A coin wrapping machine includes a discriminator for discriminating whether or not a coin is acceptable, a denomination of the coin when the coin is acceptable and whether or not the denomination of the coin coincides with that specified and counting coins of the specified denomination, a coin stacking device for stacking coins of the denomination to be wrapped, a reference stacked coin height data memory for storing reference stacked coin height data for each denomination of coins stacked by the coin stacking device, and a coin number discrepancy detecting device including a comparator for comparing a height of stacked coins and the reference stacked coin height data for each denomination stored in the reference stacked coin height data memory, the discriminator being made responsive to inclusion in coins of the specified denomination of new issue coins and past issue circulating coins for discriminating whether each coin is a new issue coin or a past issue circulating coin, determined based on a count made by the discriminator.

The present invention relates to a coin wrapping machine and, particularly, to such a machine which can accurately detect whether the number of coins to be wrapped is more than or less than a predetermined number even in the case where new issue coins and past issue circulating coins of the same denomination are wrapped together.
Coin wrapping machines are generally constituted so as to discriminate the genuineness and denominations of deposited coins, count the number of coins of the denomination to be wrapped, feed every predetermined number of coins to a coin stacking section, roll-like stack coins, further feed the roll-like stacked coins to a coin wrapping section, hold the stacked coins by three wrapping rollers, rotate the stacked coins held by the wrapping rollers while being supported by a support rod, wind a wrapping film around the stacked coins so that there remain crimping portions above and below the stacked coins, crimp the crimping portions of the wrapping film above and below the stacked coins by moving a pair of an upper crimp claw and a lower crimp claw disposed spaced apart vertically toward each other, and produce a wrapped coin roll.
Therefore, a predetermined number of stacked coins should always be fed from the coin stacking section to the coin wrapping section. However, the number of the stacked coin fed to the coin wrapping section may sometimes be less than the predetermined number, since some of the stacked coins may sometime drop out when the stacked coins are fed from the coin stacking section to the coin wrapping section, or the number of stacked coins fed to the coin wrapping section may sometimes be more than the predetermined number, since for some reason, some of the coins stacked in the coin stacking section remain in the coin stacking section without feeding to the coin wrapping section, so that the remaining coin or coins are fed to the coin wrapping section together with the coins stacked in the coin stacking section in the next coin wrapping operation cycle.
In such cases, the number of coins becomes more than or less than the predetermined number despite the fact that predetermined number of coins have to be wrapped. Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-64335 therefore discloses a coin wrapping machine constituted to calculate the height of the stacked coins based on the amounts of movement of the pair of upper and lower crimp claws when they are moved toward each other in order to crimp the upper and lower end portions of a wrapping film wound around the coins roll-like stacked and transferred to the coin wrapping section and to compare the calculated height with a reference height of stacked coins of the denomination concerned, thereby detecting whether the number of coins to be wrapped is more than or less than the predetermined number.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 10-24909 discloses a coin wrapping machine provided with a sensor for detecting coins stacked in the coin stacking section and transferred to the coin wrapping section and constituted to calculate the height of the stacked coins based on the time during which the stacked coins are detected by the sensor and the moving speed of the stacked coins and compare the calculated height with a reference height of stacked coins of the denomination concerned, thereby detecting whether the number of coins to be wrapped is more than or less than the predetermined number.
These coin wrapping machines assume that the height of a predetermined number of stacked coins is constant for each denomination and, so long as this assumption is true, can detect whether the number of coins to be wrapped is more than or less than the predetermined number in a desired manner by calculating the height of the stacked coins and comparing it with a reference height of stacked coins of the denomination.
On the other hand, recently, coins of the same denomination as that of past issue circulating coins but having different magnetic properties, surface pattern or the like from that of the past issue circulating coins have been newly issued for the purpose of preventing counterfeiting and the like of coins. In such a case, the diameter and thickness of the new issue coin are normally determined to be equal to those of the past issue circulating coin but the new issue coin often has a different surface pattern from that of the past issue circulating coin. As a result, when a predetermined number of the new issue coins are stacked, the height thereof is often different from the height of the predetermined number of the stacked past issue circulating coins and, therefore, it is impossible for a coin wrapping machine provided with a conventional coin number discrepancy detecting device to accurately detect whether the number of the stacked coins is more than or less than the predetermined number.
For instance, 500 yen coins have been newly issued in Japan in order to prevent coin counterfeiting. When fifty past issue circulating 500 yen coins are stacked, the height thereof is 92.9 mm, whereas when fifty new issue 500 yen coins are stacked, the height thereof is 91.8 mm. Therefore, they are slightly different and it is impossible for a coin wrapping machine provided with a conventional coin number discrepancy detecting device to accurately detect whether the number of the stacked coins is more than or less than the predetermined number.
In addition, although past issue coins are gradually collected and taken out of circulation, new issue coins and past issue circulating coins are used as genuine coins until all past issue circulating coins have been collected. Therefore, since coins to be wrapped include both new issue coins and past issue circulating coins, it is impossible to determine the height of a predetermined number of stacked new issue coins as a reference height of stacked coins and detect whether the number of the stacked coins is more than or less than the predetermined number.
It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a coin wrapping machine which can accurately detect whether the number of coins to be wrapped is more than or less than a predetermined number even in the case where new issue coins and past issue circulating coins of the same denomination are wrapped together.
The above and other objects of the present invention can be accomplished by a coin wrapping machine comprising a denomination specifying means for specifying a denomination of coins to be wrapped, a discriminating and counting means for discriminating whether or not a coin is acceptable, a denomination of the coin when the coin is acceptable and whether or not the denomination of the coin coincides with that specified by the denomination specifying means and counting coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means, a coin stacking means for stacking coins of the denomination to be wrapped, a reference stacked coin height data storing means for storing reference stacked coin height data for each denomination of coins stacked by the coin stacking means, and a coin number discrepancy detecting means including a comparing means for comparing a height of stacked coins and the reference stacked coin height data for each denomination stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means, the discriminating and counting means being made responsive to inclusion in coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means of new issue coins and past issue circulating coins for discriminating whether each coin is a new issue coin or a past issue circulating coin, and the coin number discrepancy detecting device being made responsive to inclusion in the coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means of new issue coins and past issue circulating coins for causing the comparing means thereof to select the reference stacked coin height to be compared with the height of coins stacked by the coin stacking means in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on a count made by the discriminating and counting means.
According to the present invention, in the case where coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means include new issue coins and past issue circulating coins, since the reference stacked coin height to be compared with the height of coins stacked by the coin stacking means is selected by the comparing means of the coin number discrepancy detecting device in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on a count made by the discriminating and counting means, even when the height of a predetermined number of stacked new issue coins is different from the height of the same number of stacked past issue circulating coins, it is possible to reliably wrap the new issue coins and the past issue circulated old coins so as to include the predetermined number of coins.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the coin wrapping machine further includes a reference stacked coin height data producing means for producing the reference stacked coin height data in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means.
According to this preferred aspect of the present invention, since the coin wrapping machine further includes a reference stacked coin height data producing means for producing the reference stacked coin height data in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins, it is possible to accurately produce the reference stacked coin height data to be compared and accurately detect whether the number of coins is more than or less than a predetermined number by comparing them with the height of the coins stacked by the coin stacking means.
In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the reference stacked coin height data storing means is constituted to store reference stacked coin height data of stacked coins formed by stacking (Nxe2x88x92i) new issue coins and i past issue circulating old coins for each case of i=0 to N and the coin wrapping machine further includes a reference stacked coin height data selecting means for selecting, when coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means include new issue coins and past issue circulating coins, reference stacked coin height data from among the reference stacked coin height data stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means and outputting the thus selected reference stacked coin height data to the comparing means.
According to this preferred aspect of the present invention, since the reference stacked coin height data storing means stores reference stacked coin height data of stacked coins formed by stacking (Nxe2x88x92i) new issue coins and i past issue circulating old coins for each case of i=0 to N and the coin wrapping machine further includes a reference stacked coin height data selecting means for, when coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means include new issue coins and past issue circulating coins, selecting reference stacked coin height data from among the reference stacked coin height data stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, and outputting the thus selected reference stacked coin height data to the comparing means, it is possible to accurately select the corresponding reference stacked coin height data, compare them with the height of the coins stacked by the coin stacking means and accurately detect whether the number of coins is more than or less than a predetermined number.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins and to be stacked by the coin stacking means are classified into a plurality of groups of a number less than the number of coins to be wrapped in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins, the reference stacked coin height data storing means is constituted to store reference stacked coin height data for each of the plurality of groups, and the reference stacked coin height data selecting means is constituted to classify the coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins and to be stacked by the coin stacking means into a plurality of groups of a number less than the number of coins to be wrapped in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, select the reference stacked coin height data corresponding to each classified group and stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means and output them to the comparing means.
According to this preferred aspect of the present invention, since coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins and to be stacked by the coin stacking means are classified into a plurality of groups of a number less than the number of coins to be wrapped in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins, the reference stacked coin height data storing means is constituted to store reference stacked coin height data for each of the plurality of groups, and the reference stacked coin height data selecting means is constituted to classify the coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins and to be stacked by the coin stacking means into a plurality of groups of a number less than the number of coins to be wrapped in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, select the reference stacked coin height data corresponding to each classified group and stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means and output them to the comparing means, even when the height of a predetermined number of stacked new issue coins is different from the height of the same number of stacked past issue circulating coins, it is possible to reliably wrap the new issue coins and the past issue circulated old coins so as to include the predetermined number of coins without need for great memory capacity and in a short calculating time.
In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the coin wrapping machine further includes a reference stacked coin height data correcting means for correcting, when coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means include new issue coins and past issue circulating coins, the reference stacked coin height data stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, and outputting the thus corrected reference stacked coin height data to the comparing means.
According to this preferred aspect of the present invention, since the reference stacked coin height data stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means are corrected by the reference stacked coin height data correcting means in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, and the thus corrected reference stacked coin height data are output to the comparing means, even when the height of a predetermined number of stacked new issue coins is different from the height of the same number of stacked past issue circulating coins, it is possible to reliably wrap the new issue coins and the past issue circulated old coins so as to include the predetermined number of coins without need for great memory capacity.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the reference stacked coin height data correcting means is constituted to classify coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins and stacked by the coin stacking means into a plurality of groups of a number less than the number of coins to be wrapped in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, correct the reference stacked coin height data stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with a correction value assigned to each of the groups, and output the thus corrected reference stacked coin height data to the comparing means.
According to this preferred aspect of the present invention, since the reference stacked coin height data correcting means is constituted to classify coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins and stacked by the coin stacking means into a plurality of groups of a number less than the number of coins to be wrapped in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, correct the reference stacked coin height data stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with a correction value assigned to each of the groups, and output the thus corrected reference stacked coin height data to the comparing means, even when the height of a predetermined number of stacked new issue coins is different from the height of the same number of stacked past issue circulating coins, it is possible to reliably wrap the new issue coins and the past issue circulated old coins so as to include the predetermined number of coins without need for great memory capacity and in a a short calculating time.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the reference stacked coin height data storing means is constituted to store stacked coin height data produced by stacking the wrapped number of the past issue circulating coins as reference stacked coin height data of coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins.
In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the reference stacked coin height data storing means is constituted to store stacked coin height data produced by stacking the wrapped number of the new issue coins as reference stacked coin height data of coins of denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins.
In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the reference stacked coin height data storing means is constituted to store an average value of stacked coin height data produced by stacking the wrapped number of the new issue coins and stacked coin height data produced by stacking the wrapped number of the past issue circulating coins as reference stacked coin height data of coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins.
The above and other objects of the present invention can be also accomplished by a coin wrapping machine comprising a denomination specifying means for specifying a denomination of coins to be wrapped, a discriminating and counting means for discriminating whether or not a coin is acceptable, a denomination of the coin when the coin is acceptable and whether or not the denomination of the coin coincides with that specified by the denomination specifying means and counting coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means, a coin stacking means for stacking coins of the denomination to be wrapped, a reference stacked coin height data storing means for storing reference stacked coin height data for each denomination of coins stacked by the coin stacking means, a detected stacked coin height data storing means for storing a height of coins stacked by the coin stacking means, a detected stacked coin height data correcting means for correcting the detected stacked coin height data stored in the detected stacked coin height data storing means, and a coin number discrepancy detecting device including a comparing means for comparing the height of coins stacked by the coin stacking means and stored in the detected stacked coin height data storing means and the reference stacked coin height data for each denomination stored in the reference stacked coin height data storing means, the discriminating and counting means being made responsive to inclusion in coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means of new issue coins and past issue circulating coins for discriminating whether the coin is a new issue coin or a past issue circulating coin and the detected stacked coin height data correcting means being made responsive to inclusion in the coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means for correcting the detected stacked coin height data stored in the detected stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on a count made by the discriminating and counting means, and outputting the thus corrected detected stacked coin height data to the comparing means.
According to the present invention, in the case where coins of the denomination specified by the denomination specifying means include new issue coins and past issue circulating coins, since the detected stacked coin height data correcting means is constituted to correct the detected stacked coin height data stored in the detected stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, and output the thus corrected detected stacked coin height data to the comparing means, even when the height of a predetermined number of stacked new issue coins is different from the height of the same number of stacked past issue circulating coins, it is possible to reliably wrap the new issue coins and the past issue circulated old coins so as to include the predetermined number of coins.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the detected stacked coin height data correcting means is constituted to classify the coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins and stacked by the coin stacking means into a plurality of groups of a number less than the number of coins to be wrapped in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, correct the detected stacked coin height data stored in the detected stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with a correction value assigned to each of the groups, and output the thus corrected reference stacked coin height data to the comparing means.
According to this preferred aspect of the present invention, since the detected stacked coin height data correcting means is constituted to classify the coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins and stacked by the coin stacking means into a plurality of groups of a number less than the number of coins to be wrapped in accordance with the number of the new issue coins and the number of the past issue circulating coins determined based on the count made by the discriminating and counting means, correct the detected stacked coin height data stored in the detected stacked coin height data storing means in accordance with a correction value assigned to each of the groups, and output the thus corrected reference stacked coin height data to the comparing means, even when the height of a predetermined number of stacked new issue coins is different from the height of the same number of stacked past issue circulating coins, it is possible to reliably wrap the new issue coins and the past issue circulated old coins so as to include the predetermined number of coins without need for great memory capacity and in a short calculating time.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the detected stacked coin height data correcting means is constituted to store stacked coin height data produced by stacking the wrapped number of the past issue circulating coins as reference stacked coin height data of coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the detected stacked coin height data correcting means is constituted to store stacked coin height data produced by stacking the wrapped number of the new issue coins as reference stacked coin height data of coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the detected stacked coin height data correcting means is constituted to store an average value of stacked coin height data produced by stacking the wrapped number of the new issue coins and stacked coin height data produced by stacking the wrapped number of the past issue circulating coins as reference stacked coin height data of coins of a denomination including the new issue coins and the past issue circulating coins.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.


