In a description and drawings of the present application disclosed are, as the invention, (1) a projector for projecting an optimum image face having a convex configuration at a side of the projector, (2) a projecting system provided with the projector and a translucent screen with a substantially spherical configuration on which an image from the projector is formed, (3) a system for sensation provided with the projecting system, a seat at which a viewer is seated, a motion drive device for displacing the seat, a motion control device for controlling operation of the motion drive device, and an image control device for controlling an image projected by the projector while instructing the motion drive device to displace the seat in accordance with a change in the image, and (4) a method of manufacturing a screen provided with a light diffusing layer forming step of warming and softening a transparent thermoplastic resin sheet including a particle of a light diffusion material and pressing a light transmitting layer with a convex configuration against the thermoplastic resin sheet to closely fix thereto.

The present invention relates to a projecting system for forming an image on a screen, especially to a technique for use in a simulator, a game equipment, a virtual reality equipment and the like for providing an image with a high feeling of presence to a viewer.
Recently, in this type of device, there is a rapidly increasing tendency to a desire for what provides a high feeling of presence. For this, an image providing a feeling of absorption is demanded, while there is a desire for a seat or the like driven to operate in accordance with an image, or a motion of an image operated interactively by a viewer.
As a projecting system giving a feeling of absorption or presence available is a HMD (head mounting display) which is a projecting system for one person. In the HMD, a small display is positioned immediately in front of viewer's eyes. An image on the display is enlarged by an optical system, so that a large virtual image of a remote object is shown to a viewer. In the system, since viewer's eyes are covered, the viewer cannot see anything but the image, and can be given a feeling of absorption. In the HMD, when a direction of a sight line or viewing direction is changed by shaking a head, the image projected on the display also is changed in accordance with the movement of the head, thereby providing an image of 360 degrees. Further, the HMD is advantageously small-sized. Such a projecting device is disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 04-168489.
In addition to the HMD, as another method of providing an image having a feeling of absorption, a method of covering a visually recognized range of a viewer with a screen is available. To realize this method, a method of installing a projector for enlarging and projecting an image on a screen opposite to a viewer with respect to the screen or a method of installing the projector at the same side as the viewer with respect to the screen is available.
As a conventional method of installing the projector at the side opposite to the viewer with respect to the screen, for example, a projecting system with a cubic screen called CAVE is heretofore available (Virtual Reality, authored by Michitaka Hirose, Sangyo Tosho, p101). In this CAVE, four rear projection screens with about 3 m sides are disposed for use in such a manner that the respective screens have an almost right angle relative to one another and are positioned in front, left, right and lower directions, respectively, and each screen is provided with a projector. Additionally, other methods are described in the Japanese Patent Unexamined Publications No. 5-197329 and No. 6-503906. In either of these, several flat rear projection screens are used, and each face is provided with a projector.
Also, in a conventional method of installing the projector at the same side as the viewer with respect to the screen, a reflective screen having a spherical configuration and a projector using a fisheye lens are used. The spherical reflective screen is usually constituted by using small spherical screen parts and assembling them up into a spherical screen.
Generally, a range of sight which can be recognized without moving a head and by hardly moving eye balls (hereinafter, referred to as the visually recognized range) is said to be about 120.degree. both in horizontal and vertical directions when left and right eyes are used. A range of sight which can be recognized without moving the head and by moving the eye balls (hereinafter, referred to as the sight range) is said to be about 240.degree. in the horizontal direction and about 180.degree. in the vertical direction when either one of the eyes is used. An image which can cover the visually recognized range of both eyes can remarkably provide a feeling of presence. In either of the aforementioned conventional methods of covering the sight range of a viewer with the screen, a screen with a size of 120.degree. or more centering on the viewer is used, which can sufficiently cover the visually recognized range of the viewer. Further, in the HMD, since an image range is about from 60.degree. to 80.degree., there easily arises a puppet theater effect in which an image is felt small. However, since the sight range is completely covered, a feeling of absorption is remarkably provided.
However, in the HMD, when a viewer changes a direction of a sight line by moving his head, a change in an image on a display causes a time lag relative to movement of the head. There is a problem that the viewer has a strange feeling in the image so as to spoil the feeling of presence. Further, since the HMD is mounted on the viewer's head, the oppression on the head causes a strange feeling. Additionally, there is a problem that cleanliness can hardly be kept for use by another viewer.
On the contrary, in the method of covering the visually recognized range of a viewer with the screen, even when the viewer changes a direction of a sight line, an image always exists also in the changed direction of a sight line, thereby causing no time lag in the image. Further, since no device is mounted on the viewer's head, the oppression on the head is not produced. This is furthermore preferable in respect of hygiene. Specifically, the method of covering the visually recognized range of the viewer with the screen causes no problem the HMD has. However, even this method has the following problems.
In the method of covering the visually recognized range of the viewer, when the projector is installed at the same side as the viewer with respect to the screen, the projector, in addition to the viewer, is disposed inside the screen. Therefore, if the projector is not disposed at a position which does not obstruct the screen from the viewer, a feeling of presence will be spoiled. Especially, if the viewer and the projector are disposed in a small-sized screen with a diameter of about 5 m which is supposedly a limitation in size able to be housed inside a generally commercial building, then the projector itself obstructs the range of a sight line of the viewer. Additionally, there is a case that the image to be projected on the screen from the projector is obstructed by the viewer himself. In this case, a feeling of presence is spoiled. Further, a spherical screen is usually formed by assembling divided parts. A problem is that the joint portion of the screen can be seen by the viewer, thereby spoiling a feeling of presence.
Further, when the projector is installed opposite to the viewer with respect to the screen, in either of the aforementioned prior arts, nothing obstructs a sight line of the viewer inside the cubic screen. However, since a large number of flat screens are assembled, each boundary line between the screens forms a mathematically discontinuous portion (bent portion). A problem is that the viewer recognizes discontinuity in an image with the discontinuous portions of the screen, and a feeling of presence is spoiled.

Projector, projecting system, system for sensation and method of manufacturing translucent screen


The present invention provides methods of differentiating mesenchymal stem cells or adult stem cells into nerve cells by treating the mesenchymal stem cells or the adult stem cells with an electromagnetic field having a high intensity of 100 to 1,500 mT and a low frequency of 0.01 to 100 Hz. These methods also provide injecting the mesenchymal stem cells or adult stem cells into a subject prior to treating the mesenchymal stem cells or adult stem cells with an electromagnetic field having a high intensity of 100 to 1,500 mT and a low frequency of 0.01 to 100 Hz.

