where a porous film layer is formed on at least one surface of an electrode plate, and therefore short-circuiting is prevented.
Nevertheless, the binder is usually made of resin material, namely, polyvinylidene fluoride, a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, an ethylene-propylenediene monomer copolymer or a rubber-like resin. All of these resin materials do not have sufficient adherence. Therefore, in order to adhere a porous film layer onto the surface of an electrode plate, the porous film layer is required to have a relatively large amount of binder. When a relatively large amount of binder is contained in the porous film layer, the flexibility of the porous film layer becomes insufficient and thus the porous film layer is more likely to be damaged. At the same time, problems arise that the degradation of the binder greatly affects battery life and that high rate characteristics of the battery is impaired.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An adaptive regeneration system is provided for reconstructing a signal received in the form of a multi-level composite data and clock signal which has been degraded with respect to amplitude and timing. The system includes a local clock circuit for outputting a plurality of phase-delayed local clock signals, and a clock recovery circuit for receiving the received multi-level signal and the plurality of phase-delayed clock signals and extracting a phase-delayed local clock signal which most accurately represents the phase shift between the received multi-level signal and the local clock signal. A threshold level selection circuit receives the extracted phase-delayed local clock signal and the received multi-level signal and outputs in real time a data amplitude reading and a plurality of multi-level threshold levels corresponding to the amplitude levels of the received multi-level signal. A data regenerator receives the data amplitude reading, the plurality of multi-level threshold levels and the extracted phase-delayed signal and reconstructs and outputs the received multi-level signal essentially in its originally transmitted form.

In multi-level digital data transmission systems, data in multi-level digital form is transmitted over media such as wires or fiber optic cables from a transmission line transmitter to a transmission line receiver. Multi-level signalling is widely used when high speed data needs to be transmitted through a narrow bandwidth cable, e.g., a 100 Mbit/second data transmission rate transmitted over a twisted pair cable. The multi-level data waveform is degraded with respect to its instantaneous frequency and its amplitude as it propagates along the transmission media due to electrical noise and dispersion. Electrical noise refers to the unwanted components of an electrical signal that tend to disturb accurate transmission and processing of the signal. Dispersion relates to pulse spreading of the signal and is measured in terms of time per distance traveled.
The transmission line receiver typically includes a regenerative repeater for reconstructing the transmitted multi-level data signal, regardless of electrical noise and transmission media degradations. The data signal is thereby permitted to travel through a dispersive and noisy medium, but instead of becoming more and more degraded until eventually the individual data bits are unrecognizable, the bits are repeatedly reconstructed and thus remain impervious to most of the degradation introduced by the transmission medium.
In the case of long distance, high capacity digital systems, the accuracy of the regenerative repeaters will often determine the overall effectiveness of the system. The function of the repeaters is to regenerate the transmitted data signal in its original form, ideally without error. Such reconstruction can be achieved by sampling the data signal at a regular frequency equal to the bit rate, and at each sample instant making a decision of the most probable symbol being transmitted. Typically, threshold levels are chosen to which the received signal is compared. Above each particular threshold level a binary one is registered, and below each of these thresholds a binary zero is registered. The regenerator circuit makes these zero or one decisions at times corresponding to the center of the bit intervals based on the clock information provided by a timing circuit. The center of the bit intervals generally correspond to the mid-points of the threshold level crossings of the multi-level data signal. By setting the decision times midway between the threshold level crossings, the odds of accurately reconstructing the transmitted bit are increased.
Repeaters in analog systems filter, equalize and amplify the received waveform, but are unable to reconstitute the originally transmitted waveform entirely free from degradation and noise. Signal degradation in long distance analog systems is therefore cumulative being a direct function of the number of repeater stages. In contrast, the signal degradation encountered in digital data transmission systems is purely a function of the quantization process and the system bit error rate. Hence, the possible regeneration of an exact replica of the originally transmitted waveform is a major advantage of digital transmission over corresponding analog systems.
Errors may still occur in the digital regeneration process, however, from various noises and disturbances associated with the regenerator. The noise sources can be either external of the system (for example, atmospheric noise or equipment generated noise) or internal to the system. Internal noise is present in every communications system and represents a basic limitation on the transmission and detection of signals. Hence, the amplitude of the received signal may be degraded to the point where the signal to noise ratio at the decision instant may be insufficient for an accurate decision to be made. For instance, with high noise levels, the binary zero may occur above a particular threshold and hence be registered as a binary one.
Moreover, the actual received multi-level data transmissions may be displaced in time from the true transmission. This time displacement, or intersymbol interference (ISI), of the transitions is caused by a new wave arriving at the receiver before the previous wave has reached its final value. Intersymbol interference (ISI) occurs due to pulse spreading caused by the dispersion of the transmission media. Variations in the clock rate and phase degradations (jitter) also distort the zero crossings resulting in decision time misalignment. When a pulse is transmitted in a given time slot, most of the pulse energy will arrive in the corresponding time slot at the receiver. However, because of this pulse spreading induced by the transmission medium, some of the pulse energy will progressively spread into adjacent time slots resulting in an interfering signal.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a high-speed, low-power regeneration system for regenerating multi-level digitally transmitted data, wherein data is sampled at the transmitted data rate to compensate for both instantaneous frequency and amplitude variances.