A seal assembly between a rotor and a stator is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seal assembly includes: a rotor; a stator positioned around the rotor; and a plurality of seal leaves positioned between the rotor and the stator, the plurality of seal leaves circumferentially stacked around the rotor to define a seal ring between the rotor and the stator, wherein gaps between adjacent seal leaves are partially filled, such that contact faces and residual gaps are between adjacent seal leaves, wherein the contact faces generate friction to dampen vibrations during operation. Such damping effects still allow the compliant motion of the seal leaves with minimal leaf vibration. Also, thicker and more resilient leaves may be applied with reduced leakage through the root gaps.

Dynamic sealing between a rotating shaft (i.e., a rotor) and a stator is an important concern in turbomachinery, such as steam turbines and other turbines. There are several different types of seals to reduce leakage and increase efficiency of the turbomachine, such as J seals, brush seals, and leaf/plate seals. J seals are radial rings which reduce the leakage channel between the rotor and stator. Brush seals and plate/leaf seals produce minimal leakage. Compliant plate/leaf seals fill the space between the rotor and the stator, and under fluid pressure, the leaf tips move compliantly to seal the rotor surface closely without direct contact. The compliant tip movement ensures minimum leakage and is resilient to high axial pressure. However, as seen in FIG. 1, in a conventional seal assembly, the diameter of a rotor 10 is smaller than the diameter of a stator 12. Therefore, when seal leaves 14 include a constant thickness, a root gap 16 exists.
Under high pressure, a small flow from the root gaps 16 allow for compliant motion to ensure proper sealing. However, the root gap 16 reduces the solidity of each seal leaf 14 and permits significant vibrations, which can lead to damaged seal leaves 14. If the seal leafs 14 were thicker, the seal leaves 14 would be more resilient, but a larger root gap 16 would be present and allow for more vibration effects and fluid leakage.