Various studies showing that the differentiation of stem cells is promoted using an electromagnetic field have been reported. Fregni et al. reported that various types of electric and electromagnetic field stimulation relieve pain from chronic neuralgia caused by spinal damage (Non-patent Document 1), and Ahmadian S. et al. reported that an increase in the collagen of mouse skin is observed when the skin of mice is irradiated daily with a frequency of 25 Hz and an intensity of 2 mT for 2.5 hours (Non-patent Document 2).
Also, studies on osteogenesis using an electromagnetic field have been reported. Ceccarelli et al. reported that the osteogenic differentiation of various mesenchymal stem cells is promoted by an electromagnetic field having a frequency of 75 Hz and an intensity of 2 mT (Non-patent Document 3), Sun et al. reported that, when bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are cultured under an electromagnetic field having a frequency of 15 Hz and an intensity of 1.8 mT, the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) is promoted to stimulate the differentiation into osteocytes, and Schwartz et al. reported that the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells is promoted by an electromagnetic field having a frequency of 15 Hz and an intensity of 1.6 mT. The study on the promotion of osteogenic differentiation using such an electromagnetic field uses an electromagnetic field having a frequency of 7.5 to 15 Hz and an intensity of 0.1 to 5 mT (Non-patent Document 4).
In recent years, as therapeutic methods using stem cells to treat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, depression, Parkinson's disease, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, damaged spinal cord and the like have emerged, methods using electrical stimulation in research conducted to promote the differentiation into nerve cells have also been reported. As the neurotherapeutic techniques known in the related art, there is a device configured to apply energy with a low frequency of approximately 10 Hz or less to brain tissue, characterized in that, after electrodes are implanted into a patient's brain, electrical stimulation is directly applied to the electrodes to induce a magnetic field using a flow of electricity (Patent Document 1). Zheng developed a method of applying magnetic stimulation to the central nervous system as a technique in which high frequencies or a plurality of frequency components are combined and used to improve brain functions (Patent Document 2), and Riken developed a technique of treating embryonic stem cells with electric pulses to prepare nerve cells (Patent Document 3). Gliner et al. developed a technique of treating cells with electric pulses to prepare nerve cells (Patent Document 4). The above-described methods have limits on clinical applications since an additional surgical operation in which electrodes are implanted using a method of directly implanting electrodes should be conducted, thereby inflicting pain on patients and increasing the likelihood of embryonic stem cells forming tumors. Therefore, there is a demand for novel technology for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells and adult stem cells into nerve cells using a non-invasive method rather than a chemical method. Because of such a demand, the present inventors have conducted research on the mesenchymal stem cells and the adult stem cells as cell therapy products for treating various neuron-associated diseases. Therefore, the present invention has been completed based on these facts.

Method of differentiating adult stem cells into nerve cells by using high-intensity electromagnetic field

DONGGUK UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION


A highly sensitive Coriolis flowmeter, which is also utilizable as a density meter, is composed of:

The invention relates to a Coriolis flowmeter and further relates to a density meter utilizing the Coriolis flowmeter.
The Coriolis flowmeter is know as a direct mass flowmeter which is designed to work under the known principle that when a tube through which a fluid to be measured flows is vibrated, a Coriolis force which is proportional to the mass flow rate is generated to give a certain effect to the movement of vibrating fluid. Generally, the Coriolis force is detected in terms of an elastic deformation or distortion of the tube.
Since the Coriolis force is small as compared with the applied vibration force, it is required to provide a force measurement system to accurately detect the generated Coriolis force with high sensitivity. Therefore, a representative Coriolis flowmeter is designed to have a U-shaped conduit so that an enlarged deformation can be detected. However, the U-shaped conduit has a disadvantageous feature in that the fluid flowing through the U-shaped tube is apt to undergo a pressure loss. Nevertheless, Coriolis flowmeters having U-shaped tube have been widely employed because they have high sensitivity when they are appropriately designed.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,192,184 and 4,311,054 describe a Coriolis flowmeter having two U-shaped flow loops, a vibrator, and a sensor.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication 59-92314 (corresponding to U.S. Ser. No. 439,035) illustrates a Coriolis flow meter such as that illustrated in FIG. 6, which has a manifold a two U-shaped tubes through each of which a fluid to be measured in connection with its flow rate flows in parallel.
The Coriolis flowmeter is vibrated by the vibration generator in the primary flexural vibration in which the nodes are placed on the support blocks at both ends of the flow tube. The Coriolis force FC is expressed as follows:
Fc=xe2x88x922m[xcfx89]xc3x97[v]
[in which, [xcfx89] is a vector of xcfx89 (frequency) and [v] is a vector of v (flow rate)].
The present inventor has discovered that the conventional Coriolis flowmeter having plural flow tube type cannot show enough sensitivity.
It is an object of the invention to provide a mass flowmeter of curved tube type utilizing the Coriolis force which is improved in its sensitivity.
It is another object of the invention to provide a density meter utilizing the improved Coriolis flowmeter.
The present invention resides in a Coriolis flowmeter comprising:
a substrate having a pair of conduits through which a fluid to be measured in connection with a flow rate thereof flows;
a curved tube fixed to the substrate in such manner that one end connects with one of the conduits and another end connects with another of the conduits;
a pair of curved rods having a curve identical to the curve of the curved tube each of which is fixed to the substrate on each side in parallel with the curved tube with a space;
vibration generating meant attached to the curved tube and each of the curved rods which generate vibrations in such manner that the curved tube and the curved rods vibrate in opposite phase; and
a sensor means detecting variation of vibration of the curved tube which is caused by a Coriolis force occurring when a fluid flows through the curved tube.
The invention further resides in a Coriolis flowmeter comprising:
a substrate having a pair of colts through which a fluid to be measured in connection with a flow rate thereof flows;
a first curved tube, a second curved tube, and a third curved tube all of which are fixed to the substrate in parallel to each other in such manner that one end of the first tube connects with one of the conduits, another end of the first tube connects with one end of the second tube through a conduit arranged in or under the substrate, another end of the second tube connects with one end of the third tube through a conduit arranged in or under the substrate, and another end of the third tube connects with another of the conduits under the condition that the fluid flows in the three curved tube a direction identical to each other;
vibration generating means attached to the curved tubes which generate vibrations in such manner that the neighboring tubes vibrate in opposite phase; and
a sensor means detecting variation of vibration of the second tube which is caused by a Coriolis force occurring when a fluid flows through the curved tube.
The Coriolis flowmeter of the invention can also be utilized as a density meter.

Coriolis flowmeter utilizing three-forked plate vibrator mode

Abstract: a substrate having two conduits through which a fluid to be measured flows;

Abstract: a curved tube fixed to the substrate in such manner that one end connects with one conduit and another end connects with another conduit;

Abstract: two curved rods having a curve identical to the curve of the curved tube each of which is fixed to the substrate on each side in parallel with the curve tube with a space;

Abstract: vibrators attached to the tube and rods which generate vibrations in such manner that the tube and rods vibrate in opposite phase; and

Abstract: a sensor for detecting variation of vibration of the tube which is caused by a Coriolis force occurring when a fluid flows through the tube.


