A miniature audio jack connector (100) for electrically connecting a mating plug (200) includes an arched insulative housing (1), a number of conductive contacts (2) retained in the housing (1) and a pair of switch contacts (3) containing a movable contact (31) and an immovable contact (32). The housing defines a top wall (13), a plug-insertion hole (16) and an opening (134) through the top wall. The movable contact defines an elastic arm (312) with an emboss (313) extending into the plug-insertion hole and a mating portion for connecting with the immovable contact. The arm (312) is movable within the opening (134), thereby minimizing the profile of the insulative housing (1).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a miniature audio jack connector with a low profile and having a switch function.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nowadays, electrical devices are becoming smaller and smaller, thereby providing limited space for mounting connectors therein. U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,274 B1, discloses a conventional audio jack connector comprising an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts accommodated in the insulative housing and a rear cover for resisting the contacts. The insulative housing defines a plug-insertion hole extending therethrough and an opening in communication with the plug-insertion hole, wherein the opening is disposed within the housing. The contacts contain a pair of switch contacts including a movable contact and an immovable contact for mating with the movable contact. The movable contact defines a bending arm extending into the plug-insertion hole. When the mating plug is inserted in the plug-insertion hole, it abuts against the bending arm and the bending arm moves outwardly in the housing. The movable contact deviates from the immovable contact, thereby achieving switch purpose. However, with this arrangement, the insulative housing must provide a certain inside space for a movement of the bending arm.
Hence, it is desired to have a miniature audio jack with a pair of switch contacts but occupying a relatively small inside space of an insulative housing


An electrical connector includes a printed circuit board that includes a body that carries a plurality of ground conductors that define respective ground contact pads, and a plurality of signal conductors that define respective signal contact pads. The contact pads are configured to mate with electrical contacts of a complementary electrical connector. The printed circuit board includes a ground coupling assembly that electrically connects at least a pair of the ground conductors.

Electrical connectors provide signal connections between electronic devices using signal contacts. Often, the signal contacts are so closely spaced that undesirable interference, or "cross talk," occurs between adjacent signal contacts. Cross talk occurs when a signal in one signal contact induces electrical interference in an adjacent signal contact due to interfering electrical fields, thereby compromising signal integrity. Cross talk may also occur between differential signal pairs. Cross talk generally increases as the distance between the interfering signal contacts is reduced.
With the continued miniaturization of electronic devices, and the ever-increasing desire for high-speed electronic communications, the reduction of cross talk is generally an important objective in electrical connector design.

Cross talk reduction for high-speed electrical connectors


An integrated circuit (IC) is provided. The IC includes a cache memory divided into a plurality of groups and an address decoder. The groups are assigned in rotation for a plurality of time periods. Each group is assigned in a corresponding single one of the time periods. The address decoder is configured to obtain a set address according to an access address and provide a physical address according to the set address. When the access address corresponds to a first group, the physical address is different from the set address. When the access address corresponds to the groups other than the first group, the physical address is the same as the set address. The sets of the first group that is assigned in a first time period are not overlapping with the sets of other first groups assigned in the time periods other than the first time period.

A cache memory has conventionally been utilized for shortening the access time of main memory thus improving the processing performance of a processor. Cache is effective due to memory access locality. There are two types of locality. First there is the spatial locality where data and codes adjacent to each other tends to be accessed together. There is the temporal locality where data and code accessed commonly can be cached in a smaller memory for further accesses.
The extensive uses of on-chip cache memories have become essential to sustaining the memory bandwidth demand on processors and to reduce the average memory access latency. Advances in semiconductor technology and continuous downscaling of feature size creates extra-space for additional functionality on a single chip. The most popular way to make use of this extra space is to integrate a cache memory (or a hierarchy of caches) with high capacity so that a processor is able to perform better.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Integrated circuit and address mapping method for cache memory

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A fishing accessory that includes a housing and an alerting mechanism for alerting a fisherman when a fishing line connected to the activation switch of the alerting mechanism is being tugged on by a fish. The housing includes a housing having a pair of attachment clamps securable to a fishing rod. The alerting mechanism includes multiple types of alarm outputs that may be selected in various combinations by a user.

Many individuals enjoy fishing but do not have the patience to constantly monitor the fishing line such that a fish may pull on the fishing line and steal the bait when the fisherman is not paying attention. It would be desirable, therefore, for these type of fishermen to have a fishing accessory which could be clipped to a fishing rod and which would give an audible and/or a visual alerting output to the fisherman such that the fisherman could rapidly retrieve the rod and attempt to set the fishhook. Because children have short attention spans, it would be a further benefit to have such a device that included an audio playback device that could be selected by a user to provide a spoken output when the device was activated. These functions also are beneficial to visual and hearing impaired sportsmen.


A tightenable band clamp with a clamping band and a tightening head with two clamping jaws which are a certain circumferential distance apart and which can be moved toward each other by a tightening device. For this purpose, at least one clamping jaw, in the area of its radially inside surface, has at least one projection which extends in the circumferential direction toward the other clamping jaw and which projects into the gap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tightenable band clamp with a clamping band and a tightening head with two clamping jaws, which are arranged a certain circumferential distance apart and which can be moved toward each other by a tightening device.
The invention also pertains to a pipe connection with an inner pipe, which is inserted into an outer pipe, and with a band clamp, which is tightened around the outer pipe, where the outer pipe has at least two slots that extend from its end surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
A band clamp of this type and a pipe connection of this type are known from US 2006/0071471 A1. The band clamp is used to tighten the outer pipe, at least in the area where the slots are, onto the outside circumference of the inner pipe. A pipe connection of this type should be as leakproof as possible, especially when a pipe connection of this type is used in gas-carrying systems such as mufflers. "Leakproof" means that the smallest possible gaps through which the gas or liquid can escape remain between the inner pipe and the outer pipe.
The outside diameter of the inner pipe and the inside diameter of the outer pipe are relatively well matched to each other in the area where the two pipes overlap. Nevertheless, there usually remains a certain gap between them. This is based not only on manufacturing tolerances but also on the need to keep the amount of force required to insert the inner pipe into the outer pipe within acceptable limits.
When the band clamp is tightened, that is, when the tightening device is actuated to move the clamping jaws toward each other, the inside diameter of the outer pipe is decreased, because the outside pipe is pulled together slightly. Nevertheless, this contraction, that is, this reduction in the diameter of the clamping band, also causes the area of the outer pipe located between the two clamping jaws to bulge outward. At this point, a slit is formed, which often leads to a leak in the pipe connection even though the band clamp has been firmly tightened.
It has therefore been proposed in the previously mentioned US 2006/0071471 A1 that an intermediate piece be provided between the two clamping jaws. This piece presses on the outer pipe in the area between the two clamping jaws and thus prevents the outer pipe from bulging outward. A design of this type is unfavorable, however. During the production of a band clamp of this type, it is necessary to manage an additional element. This element, furthermore, must be placed more-or-less in the center between the two clamping jaws before the band clamp is tightened. As a result, after the tightening device has been loosened again, the intermediate element does not remain automatically in the correct position, which means that a band clamp of this type can, in principle, be used only once. Reinstalling it requires that the intermediate piece be repositioned beforehand.


A single bit FIR filter that minimizes computation time by pre-storing outputs or portions of outputs for accumulation and output.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to FIR filters and in particular FIR filters with look-up tables.
2. Description of the Related Art
A classical Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter multiplies input data by a coefficient. The FIR filter then accumulates the multiplied results together to produce an output. Generally, FIR filters are used to perform filtering function for digital signals. Such functions include digital signal highpass, lowpass, bandpass and notch filtering. The most likely uses for FIR filters are in digital audio processing. Digital audio processing is used in a variety of well known devices including radio; compact disk (CD) players for music and video; digital telephones including cellular, wireless and hard wired; digital video recording and playing equipment including computer, video disc players, video camera recorders, and cameras.
A FIR filter generally operates in the time domain by multiplying FIR coefficients with bits from the digital audio signal. The results of the multiplications are added or accumulated thereby producing the desired digitally filtered audio output.
In the recent past, single bit FIR filters have become more popular. Single bit FIR filters are being used a great deal in audio digital signal processing equipment because the use of a single bit data stream is being used with CD's and music streaming (to name a few). Another specific area that single bit data stream FIR filtering is being used in are direct stream transfer-direct stream digital (DST-DSD) decoding of super audio compact disc (SACD) material.


This invention improves the performance and lowers the cost of DC to AC inverters and the systems where these inverters are used. The performance enhancements are most valuable in renewable and distributed energy applications where high power conversion efficiencies are critical. The invention allows a variety of DC sources to provide power thru the inverter to the utility grid or directly to loads without a transformer and at very high power conversion efficiencies. The enabling technology is a novel boost converter stage that regulates the voltage for a following DC to AC converter stage and uses a single semiconductor switching device. The AC inverter output configuration is either single-phase or three-phase.