Seal assembly including partially filled gaps


A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes first and second transmission units to perform first and second transmission processing, where, in the first transmission processing, while one of the units performs data transmission processing, the other unit inputs processing data for N processing regions more than pre-set, data-converted, n processing regions, and while one of the units performs data input processing, the other transmits processing data for (N-n) processing regions in order, and in the second transmission processing, processing data for remaining n processing regions are transmitted in order after the first transmission processing, where one of the units starts inputting the processing data while the other performs the first transmission processing, and does not input processing data for a new processing region after starting the second transmission processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charged particle beam writing apparatus and a charged particle beam writing method.
More specifically, for example, the present invention relates to a writing apparatus and method that performs, in real time, transmission processing of writing data in accordance with advance of writing processing.
2. Description of Related Art
The lithography technique that advances miniaturization of semiconductor devices is extremely important as being a unique process whereby patterns are formed in semiconductor manufacturing. In recent years, with high integration of LSI, the line width (critical dimension) required for semiconductor device circuits is decreasing year by year. For forming a desired circuit pattern on such semiconductor devices, a master or "original" pattern (also called a mask or a reticle) of high accuracy is needed. Thus, the electron beam (EB) writing technique, which intrinsically has excellent resolution, is used for producing such a high-precision master pattern.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram explaining operations of a variable shaping type electron beam writing or "drawing" apparatus. The variable shaping type electron beam writing apparatus operates as described below. A first aperture plate 410 has a quadrangular aperture 411 for shaping an electron beam 330. A second aperture plate 420 has a variable shape aperture 421 for shaping the electron beam 330 having passed through the aperture 411 of the first aperture plate 410 into a desired quadrangular shape. The electron beam 330 emitted from a charged particle source 430 and having passed through the aperture 411 is deflected by a deflector to pass through a part of the variable shape aperture 421 of the second aperture plate 420, and thereby to irradiate a target object or "sample" 340 placed on a stage which continuously moves in one predetermined direction (e.g., the X direction) during the writing. In other words, a quadrangular shape that can pass through both the aperture 411 and the variable shape aperture 421 is used for pattern writing in a writing region of the target object 340 on the stage continuously moving in the X direction. This method of forming a given shape by letting beams pass through both the aperture 411 of the first aperture plate 410 and the variable shape aperture 421 of the second aperture plate 420 is referred to as a variable shaped beam (VSB) system.
In an electron beam writing apparatus, it is conventionally performed that writing data input from outside the apparatus is divided per predetermined calculation region so as to be allocated to a plurality of computers, and data conversion processing is performed in parallel in a plurality of computers in order to reduce a processing time for data conversion (refer to, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (JP-A) No. 2008-218767). Then, data for which data conversion processing has been performed in parallel is once input into a transmission processing device, rearranged in order of writing, and transmitted to a deflection control circuit. Based on such data, the amount of beam deflection is determined so as to irradiate a target object with a deflected beam.

Charged particle beam writing apparatus and charged particle beam writing method


In a communication system having a function or performance feature to be protected, the periodic transmission of encoded interrogation information is initiated by a security routine to ensure that the function or performance feature is protected. The protected function is activated and further-executed only if reply information which is also encoded is received from a connected crypto-unit in a predetermined time span after a transmission of the interrogation information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to the field of telecommunication systems and, more particularly, the present invention is directed to a method for activating protected functions in a communication system which has peripheral equipment connected to the communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Peripheral equipment, such as, for example servers, are connected to communication systems to provide for easy switching of calls for connected communication terminal equipment incoming at the communication systems of a communication network and for the activation of performance features.
For example, an ACL interface (application connectivity link) present in both equipment locations controls the communication exchange between the communication system and the peripheral equipment. In the communication system, a central controller comprises a program structure which reports switching-oriented events of incoming calls to the peripheral equipment with event messages. The peripheral equipment executes switching-oriented and administration and maintenance oriented instructions communicated via the ACL interface. The switching-oriented and administration and maintenance oriented instructions initialize and control the functions and performance features in the communication system.
These communication systems include functional capabilities and performance features which clearly should be activated and executed only by authorized persons. For example, these features include overriding communication connections that already exist or logging, i.e. recording information communicated via a particular communication connection. The activation and control of these functions thereby proceeds with the peripheral equipment via the ACL interface.

Method for activating and executing protected functions in a communication system


A flow channel member includes: an ink flow channel having a horizontal flow channel; a self-sealing valve disposed on the downstream side of the ink flow channel and configured to open and close the ink flow channel; a pressurizing unit configured to apply a pressurizing force to the ink in the ink flow channel from the upstream side; and an air bubble trap provided in the middle of the horizontal flow channel for storing an air bubble, wherein the air bubble trap includes an air-bubble permeable wall formed of an air-bubble permeable member configured to allow permeation of the air bubble and is configured to cause the air bubble coming into abutment with the air-bubble permeable wall to be a flat shape and to be pressed against the air-bubble permeable wall so as to bring the air bubble into surface contact with the air-bubble permeable wall.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a flow channel member, a liquid ejecting head, and a liquid ejecting apparatus and, more specifically, to a flow channel member provided with a flow channel in the interior thereof, a liquid ejecting head, and a liquid ejecting apparatus.
2. Related Art
As a representative example of a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid droplets, an ink jet recording head configured to eject ink droplets is exemplified. For example, an ink jet recording head including head bodies (head bodies each including a head case, a flow channel unit, and an oscillator unit) configured to eject ink droplets from nozzle openings, and a common flow channel member configured to supply ink from ink cartridges as ink supply sources fixed to the head bodies and including ink stored therein to the respective head bodies is proposed.
According to the ink jet recording head configured as described above, ink in the ink cartridge is supplied to the head body via an ink flow channel of the flow channel member. The flow channel member includes an air bubble trap configured to store air bubbles contained in ink and a filter provided on the downstream side of the air bubble trap, and a problem of clogging of the filter with the air bubbles, which may reduce the effective area of the filter, is restrained by trapping the air bubbles by the air trap.
However, since the air bubbles in the ink flow channel are gradually grown and are increased in size, the air bubbles which are excessively grown need to be regularly removed.
Accordingly, in the ink jet recording head of this type, a cleaning operation which generates an ink flow having a velocity several times higher than the velocity at the time of a printing operation is regularly performed to discharge air bubbles in the ink flow channel. In contrast, as a configuration which is capable of discharging air bubbles mixed into ink by a method other than the cleaning operation, there is proposed a configuration including a gas-permeable film provided on a side surface of a common liquid chamber which communicates with a pressure chamber of a head body, and a chamber provided on the side of the gas-permeable film opposite from the side which comes into contact with ink, in which generation of air bubbles in the pressure chamber is restrained by generating a negative pressure in the chamber to deaerate the ink in the common liquid chamber (JP-A-2006-95878).
However, with the configuration described in JP-A-2006-95878, since the deaeration is not achieved by allowing permeation of the air bubbles in the common liquid chamber through the gas-permeable film unless a large pressure difference is set between the interior of the common liquid chamber and the chamber, a large scale of a depressurizing unit is required for obtaining a sufficient deaeration capability. In addition, if the pressure difference is too large, the ink loses moisture mixed and hence the viscosity of the ink in the ink flow channel is increased. Therefore, control of the pressure in the chamber while monitoring by using a pressure gauge or the like is required. There is also a problem that the gas-permeable film formed of a fluorinated thin film or a silicon-based thin film is reduced in transmissivity if the ink bleeds. Furthermore, when the deaeration is not achieved sufficiently in the common liquid chamber and if the air bubbles is mixed in the ink flow channel inadvertently due to loading or unloading of the ink cartridge, and the air bubbles may enter the adjacent pressure chamber before being blended in the ink, which may cause a problem.
Such problems exist not only in the ink jet recording head, but also in the liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid other than ink, and also in the flow channel member used for other applications other than the liquid ejecting head.