The present invention provides a gaming machine that is capable of realistically informing a player of a payout rate, via an effective rendering of such a type in which the player is permitted to participate. In this gaming machine, when the routine migrates to a bonus game, a player makes an input operation via a first display panel to thereby advance a game in a second display panel that is provided upward of the first display panel. In this manner, as the bonus game, a game of such a kind in which the player is permitted to participate can be executed at a position that is easily seen from an upward periphery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gaming machine that is capable of repeatedly executing a unit game.
2. Description of the Related Art
A gaming machine adapted to repeatedly execute a unit game is proposed, the gaming machine including an extension device configured to assign another function to each symbol having its own function, the gaming machine providing a new game so as to thereby offer various kinds of games (for example, refer to United States Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0081493).
In recent years, slot machines that are installed in casinos outside Japan include the one that allows a player to execute a second game or the like, in addition to a basic game to be played in such a manner that symbols to be stopped after reel rotation are rearranged and the amount of prize is determined. In these slot machines, it is determined whether or not the routine is caused to migrate to the second game by means of lottery in the basic game, and then, the second game is executed according to a result of the lottery. Therefore, players have been merely allowed to have a simple entertaining option of whether or not the routine is caused to migrate to the second game.
In addition, in conventional slot machines, a payout rate is set to be comparatively low, which has caused a lowered popularity of the slot machines.
Slot machines that are capable of changing a payout rate in gaming facilities such as casinos have been conventionally known as well. Each of such slot machines has a switch for changing the payout rate. In the gaming facilities, after closing their shops, the staffs can change setting of the payout rate by operating the switch in accordance with a play situation in the gaming facilities. However, players cannot directly check whether the payout rate is highly set or is lowly set. Therefore, even in a case where the payout rate has been highly set, players cannot be informed of the fact, and it has been a low possibility that a player can enjoy game at a slot machine at which the payout rate is highly set. Accordingly, even in the case where the payout rate has been highly set, players who visit the gaming facilities cannot always enjoy game, the number of players who play at slot machines cannot always be increased, and it has been difficult to increase sales in gaming facilities exerted by slot machines.
In addition, in conventional slot machines, a comparatively small-sized display panel is provided in order to avoid increasing an installation area, and a rendering image is displayed on the display panel, whereby it has been difficult to sufficiently have a rendering effect.
The present invention has been made in order to solve the conventional problem described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that is capable of realistically informing a player of a payout rate via an effective rendering of such a kind that the player is permitted to participate.

Gaming machine capable of realistically informing of a payout rate


The present invention relates to certain novel indane-2-mercaptoacetylamide disulfide derivatives of the formula ##STR1## useful as inhibitors of enkephalinase.

Enkephalinase or, more specifically, endopeptidase-24.11, is a mammalian ectoenzyme which is involved in the metabolic degradation of certain circulating regulatory peptides. This enzyme, which is a Zn.sup.+2 -metallopeptidase, exerts its effect by cleaving the extracellular peptides at the amino group of hydrophobic residues and thus inactivates the peptides as regulatory messengers.
Enkephalinase is involved in the metabolic degradation of a variety of circulating regulatory peptides including endorphins, such as .beta.-endorphin and the enkephalins, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and other circulating regulatory peptides.
Endorphins are naturally-occurring polypeptides which bind to opiate receptors in various areas of the brain and thereby provide an analgesic effect by raising the pain threshold. Endorphins occur in various forms including .alpha.-endorphin, .beta.-endorphin, .gamma.-endorphin as well as the enkephalins. The enkephalins, i.e., Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin, are pentapeptides which occur in nerve endings of brain tissue, spinal cord and the gastrointestinal tract. Like the other endorphins, the enkephalins provide an analgesic effect by binding to the opiate receptors in the brain. By inhibiting enkephalinase, the metabolic degradation of the naturally-occurring endorphins and enkephalins are inhibited, thereby providing a potent endorphin- or enkephalin-mediated analgesic effect. Inhibition of enkephalinase would therefore be useful in a patient suffering from acute or chronic pain. Inhibition of enkephalinase would also be useful in providing an antidepressant effect and in providing a reduction in severity of withdrawal symptoms associated with termination of opiate or morphine administration. In addition, inhibition of enkephalinase would also be useful in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
ANP refers to a family of naturally-occurring peptides which are involved in the homeostatic regulation of blood pressure, as well as sodium and water levels. ANP have been found to vary in length from about 21 to about 126 amino acids with a common structural feature being one or more disulfide-looped sequences of 17 amino acids with various amino- and carboxy-terminal sequences attached to the cysteine moiety. ANP have been found to bind to specific binding sites in various tissues including kidney, adrenal, aorta, and vascular smooth muscle with affinities ranging from about 50 pico-molar (pM) to about 500 nano-molar (nM) [Needleman, Hypertension 7, 469 (1985)]. In addition, it is believed that ANP binds to specific receptors in the brain and possibly serves as a neuromodulator as well as a conventional peripheral hormone.
The biological properties of ANP involve potent diuretic/natriuretic and vasodilatory/hypotensive effects as well as an inhibitory effect on renin and aldosterone secretion [deBold, Science 230, 767 (1985)]. By inhibiting enkephalinase, the metabolic degradation of the naturally-occurring ANP are inhibited, thereby providing a potent ANP-mediated diuretic, natriuretic, hypotensive, hypoaldosteronemic effects. Inhibition of enkephalinase would therefore be useful in a patient suffering from disease states characterized by abnormalities in fluid, electrolyte, blood pressure, intraocular pressure, renin, or aldosterone homeostasis, such as, but not limited to, hypertension, renal diseases, hyperaldosteronemia, cardiac hypertrophy, glaucoma and congestive heart failure.

Indane-2-mercaptoacetylamide disulfide derivatives useful as inhibitors of enkephalinase


A torque transfer mechanism is disclosed for incorporation in a four-wheel drive vehicle for establishing high and low speed power paths to front and rear drive axles. The torque transfer mechanism comprises an input shaft for receiving power from an engine and a pair of output shafts for delivering power to the drive axles. Constant mesh gearing is provided to operatively connect the input and output shafts in desired power paths. The gearing comprises an input gear set and an output gear set. Each gear set includes a plurality of gears provided with clutch means adapted to be selectively engaged by a pair of clutch collars. The clutch collars can be operated simultaneously in the same axial direction by a single shift fork to drive the front and rear axles in either the high or low speed power path.

This invention relates to a plural power path torque transfer mechanism and more particularly to a clutching arrangement for establishing the power paths.
It is well recognized in the art that the tractive efforts of a vehicle are substantially improved if driving torque is applied to both front and rear axles. This concept has long been used in military and off-highway vehicles designed to operate over unimproved terrain by providing a mechanism to transfer torque between the axles. Ordinarily the torque transfer mechanism is connected to a transmission which is driven in the conventional manner by a prime mover, and is adapted to split the torque between the front and rear axles.
In recent years much effort has been devoted to part-time torque transfer mechanisms, i.e., those having a plurality of power paths selectively engageable by a vehicle operator. Common part-time torque transfer mechanisms are designed with all constant mesh gearing and a pair of shiftable clutch collars for selecting the desired power path. In these devices it is advantageous to interconnect the clutch collars so that a single operating means may effect shifting of both collars to establish the power path selection.
However, certain problems may arise in connection with this type system. One problem is that the clutches provided on the various gears for cooperating with the clutch collars require excessive movement of the collars to complete the different shifting operations. This not only adds to the length of the unit but is also undesirable from a control standpoint because it required additional space to achieve the clutching operation.


A non-blocking switching network which has considerably fewer crosspoint switches than would otherwise be expected. The network is comprised of a primary stage having n inputs and m outputs, a plurality of secondary stages each having m inputs and p.sub.1, p.sub.2, . . . p.sub.p outputs, output m.sub.x being connected via switching crosspoints to all of the outputs p.sub.x, p.sub.(x+1) and p.sub.(x+3), where x is an integral number of the m.sup.th output from 1 to m/2, output m.sub.y being dedicated and connected via switching crosspoints to all of the outputs of the y.sup.th secondary stage, where y=an integral number from m/2+1 to m.