Photovoltaic cells produce DC power over a wide voltage range depending on the amount of sunlight, ambient temperature and wind speed. A minimum DC voltage is required to directly convert this DC voltage to a standard 120 Volts AC and to do so without the use of a 60 cycle transformer. There are National Electric Code restrictions and class-of-equipment considerations that make photovoltaic arrays much more cost effective when sized for a maximum of 600 Vdc. The problem is that under some conditions, photovoltaic arrays sized for this 600 Vdc maximum will not meet the said minimum voltage requirements for direct DC to AC conversion. The prior art inverters would either use a 60 cycle transformer, a dual boost converter input stage or a full-bridge input stage with a high frequency transformer to achieve the proper voltage match over the predicted range of inverter operation. A 60 cycle transformer decreases power conversion efficiency and adds to the overall inverter or system costs. A dual boost converter input stage or a full-bridge input stage adds complexity to and lowers the conversion efficiency of the inverter.
The, prior art, dual boost converter and full directly or indirectly, is old technology and is well known. The single-switch bipolar boost converter, disclosed herein, is a novel replacement for the dual boost converter. The single-switch bipolar boost converter is less complex, lower cost and provides higher power conversion efficiencies.

DC to AC inverter with single-switch bipolar boost circuit


The present disclosure provides a method for determining a width-to-length ratio of a channel region of a thin film transistor (TFT). The method includes: S1, setting an initial width-to-length ratio of the channel region; S2, manufacturing a TFT by using a mask plate according to the initial width-to-length ratio; S3, testing the TFT manufactured according to the initial width-to-length ratio; S4, determining whether or not the test result satisfies a predetermined condition, performing S5 if the test result satisfies the predetermined condition, and performing S6 if the test result does not satisfy the predetermined condition; S5, determining the initial width-to-length ratio as the width-to-length ratio of the channel region of the TFT; S6, changing the value of the initial width-to-length ratio, adjusting a position of the mask plate according to the changed initial width-to-length ratio, and performing S2 to S4 again.

TFTs are important components in microelectronic apparatuses, and performance of the TFTs has an important impact on performance of the microelectronic apparatuses. For a TFT, indexes for measuring its performance include its on-state current, carrier mobility, threshold voltage, etc., and a width-to-length ratio of a channel region of the TFT has a crucial influence on the above indexes.
Therefore, in order to obtain a TFT with good performance, the width-to-length ratio of the channel region of the TFT should be determined before mass production for the TFT.

Method and apparatus for determining width-to-length ratio of channel region of thin film transistor

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A cutting tool having excellent chip treatability and adhesion resistance is provided. The cutting tool includes a hard sintered body in at least a cutting edge and has a rake face and a flank face. The rake face has a chip breaker in a protruded or uneven shape. The hard sintered body contains at least 20% by volume of cubic boron nitride. A region of not more than 20 μm from a surface of the hard sintered body on the rake face side includes A-structures made of cubic boron nitride and B-structures made of at least one selected from the group consisting of hexagonal boron nitride, amorphous boron nitride, and boron oxide. The volume ratio of the B-structures to the sum of the A-structures and B-structures, B/(A+B), is not less than 5% by volume and not more than 90% by volume.

A cBN-sintered-body tool produced by sintering fine cBN powder with various binders has excellent wear resistance and strength, and therefore exhibits excellent cutting performance for high-hardness iron-group metals and cast iron.
Here, the cBN sintered body is made up of cBN particles bound by a binder phase whose main components are TiN, TiC, W, Co, and Al. The cBN particles have a hardness and a heat conductivity that are second highest next to diamond, and have a superior fracture toughness to the ceramic material. The cBN sintered body having a high content of cBN particles is therefore excellent in characteristics such as plastic deformation resistance, toughness, strength, and chipping resistance.
As machine tools have become automated and production processes have become unattended in recent years, the chip treatability has become considered as an important factor indispensable for continuous running of the machine tools. In order to improve the chip treatability, generally a chip breaker is formed on a rake face of a tool, and a variety of methods are under study.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 3-178736 (PTL 1) discloses a method by which a rake face of a cutting tool is laser-machined or electrical discharge-machined to form a chip breaker. According to the method of PTL 1, after the chip breaker is formed, the tool is processed for the purpose of lessening damages caused in the process of forming the chip breaker, to thereby enable the cutting performance to be enhanced.
Further, Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 2004-223648 (PTL 2) and 2006-281386 (PTL 3) each disclose a method by which a chip breaker is formed and thereafter its surface is processed with a loose abrasive. According to the method disclosed in PTL 2 and PTL 3, occurrence of adhesion due to surface roughness or altered structure appearing on the surface of the chip breaker is reduced, and machining damages such as internal cracks are removed. Accordingly, chipping is less likely to occur to the cutting tool.


A method is presented for facilitating sales transactions by electronic media. A bar code or a design is tattooed on an individual. Before the sales transaction can be consummated, the tattoo is scanned with a scanner. Characteristics about the scanned tattoo are compared to characteristics about other tattoos stored on a computer database in order to verify the identity of the buyer. Once verified, the seller may be authorized to debit the buyer's electronic bank account in order to consummate the transaction. The seller's electronic bank account may be similarly updated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the identification of humans. More particularly, the present invention relates to the application of invisible, indelible tattoos on humans for purposes of identification in order to conduct monetary and credit transactions in a secure manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
The advent of computer networks, particularly computer networks owned by financial institutions, has created the ability to conduct point-sale transactions in unforseen ways. While credit cards have been in use for many years, new forms of cards are appearing that take the place of paper money. This new form of cash, commonly called "e-money," is placed onto a card with a magnetic strip, much like a credit card. Unfortunately, as with credit cards, e-money can be stolen. However, unlike credit cards, e-money can be used by the thief with relative impunity because e-money, as with regular cash, is not registered as "owned" by anyone.
In order to facilitate the identification of humans, governments have issued cards and papers with the names and photographs of the person to which the card or paper is issued. An example of such a card or paper is the common drivers license or passport. However, as with credit cards and e-money, the drivers license or passport can be lost or stolen. In addition, phoney identification cards can be made by unscrupulous individuals. There are, however, systems for verifying use of a credit or identification card. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,272 to Bogosian, herein incorporated by reference for all purposes. The Bogosian system uses fingerprint and voice print matching to verify the identity of the card holder. Unfortunately, this dual matching is subject to problems, particularly when the card holder has a cold or other respiratory infection that affects speech patterns.
There have been other methods to permanently identify humans. During the holocaust, the Nazis tattooed the arms of Jews with a unique identifying number. On an episode of the "X-FILES," a fictional television program on the FOX television network, a human was abducted by aliens who conducted experiments on the abductee. In order to permanently tag the abductee, the aliens etched a unique bar code onto one of the abductee's teeth. Neither of these methods is practical for marking humans for electronic sale transaction purposes. First, social conscience dictates that any permanent marking of humans not be conspicuous, such as a visible numbering on an arm like the holocaust victims. Second, the bar code must be long enough, large enough, and accessible enough to make the transaction efficient. Thus bar codes on teeth would not be practical because of the limited size of the teeth and the embarrassment caused by sales personnel placing scanning equipment in a customer's mouth.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for verifying the identity of humans by electronic means that facilitates the transaction of sales, particularly e-money, through computer networks. It is an object of the present invention to overcome problems in the prior art.

Method for verifying human identity during electronic sale transactions


An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with an ultrasonic probe driving section 2, a receiving section 5 for amplifying an ultrasonic reflected wave, a phase detecting section 6 for phase-detecting the ultrasonic reflected wave, a velocity computing section 10 for obtaining the velocity of an object to be measured at a plurality of measuring positions on the object to be measured from a phase-detected signal, a computing section 10 for obtaining the deformation amount and/or elastic module between measuring positions of the object to be measured from the velocity, a fluid determining section 9 for determining a fluid portion in the object to be measured in accordance with the phase-detected signal, and an image data generating section 72 for two-dimensionally image-displaying the deformation amount and/or elastic module of the object to be measured in a region other than the fluid portion by using the information determined by the fluid determining section.