Flow channel member, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus


A waveguide type semiconductor photodetecting device has a semiconductor substrate, a photodetecting element, and a waveguide optically coupled with the photodetecting element which can avoid occurrence of light loss in the tapered waveguide even when a width of a light inciding side of the tapered waveguide is widened. The waveguide has a waveguide layer gradually narrowing a width and gradually increasing a layer thickness and a refraction index from light incident side to the photodetecting element. The waveguide is integrated with the photodetecting element on the semiconductor substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waveguide type semiconductor photodetecting device, in which an optical waveguide and a semiconductor photodetector optically coupled with the optical waveguide are integrated on a semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor photodetecting device employing a compound semiconductor has been widely employed as an element for optical communication, since such semiconductor photodetecting device facilitates obtaining of an element having a wavelength of 1.3 .mu.m to 1.5 .mu.m which is a low loss region of an optical fiber. As one example of the photodetecting element for optical communication can be InGaAs p-i-n photodiode, for which demands for speeding of response characteristics and enhancement of reception sensitivity have been present.
In order to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency required for enhancement of the reception sensitivity, when a light incides perpendicularly to a light absorption layer, higher efficiency can be obtained by providing thicker InGaAs light absorption layer. However, when the InGaAs light absorption layer becomes excessively thick, degradation of response speed can be caused due to limitation of traveling period of carrier. Thus, thickness of the InGaAs light absorption layer should be limited. In order to solve such trade off, attention has been paid for a waveguide type photodetecting device, in which the waveguide and the photodetecting device are integrated, as element structure. In this photodetecting device, high speed and high sensitivity element characteristics can be obtained by inciding an incident light in a direction parallel to the light absorption layer.
On the other hand, the p-i-n photodiode with the waveguide encounters a problem in low coupling tolerance with a fiber input. Namely, the p-i-n photodiode with the waveguide having an approximately 50 GHz band has inciding end face of 5 .mu.m of waveguide width and 0.5 .mu.m of light absorption layer thickness, which is significantly smaller than the typical surface incident type p-i-n photodiode. Then, slight offset of the inciding end face from focal position of the incident light should cause significant fluctuation of sensitivity.
In the p-i-n photodiode with the waveguide having a band in excess of 50 GHz, it becomes necessary to narrow the waveguide width to be less than or equal to 2 .mu.m for lowering element capacity. In such case, sensitivity should be lowered for lowering of the coupling efficiency per se even when no offset is present between the end face and the focal position.
As prior art solving the problem in lowering of coupling tolerance and coupling efficiency in the p-i-n photodiode with the waveguide, a waveguide formed into tapered shape (hereinafter referred to as "tapered waveguide") is integrated at the incident side of the element to converting the spot size of the incident light to introduce into the element. One example of the conventional integration circuit "IEICE TRANS. ELECTRON., VOL. E-76-C, No. 2, p. 214, 1993) is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a section view of the prior art. In this prior art, on a semi-insulative InP substrate 21, an InP buffer layer 22, a p.sup.+ -InGaAsP contact layer 23, an n.sup.- -InGaAs light absorption layer 24 are provided. With partly overlapping with a stack of the foregoing layers, a tapered waveguide consisted of an n.sup.+ -InP clad layer 25, an n.sup.+ -InGaAsP core layer 26 and an n.sup.+ -InP clad layer 27 is provided. Furthermore, a p-side electrode 28 is provided on the p.sup.+ -InGaAs contact layer 23, and n-side electrode 29 is provided on the n.sup.+ -InP clad layer 27. Then, a width of the tapered waveguide is set to be 1 to 2 .mu.m matching with the p-i-n photodiode at the p-i-n photodiode side and is gradually widened to be 4 .mu.m at the inciding end face for improving coupling efficiency of the incident light.
In the conventional tapered waveguide such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the width of the waveguide at the inciding end face side is widened beyond a certain extent, higher-order mode may newly appear as the waveguiding mode in horizontal direction. On the other hand, since the width of the waveguide is narrowed at the p-i-n photodiode side to cut off such higher-order mode. Thus, all of the higher-order mode light excited at the inciding end face is reflected at the midway in propagation through the tapered waveguide to be a loss (see FIGS. 9A-9D). Accordingly, the width of the waveguide at the inciding end face can be widened only within a range where the problem set forth above will not be caused. Therefore, it is not always possible to obtain sufficient coupling tolerance even in the solution as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
On the other hand, in the shown prior art, the core layer of the tapered waveguide and the core layer (light absorption layer) of the p-i-n photodiode are respectively formed by at least twice of crystal growth, and an etching step for the crystal layer is present between the crystal growth steps, it is difficult to realize high coupling efficiency between the tapered waveguide and the p-i-n photodiode at high yield.

Waveguide type semiconductor photodetecting device method for fabricating


An array-type battery power management apparatus includes at least two battery power management apparatuses. Each battery power management apparatus has a bus unit and at least one battery power integration unit. The battery power integration unit has a battery module and a charging-discharging module. The battery module has a first positive conductive terminal and a first negative conductive terminal. The charging-discharging module has a second positive conductive terminal and a second negative conductive terminal. The second positive conductive terminal is directly connected to the first positive conductive terminal and the second negative conductive terminal is directly connected to the first negative conductive terminal, thus directly electrically connecting to the battery module and the charging-discharging module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a battery power management apparatus and a battery module and a charging-discharging module thereof, and more particularly to an array-type battery power management apparatus and a battery power integration unit thereof.
2. Description of Prior Art
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS), as the name indicates, is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically mains power, fails. Because the UPS is more complicated and more expensive than other emergency power apparatuses, the UPS is usually provided to protect important equipment, such as computer equipment, monitor instruments, fire equipment, medical instruments, and so on, thus achieving strict power requirements for the above-mentioned equipment and instruments.
Reference is made to FIG. 1 which is a schematic block diagram of providing charging and discharging operations of a prior art of battery power management apparatus. The battery power management apparatus 10A acts as a role of an uninterrupted power-supplying apparatus. When an external AC voltage source Vac normally supplies power, the external AC voltage source Vac is converted into an external DC voltage source Vdc by a power conversion unit 20A. In the operation condition, the external DC voltage source Vdc is provided to supply a load unit 30A. Also, the external DC voltage source Vdc can charge the battery power management apparatus 10A to store electric energy via a charging path Pc. On the other hand, the battery power management apparatus 10A supplies the load unit 30A via a discharging path Pd when the external AC voltage source Vac cannot supply power normally. Accordingly, the load unit 30A can be normally supplied whether the external AC voltage source Vac is normal or abnormal.
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery power management apparatus 10A has a plurality of battery modules 105A_N and a plurality of charging-discharging modules 106A_N. Each battery module 105A_N is electrically connected to the corresponding charging-discharging module 106A_N. Afterward, the connected battery modules 105A_N and the corresponding charging-discharging modules 106A_N are electrically in parallel via a bus unit 107A. That is, a first battery module 105A_1 is electrically connected to a first charging-discharging module 106A_1, a second battery module 105A_2 is electrically connected to a second charging-discharging module 106A_2, and so on. Finally, the charging-discharging modules 106A_N are electrically connected to the bus unit 107A to provide charging and discharging operations of the battery power management apparatus 10A.
Note that, the battery modules 105A_N and the charging-discharging modules 106A_N can be separately operated before electrically connecting to each other. Hence, the integrated battery modules and charging-discharging modules can provide charging and discharging operations when the battery modules 105A_N are electrically connected to the corresponding charging-discharging modules 106A_N. In particular, the battery modules 105A_N and the charging-discharging modules 106A_N are electrically connected to each other via electric wires or copper buses. Furthermore, the prior art battery power management apparatus 10A usually has only one set of battery module and charging-discharging module. Also, the battery power management apparatus 10A cannot be operated once the battery module or the charging-discharging module is in fault. Hence, in order to replace or repair the abnormal battery module or charging-discharging module, the whole system has to be in shutdown. Furthermore, the battery power management apparatus 10A probably cannot provide sufficient output power to the load unit 30A once the battery module or the charging-discharging module is in fault so that the whole system is abnormally operated.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an array-type battery power management apparatus and battery power integration units thereof to save wire material costs, simplify wire process, provide flexible electric energy control, and provide redundant power, thus maintaining the normal power supply when any one of the battery power management apparatuses is in fault.

Array-type battery power management apparatus and battery power integration units thereof


A display module and an assembly method thereof are provided. The display module includes a display region, at least one connection terminal, and a plurality of connective lines. The display region, the connection terminal, and the connective lines are disposed on a same flexible substrate. A plurality of pixels is arranged within the display region. The connection terminal is arranged at an extension portion of a non-display region of the flexible substrate. The connective lines respectively connect the pixels in the display region to the connection terminal at the extension portion. The connection terminal is connected to an external circuit for receiving signals and transmitting the same to the display region.

Many flexible electronic products, such as E-paper and flexible display, have been developed along with the increasing demand for small-sized and light-weighted electronic products. The flexibility of such electronic products allows them to be applied to many more different fields.
In existing display techniques, a display panel and external printed circuit board (PCB) are usually connected through the tape automated bonding (TAB), the chip on glass (COG), or the chip on film (COF) technique by thermal bonding with anisotropic conductive film (ACF). FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a display panel and two external PCB connected through the TAB technique or the COF technique. Referring to FIG. 1, a display region 110 and a non-display region 120 are arranged on the display panel 100. The display panel 100 is connected to an external PCB 140 through a COF unit 130 so that a circuit 150 (for example, a data line or scan line circuit for providing pixel signals) on the display panel 100 can be electrically connected to the external PCB 140 through the COF 130.
In another display technique, a display panel with driver ICs is provided, wherein the driver ICs may be built in the panel through a system on panel (SOP) technique, or a driver IC chip may be bonded to the panel through a chip on panel (COP) technique. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a display panel and an external PCB connected through the COP technique. Referring to FIG. 2, a display region 210 and a non-display region 220 are arranged on the display panel 200. The display panel 200 is connected to an external PCB 240 through a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 230. At least one driver IC 260 is disposed in the non-display region 220 of the display panel 200 through the COP technique, and a plurality of connective lines 250 for supplying signals or power is connected to the external PCB 240 through the FPC 230.
The structures described above, ether in COF or FPC example, both have a similar feature in which an additional flexible substrate other than that of the display panel is adopted and bonded onto the display panel in order to transmit electrical signals from external PCB to the display panel. Accordingly, the fabricating process is complicated and time-consuming, and the display panel is difficult to be replaced once it is bonded.