This invention relates to the field of switching, and particularly to a non-blocking switching network which has an unexpectedly low number of crosspoint switches and can be used to replace selector switch banks in a step-by-step telephone switching office.
The cost of a space division switching matrix is largely dependent on the number of crosspoints required to switch input sources (inputs) to destinations (outputs). A crossbar switch, for instance, utilizes a number of crosspoint switches which is equal to the number of inputs multiplied by the number of outputs. For an equal number of inputs and outputs n, the number of crosspoint switches is n.sup.2. Clearly as the number of inputs and outputs increases, the number of crosspoints increases disproportionately. For a large number of inputs and outputs the size of the crossbar switch would not be economic, and crosspoint switch reducing schemes have been designed, some in which certain degrees of blocking were tolerated.
Networks have been designed to provide interconnection between large numbers of inputs and outputs, with a smaller number of crosspoints than would otherwise be required by the determination noted above. As described in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, Volume 238 No. 6, dated June 1978 in an article on COMPLEXITY THEORY by Nicholas Pippenger, page 114 ff., a more efficient design was discovered in the 1950's by Charles Clos of Bell Laboratories. In Clos's design a network that can handle up to n calls at the same time, without blocking, can be constructed with about 6n.sup.1.5 crosspoint switches. It appears that when n is 36 or greater, the number of switches is always less than n.sup.2.
The same article in Scientific American notes that L. A. Bassalygo and M. S. Pinsker of the INSTITUTE FOR PROBLEMS OF INFORMATION TRANSMISSION, in Moscow determined that theoretically sparse crossbars can be built to provide networks with fewer switches than the network designed by Clos. The networks proposed by Bassalygo and Pinsker suggests that for a K-by-K subnetwork, only 12 K switches are required, whereas in a normal crossbar subnetwork K.sup.2 switches are required. Unfortunately, while Bassalygo and Pinsker theoretically showed that such networks are possible, they did not describe any structural embodiments by which the theory could be realized in practice.
Sparse crossbars are crossbar switches in which a number of crosspoints have been removed, yet which do not affect the blocking probability of the network.
The Scientific American article notes that there are some solutions to the Bassalygo and Pinsker proposals which will not work, and that indeed it would take an impossibly long time to test all solutions and determine which are blocking to what certain degree and which are not.
The present invention, on the other hand, is a switching subnetwork which may be used in place of a crossbar switch, or in place of a selector switch in a step-by-step telephone switching network, which is non-blocking, yet which utilizes a substantially reduced number of switches than might otherwise be expected. For example, in a network having ten inputs to be switched to 100 outputs, a normal crossbar switch would require 1,000 crosspoints, yet the present invention requires only 600. Clearly the cost of such subnetworks is substantially reduced.


Sheets and rolls of sheets with labels having multiple choice blocks and information areas corresponding to the choice blocks. The sheets include a closure bonding material for securing the sheets around items to be wrapped. The labels are detachably connected to the sheets with an adhesive, a perforation or a tear line. Spots of closure bonding material may be placed on the labels to hold the labels in a wrapped position. The information areas typically include data which may be selected to describe the source, type and characteristics of the items to be wrapped in the sheets. The sheets may also include detachable sleeve areas for protecting wrapped items during shipping and handle areas which may be punched out of the sheets for grasping the wrapped items. The handle areas may also contain information similar to that on the detachable labels. Sheets having labels with choice blocks may also be used for forming flower pots or flower pot covers. By providing such labels on the unformed sheets, it is not necessary to add tags or labels after the sheets are formed into flower pots or flower pot covers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sheet wrapping materials and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to sheets and sheet rolls of wrapping material for wrapping floral groupings and for being formed into flower pots and flower pot covers.
2. Description of Related Art
Various wrappings for flowers and potted plants are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,271,922 and 3,508,372 disclose a flexible paper sheet designed to be formed into a protective sleeve around flowers. A potted plant package disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,725 has an upper sleeve portion which is removable to display the plant after shipment.
In addition to packaging the product, a vendor typically wishes to display certain information related to the product. Such information may be directed at prospective customers and may include eye-catching designs, illustrations, pricing, text descriptive of the item and instructional material. Other information, such as uniform product codes and bar codes used for pricing and inventory control, may be provided for processing the sale at the check-out counter. In the case of a gift item, such as a plant or floral grouping, it is usually desirable to remove such information before presenting the item as a gift.

Method using sheets and sheet rolls of wrapping material having information selectable by choice blocks


A hinge device includes a base member, a lid member connected to the base member via a hinge structure having a hinge pin and a bearing hole loosely receiving the hinge pin. The base member is provided with a first abutting portion adjacent to the hinge structure, and the lid member is provided with a second abutting portion adjacent to the hinge structure so that the lid member can rotate relative to the base member from an open position to a closed position, the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion being configured to abut each other in a direction orthogonal to an axial line of a hinge axis of the hinge structure when an angle formed by the first member and the second member is within a first angular range preceding the closed position.

In a molding process for molding a clamp having a hinge structure by resin, the mold may include a first mold part for molding a hinge pin and a second mold part for molding a component having a bearing hole so that the entire hinge structure may be molded by a single-shot molding process. In such a case, for the hinge pin and the component defining the bearing hole to be molded at the same time, a certain gap is required between the hinge pin and the bearing hole. Therefore, a certain amount of play is inevitable between the hinge pin and the bearing hole.
JPS63-77184U and JP2002-128112A disclose a clamp for securing piping on a lower side of a vehicle body, and these clamps are provided with a hinge structure in which a hinge pin is loosely received in a bearing hole. According to these prior inventions, the clamp includes a base member, and a lid member connected to the base member via a hinge so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position. In the case of the clamp disclosed in JPS63-77184U, an engagement claw provided on the lid member engages a corresponding stopper provided on the base member in the closed position of the clamp so that the lid member is not only retained in the closed position, but also the engagement claw is prevented from moving laterally (along the axial direction of the hinge pin). Thereby, the movement of the lid member relative to the base member in the closed position of the clamp can be avoided. In the case of the clamp disclosed in JP2002-128112A, a latch consisting of engagement features provided on the outer surface of the hinge pin and the inner surface of the bearing hole is provided between the lid member and the base member so as to be engaged in the closed position of the clamp. Therefore, once the clamp is closed, the movement of the lid member relative to the base member can be avoided.
Thus, according to these previously proposed clamps, the movement of the lid member relative to the base member can be prevented when the clamp is closed or is clamping an object such as a pipe, but the lid member is freely movable relative to the base member (in directions orthogonal to the axis of the hinge pin) before the clamp is closed. Therefore, during the process of closing the clamp, the lid member is movable relative to the base member so that the latch may not be engaged in a reliable manner, and/or the lid member and the base member may not be properly positioned relative to the object to be clamped such as a pipe. In particular, the work efficiency in closing the clamp may be impaired because the worker is required to pay attention to the positioning of the lid member relative to the base member when closing the clamp.


An exhaust chamber is disposed in an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas from an engine passes. The exhaust chamber includes: an inner case having a chamber expansion region therein; and an outer case configured to cover a portion of the inner case. The inner case has a first inner case half and a second inner case half which are obtained by division into two parts, and is formed by the first inner case half and the second inner case half being joined to each other at an inner joining portion. The outer case has a first outer case piece and a second outer case piece which are spaced from each other. The first outer case piece and the second outer case piece are each joined to a portion, on an outer surface of the inner case, which portion is different from the inner joining portion.