The number of persons suffering from circulatory organ diseases such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction has been increased in recent years and it is a large problem to prevent and remedy these diseases.
Hardening of arteries deeply relates to the attack of myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. Specifically, when atheroma is formed on an arterial wall or a new cell of an artery is formed due to various factors including a high blood pressure, the artery loses elasticity and becomes hard and fragile. Moreover, when a blood vessel is obstructed at the portion where the atheroma is formed or a blood vessel tissue covering the atheroma is broken, the atheroma leaks into a blood vessel, the artery is obstructed at another portion, or the portion where the artery is hardened is broken. Thereby, these diseases are caused. Therefore, diagnosis of hardening of arteries is important for prevention or remedy of these diseases.
Whether an artery is hardened has been diagnosed by directly observing a state of the inside of a blood vessel by a blood vessel catheter. However, this diagnosis has a problem that the burden of a patient is large because it is necessary to insert a blood vessel catheter into a blood vessel. Therefore, observation by a blood vessel catheter is used for a patient whose artery is exactly hardened to specify the place where the artery is hardened but this method is not used as an inspection for health care.
Measuring a cholesterol value which is a factor of hardening of arteries or measuring a blood pressure value is an inspection which can be easily performed because the burden to a patient is small. However, these values do not directly mean a degree that an artery is hardened.
Moreover, when it is possible to administer a curative medicine of hardening of arteries to a patient whose hardening of arteries is not greatly progressed, this exhibits an effect for medical treatment of hardening of arteries. However, when the hardening of arteries is progressed, it is said that it is difficult to completely cover hardened arteries though it is possible to restrain hardening of arteries by a curative medicine.
From this reason, a diagnostic method and a diagnostic apparatus are requested which do not apply much burden to a patient and diagnose the degree of hardening of arteries before hardening of arteries progresses.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been known so far as a medical diagnostic apparatus which does not apply much burden to a patient. By using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and thereby applying ultrasonic waves from the outside of a body, it is possible to obtain shape information, motion information, or quality information on the inside of a body without providing a pain for a patient.
Particularly when performing measurement by ultrasonic waves, it is possible to obtain the elastic modulus of an object to be measured because the motion information on the object to be measured is obtained from a transmutation value. That is, it is possible to obtain the elastic modulus of a blood vessel in a living body and directly know the degree of hardening of arteries. Moreover, because measurement can be made only by touching a patient with an ultrasonic probe, the burden to the patient decreases. Therefore, by using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is possible to accurately diagnose hardening of arteries and it is expected to apply a medical inspection for prevention to a test subject without providing burden for the test subject.
However, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having been used so far does not have a very high resolution of shape information or motion information as represented by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for auscultating the cardiac sound of an unborn baby. Therefore, it is impossible to obtain the elastic modulus of a contracting artery in accordance with a heart beat. For example, there are many ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses by which transmutation measurement of an object to be measured cannot sufficiently be performed like the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-266040.
It has been possible in recent years to improve the measurement accuracy of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by leaps and bounds in accordance with the progress of electronics technique. Thereby, development of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for measuring micro-movement of a living-body tissue has been progressed. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for realizing high-accuracy phase tracking by using the amplitude and phase of a detection signal and deciding the instantaneous position of an object in accordance with a constrained least square method. This apparatus can measure the micro-vibration of a tissue greatly moved by a heart beat. According to Patent Document 2, micro-vibration up to hundreds of Hz on a great vibratory transmutation movement due to a heart beat having an amplitude of 10 mm or more can be measured at a preferable reproducibility even if a heart beat is repeated approx. 10 times.
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-5226 can measure high frequency components up to hundreds of Hz at a preferable reproducibility and obtain the elastic characteristic of a region having a diameter of 1 to 2 mm on cardiac muscle or artery by converging an ultrasonic beam. Moreover, it is reported that there is a superior characteristic that ultrasonic oscillation of the component of every time phase can be obtained in one heart beat and frequency spectrum of the oscillation can be analyzed.
Therefore, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-5226, it is expected that it is possible to prevent a disease due to hardening of arteries by checking a progress degree of hardening of arteries with time without providing burden for a test subject in a medical inspection. Moreover, by measuring the elastic characteristic in a micro-region of an artery, it is expected that it is possible to specify a portion at which ruptured blood vessel easily occurs and remedy the portion.
Motion information on living-body tissue measured by ultrasonic waves has been visualized so far by using an image display unit such as a monitor and thereby performing two-dimensional mapping. For example, a method is widely known in which a straight line drawn by brightness-modulating an ultrasonic incoming signal in accordance with an amplitude intensity is written in an image in accordance with scanning by an ultrasonic beam to display the tomogram of a two-dimensional living body in real time. This method is referred to as B-mode method, in which a difference between living-body tissues such as internal organs is displayed in accordance with its movement and a difference between brightnesses. Therefore, for example, it is possible to observe the shape of an unborn baby or find a bilestone. In the case of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus not having a very high resolution of shape information or motion information, the above image display coincides with the purpose of the diagnosis.
However, in the case of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a high resolution using the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-5226, it is possible to measure the motion information such as the elastic information on a blood vessel wall at a resolution of 1 to 2 mm. Therefore, a state in which blood moves through a blood vessel and a blood vessel wall performs a deformation amount is measured as a motion state nearby the blood vessel. In the case of the elastic characteristic to be image-displayed, the elastic characteristic of the blood in a blood vessel is shown in addition to the elastic characteristic of a blood vessel wall to be measured. As a result, the boundary between the blood vessel wall and the blood becomes unclear and it is difficult to accurately evaluate the elastic characteristic of the blood vessel wall. Particularly, it is very difficult to find regions different from each other in elastic characteristic in the blood vessel wall and specify a portion where hardening of arteries occurs by using the above display.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus control method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In a coupling element for decanting, filling, or emptying of containers, a first sealing strip a flank piece comprising elastic as a first mounting element at a first end defining a first inner space for retaining a first axis, and a second mounting element on a second opposite end defining a second inner space for retaining a second axis. A second sealing strip comprising elastic has a first mounting element on a first end which defines a first inner space for retaining the second axis, and a second mounting element on a second opposite end which defines the second inner space for retaining the first axis. Inner sides of the flank pieces of the first and second sealing strips are attachable to one another to form a seal. The first mounting element of the first strip in the second mounting element of the second strip are positioned adjacent one another to form a first articulated section, and the second mounting element of the first sealing strip and the first mounting element of the second sealing strip being adjacent to one another to form a second articulated section. The first articulated cap forming a pivot bearing is positioned at least partially over the first articulated section and a second articulated cap forming a pivot bearing as positioned at least partially over the second articulated section. The first axis is retained in the first inner space for pivotable mounting of the first articulated section and the second axis is retained in the second inner space for pivotable mounting of the second articulated section.