Display module and assembly method thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A manufacturing method of a PDP includes: a partition forming step to form a first partition (124) and a second partition (125) substantially perpendicular to the first partition (124) on an address-electrode dielectric layer (122) of a rear substrate (120); a base layer forming step to form a base layer after the partition forming step by moving a base-forming-agent applying nozzle (200) along a second groove formed between the second partitions (125) and applying a base forming agent (201) thereto; and a phosphor layer forming step to form a phosphor layer after the base layer forming step by moving a phosphor applying nozzle along a first groove formed between the first partitions (124) and applying a phosphor paste thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display panel and a manufacturing method of the display panel.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a plasma display panel (PDP) has been configured by: disposing a pair of planar substrates to face each other with a discharge space interposed therebetween; partitioning the discharge space into a plurality of discharge cells by providing a curb-shaped or striped partition on an inner surface of one of substrates; and providing the partitioned portions with phosphor layers exemplarily of red, blue and green. The PDP displays images by selectively discharging inside the discharge cells for light emitting. As a method for forming the phosphor layer in the PDP, there has been know an ink-jet method, with which a phosphor material is injected to between the partitions using, for example, a nozzle (e.g. see Document: JP-A-2002-75216).
According to a manufacturing method of a plasma display panel (PDP) disclosed in Document, an address electrode is formed on a rear panel substrate, partitions are formed on the address electrode with a pitch of a predetermined value, and a phosphor layer is formed between the partitions. The phosphor layer according to the manufacturing method of the PDP is formed using an ink ejecting device that ejects phosphor ink. A plurality of nozzle bodies of the ink ejecting device, each of which includes a nozzle and a header, are fixed to a fixing table. A supply pipe for supplying the phosphor ink from a pressurizing supply unit is connected to the header while a nozzle-flow-rate controlling valve provided to the nozzle controls a flow rate of the phosphor ink ejected from the nozzle. In the manufacturing method of the PDP, the ejecting amount of the nozzle is measured before the phosphor ink is applied, and the flow rate of the nozzle is variably controlled per one scanning, thereby preventing a column variation.
However, according to the method in which the nozzle ejects the phosphor ink for forming the phosphor layer, an error in an opening dimension of the nozzle may cause a difference in the ejecting amount of the phosphor ink, which can lead to a difference in a thickness of the phosphor layer. When there is an error in the opening dimension of the nozzle, a difference as much as the fourth power of the error value of the nozzle opening is caused in the thickness of the phosphor layer.
Although such a conventional manufacturing method of a PDP as disclosed in the above Document may be used for solving such problems, the conventional manufacturing method of the above Document requires a detector for detecting the ejecting amount of the nozzle and a complex control program for controlling the flow rate of the nozzle by a controller, which leads to a complication of a configuration.
Another possible arrangement is to thin the phosphor layer so as to reduce variations of the thickness, thereby suppressing a column variation. However, since the thickness of the phosphor layer is generally specified by a panel standard for a display panel, a realization of the arrangement may be difficult.
Another possible arrangement is to provide a base layer by printing between the phosphor layer and the substrate and to form the phosphor layer on the base layer, thereby reducing the thickness dimension of the phosphor layer. However, when the base layer is printed, a variation can be caused in a thickness dispersion, which can lead to a luminance variation.

Manufacturing method of a plasma display panel having a base layer along a first direction and a phosphor layer along a second direction that intersects the first direction


This lightning arrester includes (i) a tubular housing comprising a plurality of tubular sections disposed in telescoping aligned relationship to define an internal chamber and (ii) a stack of arrester elements located within this chamber. Locking means between adjacent telescoping sections holds the sections together in aligned relationship.. Each locking means between adjacent sections comprises radially-projecting lugs on a telescoping portion of one of the sections and generally L-shaped slots in a telescoping portion of the other of the sections. The lugs fit into the slots and are displaced into locking portions of the slots by twisting motion of one of the adjacent sections relative to the other.. In one embodiment, the housing sections are molded components of polymeric material and the lugs are also of polymeric material and are integral portions of the tubular housing on which the lugs are located.

For different voltage ratings, arresters of this type employ stacks of ceramic discs having stack-lengths that are varied as a direct function of the rated voltage. Typically, this requires that housings of many different lengths be carried in the manufacturer's inventory in order to accommodate the different stack lengths. Substantial cost savings can be achieved if the number of different types of parts required for the housings of the many differently-rated arresters can be reduced.
One way of reducing the number of such parts is to fabricate the housings from pre-formed tubing that can be cut to the desired length and then suitably machined to accommodate end caps, supports, and any other supplemental components required. This approach is unduly labor-intensive and time-consuming, and our invention therefore seeks to avoid it.
Another concern of our invention is that if an arrester should fail during operation, relatively high pressures may be developed within the housing that could cause the housing to rupture. Should such a rupture occur, it is undesirable that live parts of the arrester be expelled from the arrester interior since this could make it more difficult to interrupt the circuit in which the arrester is connected and could cause additional damage to the involved apparatus. It is also undesirable that the ceramic discs be expelled from the housing in the event of a housing rupture.

Lightning arrester for under-oil applications


A method and device for media searching based on touchless finger signs (312) and gestures (313) is provided. The device (100) can include a controller element (110) that receives a search string from a touchless sensing device and presents at least one media (412) that corresponds to at least a portion of the search string. The media can include audio, image, video, and text selections (326). The search string can include at least one alpha-numeric character generated in a touchless sensory field of the touchless sensing device.

As information becomes more readily available over the Internet and through interconnected devices, people have more information from which to choose. As an example, peer networks are rapidly being deployed that allow mobile device users to share enormous amounts of information. Moreover, users are able to download vast quantities of data on mobile portable devices and home computers. Users generally search the information for specific data that may be of interest to them. A mobile device or computer generally provides a user interface which can display the information. Mobile devices and computer systems generally include a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, or stick for controlling the user interface. However, the user interface is generally small, and with the large increase in displayed information, it can be difficult to search for specific content. Moreover, as mobile devices become even smaller and more information is presented to the mobile device, it becomes more difficult to navigate and search the user interface for data.
A need therefore exists for a user interface and method of user interface searching that enhances information searching productivity.

Method and device for touchless media searching


A method for simulating the effect of trapped charge in an electrostatic chuck on the chuck performance comprises creating a trapped-charge electrical model having a trapped-charge capacitor and a gap-trapped resistor, and coupling the model to a plurality of voltage sources. The trapped-charge capacitor and the gap-trapped resistor may be varied in relation to a plurality of electrostatic chuck physical parameters.