Multi-level digital data regeneration system

International Business Machines Corporation


A radar apparatus comprises a rotary polygon mirror with a plurality of mirror surfaces inclined at different angles. A semiconductor laser diode and a collimator lens are disposed above the polygon mirror. An infrared pulse beam emitted from the semiconductor laser diode is reflected by a reflection mirror disposed at an upper position in front of the polygon mirror to reflect the pulse beam obliquely downward toward the rotary polygon mirror so that the pulse beam is reflected as a transmission beam advancing toward a measuring area in a forward direction. A light receiving means receives the transmission beam returned from an object positioned within the measuring area.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a radar apparatus detecting a preceding object and measuring relative data, such as distance, direction and speed, of the detected object, and more particularly to a radar apparatus performing a two-dimensional scanning operation using a rotary polygon mirror having a plurality of mirror surfaces inclined at different angles, and further relates a vehicle safe distance control system incorporating this radar apparatus.
2. Related Art
Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 62-8119, published in 1987, discloses such a rotary polygon mirror having a plurality of mirror surfaces inclined at different angles.
This kind of radar apparatus is preferably used to perform a two-dimensional scanning operation using a laser beam, which is for example applied to a vehicle safe distance control system which detects a preceding vehicle and maintains a safe distance based on the detected distance between the radar and the preceding vehicle.
In general, using a rotary polygon mirror in the two-dimensional scanning operation is advantageous in costs, life cycle and reliability of the radar apparatus.

Radar apparatus and a vehicle safe distance control system using this radar apparatus


A work vehicle comprises a plurality of wheels; a propelling speed change device supported by the plurality of wheels and having at least one forward travel position and a reverse travel position with substantially the same speed reduction ratio as the forward travel position; a steering wheel for steering at least one of the plurality of wheels; a steering wheel support shaft for supporting the steering wheel; a speed change lever located in a position laterally of the steering wheel support shaft and operatively connected to the propelling speed change device to operate the propelling speed change device; a speed change lever guide for guiding the speed change lever, the guide including: a plurality of fore and aft channels extending substantially in the fore and aft direction of the work vehicle; a communication channel extending between the plurality of fore and aft channels; wherein one of the plurality of the fore and aft channels has a first lever position corresponding to the forward travel position and a second lever position corresponding to the reverse travel position.

The present invention relates to a speed shift device for a work vehicle such as a tractor.
The above shifting apparatus includes a shift lever is disposed to be rockable in a position laterally of a steering stem, so that the driver may, while looking in a traveling direction, operate the shift lever to change running speed, and that the shift lever hardly obstructs the driver boarding or alighting from a driving platform. A known shifting apparatus of this type is disclosed in Unexamined Utility Publication S60-103026 (pages 4 and 5, FIG. 3), for example.
A desired speed state may be obtained reliably by carrying out a shift operation appropriately while recognizing or confirming a current speed state of a propelling speed change device, or what speed state the speed change device is to switch. In this type of tractor, however, even if display means is provided for showing the speed state of the propelling speed change device, the display means may be difficult to see. Then, it will take time and a special movement of the driver to know from the display means to what speed state the propelling speed change device has switched or will switch. It is impossible to make full use of the construction having the shift lever disposed laterally of the steering stem.