The disclosed preferred embodiment relates to a coupling element and a docking device comprising a coupling element. The embodiment further relates to a holding device for the manipulation of the coupling elements and docking devices and a connection device comprising at least two coupling elements.
In many fields, in particular the manufacturing industry, there are often stringent requirements for the cleanliness of the primary products used, for which reason contamination caused by impurities at any point of the process, and not only during the production and isolation of the primary products, is to be avoided. However, it is often precisely when filling appropriate containers with the completed primary products, or when decanting the same for the purpose of further processing into intermediary or end products, that contact with the environment cannot be totally avoided. Thus the quality of the reprocessed products can be permanently affected, and if required, whole product batches are even discarded. On the other hand, particular care must be taken with toxic compounds to ensure that people and the environment do not come into contact with these substances, and this also makes it necessary to work very carefully, and isolated from the environment. It often suffices simply to work in clean room conditions in order to fulfill the requirements for the decanting of toxic substances into appropriate processing containers. In any case, the efforts taken not to contaminate valuable primary products, along with the aim not to contaminate the environment with toxic compounds goes hand in hand with a high level of expenditure on apparatus and safety regulations, which unavoidably has an effect upon production costs. These stringent requirements are, eg. regularly to be fulfilled by the food processing, the chemical or the pharmaceutical industries, for example when products in the form of bulk goods or fluids are to be transferred from a fixed first container into a transportable second container. Because many products, even in exceptionally small quantities, have a highly toxic effect upon the human organism, and other products react very sensitively to eg. the effect of air, effective coupling elements and docking devices were developed by the industry which should make it possible to fill or to empty a container in an isolated, or at least a dust-free state. For example, containers of this type are filled by means of a double cap technique which has proved to be very efficient, but also, due to the technical design and the materials used, very costly.
DE 695 04 581 T2 , for example, made known a sealed docking device of this type between containers isolated from the environment, which has an inflexible, annular flange with a door. The flange and the door are preferably produced from a hard plastic material. The containers, which can be made in the form of sacks, are preferably made from a soft synthetic material. A disadvantage of this docking device is the constructionally very high-cost processing of the flange with its cam mechanism serving as a locking mechanism, which incommensurately increases the production costs for a one-way object, and in addition, makes it non-user friendly because it is unwieldy.
Docking devices for contamination-free decanting are used in particular when handling radio-active materials, and regularly require a constructionally expensive locking arrangement, such as eg. that found in DE 39 05 362 A1. In addition, for each of these container types, a docking device adapted to the dimensions of the container is required.
DE 695 04 581 T2 presents a sealed docking device between two housings isolated from the environment, each respectively provided with a door. With this device, the outer sides of the doors can be attached to one another so as to form a seal, whereby the locking mechanism of the first door can also be controlled by a manipulation device on the second door. Following conveyance from the one housing into the other, the two-door unit is returned to its place in the respective retainers or mountings provided for this purpose, and the two housings can be separated from one another. In this way, the outer sides of the two doors remain free from impurities because they are isolated from one another during the transfer or conveyance. The docking device in accordance with DE 695 04 581 T2 is also constructionally expensive and can not readily be used on filling mechanisms isolated from the environment for structures with smaller dimensions.
Docking devices of a simpler design can, in accordance with DE 196 24 189 A1, also be formed from a first docking element which is funnel-shaped in design, and a second docking element, which is form-fitted onto on the funnel-shaped docking element, in particular forming a spherical contact surface. In order to guarantee it be gas proof, the contact surface has a rubber elastic surface. With the docking device in accordance with DE 196 24 189 A1, one can successfully decant media capable of flowing, however, it can not be guaranteed that when coupling or uncoupling the docking elements, that these media capable of flowing do not escape into the environment.
DE 43 29 276 A.1 proposes a dust sealed connection for transportable bulk containers, which are provided with a connection device. With this, the bulk goods container in docked state is engaged with the outlet from above via an elastic disc, and in closed state, sealed by a sealing cone. The outlet funnel of the bulk goods container here has a diameter which is greater than that of the hole in the rubber disc. A sealing cone located in the outlet funnel cuts off the stream of bulk material with its lower edge. By using a rubber disc with a deliberately under-sized outlet opening as a sealing element, it can, however, not be out of the question that, in any case with frequent use, damage will occur or the elasticity will be reduced, so that isolation from the environment of the outlet funnel is no longer guaranteed. Furthermore, special precautions must be taken in order to bring about sealing of the bulk goods container so as to isolate it from the environment by means of displacement of the sealing cone. The possibilities for using the dust-sealed connection in accordance with DE 43 299 276 A1 are therefore extremely limited.
DE 20 217 669 U1 describes a sealed docking device between two containers which are essentially isolated from the environment, whereby each container is essentially flexible, at least in sections, and can be attached so as to form a seal with a coupling element. The elastic coupling elements positioned alongside one another so as to form a seal are respectively provided with a slit which can be opened by elastic distortion of the coupling elements. Because the respective slits of the coupling elements which lie flush against one another lie exactly one above the other, the slits are opened by applying pressure onto opposite sides of the coupling elements, and the bulk material can be conveyed forward. In this way, in particular the handling in comparison with that using docking devices, as known by DE 69 504 581 T2, is simplified, and the production costs are reduced.
WO 03/037756 relates to a multi-walled change-over container comprising an inner and an outer shell. The space between the flexible inner container and the outer shell can be filled variably with compressed air by means of a compressed air supply so that the cross-section of the inner flexible container wall can be adjusted to reduce the fall velocity of the bulk material introduced by means of an upper inlet. In this way it can be carefully filled with bulk goods because account can be taken of the distance of the fall and the fall velocity of the bulk goods. Moreover, the effect of pressure upon the intermediary space between the inner and the outer shell can be used to remove the final bulk good remains quickly and efficiently when emptying the container. In addition, WO 03/037756 discloses a container which is provided with an elastic coupling element, comprising a slit opening, on its inlet and/or its outlet. This type of coupling element can, for example, have guide rails set on an edge which runs along its long sides, and is equipped with fixing elements on its opposite short edges for reciprocal fixing of the coupling elements which form a docking device. This type of coupling element is suitable for axial coupling to a second coupling element for the purpose of forming the previously described docking device.
GB 2 040 862 A discloses a packaging device for vacuum packaging and packaging which excludes air and humidity. As well as a suction line used to evacuate the container to be filled, holding and clamping members are also provided with which the opening edge of a flexible container is held and automatically opened and closed during filling. A one-piece holding device made from a rubber material can also be used here, which, in order to guarantee reliable opening and closing of the opening edge of the flexible container, is also equipped with metal struts. With the device introduced in GB 2 040 862 A, the filling cycles are shortened, contamination of the surrounding area is reduced or eliminated, and the monitoring during filling can be minimized.
An object is to provide a sealed docking device and coupling elements which form these docking devices, as well as to provide methods for filling containers with bulk goods or fluids in a way that is isolated from the environment, so that disadvantages of the prior art are overcome, and in particular so that handling is simplified and production costs are reduced.
In a coupling element for decanting, filling, or emptying of containers, a first sealing strip a flank piece comprising elastic as a first mounting element at a first end defining a first inner space for retaining a first axis, and a second mounting element on a second opposite end defining a second inner space for retaining a second axis. A second sealing strip comprising elastic has a first mounting element on a first end which defines a first inner space for retaining the second axis, and a second mounting element on a second opposite end which defines the second inner space for retaining the first axis. Inner sides of the flank pieces of the first and second sealing strips are attachable to one another to form a seal. The first mounting element of the first strip in the second mounting element of the second strip are positioned adjacent one another to form a first articulated section, and the second mounting element of the first sealing strip and the first mounting element of the second sealing strip being adjacent to one another to form a second articulated section. The first articulated cap forming a pivot bearing is positioned at least partially over the first articulated section and a second articulated cap forming a pivot bearing as positioned at least partially over the second articulated section. The first axis is retained in the first inner space for pivotable mounting of the first articulated section and the second axis is retained in the second inner space for pivotable mounting of the second articulated section.

Coupling element and docking device comprising a coupling element


An improved mechanism for controlling the orientation of a plunger in a bale chamber of a small square baler that positions the lower plunger tail guide further from the working surface of the plunger than the upper plunger tail guide in order to better resist the rocking forces of the plunger in the bale chamber thereby improving the capability of the plunger guides to maintain proper plunger knife clearances and improving the durability of the bearing materials in the plunger guides.

This invention relates generally to agricultural balers of the type commonly referred to as square balers that produce bales having a rectangular cross section, and more particularly to an improved plunger guide apparatus that increases stability of plunger movement in the bale chamber and improves the of the plunger mechanism.
Square balers are implements that pick up a swath or windrow of crop material, such as straw or hay, from the ground and deposit it in an infeed housing where it is conveyed by a feed mechanism through an inlet to a bale forming chamber. Four walls define the bale forming chamber where the crop material is urged rearwardly by a reciprocating plunger to form a rectangular package of compacted crop material. Knives positioned on the plunger sever the crop material at the juncture of the bale chamber and the crop inlet as the plunger passes so that the plunger may urge the crop material rearwardly in the bale chamber to form the compressed crop package in the rearward end of the bale forming chamber. The package so formed is automatically tied by a tying mechanism to complete the bale that is then discharged from the chamber by being urged rearwardly by the next bale being successively formed. Completed bales are either deposited on the ground for subsequent retrieval or they are delivered by appropriate means to a trailing wagon hitched to the back of the baler.
The plunger is guided within the bale chamber by rollers and sliding guide (slider) blocks which keep the working surface of the plunger perpendicularly aligned with the walls of the bale chamber. Maintaining plunger alignment is crucial to maintaining knife clearances necessary to assure proper and efficient operation of the square baler. Pressure for increased efficiency in agricultural operations has led to simplified plunger designs. Plunger tail length along the reciprocating axis has been decreased and cam bearings have been replaced with slider blocks formed from wear-resistant materials to simplify the plunger design. Such improvements in production efficiency have not been without consequence. Over time, such simplified designs have proven to lack the desired adjustment longevity and durability needed to satisfy ever-increasing customer demands. Reductions in plunger tail length have resulted in reductions in the durability of the slider blocks with a corresponding adverse affect on the ability to maintain the plunger knife settings.
It would be a great advantage to provide an improved bale plunger guide design which would improve guide control of a reciprocating plunger in a bale chamber and increase the durability of the slider blocks thereby improving the operational performance and service interval in a small square baler thereby overcoming the above problems and disadvantages. Still further advantages would be realized by providing an improved design for the plunger guide that utilizes many of the production efficiencies previously incorporated into the plunger design while improving plunger movement control.

Staggered plunger tail with improved wear surface for a small square baler


Provided are a Cr-free surface-treated steel sheet that has excellent humid resin adhesion and corrosion resistance and that exhibits no streak-like surface defects, a method for manufacturing such a surface-treated steel sheet, and a resin-covered steel sheet using such a surface-treated steel sheet. A surface-treated steel sheet includes a steel sheet; a corrosion-resistant coating, on at least one side thereof, that is composed of at least one layer selected from a Ni layer, a Sn layer, an Fe—Ni alloy layer, an Fe—Sn alloy layer, and an Fe—Ni—Sn alloy layer; and an adherent coating, on the corrosion-resistant coating, that contains Zr and at least one species selected from P derived from a phosphoric acid and C derived from a phenolic resin in a total mass ratio to Zr of 0.01 to 10.