Electrostatic chucks are increasingly employed in semiconductor processing equipment as a means for holding a substrate, such as a silicon wafer, in position while undergoing a fabrication process. Skilled artisans will appreciate that electrostatic chucks have a variety of benefits such as an ability to hold a substrate securely in a vacuum chamber where conventional vacuum chucks are inappropriate. An electrostatic chuck can retain a wafer without a need for mechanical retention devices like clips, which can interfere with process conditions, damage the wafer surface, or exclude a portion of the wafer surface from receiving a desired process treatment.
Electrostatic chucks operate by inducing opposing charges on the substrate and the chuck resulting in an electrostatic attraction between the chuck and the substrate. The degree of attraction is dependent on an amount of charge induced as well as a rate at which the charge dissipates due to conductive effects. Voltage biasing is employed to induce and control the electrostatic force and may be applied for only a portion of a processing cycle, e.g., just after a substrate is transferred to the chuck. Alternately, voltage biasing may be applied continuously throughout a processing cycle. For example, using the conduction properties of a plasma can provide a means of electrical connection to one terminal of a substrate and wafer system.
The design and simulation of an electrostatic chuck requires an estimation of several parameters. In particular, the amount of charge which is accumulated between the substrate and the chuck is an important parameter. This charge, known as gap charge, is retained in regions where the substrate and the chuck are not in physical contact. Another important parameter is the electrical resistance between the substrate and the chuck. This resistance, known as gap resistance, is associated with numerous points of contact between the chuck and the substrate. (Skilled artisans will appreciate surface roughness present on both the substrate and the chuck produces a microscopic chuck/substrate interface having many discrete points of physical connection in association with numerous gaps, despite a macroscopic appearance of direct contact.) The gap charge is directly related to the attractive force between the chuck and the substrate, while the gap resistance determines how quickly the attractive force diminishes with time if not maintained by a voltage bias.
When applying a bias to the substrate/chuck system, the gap charge will be affected by charge which is trapped in the chuck itself. This trapped charge is determined by the physical design of the electrostatic chuck in addition to its chemical composition. The trapped charge will further be determined by electrical characteristics of the chuck. In particular, ceramics commonly used by skilled artisans for electrostatic chucks have a grain structure which can provide a resistive path for electrical conduction through the chuck. Additionally, a gap-trapped resistance between the chuck and the substrate can provide an electrical path for trapped charge in the chuck to pass into or out of the substrate according to voltage bias conditions. Finally, the substrate itself will possess a resistance which can affect the charge distribution and time-varying characteristics of the substrate/chuck system.
The design and simulation of electrostatic chucks typically involves the use of experimentally determined values for key design parameters, in particular for the measurements of the charge trapped in the chuck (which will be referred to herein as Ctrapped). In order to model the performance of a chuck having altered design parameters, for example, a different area, new measurements are typically made on a physical system. Furthermore, trade publications and technical articles typically employ simple electrical models for the apparatus used to bias the chuck. These models are usually based on a single constant voltage source and on/off switch with only two resistors and two capacitors.
What is needed is an improved means for electrically modeling the trapped charge in an electrostatic chuck and a method for simulating the effect of trapped charge on electrical parameters which relate to desirable performance characteristics of the chuck such as adhesive force.

Method for using an RC circuit to model trapped charge in an electrostatic chuck


A circuit and corresponding method for reducing standby power and improving no-load to full-load regulation for ringing choke converters by maintaining a reduced duty cycle, with longer off time at no-load, while maintaining the output voltage swing closer to the full-load level. This reduced duty cycle prevents the output voltage from swinging high with respect to the full-load level, thereby providing good no-load and full-load output regulation in open feedback loop systems. The circuit and method provides very low no-load switching frequency and duty cycle by increasing the off time of the main switch through use of a turn off transistor driven by a zener diode, thereby maintaining conduction even with a very small control current and prolonging the off time of the main switch. The circuit and method achieves the benefits preferably using only less costly basic discrete converter components instead of more costly integrated circuits.

Many electronic devices utilizing low power converters typically have no on/off switch and are frequently left permanently "plugged-in" to a wall socket. The "standby" power consumption, e.g., when the equipment is off and the batteries are fully charged, of low power converters places a significant load on the public electricity supply. Such concerns have prompted the European Commission Code of Conduct on Efficiency of External Power Supplies, for example, to commit signatories thereto to achieve a no-load power consumption maximum of 300 mW by 2005. Environmental and economic considerations therefore make it desirable to significantly reduce the standby power of low power converters. In addition to reducing the standby power, it is also desirable to maintain good load regulation for the power converter such that the difference between the output voltage at standby and at full-load is minimized.
Conventional low power converters designed for open-loop operation typically exhibit poor output voltage regulation and significantly high power losses at no-load. In order to overcome this drawback, integrated circuit solutions have been implemented for prior art converters to improve output voltage load regulation and to lower standby power consumption. FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art power converter 10 designed for open-loop operation. An input AC voltage from an external AC source (not shown) is typically transformed through a diode bridge 8 into DC power at input terminals 12 and 14. As seen in FIG. 1, power converter 10 is a DC-DC ringing choke converter (hereinafter referred to as an RCC). As is well known in the art, in a conventional RCC, a main switch is connected to a primary winding of a transformer and an output is supplied to the secondary winding through self-oscillation. At a rated load, the conduction time of the main switch is prolonged so as to provide a fixed load current. In a standby lower power or no-load condition, the required load current is minimal, so conventionally, the frequency of the main switch is increased in order to shorten the conduction time accordingly. As the switching frequency for the main switch is increased, however, the switching loss for the power converter also increases. As a result, there is an undesirably high no-load standby power consumption for the conventional power converter.
As seen in FIG. 1, the power converter 10 includes a transformer 56 having a primary winding 66, a secondary winding 68, and an auxiliary winding 20. One end of a primary winding 66 is connected to the input terminal 12 to which the input DC voltage is coupled. The other end of the primary winding 66 is connected to the collector of a main switch 46. Main switch 46 is typically an NPN transistor, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, main switch 46 may be a MOSFET or other suitable switching element. The emitter of main switch 46 is coupled through a resistor 44 to negative input terminal 14. The output of secondary winding 68 is connected to the output terminals 62 and 64 of converter 10 via a rectifying/smoothing circuit that includes a diode 58 and a capacitor 60 connected in a conventional way.
In operation, energy is stored in primary winding 66 during the on time of main switch 46. The on time of main switch 46 is controlled by the signal coupled to the base of main switch 46, i.e., its control input. The auxiliary winding 20 has the same polarity as primary winding 66. One end of auxiliary winding 20 is connected to negative input terminal 14. A resistor 22 is connected in series with a capacitor 24 between the base of main switch 46 and the other end of auxiliary winding 20.
A switch 30 is coupled between input terminal 14 and the control input of main switch 46. Switch 30 is typically a NPN transistor having an emitter connected to input terminal 14. A capacitor 32 is connected across the base and emitter of transistor 30. A resistor 42 is connected in series between the base of transistor 30 and the junction of a resistor 44 and the emitter of main switch 46. A capacitor 36 is connected in parallel with a resistor 38, between a node 75 and input terminal 14. A resistor 26 is connected in series with a diode 34 between node 75 and the end of auxiliary winding 20. The diode 34 has an anode connected to node 75 and a cathode connected to resistor 26. A zener diode 40 has an anode connected to node 75 and a cathode connected to the base of main switch 46. The power converter 10 includes a starting resistor 18 connected in series between input terminal 12 and the control input of main switch 46.
In operation, at start up of converter 10, the input DC voltage provided at the input terminals charges capacitor 16 and a current results through starting resistor 18 that charges the base of main switch 46. When the voltage difference between the base and emitter (Vbe) of main switch 46 exceeds a predetermined threshold, typically 0.6V, main switch 46 is switched on. As a result, the current through main switch 46 is coupled to primary winding 66, where energy is stored.
The conduction state of main switch 46 causes a voltage to develop across resistor 44. The voltage signal across resistor 44 is coupled to the base of switch 30. Switch 30 is switched into a conduction state when there is sufficient charge at the base. The conduction state of switch 30 causes switch 46 to turn off. As a result, the energy from primary winding 66 is transferred to secondary winding 68 and auxiliary winding 20 is charged. The energy from secondary winding 68 is coupled, through the rectifying/smoothing circuit formed by diode 58 and capacitor 60, to output terminals 62, 64. When the energy from secondary winding 68 is depleted, the voltage across auxiliary winding 20 reverses direction. Switch 46 is turned on through build-up of the potential across auxiliary winding 20, enabling the cycle to repeat.
At a low-load or no-load condition for converter 10, the control by switch 30 of the switching of main switch 46 diminishes. For the operation of converter 10 under a no-load condition, energy conversion is done by the switching action of main switch 46 driven by the collapse and build-up of the voltage potential across auxiliary winding 20. The output voltage, Vo, at a no-load level is limited approximately in accordance with the following formula:Vo=(Ns/Nc)*(Vz40+Vbe)where Ns is the number of turns of secondary winding 68, Nc is the number of turns of auxiliary winding 20, and Vz40 is the voltage across zener diode 40. Zener diode 40 draws a portion of the supply current of auxiliary winding 20 in order to control the base current of main switch 46, thereby controlling its turn on time (Ton) in order to limit Vo more specifically according to the following formula expressing V0 as a function of the turn on and turn off time:Vo=(Ns/Np)*Vin*(Ton/Toff)where Vin is the input DC voltage, Np is the number of turns of primary winding 66, and Toff is the turn off time of main switch 46.
Main switch 46 starts to turn off as the voltage difference between the voltage across zener diode 40 and the voltage across capacitor 36 falls below the proper Vbe level for main switch 46. At a no-load condition, faster switching occurs since dt=Lp(di)/Vin with very small (di); where Lp is the inductance of the primary winding 66. The higher the switching frequency of main switch 46, the higher the switching loss for power converter 10. As a result, the no-load standby power consumption for power converter 10 is significantly high, above the European Commission standard of 300 mW referenced above. In addition, since the switching of main switch 46 is uninterrupted for power converter 10, the output voltage, Vo, continues rising as the load is decreased since zener diode 40 will be more accurate due to the decreased voltage spikes at auxiliary winding 20. As a result, there is a large difference between the output voltage at no-load and at full-load for power converter 10. Thus, in addition to the substantial power consumption at standby or no-load, power converter 10 exhibits poor voltage regulation.
A need therefore exists for a circuit and corresponding method for reducing standby power and improving no-load to full-load regulation for ringing choke converters. There is especially a need such a circuit and method in open-loop systems. There is also a need for a circuit for providing reduced standby power and improved regulation through the use of simple, less costly discrete components.