Speed shift arrangement for work vehicle


Video data (default data in case of a black original) output from a CCD line sensor 405 upon reading an image while a light source is kept OFF corresponds to beat noise contained in video data obtained upon reading an image while the light source is ON. After the beat noise data is stored, the correction data stored in a correction data storage unit is subtracted from video data read by a normal technique while the light source is ON in a correction memory, thus executing correction for removing beat noise. After the beat noise is removed in this way, when an image is formed under the control of a printer control unit, an image free from any beat noise can be obtained as an output image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and signal processing apparatus using a frequency dispersion technique for continuously modulating oscillation frequency.
2. Related Background Art
Most image forming apparatuses are designed to control operations of individual units thereof using control and drive clocks generated based on clocks with high oscillation accuracy.
However, regulations that require suppression of radiation noise produced by the operation of image forming apparatuses are becoming increasingly strict each year. As a counter measure to such regulations, frequency dispersion techniques that intentionally lower apparent oscillation accuracy are known. The frequency dispersion technique has an effect of integrally lowering a radiation noise peak by periodically and continuously changing the oscillation frequency. Since the phase relationship among various control and drive clocks, which clocks are generated based on a frequency-dispersed clock signal, is maintained, normal operation can be assured in a digital system, except for special cases.
However, when frequency dispersion is used in analog signal processes, and an output signal from a device such as a CCD line sensor, which is driven by a digital clock signal and outputs an analog signal waveform associated with the phase relationship among the clock signals and pulse width, is to be processed, beat noise that responds to the period of frequency dispersion is produced. The beat noise results from the influences of data variations of the output signal waveform of the CCD line sensor and of sampling positions that change slightly under the influences of the period of frequency dispersion and frequency dispersion of the drive clock signal of the CCD line sensor. Further, when beat noise asynchronous with a reference signal is present during image formation, an image resulting from the beat noise unwantedly forms on image formation.
It is an object of the present invention to attain satisfactory image formation by suppressing production of beat noise upon processing image data by using the frequency dispersion technique.
It is another object of the present invention to correct any slight deviation of a modulation period produced as a result of using the frequency dispersion technique, and to stabilize the operation level while maintaining the reduced radiation noise level.
In order to achieve the above objects, an image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises image reading means for reading image data, oscillation means for oscillating a reference clock at predetermined periods, frequency dispersion means for generating a clock signal having a frequency higher than a frequency of the reference clock using the reference clock, and continuously changing the frequency of the generated clock signal at the predetermined periods with respect to the frequency of the reference clock, control clock generation means for generating a control clock using the clock signal, the frequency of which is continuously changed by the frequency dispersion means, and reset means for resetting the continuous change in frequency of the clock signal by the frequency dispersion means at a read timing of the image reading means.
A clock generation device according to another aspect comprises a plurality of oscillation output means for performing frequency dispersion that continuously changes an oscillation frequency at predetermined periods with respect to a reference clock, and a plurality of reset means for resetting the frequency dispersion of the plurality of oscillation output means in accordance with a reference signal generated based on the reference clock.
An analog signal processing device according to still another aspect comprises a clock generator for generating a control clock by performing frequency dispersion that continuously changes an oscillation frequency at predetermined periods with respect to a reference clock, an analog signal processing unit for processing a predetermined analog signal in accordance with the control clock, and correction means for correcting an error in a modulation period between the control clock and the analog signal, which error is produced by frequency dispersion of the clock generator.
An image forming apparatus according to still another aspect comprises a plurality of oscillation output means for generating drive and control clocks by performing frequency dispersion that continuously changes an oscillation frequency at predetermined periods with respect to a reference clock, image reading means for reading an image in accordance with the drive clock, signal processing means for performing a process that pertains to image formation with respect to an output signal from the image reading means in accordance with the control clock, and correction means for correcting an error in a modulation period between the control clock and the output signal from the image reading means, which error is produced by frequency dispersion of the plurality of oscillation output means.
With these arrangements, images can be satisfactorily formed while suppressing production of beat noise. Also, any slight deviation of the modulation period can be corrected, and the operation level can be stabilized while maintaining the reduced radiation noise level.
The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Clock control device used in image formation


The present invention pertains to an antiviral drug for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, which contains a compound represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof, or a solvate of the compound or salt (In the formula, R1 and R2 are the same or different from each other, and each represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1-10 alkyl group, R1 and R2 may form a substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-member ring in conjunction with an adjacent nitrogen atom, and X represent a halogen atom.)

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne infection caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which is newly found and classified in the genus Phlebovirus belonging to the family Bunyaviridae, as reported by Chinese researchers in 2011. In this country, SFTS was first reported in 2013 and is an infection with an extremely high mortality rate. Currently, 226 patients (as of Nov. 30, 2016) are reported mainly in the west of Japan, and 52 patients of them are dead.
Amodiaquine has been already approved as an antimalarial drug for clinical use. A 7-chloro-4-aminoquinoline compound such as amodiaquine is known to be effective for Parkinson's disease. However, the relationship between 7-chloro-4-aminoquinoline compound such as amodiaquine and anti-SFTSV activity has not yet been reported, up to present.