Metal sheets such as tinned steel sheets and electrolytically chromate-treated steel sheets, which are called tin-free steel sheets, have been used for various metal cans such as beverage cans, food cans, pails, and 18 L cans. Among others, tin-free steel sheets, which are manufactured by electrolytic treatment of steel sheets in a plating bath containing hexavalent Cr, have the advantage of excellent humid resin adhesion to a resin such as a coating.
Recently, the growing environmental awareness has resulted in regulations on the use of hexavalent Cr worldwide, and there is a need for an alternative to tin-free steel sheets, which are manufactured using a plating bath containing hexavalent Cr.
In conventional metal can manufacturing, metal sheets such as tin-free steel sheets are coated and formed into cans. Recently, however, resin-covered metal sheets, which are covered with a resin such as a plastic film, rather than coated, have increasingly been used in can forming for reduced waste during manufacture. Such resin-covered metal sheets require the resin to adhere strongly to the metal sheets. In particular, resin-covered metal sheets used for beverage cans and food cans, which may undergo a retort sterilization process after being filled with the contents thereof, require sufficient humid resin adhesion for the resin not to peel off in a hot, humid environment and sufficient corrosion resistance not to be corroded and perforated by, for example, the contents of the cans after the resin comes off partially due to, for example, scratching.
To meet such a need, the inventors have recently disclosed in patent document 1 that a Cr-free surface-treated steel sheet with significantly excellent humid resin adhesion and excellent corrosion resistance can be manufactured by forming a corrosion-resistant coating composed of at least one layer selected from a Ni layer, a Sn layer, an Fe—Ni alloy layer, an Fe—Sn alloy layer, and an Fe—Ni—Sn alloy layer on at least one side of a steel sheet and then forming an adherent coating by cathode electrolytic treatment in an aqueous solution containing an ion having Ti and an ion having at least one metallic element selected from Co, Fe, Ni, V, Cu, Mn, and Zn.

Surface-treated steel sheet, method for manufacturing the same, and resin-covered steel sheet using the same


A method of manufacturing a photodiode sensor and an associated charge transfer transistor includes forming an insulation region on a substrate, forming the diode on a first side of the insulation region with the diode being self-aligned on the insulation region, and replacing the insulation region by a gate of the charge transfer transistor. The invention has particular utility in the manufacture of CMOS or CCD image sensors.

A sensor is described, for example, in D1 (U.S. Publication No. 2006/0124976) and is shown in FIG. 1. The sensor of D1 is made on a P− type substrate 100 and comprises a gate 102, a pinning layer 106 strongly doped with P+ type impurities, an accumulation region 108 doped with N type impurities and situated beneath the region 106, a read region 110 strongly doped with N type impurities. The length of the read region 110 is bounded on one side by the gate 102 and on the other side by an insulating border 112; the region 110 forms a floating drain of the transistor. The regions 106, 108 are bounded on one side by an insulating border 114 and on another side by the gate 102; the regions 106, 108 form two PN junctions of the photodiode with the substrate 100. The accumulation region 108 forms both the volume channel of the photodiode and the source of the transistor.
The working of such a sensor includes an accumulation phase and a transfer phase. During the accumulation phase, a ground potential is applied to the substrate 100 and to the pinning layer 106 and a reverse bias potential Vd is applied to the accumulation region 108; when photons strike an upper surface 118 of the diode, electron-hole pairs are generated in the diode, in the regions 108, 106 and 100 and the electrons are stored here in the N region 108. During the transfer phase, the gate 102 of the transfer transistor is turned on, a surface transfer channel is created beneath the gate 102 and the electrons generated by photoemission in the region 108 are transferred to the read region 110 whose content can then be read by appropriate read means (not shown in FIG. 1).
The depths of the regions 106,108 and the concentrations in N, P dopant of these regions are chosen so that, when the potential Vp is applied to the region 108, the space charge zones of the two PN junctions of the diode meet. Thus, during the accumulation phase, no majority carrier can be extracted from the region 108. Such a diode is called a pinned diode or a fully depleted diode.
In photodiode sensors, there often arises a problem of remanence due to a poor transfer of charges. This is due to the difference in position between the channel in volume of the photodiode (region 108) and the surface channel of the transistor situated beneath the gate of the transistor.
In the document D1, this problem is limited by making a gate 102 that is buried so that the transfer channel beneath the gate is in contact with the accumulation zone 108. The transfer of the charges is thus facilitated because the charges do not need to go in transit through the pinning zone 108.
However, the sensor of D1 is difficult to make. The different implantations of dopant impurities and the making of the gate indeed require the use of different masks, and this leads to an imprecise definition of the different regions or an encroachment by one region on the other or an encroachment by an implantation region on the gate.

Method of manufacturing sensor with photodiode and charge transfer transistor


An improved steering mechanism for a marine outboard drive wherein the steering rod connected to the outboard drive end of the wire actuator steering cable is slidably mounted in a guide tube that is formed integrally with a hydraulic assist cylinder and which are affixed to the transom independently of the tilt pin and forwardly of it. This permits the steering mechanism to be assembled as a unit separately from the outboard drive and attached to the transom separately from it.

This invention relates to a steering system for a marine propulsion unit and more particularly to an improved remote steering operator for a marine outboard drive.
Generally marine outboard drives include a propulsion unit that is mounted for steering movement about a generally vertically extending axis in some form of steering or swivel bracket. The steering or swivel bracket is, itself, mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontally extending trim axis by a clamping bracket or other device that is affixed to the transom of a watercraft. The propulsion unit has affixed to it a steering arm which extends forwardly and frequently across the transom for steering of the propulsion unit.
There are many times when it is desirable to steer the propulsion unit from a position remote from the transom, for example by a forwardly positioned steering wheel. To accomplish this movement, there is normally provided a flexible transmitter that is driven by the steering wheel and which extends rearwardly and is connected to the steering bracket or steering arm for steering of the propulsion unit. With this type of system, the flexible cable is generally connected to a member that is slidably supported in a tubular member which is disposed concentrically and telescoped with the tilt axis of the swivel bracket. Frequently hydraulic power assists are employed which also include a hydraulically operated cylinder and actuating valve mechanism which are interconnected with the cable and the steering arm for hydraulic assist of the steering.
There are a number of disadvantages with the type of construction previously used. In the first instance, when the cable actuated member is positioned concentrically with the tilt axis, this type of construction has a number of problems. Since the support for the cable end also defines the tilt axis, it must be made strong enough to sustain propulsion forces and forces which are encountered when underwater obstacles are struck. Also, the unit is disposed so that it will be in proximity to the transom and hence, must be formed from a corrosion resistant material. Thus, the costs of the cable support become excessive. In addition, since the cable guide forms a portion of the propulsion unit, it is not possible to form a separate subassembly and there are difficulties in ensuring accurate assembly. These disadvantages are further multiplied when a hydraulic assist for the steering is provided.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved and simplified steering mechanism for a boat propulsion unit.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a steering mechanism for a boat propulsion unit which can be formed as a separate assembly from the propulsion unit.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved power assisted steering mechanism for a marine propulsion unit.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a hydraulic steering mechanism for a marine propulsion unit which can be made as a separate assembly.

Steering system for marine propulsion unit


Systems and methods are described for printing directly onto textiles including pre-treating a textile with a liquid solution to improve the quality of the printed image. The systems and methods prevent over saturation of the fibers of the textile by the ink thereby reducing undesirable mixing of the ink and blurring of the printed image.

Systems and methods for ink jet printing on textiles are well known. "Direct to garment" printing provides for the production of an image by placing ink drops directly onto the textile (garment) at distinct adjacent sites. This method of digital printing on textiles normally features an ink jet printer which applies ink on top of the textile. Herein a textile is defined as a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial fibers often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw wool fibers, linen, cotton, or other material on a spinning wheel to produce long strands known as yarn. Textiles are formed by weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or pressing fibers together. When applied, the ink penetrates the textile saturating the fibers, which is desirable for the image to be wash fast, meaning the ink does not rinse away when the textile is laundered. However, if the ink soaks down too deeply into the fibers the image vibrancy and resolution is adversely affected.
One way ink is delivered to the textile is through print heads in a manner similar to that employed by standard ink jet printers used for printing on paper products. Changes in textile thickness and print heads settings as well as environmental changes and different weaves from different mills impact the degree to which the ink beds down or saturates into the textile. In order to obtain the most vibrant and durable images on a textile, it is desirable to minimize the saturation of the fibers. In addition, current methods also produce colors that lack vibrancy, vividness and clarity because the ink when applied directly to the textile over saturates the textile. Embodiments of the present invention provide novel systems, methods and devices for digitally printing an image on a textile. Furthermore, the exemplar embodiments of the novel methods and systems herein restrict the inks ability to saturate the textile which increases the vibrancy, clarity and resolution of the image on the textile.