Switching-bursting method and apparatus for reducing standby power and improving load regulation in a DC—DC converter


An antireflection film-forming composition which has excellent applicability, is significantly inhibited from generating ultrafine microbubbles, gives an antireflection film capable of sufficiently reducing the standing-wave effect, and has excellent solubility in water and an alkaline developing solution. The antireflection film-forming composition contains: (A) a copolymer (salt) of a sulfonic acid group-containing acrylamide derivative represented by, e.g., 2-(meth)acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid and a fluoroalkyl group-containing acrylic acid ester derivative represented by, e.g., 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl (meth)acrylate; and (B) a surfactant whose 0.1 wt. % aqueous solution has a surface tension as measured at 25° C. of 45 mN/m or lower.

In the fields of microfabrication represented by fabrication of integrated circuit devices, the processing size has become more and more minute in order to achieve higher integration in a lithographic process. In recent years, development of a lithographic process enabling stable microfabrication with a line width of 0.5 μm or less has been actively proceeding.
However, it is difficult to form such a fine pattern with high accuracy using a conventional method utilizing visible rays (wavelength: 800 to 400 nm) or near ultraviolet rays (wavelength: 400 to 300 nm). To deal with this problem, a lithographic process using radiation with a shorter wavelength (wavelength: 300 nm or less) that can achieve a wider depth of focus and is effective for ensuring design rules with minimum dimensions has been proposed. As a lithographic process using radiation with such a short wavelength, processes using deep ultraviolet rays such as KrF excimer laser (wavelength: 248 nm), or an ArF excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm), X-rays such as synchrotron radiation, and charged particle rays such as electron beams have been proposed. A chemically-amplified resist has attracted attention as a resist exhibiting high resolution for such short wavelength radiation. At present, development and improvement of the chemically-amplified resist are important technical issues of the lithographic process.
The chemically-amplified resist contains a compound which generates an acid upon irradiation. Chemical changes in the resist film (changes in polarity, breakage of a chemical bond, cross-linking reaction, etc.) caused by the catalytic action of an acid change solubility of the exposed area in a developer. A pattern is formed utilizing this phenomenon.
A number of compositions for chemically-amplified resists, for example, a combination of a resin containing an alkali-soluble resin, in which the groups exhibiting affinity with an alkali are protected by a t-butyl ester group or t-butoxy carbonyl group, with an acid generator (see, for example, Patent Document 1); a combination of a resin containing an alkali-soluble resin, in which the groups exhibiting affinity with an alkali are protected by a silyl group, with an acid generator (see, for example, Patent Document 2); a combination of an acetal group-containing resin with an acid generator (see, for example, Patent Document 3); a combination of an alkali-soluble resin, a dissolution controller, and an acid generator, a combination of a novolac resin, a crosslinking agent, and an acid generator; and the like have been proposed.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 59-45439
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-52845
Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-25850
These chemically-amplified resists, however, have a problem with respect to the process stability, because the compositions are easily affected by moisture, oxygen, basic substances, and the like that are present in the atmosphere for the lithographic process. Non-Patent Document 1, for example, reports that a very small amount of dimethylaniline in the atmosphere deactivates acids existing near the surface among the acids produced in the resist film by exposure, and forms a scarcely soluble layer on the surface of a resist film, which layer remains in the form of an eave-like projection on the surface of a resist pattern after development. Not only such a scarcely soluble layer decreases sensitivity and resolution of the resist, but also the eave-like projections formed in the resist pattern adversely affect the etching accuracy. The size of the eave-like projections tends to increase along with an increase of the time for which the resist is allowed to stand between each of the steps of exposure, post exposure baking, and development. This phenomenon is known as post exposure time delay (hereinafter referred to as "PED", which unduly decreases the allowance of time in the lithographic process.
Non-Patent Document 1: SPIE, Vol. 1466, "Advance in Resist Technology and Processing," p. 2 (1991)
As a method for solving such problems of PED, a method of laminating an overcoat on the chemically-amplified resist film to block the film surface from the atmosphere has been proposed. For example, Non-Patent Document 2 describes a method of laminating an overcoat of polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene sulfonic acid, or the like on the chemically-amplified resist film to inhibit invasion of basic materials into the resist film, thereby preventing a decrease of sensitivity and resolution of the resist. However, among such overcoats, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl butyral, and polyvinyl alcohol cannot necessarily effectively prevent formation of the aforementioned scarcely-soluble layer, although they have a barrier effect. Polystyrene sulfonate, which has too strong acidity, has a drawback of initiating a chemical reaction due to the catalytic action of the acid in the chemically-amplified resist irrespective of exposure to light. Another problem with the overcoat, which is commonly applied to a resist film as an aqueous solution, is uneven coating due to insufficient wetting properties of the aqueous solution with the resist film.
Non-Patent Document 2: WO92/05474
On the other hand, since radiation commonly used in the lithographic process is light with a single wavelength, incidence radiation interferes with light reflected by the boundary surfaces on the top and bottom of the resist film. As a result, a phenomenon called "a standing-wave effect" or "a multiplex interference effect", which is a phenomenon in which an effectual dose of radiation to which a resist film is exposed fluctuates due to mutual interference of radiations in the film according to fluctuation of the resist film thickness, irrespective of a constant actual dose of radiation, occurs and adversely affects formation of resist patterns. If the coating thickness varies due to slight difference of a resist composition, viscosity, resist film conditions, and the like, or the coating thickness fluctuates due to steps in the substrates (recessed parts are thicker than projected parts), such a film thickness difference changes the effectual dose of radiation to which a resist film is exposed, resulting in fluctuation of pattern dimensions and a decrease in accuracy of the resist pattern dimensions.
To overcome this problem caused by the standing-wave effect, a method of forming an antireflection film on the resist film to inhibit reflection on the coating surface and reduce multiplex interference in the film has been proposed. For example, a method of reducing the standing-wave effect by laminating layers of polysiloxane, poly(ethyl vinyl ether), polyvinyl alcohol, or the like as an antireflection film on a resist film is described in Non-Patent Document 3. In this instance, the reflex inhibition effect on the surface of the resist film mainly depends on the refractive index and film thickness of the antireflection film. The refractive index of an ideal antireflection film is the square root on n (n is the refractive index of the resist), and the thickness of an ideal antireflection film is an anisoploid of λ/4m (wherein λ is the wavelength of radiation and m is the refractive index of the antireflection film).
Non-Patent Document 3: J. Eectrochem. Soc., Vol. 137, No. 12, p. 3900 (1990)
However, the antireflection film made from polysiloxane, poly(ethyl vinyl ether), or polyvinyl alcohol has a basic problem of being incapable of sufficiently inhibiting the standing-wave effect due to the small difference of the refractive index with that of a resist film. In addition, the antireflection film made from polysiloxane which is insoluble in water or a developer must have a separate step of removing the antireflection film before development using an antireflection film removing agent. The solubility in water or a developer of poly(ethyl vinyl ether) or polyvinyl alcohol is not necessarily sufficient. The antireflection film made from these polymers may have leave residues on the resist film which impair resist performance such as resolution, developability, pattern profile, and the like. An additional problem of the overcoat which is applied to a resist film as an aqueous solution such as poly(ethyl vinyl ether) or polyvinyl alcohol is uneven coating due to insufficient wetting properties of the aqueous solution with the resist film.
In order to solve the problems in conventional antireflection films mentioned above, the inventor of the present invention has proposed (a) a copolymer of an acrylamide compound such as 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid in which the amide group has a sulfonic acid group bonded to the nitrogen atom via an organic group, and a fluoroalkyl acrylate compound such as 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl acrylate and (b) a basic material blocking antireflection film containing a fluoroalkylsulfonic acid having an fluoroalkyl group with 5 to 15 carbon atoms and/or a fluoroalkylcarboxylic acid having an fluoroalkyl group with 5 to 15 carbon atoms, and a resist pattern forming method using the antireflection film (see Patent Document 4). This antireflection film can reduce the effect of a basic substance  in the atmosphere and the standing-wave effect. However, the composition used for forming the antireflection film has a problem in coatability onto a resist film, which results in production of microbubbles in the order of μm in the formed coating.
Patent Document 4: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-234514

Composition for forming antireflection film, layered product, and method of forming resist pattern


This invention is in the field of synthesis and amplified photodegradation of hydrogel network and methods of producing and using the same.