Antiviral drug for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome


An apparatus for detecting exposure to at least one hazardous substance is provided. The apparatus includes a body having a plurality of openings, and an attachment mechanism coupled to the body. Each opening is sized to receive a cassette for detecting the presence or absence of at least one hazardous substance. The cassette can include a colorimetric sensor having a base layer fabricated from a hydrophobic film, a colorimetric coating for covering the hydrophobic film, and at least one hydrophobic membrane for controlling the exposure of the specific substance to the colorimetric coating.

This invention relates generally to detecting exposure to hazardous substances and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for detecting exposure to hazardous substances.
Throughout the world, at least some individuals may be at risk of exposure to hazardous substances. For example, such individuals may include factory workers, military personnel and first responders. Accordingly, it is not uncommon today to provide such individuals at risk with a device to detect the presence of hazardous substances. Such detection devices may include, but are not limited to, colorimetric badges, colorimetric tubes and electrochemical monitors. However, at least one drawback to these known detection devices is that such devices are typically limited to detecting only one type of chemical, a single family of chemicals, or are non-specific as to the chemicals they do detect. For example, if an individual wants to detect five different chemicals using colorimetric tube technology, five different colorimetric tubes would be required. Moreover, at least some of these known detection devices are unable to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions, including water immersion. For example, at least some known colorimetric badges may malfunction if immersed in water, because the sensor material can become mechanically compromised or a component of the sensor can dissolve when exposed to water.
A chemical detection device that could be worn by a user for detecting a plurality of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances could enable the user to take certain safety precautions to better protect the user's well being. Moreover, if a user is exposed to a hazardous substance and the user becomes ill, such a detection device may facilitate any medical treatment the user may receive, and consequently, may improve the user's chances of recovery. Furthermore, a chemical detection device capable of withstanding a plurality of environmental conditions would increase the number of potential users or the number of potential situations in which the device could be used.

Methods and apparatus for detecting exposure to hazardous substances


Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte battery separator including a porous film (I) containing a polyolefin resin; and a porous layer (II) containing an inorganic filler, a water-soluble polymer having a structure represented by the following general formula (1), a water-insoluble polymer and a basic compound. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery separator is excellent in shape stability under a high temperature condition of 160 to 200° C.

In recent years, nonaqueous electrolyte batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries have been widely used as power sources for portable electronic devices and transportation equipment, and in particular, the demand for the nonaqueous electrolyte batteries is expected to grow as high-output power sources for driving vehicles because they are lightweight, and a high energy density can be obtained.
In a nonaqueous electrolyte battery, a positive electrode and a negative electrode are disposed in a cell so as to be opposed to each other, and an ion-permeable separator is provided between both the electrodes for preventing a short circuit between these electrodes. As a separator, a polyolefin porous film is suitably used. The polyolefin porous film is excellent in electrical insulation property, ion permeability, electrolyte solution resistance and oxidation resistance. Further, at a temperature of about 100 to 150° C. which is associated with abnormal temperature elevation, the polyolefin porous film blocks a current by closing pores, so that excessive temperature elevation can be suppressed. However, if temperature elevation is continued for some reason even after the pores are closed, the polyolefin porous film is shrunk, so that a short circuit may occur between the electrodes, resulting in firing of the nonaqueous electrolyte battery.
As separators capable of forming a nonaqueous electrolyte battery excellent in safety, there have been heretofore proposed a nonaqueous electrolyte battery separator including a resin porous film containing a thermoplastic resin as a main component and having a thermal shrinkage ratio of 10% or more at 150° C., and a heat-resistant porous layer containing heat-resistant fine particles (see, for example, Patent Document 1); a nonaqueous electrolyte solution secondary battery separator obtained by laminating a water-soluble polymer porous film and a polyolefin porous film (see, for example, Patent Document 2); a lithium ion battery separator including a polymer microporous film and a coating layer formed of a slurry composition containing inorganic fine particles, a water-soluble polymer, water-insoluble organic fine particles and water (see, for example, Patent Document 3); a lithium ion battery separator including a layer containing a heat-resistant nitrogen-containing aromatic polymer and ceramic powder (see, for example, Patent Document 4); and the like.

Nonaqueous electrolyte battery separator and nonaqueous electrolyte battery