(Field of the Invention)
The present invention relates to exhaust chambers disposed in exhaust passages through which exhaust gas from engines of saddle-riding type vehicles pass.
(Description of Related Art)
It has been known that saddle-riding type vehicles such as motorcycles have exhaust chambers in exhaust passages through which exhaust gas from engines pass (for example, JP Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-041562). The exhaust chamber is disposed upstream of a muffler positioned at a downstream end of the exhaust passage with respect to a direction of flow of the exhaust gas. Such an exhaust chamber allows sufficient muffling effect for exhaust gas to be obtained without increasing a size of the muffler.
An exhaust chamber is generally formed so as to have a so-called "two-part structure" obtained by two divisional parts being joined to each other since the shape of the exhaust chamber is complicated in many cases. Further, in order to enhance silencing effect, it is advantageous that the exhaust chamber has a great capacity. However, when the capacity is increased, a planar portion of the outer shape tends to be increased, and vibration sound is more likely to be radiated due to vibration of the exhaust chamber.

Exhaust chamber for saddle-riding type vehicle


A wood splitting apparatus has a parting blade and a platen which undergo reciprocating motions in mutually opposite directions by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders. After the parting blade splits off a portion of a sawn log horizontally, the portion which has been split off is dropped and then pushed by the platen into and through a cutting block provided with a plurality of knives so as to be cut into smaller pieces. The pair of hydraulic cylinders is directly connected by a pipe through which a hydraulic liquid can flow back and forth therebetween and is together controlled by a single valve for power economy. The floor of the cutting block is of an inverted V-shape and the knives are oriented such that the intervals therebetween increase on the downstream side so as to prevent jamming of the apparatus by the wood pieces.

This invention relates to a driving mechanism (herein also referred to as the xe2x80x9cdriving meansxe2x80x9d) for moving two objects simultaneously and reciprocatingly in opposite directions.
In view of prior art mechanical wood splitting apparatus which do not function satisfactorily and are frequently jammed with cut pieces of wood in the spaces between the cutting blades while having a relatively high power consumption rate, the present inventor invented a novel wood splitter. As disclosed in detail in aforementioned patent application Ser. No. 09/686,271 filed Oct. 10, 2000 and to be published in near future, this wood splitter comprises two components which are required to be driven simultaneously and reciprocatingly in opposite directions.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a driver, or a driving mechanism, for simultaneously and reciprocatingly moving two objects such as two machine parts in mutually opposite directions with a relatively low power consumption.
It is another object of this invention to provide such a driving mechanism which can also be operated in another mode wherein one of the pair of these objects is kept stationary while the other one is moved reciprocatingly.
A driving mechanism embodying this invention, with which the above and other objects can be accomplished, may be characterized as comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinders individually connected to two objects to be moved simultaneously and reciprocatingly in mutually opposite directions, a pump for moving a hydraulic liquid, a valve such as a four-way valve for causing this hydraulic liquid pressured by the pump to flow selectively to one or the other of the pair of hydraulic cylinders, and a connecting pipe which directly connects the hydraulic cylinders for allowing the hydraulic liquid to move from either one to the other of the pair of hydraulic cylinders. A second valve such as another four-way valve may be further provided for causing the hydraulic liquid to operate one of the pair of these hydraulic cylinders selectively in one or the other direction.

Driving mechanism for moving two objects simultaneously and reciprocatingly in opposite directions