Biological scaffolds are natural or artificial structures capable of facilitating a variety of physiological processes. Such scaffolds can be formed in situ or in vitro as prefabricated matrices defined by a specific shape or structure. These scaffolds serve multiple purposes, such as, supporting cell or tissue attachment, migration, delivery, and retention. In addition to cells and/or tissues, biological scaffolds can contain bioactive agents, pharmaceutical compounds, and/or fluids, e.g., cell growth medium. As such, biological scaffolds can be seeded with cells and cultured in vitro or directly implanted into a tissue. However, three-dimensional tissue engineering requires additional considerations relating to scaffold-tissue matrices.
Tissue engineering involves the use of biological macromolecules and living cells to develop suitable substitutes for tissue or organ replacement. In order for such complex structures to develop, however, the biological scaffolds from which they form must support cell and tissue growth that is similar to natural tissue organogenesis. Along these lines, tissue engineering applications require structures composed of varying degrees of thickness and size, which can affect tissue durability. The structure and stability of newly formed tissues can vary and, for applications requiring scaffold removal, a non-disruptive separation of the scaffold-tissue complex is necessary to ensure the integrity of the tissue. Accordingly, mechanisms for severing the scaffold-tissue complex constitute an important consideration in the development of new strategies for tissue engineering. Therefore, there is a continued need for methods for the synthesis and degradation of hydrogel networks or portions therein.

Amplified photodegradation of hydrogels and methods of producing the same

The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate


A combination cap/glove selectively usable as a cap worn on a person's head and a glove worn on a person's hand for catching a ball. The cap/glove includes a concave crown having a peripheral bottom edge, an interior surface and an exterior surface. A hand receptacle having an opening is mounted to a first side of the crown. A band of flexible sheet material having a top and a bottom edge is attached by the bottom edge of the band to the interior surface of the crown at a second side of the crown substantially opposite the first side of the crown. The band is attached to the crown in a manner biasing the top edge of the band away from the crown interior to define a ball catching pocket opposite the hand receptacle.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is generally directed toward sports head wear, and more particularly toward a combination cap/glove for selective use as a cap for covering a user's head and a glove for catching a ball.
2. Background Art
Baseball caps have been around for many years and traditionally consist of four to six triangular shaped sections sewn together so that a point of each triangle meets at the center, or apex of a crown. A stiff brim or visor is sewn to a peripheral portion of the crown. Such baseball caps have been worn for years by baseball players and spectators at baseball games. The caps often bear a logo of the player's team or the spectator's preferred team and function both to demonstrate allegiance with a team and to shade the user's eyes from the sun.
Baseball gloves have also been associated with the game of baseball for many years. Baseball gloves are used by fielders to assist in catching baseballs. In addition, it is a common practice for spectators to bring baseball gloves to baseball games in order to catch baseballs that are hit into the stands. One problem with baseball gloves is that they are heavy and awkward when worn continuously on a spectator's hand and must also be removed during eating or whenever two hands are required. Thus, baseball gloves can be easily lost at baseball games because of the need to remove the baseball glove from time to time. Furthermore, because a ball may be struck into the stands at any time, a spectator who has momentarily removed a glove may not be able to quickly locate and deploy the glove in order to catch a baseball.
There has long been a need to combine the convenience of a baseball cap with the protection of a baseball glove and such cap/gloves have been the subject of at least two prior art patents, Villalobos, U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,232 and Hunt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,543. Villalobos discloses a cap comprising a concave crown formed of a flexible sheet having a brim formed of a stiffener covered with a flexible sheet material attached to a peripheral edge of the crown. A mit is attached to an outer surface of the crown for receiving a person's hand so that the interior of the crown can be positioned by a hand received in the mit to capture a flying object such as a baseball. Villalobos further teaches providing a pad between the mit and the interior of the crown for protecting a user's hand while catching an object. Villalobos also teaches that the mit is positioned on the crown above the brim with the opening of the mit where the peripheral edge of the crown meets the brim. Villalobos teaches an elastic band attached along the opening of the mit to aid in holding the cap in place on a user's hand.
Villalobos is clearly an improvement over the use of the standard baseball cap for catching baseballs. However, Villalobos still has several serious defects. First, Villalobos relies primarily on the interior of the crown to capture a baseball. If a user does not successfully position the baseball over the user's palm when using the Villalobos glove/cap and the ball is received in the crown above the user's hand, the ball is likely to bounce out of the interior of the cap before the user can retrieve it. In addition, if the user is successful in guiding the mit portion of the crown to the baseball, the padding is insufficient to provide true protection for the hand and a possibility of serious injury to the user's hand is presented. Furthermore, the cap/glove of Villalobos teaches an access to the mit at the intersection of the crown and brim where it can be difficult for a user to quickly insert his hand under the elastic strip. Thus, Villalobos can be difficult to deploy in the few seconds a fan has to react and to catch a ball. Finally, Villalobos teaches a mit on an outer surface of a cap which has an unsightly appearance and could deter fashion conscious sports fans from using an otherwise potentially useful article.
Hunt teaches a cap/glove including a crown portion having a material liner on an interior portion of the crown defining a pocket for accommodating a user's hand therein. The pocket has an opening at the rear of the cap for receiving the user's hand. Hunt further teaches providing a protective pad between the interior of the crown and the glove.
The structure of Hunt has additional deficiencies to those mentioned above with regard to Villalobos. In particular, Hunt teaches only that the glove is accessible from the back of the cap. Thus, the cap/glove of Hunt can not be quickly deployed as a glove. Furthermore, Hunt does nothing to overcome the problems with retaining a ball in the interior of the crown during the catching of a ball as discussed above with regard to Villalobos.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.


The device for automatically feeding stacks of cutouts to a user machine comprises an inclined supporting surface which is suitable to receive in succession the stacks and supports a guide on which a trolley can slide; the trolley is provided with a supporting element for a stack to be fed to the machine; an unloading station is defined on the supporting surface and is provided with a stop device which is suitable to be crossed by the trolley; a loading device is provided with a lifting element which can move between a lowered position, at a station for the removal of a stack, and a raised position, at an output station, in which the lifting element is engaged by the supporting element of the trolley so as to cause the extraction of the stack from the lifting element.

The present invention relates to a device for feeding stacks of cutouts to a user machine.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for automatically feeding stacks of cardboard cutouts to a machine for producing boxes for containing cartons, which in turn contain packets of cigarettes.
It is known that packaging machines of the above mentioned type are fed with stacks of cardboard cutouts destined to constitute the outer container of the packages.
In particular, the stacks of cutouts are supplied in an orderly arrangement, in layers formed by a plurality of parallel rows, on conventional pallet-like supporting means. The stacks of cutouts are then transferred to a conveyor, arranged at a relatively high location which feeds the cutouts to the user machine.
Feeding of the user machine is generally rather difficult, unless robotized means are used to remove and raise the stacks of cutouts up to the elevated conveyor. This latter solution, however, is significantly onerous in terms of cost.

Device for feeding stacks of cutouts to a user machine


A housing for a personal electronic device is described herein. The housing may include at least structural member configured to be arranged within an internal cavity of the housing. The at least structural member is aligned with a feature external to the housing. The at least one structural member is affixed to an interior surface of the internal cavity. Furthermore, the at least structural member and housing are co-machined to define a coaxial aperture for accepting the feature.

Generally, personal electronic devices take a plurality of forms and are manufactured using available materials which provide a balance of durability and function. Many electronic devices include a plurality of internal components that are assembled into a functional unit to which a housing is "snapped" over. For example, devices having plastic housings or covers are typically formed as standalone devices absent a housing, and after testing and/or inspection, have a flexible or relatively flexible plastic housing applied thereon.
However, if several external features such as buttons, switches, or the like are part of the device's design, application of the housing after external feature assembly can cause damage to the edges of the housing (e.g., while snapping the housing over buttons), cosmetic defects (e.g., deflection, discoloration, and/or chipping of decorations/cosmetic surfaces), and in some cases breaking of the housing or external features.
Therefore, what is desired are innovations in device structures and assembly methodologies which overcome these and other drawbacks.