System and method for improved digital printing on textiles


An automobile air bag system for restraining and protecting a driver upon a collision includes a modular air bag device which is installed, as a subassembled unit, in a steering wheel. The modular air bag device has at least an air bag capable of unfolding and an electrically operated inflator unit for generating gas and inflating and unfolding the air bag with the gas. A bottom cover, assembled to a bottom of the air bag device, covers and protects at least a portion of a harness extending from and laying under the bottom of the air bag device against damage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag device for an automobile, and, more particularly, to an automobile air bag device with a protector member disposed so as to protect an igniter harness of an air bag module.
2. Description of Related Art
An air bag device has hitherto been put into use with an air bag module mounted or installed in a steering wheel During assembly, the air bag module is, after mounting the steering wheel on the upper end of the steering column, installed in the steering wheel.
Such an air bag module typically comprises an inflator, such as a gas generating unit, and an igniter, in addition to the air bag. Since the igniter is connected to a plurality of collision sensors mounted on the front portion of the vehicle and to an electrical supply, an igniter harness is necessarily connected to the air bag module. This kind of igniter harness extends from the rear surface of the inflator to the outside of the air bag module, as described in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 62-234781.
In a car assembly factory, the air bag module, when it is being conveyed and stored, is positioned in the form of a subassembly on a storage pallet. The upper surface of the subassembled air bag module is covered by a synthetic resin module cover, serving as an ornamental member of the steering wheel. As it is preferable to avoid soiling or damaging the module cover during car assembly, the air bag module is positioned with its rear surface facing downwards on the storage pallet. However, in this case, the harness for the igniter is apt to bend at a portion which extends toward the rear surface of the air bag module and, particularly, at a portion near the outlet opening of the inflator. If the air bag module is placed and left in such a state for a long period, the harness may be damaged.
In a case in which the structural rigidity of the steering wheel is insufficient, moreover, when the air bag unfolds during a collision of the vehicle, the unfolded air bag will oscillate from side to side. A deviation from a desired normal position of the unfolded air bag is, therefore, produced.


The invention relates to phenol-free decorative laminates, in the form of sheets, such as HPL, CPL and LPL, using multilayer carrier materials in which no phenol resins are used for impregnation and which are therefore toxicologically safe, have a neutral odor and are more economical in their production. The impregnating resin system used is a urea/melamine/formaldehyde resin which was processed exclusively in an aqueous reaction medium and to which a polymer dispersion was added, the impregnating resin having been prepared in a first stage in the pH range from 7.0 to 8.5 and in a second stage in the pH range from 4.0 to 6.0. Finally, this resin batch is neutralized, added to the carrier material and pressed with the latter.

The decorative laminates known to date all consist of a surface layer impregnated with melamine resin and a plurality of lower layers impregnated with phenol resin, also referred to as core layers. So-called kraft paper is used for the lower layers. The surface is a special decorative paper which, by printing with special colors, represents the decorative surface.
These decorative laminates have the disadvantage that they have a strong intrinsic odor of phenol and even traces of unconverted phenol are still detectable in the laminate, depending on the production conditions. Phenol is toxicologically unsafe. Particularly in the recycling process and during incineration, even more toxic substances may form through thermal secondary reactions with other substances present, especially with halogen-containing organic compounds.
The phenol resin is produced exclusively in strongly basic reaction media with the use of alkali metal hydroxides. In order to ensure better reactivity of the resins during the impregnation process and especially during the curing process on pressing, it is necessary to adjust the pH of the kraft paper to about 8.5 to 9.0.
It is known that a reduction in the phenol content can be achieved by adding urea to the resin batch. However, a disadvantage thereby is that, with the use of urea contents above 10% by mass of urea in the solid resin, the good water resistance of the phenol resin decreases very greatly. The reason for this is that the urea does not react under the reaction conditions for phenol resins (pH >8) and readily leads to increased water absorption of the resin.
A further disadvantage of the production of decorative laminates from the combination of melamine resin-impregnated and phenol resin-impregnated papers consists in an incompatibility at the interfaces. This is due to the different catalysts which shift the pH of the impregnated papers into the acid or into the basic range. In the case of extreme differences, for example a pH of 9 in the case of the phenol resin-impregnated papers, delamination processes may readily occur at the interfaces.

Phenol-free decorative laminates and method of producing the same


The present invention provides 4 embodiments of a new image forming method. The image forming method uses a light-sensitive material and an image receiving material. The light-sensitive material comprises a support and a light-sensitive polymerizable layer provided thereon. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent, an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound or/and a cross-linkable polymer and a colorant. The image forming method comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a removing step, a transferring step and a repeating step. Some embodiments of the method further contain a laminating step. The present invention is characterized in that a multicolor image is formed on an image receiving material by the repeating step.

As the computer technology has recently been developed, a technical innovation is greatly introduced in printing. The field of color printing is now digitized by using a computer system named as CEPS (Color Electronic Preptess System). The CEPS digitizes the printing data of a color image and the data of all the preptess process down to stripping. Further, the newest system directly outputs the digitized printing data to a presensitized printing plate of a high sensitivity to prepare a printing plate without use of a conventional lith film. The technical innovation in the printing field makes the lith film unnecessary.
Before running on, a proofread is necessary to inspect the finished quality of printing. The proofing systems include a pressproof and an analogue offpress proof. The pressproof comprises preparing a printing plate for a proof sheet and printing an image using a proof press. The analogue offpress proof employs an image forming system different from the printing system. The offpress proof system comprises uniformly exposing to light a light-sensitive material through a lith film. The light-sensitive material contains a photopolymer, and the light source usually is ultraviolet. These two proofing systems are based on the premise that the printing system uses a lith film. The proof sheet itself is prepared from the image on the lith film (cf., M. H. Bruno, Principle of Color Proofing).
As is mentioned above, the conventional proofing systems are based on use of the lith film. Now, it is an important problem how to inspect the printing quality when the technical innovation in the printing field makes the lith film unnecessary. Therefore, the newest printing system requires a proof system of preparing a proof sheet directly from digital image data without use of the lith film. The required proof system is named as DDCP (Digital Direct Color Proof). With respect to the DDCP, several systems have been proposed, and some of them are practically used.
The DDCP systems employ an electrophotography and a thermal transfer recording system, which are completely different from the conventional analogue offpress proof using a photopolymer. The proofing qualities of DDCP (such as resolving power, color tone, gradation, reproducibility of half tone, analogy to printing and stable reproducibility of the image) are insufficient compared with the conventional systems. The image qualities of the direct output from a digital image are not satisfied. Therefore, an improved proofing method which can directly output the digital image is required to obtain a color proof of high quality.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 48(1973)-31323, Japanese Patent Provisional Publications No. 59(1984)-97140, No. 62(1987)-267736, No. 2(1990)-244151 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,438 disclose an analogue offpress proof using a conventional photopolymer. If the digital image data can directly be recorded on the offpress proof using the photopolymer, the proofing qualities are probably satisfactory. However, the digital image data should be recorded on a light-sensitive material for proof by a scanning exposure using a specific light source such as a laser bean. Therefore, the light-sensitive material should have a high sensitivity to the wave length of the scanning light. The conventional light-sensitive material using a photopolymer does not have such a high sensitivity. Further, it is particularly difficult to sensitize the photopolymer to a laser beam of a long wave such as a He-Ne laser and a semiconductor laser. The photopolymer merely has a sensitivity to a laser beam of a short wave. Accordingly, the conventional analogue offpress proof is not available in the DDCP systems.
In conclusion, the offpress proof using a photopolymer cannot directly record the digital image data, since the photopolymer does not have a high sensitivity to the wave length of the scanning light (particularly a laser beam of a long wave). On the other hand, the proofing qualities of the conventional DDCP systems (using an electrophotography or a thermal transfer recording system) are insufficient with respect to resolving power, reproducibitity of half tone or stable reproducibility of color. Therefore, a new DDCP method is required to record a color proof of high quality with a high sensitivity to the wave length of a scanning light.
By the way, Japanese Patent Provisional Publications No. 61(1986)-69062 and No. 61(1986)-73145 (the contents of these two publications are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,676 and European Patent Provisional Publication No. 0174634A) discloses an image forming method using a light-sensitive material which contains silver halide, a reducing agent and a polymerizable compound. The method comprises the steps of imagewise exposing to light the light-sensitive material, and heating the material to develop the silver and to harden imagewise the polymerizable compound. Thus a polymer image is formed on the light-sensitive material. In a representative embodiment of the method, the developed light-sensitive material (containing a colorant) is pressed on an image receiving material to transfer the colorant with the unpolymerized polymerizable compound to the image receiving material. Thus a color image is formed on the image receiving material. In the case that a multi-color image is formed on the image receiving material, the light-sensitive material should contain two or more kinds of microcapsules (or packet emulsions) each containing a colorant different from each other.

Color image forming method using silver halide, reducing agent, polymerizable compound and colorant


In order to achieve very secure transmission of sensitive information over a public communications medium such as the Internet to carry out transactions therebetween, an account initialization data set is developed in a client system and duplicated, by secure means, in a host system. At each of the client and host systems, an initial client control file data set including a plurality of control fields (at least one of which includes data developed from information which is unique to the client system hardware) is independently developed and stored using functionally identical algorithms and incorporating information included in at least a part of the account initialization data set. Subsequently, during initiation of a transaction, a validation string generated from a plurality of the client control file data set fields stored in the client system and at least one additional field containing transaction specific information is sent from the client system to the host system over an insecure transmission medium such as the Internet. At the host, a validation string is generated using the corresponding control file data set fields, identically manipulated, and the apparent client generated and host generated initial validation strings are checked for identity. If the initial validation strings are identical, the transaction is carried out; however, if the initial validation strings are not identical, the transaction is aborted. Assuming that the transaction is carried out, updated client control file data sets, which are identically modified according to a predetermined modification procedure from the previous client control file data sets, based on new information which is specific to the transaction just carried out, are independently developed and stored at each of the client and host systems to be used to validate the next transaction.