A mechanical time piece has a mainspring for generating a rotational force and a front train wheel for undergoing rotation in accordance with a rotational force generated by the mainspring. An escapement and speed control apparatus controls rotation of the front train wheel and has a timed annular balance for undergoing reciprocal rotational movement, an escape wheel and pinion for undergoing rotation in accordance with rotation of the front train wheel, and a pallet fork for controlling rotation of the escape wheel and pinion in accordance with rotational movement of the timed annular balance. A switch mechanism outputs an ON signal when a rotational angle of the timed annular balance becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold angle and outputs an OFF signal when the rotational angle of the timed annular balance does not exceed the threshold angle. A balance rotational angle control mechanism applies a force to the timed annular balance to restrain rotation of the timed annular balance when the switch mechanism outputs the ON signal. The balance rotational angle control mechanism has a balance magnet disposed on the timed annular balance and a plurality of coils for exerting a magnetic force to the balance magnet to thereby restrain rotation of the timed annular balance when the switch mechanism outputs the ON signal and for not exerting a magnetic force to the balance magnet when the switch mechanism outputs the OFF signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanical time piece having a balance rotational angle control mechanism constituted to exert a force for restraining rotation of a balance with hairspring.
Particularly, the invention relates to a mechanical time piece having a balance rotational angle control mechanism including a balance magnet provided to a balance with hairspring and a coil arranged to be related to the balance magnet.
2. Background Information
According to a conventional mechanical time piece, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, a movement (machine body) 1100 of a mechanical time piece is provided with a main plate 1102 constituting a base plate of the movement. A winding stem 1110 is rotatably integrated to a winding stem guide hole 1102a of the main plate 1102. A dial 1104 (shown in FIG. 14 by an imaginary line) is attached to the movement 1100.
Generally, in both sides of the main plate, a side thereof having the dial is referred to as xe2x80x9cback sidexe2x80x9d of the movement and a side thereof opposed to the side having the dial is referred to as xe2x80x9cfront sidexe2x80x9d of the movement. A train wheel integrated to the xe2x80x9cfront sidexe2x80x9d of the movement is referred to as xe2x80x9cfront train wheelxe2x80x9d and a train wheel integrated to the xe2x80x9cback sidexe2x80x9d of the movement is referred to as xe2x80x9cback train wheelxe2x80x9d.
A position in the axis line direction of the winding stem 1110 is determined by a switch apparatus including a setting lever 1190, a yoke 1192, a yoke spring 1194 and a setting lever jumper 1196. A winding pinion 1112 is provided rotatably at a guide shaft portion of the winding stem 1110. When the winding stem 1110 is rotated in the state in which the winding stem 1110 is disposed at a first winding stem position (0-stage) on a side most proximate to the inner side of the movement along the rotational axis line, the winding pinion 1112 is rotated via rotation of a clutch wheel. A crown wheel 1114 is rotated by rotation of the winding pinion 1112. A ratchet wheel 1116 is rotated by rotation of the crown wheel 1114. By rotating the ratchet wheel 1116, a mainspring 1122 contained in a barrel complete 1120 is wound up. A center wheel and pinion 1124 is rotated by rotation of the barrel complete 1120. An escape wheel and pinion 1130 is rotated via rotation of a fourth wheel and pinion 1128, a third wheel and pinion 1126 and the center wheel and pinion 1124. The barrel complete 1120, the center wheel and pinion 1124, the third wheel and pinion 1126 and the fourth wheel and pinion 1128 constitute a front train wheel.
An escapement and speed control apparatus for controlling rotation of the front train wheel includes a balance with hairspring 1140, the escape wheel and pinion 1130 and a pallet fork 1142. The balance with hairspring 1140 includes a balance stem 1140a, a balance wheel 1140b and a hairspring 1140c. Based on rotation of the center wheel and pinion 1124, a cannon pinion 1150 is simultaneously rotated. A minute hand 1152 attached to the cannon pinion 1150 displays xe2x80x9cminutexe2x80x9d. The cannon pinion 1150 is provided with a slip mechanism relative to the center pinion and wheel 1124. Based on rotation of the cannon pinion 1150, via rotation of a minute wheel, an hour wheel 1154 is rotated. An hour hand 1156 attached to the hour wheel 1154 displays xe2x80x9chourxe2x80x9d.
The barrel complete 1120 is supported rotatably by the main plate 1102 and a barrel bridge 1160. The center wheel and pinion 1124, the third wheel and pinion 1126, the fourth wheel and pinion 1128 and the escape wheel and pinion 1130 are supported rotatably by the main plate 1102 and a train wheel bridge 1162. The pallet fork 1142 is supported rotatably by the main plate 1102 and a pallet bridge 1164. The balance with hairspring 1140 is supported rotatably by the main plate 1102 and a balance bridge 1166.
The hairspring 1140c is a leaf spring in a helical (spiral) shape having a plural turn number. An inner end portion of the hairspring 1140c is fixed to a hairspring holder 1140d fixed to the balance stem 1140a and an outer end portion of the hairspring 1140c is fixed via a hairspring stud 1170a attached to a stud support 1170 fixed to the balance bridge 1166 by fastening screws.
A regulator 1168 is attached rotatably to the balance bridge 1166. A hairspring bridge 1168a and a hairspring rod 1168b are attached to the regulator 1168. A portion of the hairspring 1140c proximate to the outer end portion is disposed between the hairspring bridge 1168a and the hairspring rod 1168b.
Generally, according to a conventional representative mechanical timepiece, as shown by FIG. 8, with elapse of a duration time period of rewinding the mainspring from a state in which the mainspring has completely been wound up (fully wound state), mainspring torque is reduced. For example, in the case of FIG. 8, the mainspring torque is about 27 g.cm in the fully wound state, becomes about 23 g.cm after elapse of 20 hours from the fully wound state and becomes about 18 g.cm after elapse of 40 hours from the fully wound state.
Generally, according to a conventional representative mechanical time piece, as shown by FIG. 9, when the mainspring torque is reduced, the swing angle of the balance with hairspring is also reduced. For example, in the case of FIG. 9, when the mainspring torque is 25-28 g.cm, the swing angle of the balance with hairspring is about 240-270 degree and when the mainspring torque is 20-25 g.cm, the swing angle of the balance with hairspring is about 180-240 degree.
In reference to FIG. 10, there is shown a transitional change of instantaneous rate with regard to swing angle of a balance with hairspring according to a conventional representative mechanical time piece (numerical value indicating accuracy of time piece). In this case, the xe2x80x9cinstantaneous ratexe2x80x9d is defined as xe2x80x9ca value indicating gain or loss of a mechanical time piece after elapse of one day after the mechanical time piece is assumed to be left for one day while maintaining state or environment of swing angle of a balance with hairspring or the like when the rate is measuredxe2x80x9d. In the case of FIG. 10, when a swing angle of a balance with hairspring is equal to or larger than 240 degree or is equal to or smaller than 200 degree, the instantaneous rate is retarded.
For example, according to a conventional representative time piece, as shown by FIG. 10, when the swing angle of the balance with hairspring falls in a range of about 200 through 240 degree, the instantaneous rate is about 0 through 5 seconds/day (gain of 0 through 5 seconds per day), however, when the swing angle of the balance with hairspring is about 170 degree, the instantaneous rate becomes about xe2x88x9220 seconds/day (loss of about 20 seconds per day).
In reference to FIG. 12, there is shown a transitional change of elapse time and instantaneous rate when a mainspring is rewound from a fully wound state in a conventional representative mechanical time piece. In this case, in the conventional mechanical time piece, xe2x80x9cratexe2x80x9d indicating gain of the timepiece or loss of the time piece per day, is provided by integrating instantaneous rate with regard to elapse time of rewinding the balance with hairspring from a fully wound state, which is indicated in FIG. 12 by an extremely slender line, over 24 hours.
Generally, according to the conventional mechanical timepiece, with elapse of duration time period of rewinding the mainspring from the fully wound state, the mainspring torque is reduced, the swing angle of the balance with hairspring is also reduced and accordingly, the instantaneous rate is retarded. Therefore, according to the conventional mechanical timepiece, by estimating loss of the time piece after elapse of the duration time period of 24 hours, instantaneous rate when the mainspring is brought into the fully wound state, is previously gained and previously adjusted such that the xe2x80x9cratexe2x80x9d indicating gain of the time piece or loss of the time piece per day becomes positive.
For example, according to the conventional representative time piece, as shown by the extremely slender line in FIG. 12, although in the fully wound state, the instantaneous rate is about 3 seconds/day (gain of about 3 seconds per day), after elapse of 20 hours from the fully wound state, the instantaneous rate becomes about xe2x88x923 seconds/day (loss of about 3 seconds per day), after elapse of 24 hours from the fully wound state, the instantaneous rate becomes about xe2x88x928 seconds per day (loss of about 8 seconds per day) and after elapse of 30 hours from the fully wound state, the instantaneous rate becomes about xe2x88x9216 seconds/day (loss of about 16 seconds per day).
Further, as a conventional apparatus of adjusting a swing angle of a balance with hairspring, there is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 41675/1979, a constitution having a swing angle adjusting plate exerting braking force to a balance with hairspring by generating eddy current at each time of pivotal approach of a magnet of the balance with hairspring.
Further, as shown by FIG. 36, a conventional coreless motor 2100 is provided with a shaft 2102, a magnet yoke 2104 fixed to the shaft 2102 and a drive magnet 2106 fixed to the magnet yoke 2104. A stator yoke 2110 is provided rotatably to the shaft 2102 via a bearing 2112. A printed circuit board 2114 is fixed to the stator yoke 2110. A drive coil 2116 is fixed to the printed circuit board 2114 to be opposed to the drive magnet 2106 and spaced apart therefrom. By applying current to the drive coil 2116, the drive magnet 2106, the magnet yoke 2104 and the shaft 2102 are constituted to rotate.
It is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical time piece having a balance rotational angle control mechanism capable of controlling a swing angle of a balance with hairspring to fall in a constant range.
Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical time piece having excellent accuracy in which a change in a rate is in considerable even after elapse of an elapse time period from a fully wound state of a mainspring by providing a novel balance rotational angle control mechanism.
Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical time piece constituted such that a balance rotational angle control mechanism includes a balance magnet provided at a balance with hairspring and a coil unit arranged to relate to the balance magnet and constituted such that fabrication and assembly of parts are facilitated.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mechanical time piece characterized in that in a mechanical time piece having a main plate constituting a base plate of the mechanical time piece, a mainspring constituting a power source of the mechanical time piece, a front train wheel rotated by a rotational force when the mainspring is rewound and an escapement and speed control apparatus for controlling rotation of the front train wheel in which the escapement and speed control apparatus includes a balance with hairspring alternately repeating right rotation and left rotation, an escape wheel and pinion rotated based on the rotation of the front train wheel and a pallet fork for controlling rotation of the escape wheel and pinion based on operation of the balance with hairspring, the mechanical time piece comprising a switch mechanism constituted to output a signal of ON when a rotational angle of the balance with hairspring becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold and output a signal of OFF when the rotational angle of the balance with hairspring does not exceed the threshold, and a balance rotational angle control mechanism constituted to exert a force for restraining rotation of the balance with hairspring to the balance with hairspring when the switch mechanism outputs the signal of ON.
According to the mechanical time piece of the aspect of the invention, the switch mechanism is constituted to output the signal of ON when a hairspring provided at the balance with hairspring is brought into contact with terminal members constituting a switch lever.
Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the aspect of the invention, the balance rotational angle control mechanism includes a balance magnet provided to the balance with hairspring and a plurality of coils arranged to be capable of exerting a magnetic force to the balance magnet and the coils are constituted to exert the magnetic force to the balance magnet to thereby restrain the rotation of the balance with hairspring when the switch mechanism outputs the signal of ON and not to exert the magnetic force to the balance magnet when the switch mechanism outputs the signal of OFF.
Further, the mechanical time piece of the invention is provided with a circuit board having patterns for conducting the plurality of coils.
By using the balance rotational angle control mechanism constituted in this way, the rotational angle of the balance with hairspring of the mechanical time piece can effectively be controlled, thereby, accuracy of the mechanical time piece can be promoted.
Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that wiring portions of the plurality of coils are arranged on a side of a main plate of the circuit board.
Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that the plurality of coils are attached to a coil bridge and the circuit board is attached to the coil bridge and the coil bridge is guided by a bearing member provided at the main plate.
Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that the plurality of coils are attached to coil bridges provided respectively separately, the coil bridges are respectively attached to the circuit board and the coil bridges are guided by the guide holes respectively provided at the main plate.
Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that the circuit board is provided with patterns for conducting the plurality of coils on one side thereof and is provided with patterns for connecting lead wires for conducting the switch mechanism on other side thereof.
Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that the plurality of coils are connected in series by the patterns provided to the circuit board.
By constituting in this way, the plurality of coils can be arranged efficiently in a small space and the plurality of coils can firmly be conducted.
Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that the switch mechanism includes a first terminal member and a second terminal member and is further provided with an adjusting apparatus for changing an interval between the first terminal member and the second terminal member.
Further, according to the mechanical time piece of the invention, it is preferable that the switch mechanism includes a first terminal member and a second terminal member and is further provided with an adjusting apparatus for simultaneously moving the first terminal member and the second terminal member relative to a rotational center of the balance with hairspring.
By constituting in this way, the positions of the first terminal member and the second terminal member relative to the portion proximate to the outer end portion of the hairspring and the interval between the first terminal member and the second terminal member can effectively be adjusted.

Mechanical timepiece with timed annular balance rotating angle control mechanism


A semiconductor device and manufacturing method wherein a gate insulating film is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A gate is formed on the gate insulating film and a sidewall spacer is formed on respective sides of the gate. The substrate is etched at the respective sides of the gate to form respective recessed parts of the substrate. An insulating film is provided on the recessed parts of the substrate and the recessed parts are filled with a semiconductor layer. Impurity regions are formed contacting the semiconductor layer in the semiconductor substrate on the respective sides of the gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having high-breakdown voltage and high-speed characteristics.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The most general type of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) includes a gate electrode 13 formed on a semiconductor substrate 11 with a gate insulating film 12 interposed therebetween, as shown in FIG. 1. Source region 14 and drain region 15 are impurity diffusion regions formed at respective sides of the gate electrode 13 in the substrate 11. Due to a large junction capacitance between source/drain regions 14 and 15 and a bulk silicon, i.e., substrate 11, the abovementioned MOSFET is unsuitable for a semiconductor device requiring high-speed operations.
When the above MOSFET is applied to a highly integrated semiconductor device, isolation and latch up characteristics become poor. Moreover, the source/drain regions 14 and 15 are formed in the substrate 11 by implanting impurity ions using an ion-implantation technique. To operate the above MOSFET under a high voltage, a complicated insulation structure must be formed around the source/drain regions 14 and 15. Accordingly, the above MOSFET cannot be applied to a highly integrated circuit requiring a high voltage.
A MOSFET having a silicon on an insulator (SOI) structure has been proposed as a device favorable to higher integration. In this device, power consumed is low and a high voltage operation can be realized without latch up and soft error.
In the above MOSFET having the SOI structure, as shown in FIG. 2, an insulating layer 22 is formed on a substrate 21. A polycrystalline silicon layer 23 is formed on insulating layer 22 as a semiconductor layer. A gate insulating film 24 and a gate electrode 25 are formed sequentially thereon. Source/drain regions 26 and 27 are formed at respective sides of gate electrode 26 in silicon layer 23.
A high breakdown voltage can be obtained in the above MOSFET, and thereby used in a highly integrated circuit at high voltage. However, if the insulating film underneath the semiconductor layer having the SOI structure is formed very thick, a drain electric field affects the electric field distribution of the semiconductor layer, thereby increasing a short-channel effect. If the insulating film is formed thin, the short-channel effect can be suppressed. However, the decrease in thickness of the insulating film causes an increase in parasitic capacitance, and hence, high-speed characteristics cannot be obtained.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a spacer


A process for making a compatible LCP blend by reactively esterifying an LCP having a carboxylic acid or ester end group with either PPO or PPS, or derivatives thereof, using a catalytic mixture containing boric acid and polyphosphoric acid or sulfuric acid. The carboxylic functionality on the LCP reacts with the hydroxyl end group on the PPO or the thiol end group on the PPS to form an ester or thioester linkage. The two polymers to be blended are melt mixed with the catalyst mixture and extruded.

The present invention relates to a process for making liquid crystal polymer ("LCP") blends, especially to a process for making compatible LCP/PPO and LCP/PPS blends.
Many polymers exhibiting liquid crystalline properties are known in the art. However, these polymers generally tend to be incompatible with other polymers. When a compatible blend of an LCP and another polymer is desired, it is often necessary to add a small amount of another ingredient or compatibilizer to promote more thorough blending between the two polymers. The additional ingredient may work by promoting bond formation between diverse polymer molecules. However, a compatibilizer that is effective in one system may not be effective in others; a great deal depends upon the specific functionalities of the molecules.
An important driving force in seeking new polymer blends is cost-effectiveness. It is often desirable, for example, to discover new blends that have one or more desirable characteristics found in an expensive polymer, but cost less. This is usually accomplished by finding a suitable blend comprising the expensive polymer and a less expensive one.
Another reason for blending polymers is to create compositions that are better able to meet special needs than the polymers known in the art. Accordingly, it is sometimes desired to combine an LCP with another polymer having special characteristics in the hope of creating a blend exhibiting the desirable characteristics of both polymers. For example, polyphenylenesulfide ("PPS") has very good thermal stability and chemical resistance, potentially important characteristics for an LCP blend. Polyphenyleneoxide ("PPO") exhibits reasonable impact resistance. However, LCP's are generally incompatible with PPO or PPS. LCP/PPO and LCP/PPS blends tend to have large regions or domains of the individual polymers rather than fine, well-dispersed domains; the large domains tend to produce poor properties, e.g. films having poor tensile properties.
It is known that phenols may be directly esterified using a combination of boric acid and either sulfuric acid or polyphosphoric acid as a catalyst. This process is described by Lowrance in "Boric Acid-Catalyzed Esterification Of Phenols", Tetrahedron Letters, No. 37, pp. 3453-4 (1971). However, this process has not been applied to polymers.

Compatible LCP blends via direct esterification


Circuitry of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network may comprise a first transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an optical link, a second transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an electrical link, a first processing path, a second processing path, and a switching circuit. In a first configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the first processing path. In a second configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the second processing path. The first transceiver may comprise a passive optical network (PON) transceiver and the second transceiver may comprise a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver. The switching circuit may be configured based on the type of headend to which the circuitry is connected.