Modern commercial and personal business transactions involving the transfer of funds or other assets from one or more accounts to one or more other accounts are being carried out more and more via electronic means. Very often, such transactions are effected across an insecure transmission medium such as the Internet using a certain degree of encryption. The ability of hackers to intercept and decrypt such messages is notoriously well known, and it is widely acknowledged that the degree of encryption currently permitted by the U.S. government is insufficient to protect sensitive information communicated over such insecure transaction communications media. Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it would be highly desirable to provide a system which undoubtedly achieves comprehensive and unbreakable transmission of sensitive information involving transactions over insecure communications media such as the Internet.

Secure transmission of sensitive information over a public/insecure communications medium


Provided is a self light emitting type display device which can correct variations in characteristics of self-emitting elements arranged in a display panel, a driver IC which drives lighting of the self-emitting elements, and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device in which a plurality of self-emitting pixels are arranged, for example, a self light emitting type display device in which organic EL (electroluminescent) elements are arranged in a matrix pattern as light emitting elements, and particularly to a self light emitting type display device which can correct variations in characteristics of the self-emitting elements, a driver IC which drives lighting of the self-emitting elements, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display employing a display panel which is constructed by arranging light emitting elements in a matrix pattern has been developed widely. As the light emitting element employed in such display panel, an organic EL element in which an organic material is employed in a light emitting layer has attracted attention, and a display of a self-emitting type in which the organic EL elements are arranged in a matrix pattern has been commercialized partly. This is because of a background that by employing, in a light emission functional layer constituting an EL element, an organic compound which enables an excellent light emission characteristic to be expected, progress in a high efficiency and a long life by which an EL element can be fit for practical use has been made.
As a display device employing the above-mentioned organic EL elements, a passive matrix type display device in which EL elements are simply arranged in a matrix pattern and an active matrix type display device in which respective active elements for example constituted by TFTs (thin film transistors) are added to respective EL elements arranged in a matrix pattern have been proposed.
In the former passive matrix type display device, respective organic EL layers as light emitting pixels are formed at respective crossing positions between first electrode lines arranged in a striped pattern and second electrode lines which are arranged in a striped pattern so as to cross the first electrode lines at right angles. This passive matrix type display device can be provided as a relatively simple structure. On the other hand, in the latter active matrix type display device, although the respective active elements constituted by the above-mentioned TFTs have to be provided for respective pixels, since a momentary intensity of an EL element as a light emitting pixel can be reduced, the lives of the light emitting pixels can be prolonged. Further, the active matrix typed is play device has an advantage such as a less crosstalk light emission between pixels and the like, thereby being suitable for a large screen display and a high-precision display.
In any case in which either one of the above-described type display devices is utilized, this type of self-emitting element typified by an organic EL element has a characteristic that the element emits light at an intensity approximately proportional to the drive current supplied thereto. However, there is a problem that variations in light emission intensities with respect to the drive current occur among respective light emitting elements. Meanwhile, variations in driver ICs which drive lighting of respective light emitting elements occur as a matter of the fabrication thereof. Further, in the active matrix type display device, variations in the above-mentioned TFTs each of which is formed for each pixel unit occur as a matter of the fabrications thereof. Thus, there is a problem that it is difficult to make intensity characteristics on a display screen uniform.
Recently, a display panel which realizes full color display employing as subpixels respective EL elements which emit lights of respective R (red), G (green), and B (blue) colors has been developed. In this case, there is a problem that light emission efficiencies with respect to forward voltages of the respective colors of light emitting elements are different, and it is necessary to adjust these light emission intensities in advance in order to adjust color (white) balance.
In the above-described display devices, in order to correct variations in current vs. intensity of respective light emitting elements, variations in driver ICs, and the like before the product is shipped, and further in order to adjust white balance among respective subpixels, work of adjusting respective drive current values outputted from respective driver ICs has been done. Actual conditions of such adjustment work and one example of adjustment method are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 114-282420 (paragraphs 0014 to 0024 and FIGS. 1 to 5) shown below.
The work for adjusting drive current values in the driver ICs that is done before the product is shipped is executed in a state of semi-finished products of a display device for example shown in FIG. 1. That is, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a self-emitting module, and this self-emitting module 1 is composed of a display panel 2, an FPC (flexible printed circuit board) 3, a connector 4, and a driver IC 5 loaded on the FPC 3.
In the display panel 2 constituting the self-emitting module 1, although not specifically shown in the drawing, a large number of self-emitting elements, for example, organic EL elements, are arranged in a matrix pattern, and thus images can be reproduced in a light emitting state. One end of the FPC 3 is connected with an end edge of the panel 2, for example, by means of thermocompression bonding and the like, and the other end of the FPC 3 is connected with the connector 4 so as to be connected via the connector 4 with a main body substrate 6 which will be described later.
In the driver IC 5 loaded on the FPC 3, mixedly loaded are an anode driver and a cathode driver for selectively driving light emission of the light emitting elements arranged on the display panel 2, constant current sources which supply constant current to respective EL elements arranged on the display panel 2, and the like. The driver IC 5 is mutually connected on a way on the FPC 3 from the connector 4 to the display panel 2.
In the main body substrate 6, loaded are a voltage boosting circuit 7 for example by means of a DC/DC converter, a control CPU 8 which controls the driver IC 5 in the self-emitting module 1 side and which performs data transmission and the like, an intensity setting circuit 9 which can set current values of the respective constant current sources loaded in the driver IC 5, and the like.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 11-282420,in order to implement the work of adjusting respective drive current values for adjusting variations in intensities of respective light emitting elements or white balance, in the structure of a conventional display device shown in FIG. 1, since the intensity setting circuit 9 is loaded in the main body substrate 6 side, the adjustment work cannot be implemented unless the self-emitting module 1 is connected with the main body substrate 6 side via the connector 4. Thus, once connecting the self-emitting module 1 with the main body substrate 6 side via the connector 4 and measuring intensities of the display panel 2 in this state prevents fabrication work from being efficient, resulting in a primary factor of increasing the fabrication cost.
That is, in the sense that the fabrication control has to be efficient, it is desired that the intensities of respective light emitting elements can be adjusted, that is, that respective current values supplied from the driver IC 5 can be adjusted in a state in which the module 1 is an individual body before the self-emitting module 1 is connected with the main body substrate 6 side.

Abstract: A self-emitting module 1 is composed of a display panel 2 on which a plurality of self-emitting elements are arranged, a flexible circuit board 3 whose one end portion is connected with the display panel, a memory 10 which is loaded on the circuit board 3 and in which data for adjusting light emission intensities of the self-emitting elements is stored, and a drive unit 5 which is loaded also on the circuit board and which is equipped with a function of generating the drive current which is for adjusting the light emission intensities of the respective light emitting elements based on the data stored in the memory. Since the memory 10 and the drive unit 5 are loaded in the self-emitting module 1, in a state in which the self-emitting module is an individual module body before the module 1 is connected with a main body substrate 6 side, intensity adjustment of the respective light emitting elements can be performed, and adjustment work for intensity prior to shipping of the product can be made easier.


A control disk for a belt retractor comprises an inertial disk and an actuating projection. The inertial disk is rotatable relative to the control disk and connected. thereto by a slipping clutch.

A conventional control disk for a belt retractor comprises an inertial disk and an actuating projection. A control disk of this type is part of a latching mechanism with which the belt reel of the belt retractor, on which the belt webbing is coiled, can be blocked by vehicle-sensitive or belt webbing-sensitive means against rotation in the uncoiling direction. The latching mechanism of such a belt retractor is known, this being the reason why it is only briefly mentioned in the following.
The control disk of the latching mechanism can be rotated relatively to the belt reel to a limited extent. When the latching mechanism is activated in a vehicle-sensitive manner, i.e. by exceeding a predetermined acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, or in a belt webbing sensitive manner, i.e. by exceeding a predetermined rotational acceleration of the belt reel due to tensile forces acting in the belt webbing, a rotation of the disk relatively to the belt reel occurs, as a result of which the actuating projection is swiveled into an activating position so that the belt reel is coupled non-rotatably to a control lever or a similar functional part which on rotation of the belt reel in the uncoiling direction activates a load-bearing blocking pawl and thus causes blocking of the belt reel. The belt reel is then blocked in the uncoiling direction.
More recently, belt-tensioning means are finding increasing use by which, after actuation, the so-called belt slack of the seat belt system is eliminated so that the vehicle occupant is involved as early as possible in a deceleration of the vehicle. In particular, buckle tensioners are known, which displace the belt buckle such that the seat belt is tensioned, and retractor tensioners which rotate the belt reel in the coiling direction so that excess belt webbing is taken up. In both systems, high acceleration of the belt reel and the functional parts connected thereto materializes, i.e. in the case of a buckle tensioner in the uncoiling direction of the belt webbing and in the case of a retractor tensioner in the coiling direction of the belt webbing. These high accelerations might result in damage to the functional parts of the latching mechanism so that following a tensioning action proper functioning of the belt retractor would no longer be assured. This is why it may be provided for that certain parts of the belt retractor are decoupled from the belt reel as soon as an excessively high rotational acceleration of the belt reel occurs; it being known, for example, to provide the control disk with a front face toothing which cooperates with an assigned gear toothing on the belt reel, the control disk being elastically loaded in the direction of the belt reel. In this way a slipping clutch is achieved by means of which the control disk can be decoupled from the belt reel as soon as a predetermined rotational acceleration of the latter occurs.


An instrument for analyzing a sample has an enclosure that forms a chamber containing an anode which divides the chamber into a discharge region and an analysis region. A gas inlet and outlet are provided to introduce and exhaust a rare gas into the discharge region. A cathode within the discharge region has a plurality of pins projecting in a geometric pattern toward the anode for exciting the gas and producing a plasma discharge between the cathode and the anode. Low energy electrons (e.g. <0.5 eV) pass into the analysis region through an aperture. The sample to be analyzed is placed into the analysis region and bombarded by the metastable rare gas atoms and the low energy electrons extracted into from the discharge region. A mass or optical spectrometer can be coupled to a port of the analysis region to analyze the resulting ions and light emission.

The present invention relates to instruments for analyzing a sample to determine its identity and constituents; and more particularly to such instruments which excite the sample in a glow discharge apparatus for subsequent analysis by a mass spectrometer or an optical spectrometer.
In many industrial and environmental situations, it is desirable to analyze a sample of a substance to determine the presence and relative concentrations of the constituent materials in the substance. A common apparatus for performing such analysis is a mass spectrometer which involves bombarding the sample in the gas phase with a beam of medium-energy electrons in a high vacuum. Typically an electron gun is utilized as a source of bombarding electrons. The mass of charged particles and fragments produced by that bombardment then is determined, as described by J. D. Roberts et al., Organic Chemistry methane to macromolecules, pp. 158-159, 1971, W. A. Benjamin, Inc.
Another type of spectrometry involves exciting the sample so that it emits light in the ultra violet, visible and/or infrared wavelengths. By analyzing the specific wavelengths emitted by the sample, a determination of the constituents can be made. Several techniques have been utilized for exciting materials including combustion and introduction into a glow discharge chamber where the sample in the gas phase is exposed to an electric discharge. Unfortunately, that excitation often destroyed the sample which in many instances is undesirable.
Present industrial and environmental issues often require analytical techniques with very high sensitivity and wide applicability. Detection of trace levels at or below part-per-million (ppm) levels are routinely required in many regulatory analysis. In certain cases, such as detection of PCB's, analytical techniques capable of distinguishing between harmful and harmless homologs are not available. Thus it is desirable to analyze constituents of a material based on negative ion formation via electron attachment to electronically excited molecules which has a very high efficiency and also is expected to occur in the vast majority of chemicals. In addition, information is desirable on the formation of positive ions and about emission characteristics of the given sample. An instrument which can provide all of this information would be particularly useful.

Plasma mixing glow discharge device for analytical applications

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation


A socket activation assembly is configured to close over a component and drive a gear during closure that activates a socket to engage the component.

Electronic connection sockets can be used to secure electronic packages or integrated circuit devices on a circuit board of a system such as a computer or electronic system. Often sockets are used to facilitate installation and replacement of components such as processors, memory integrated circuits, and other functional elements to various sizes and configurations of sockets. In a typical socket arrangement, for example a zero insertion force (ZIF) or low insertion force (LIF) implementation, a user installs a component into the socket using a tool to activate the socket after a module is placed on a circuit board, such as a motherboard. Usage of the tool can be cumbersome. Socket activation can be forgotten and, because an integrated circuit can make electrical contact without activation of the socket, a module may pass initial factory testing without socket activation. Upon arrival at a customer site, the non-activation of the socket can cause failure of the system to initialize when power is applied, generally incurring the annoyance and expense of warranty replacement.
Some tool-free component retention arrangements may be lever-based compression devices. Often such arrangements may include leaf springs that are relatively stiff and have a limited working range. Therefore tolerance variation in the component or mechanism can adversely affect the force applied to the component. In other arrangements, coil spring and/or screw methods may be used but may require the use of tools and multiple parts, resulting in a cumbersome re-assembly process, for example for replacement of a field replaceable unit.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.


In an electronic payment method, the payer transmits to an authentication agency details of a proposed payment including an identifier associated with the payer, an identifier associated with the payee, and the payment amount. The authentication agency creates an authentication code relating to the payment and transmits it to a communications device associated with the payer. The payer receives the authentication code on the payer's communications device and transmits it, together with a secret identification code, back to the authentication agency. The authentication agency verifies the authentication code and the secret identification code and authorizes payment. Thereafter, a customer agency pays the payment amount to the payee.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic payment methods. It relates particularly but not exclusively to methods of making a payment over the Internet, a method of making an electronic payment for the purchase of goods and/or services, a method of an account holder with a financial institution withdrawing cash from an automatic teller machine, a method of authenticating electronic payments and a system for authenticating electronic payments.
2. State of the Art
Presently, credit card payment transactions over the Internet operate under the same framework as mail orders or telephone orders (MOTO). In MOTO transactions, the credit card is not present. There is no way for the merchant to verify the legitimacy of the customer's card or identity before confirming the order. Under the MOTO framework, the merchant carries all the risk for fraudulent credit card use.
In a typical credit card transaction, in addition to the customer and merchant, the parties involved in a credit card transaction include:                (a) The merchant bank: the bank where the merchant account is located;        (b) The acquiring bank: a bank that specializes in managing credit card transactions for merchants. Usually the acquiring bank is the same as the merchant bank but this is not necessarily the case;        (c) The credit card network: the communications network that connects issuing and acquiring banks; built by the card associations such as AMEX®, MASTERCARD® and VISA®; and        (d) The issuing bank: the company that issues the credit card to the customer.
The basic payment transaction process works in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1:                (1) The customer sends his or her credit card number, name, billing address, and other details of the transaction to the merchant through the Internet.        (2) The merchant forwards the transaction details and card number to the acquiring bank.        (3) The acquiring bank sends the transaction data and the request through the card association network to the issuing bank.        (4) The issuing bank performs a variety of security checks, including available funds and card number validation.        (5) The issuing bank tells the credit card network whether or not the transaction is approved.        (6) The credit card network notifies the acquiring bank.        (7) The acquiring bank notifies the merchant and if approved, the merchant fulfills the order.        (8) At the end of day, the merchant sends a request to the acquiring bank to capture the funds.        (9) The acquiring bank forwards the request through the credit card network to the issuing bank.        (10) Transactions are settled when the issuing bank pays the acquiring bank and the acquiring bank transfers the funds into the merchant bank account (less the bank's fees for servicing the transaction).        (11) The credit card statement shows up in the customer's credit card statement with line-item details of the transaction, including the name of the merchant company as set up with the acquiring bank. The customer pays the issuing bank the balance due at a later time.
Presently, the credit card is the most favored form of payment for business-to-consumer purchases. However, this is a relatively insecure form of payment and can be repudiated by the consumer, as there are no means of authenticating the identity of the purchaser. Online credit card fraud is common; according to one estimate, online credit card fraud was USD 1 billion in 1999, and it is estimated that online fraud will grow by more than 50% each year.
An object of the present invention is to provide a payment method which is more secure than the current Internet credit card payment method.


A high-performance, distortion-free, audio push-pull amplifier has a class A driver stage that drives a class B push-pull output stage that is coupled to a load through a transformer that has a center tap primary with screen taps. The driver tube cathodes are coupled to the output tube grids. The driver tube plates are tied to the screen taps on the output transformer primary. These taps are also coupled to the output tube screen grids. At low power levels the driver stage drives the load through the output transformer. As power level rises the power stage supplies more and more of the output power. This circuit avoids notch or crossover distortion at low power levels.

This invention relates to high-performance, ultra-linear, i.e. distortion-free, audio amplifiers. The invention is particularly concerned with tube-type amplifiers in which the power stage includes a pair of vacuum tube amplifier devices connected in push-pull.
Vacuum tube audio amplifiers have remained attractive for high performance audio use, because of their extreme linearity and distortion-free characteristics. Class B amplifiers are employed for this because of their relatively high output power and efficiency. However, in push-pull operation, class B amplifiers do produce notch or crossover distortion when operated at low power levels.
Push-pull class B output stages draw grid current in operation. This grid current is supplied to it by a driver stage, which can be a triode device, operated in class A. This can be configured to drive a transformer having a low-resistance secondary coupled to the power or output tube grids. It is preferred to employ a push-pull driver stage formed of cathode-follower triodes. However, in any case the problem of crossover distortion remains.

Push-pull audio amplifier with crossover distortion compensation