Conventional systems and methods for communications can be overly power hungry, slow, expensive, and inflexible. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for forming the copper interconnects is disclosed. The method includes, firstly, providing a semiconductor substrate is provided. Then, a first dielectric layer is formed. Sequentially, a second dielectric layer is formed and an anti-reflective layer is formed. Then, a hardmask layer is formed. Etching of the hardmask layer is carried out. The photoresist layer is removed and another photoresist is replaced. The anti-reflective layer, the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer are all etched. The hardmask layer, the anti-reflective layer and the second dielectric layer are all etched. The photoresist layer, the hardmask layer and the anti-reflective layer are all removed. A first barrier layer is conformably formed on the sidewalls and the exposed surfaces of the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer, and on the surface of the first copper layer. A seed layer is conformably formed on the barrier layer. The via opening is filled up and the line opening with a second copper layer. Finally, the second copper layer can be planarized until the second dielectric layer is exposed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming copper interconnects in dielectric materials with low dielectric constant, and more specifically, to a method for applying dual damascene in the fabrication of a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of copper interconnects with low-k dielectrics is actively pursued for multilevel interconnect technologies. For dual-damascene application, the first via integration scheme is not as sensitive to the lithographic alignment as the self-aligned scheme. However, the removal of photoresist residue inside the via without hurting the low-k materials will be a problem in the case of photoresist rework.
In fact, damascene is an interconnection fabrication process in which grooves are formed in an insulating layer and filled with metal to form conductive lines (metal interconnects). Dual damascene is a multi-level interconnection process in which, in addition to forming the grooves of single damascene, conductive contact (or via) openings are also formed. In the standard dual damascene process, a first oxide layer is deposited over a conductive structure. A hard mask is formed over the first oxide layer. A first patterned photoresist layer is formed on the hard mask. The hard mask is patterned using the first photoresist layer as a pattern. The first photoresist layer is removed.
A second oxide layer is then formed over the hard mask. A second patterned photoresist layer is formed over the second oxide layer. Both the first oxide layer and the second oxide layer are etched to form the dual damascene opening. The first oxide layer is etched using the hard mask as a pattern and the conductive structure as an etching stop. The second oxide layer is etched using the second photoresist layer as a pattern and the hard mask as an etching stop. The second photoresist layer is then stripped by oxygen plasma. However, the oxygen plasma damages the exposed surface of the first oxide layer and the second oxide layer within the dual damascene opening. Therefore, there is a need for an improved method for making a dual damascene contact.
Also, silicon chip technology has increased the need for multi-layer interconnect systems to provide higher density circuits, faster signal propagation and to allow direct silicon die attachment. To meet these new requirements, the dielectric material must have a low dielectric constant (preferably less than 5) to reduce signal propagation delay, and must have a thermal expansion coefficient close to the value for silicon to allow direct die attachment to the substrate.
Heretofore, most of the dielectric materials used in multi-layer circuits have been conventional thick film compositions. A typical circuit is constructed by sequentially printing, drying and firing functional thick film layers atop a ceramic substrate that is usually 92-96% wt.
The multiple steps required make this technology process intensive with the large number of process steps and yield losses attributing to high costs. Thick film technology nevertheless fills an important need in microelectronics and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Recently, dielectric thick film compositions with low dielectric constant have been introduced. However, ceramic substrates with thermal expansion coefficients equal to that of silicon are not readily available.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that there is a substantial need for a low temperature co-fireable tape dielectric which
(1) has a low dielectric constant (less than 5), PA1 (2) has a thermal expansion coefficient very close to the value for silicon, and PA1 (3) can be fired in air at a low temperature (less than 1000.degree. C.), thus permitting the use of high conductivity metallurgies.
Normally, the well-known low dielectrics in the semiconductor industry are made from organic materials or inorganic materials. These materials are named as low-dielectric constant materials and measured by value of k. Generally the value of k for organic materials is about 2 to 3 (k=2 to 3), and the value of k for inorganic materials is about 2 to 3.5 (k=2 to 3.5). When the chip size is much smaller due to shrinkage, the k value of the inter-metal dielectrics (IMD) or inter-layer dielectrics (ILD) in need is much lower.
Within the microelectronics industry, there is an ongoing trend toward miniaturization coupled with higher performance. The scaling of transistors toward smaller dimensions, higher speeds, and lower power has resulted in an urgent need for low constant inter-level insulators. Low dielectric constant inter-level dielectrics have already been identified as being critical to the realization of high performance integrated circuits. Thus, there exists a need in the microelectronics industry for a thermally stable, non-corrosive low dielectric constant polymer with good solvent resistance, high glass transition temperature, good mechanical performance and good adhesive properties, particularly to copper.

Forming copper interconnects in dielectric materials with low constant dielectrics


The present invention relates to a laundry treating machine, including an air supply unit for supplying air, a tub for having the air supplied thereto from the air supply unit to treat the laundry, the tub having an air recovery opening formed in an outside circumferential surface thereof for recovery of the air to the air supply unit, a lint filter mounted to an inside of the air recovery opening for filtering the lint from the air, a filter cleaning unit for spraying cleaning water to separate the lint from the lint filter, and a flow passage member for guiding the cleaning water dropping from the lint filter to an inside of the tub to an inside surface of the tub.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to laundry treating machines, and more particularly, to a laundry treating machine in which cleaning water used for cleaning a lint filter which filters lint is used as cooling water for producing condensed water within a tub.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, as examples of the laundry treating machine, there are washing machines, and drying and washing machines. The washing machine is a product for removing different kinds of dirt from clothes and beddings by using a softening action of detergent and a friction and an impact to the laundry of a water circulation caused by a pulsator or a drum. A full automatic washing machine appeared recently progresses a series of strokes of a washing course, a rinsing course, a spinning course, and so on without user's intervention.
And, the drying and washing machine is a kind of the washing machine which can perform functions of the washing machine described above as well as drying the laundry washed thus. In the drying and washing machine, there are condensing type drying and washing machines in which air drawn from the tub has moisture removed therefrom by water used for condensing, and is heated and introduced to the tub, again.
A related art condensing type drying and washing machine will be described with reference to FIG. 1, briefly. As shown, the drying and washing machine 10 is provided with a cabinet 11 which forms a space therein, a tub 12 housed in cabinet 11, a drum 13 rotatably mounted in the tub 12, a condensing duct 14 formed on an outside of the tub 12 for condensing moisture contained in the air from the tub 12, a heating duct 15 connected to downstream of the condensing duct 14 in a flow direction of the air for heating the air with a heater 16 and providing the air heated thus to an inside of the tub 12, and a fan 17 for making the air in the tub 12 to circulate along the condensing duct 14 and the heating duct 15.
In drying the laundry, the drying and washing machine 10 described thus dries the laundry with rotation of the drum and the air heated as the air is moved by the fan 17, heated by the heater 16 provided to the heating duct 15, and supplied to the inside of the tub 12.
Then, the heated air having the laundry dried thereby is turned to wet air as the heated air dries the laundry, introduced to the condensing duct 14 from the tub 12, and has the moisture removed therefrom at the condensing duct 14. In this case, the condensing duct 14 has cooling water supplied thereto separately for condensing the wet air. In the meantime, the air introduced to the condensing duct 14 is supplied to the heating duct 15 by the fan 17, again. Thus, the air is circulated by repeating above steps.
In the meantime, in drying the laundry by repeating above steps, the lint contained in the laundry is liable to be introduced through the condensing duct 14 together with the air, and remain at the condensing duct 14, the fan 17, and the heating duct 15. Consequently, a lint filter (Not shown) may be provided, for filtering the lint passing through the condensing duct 14, the fan 17, and the heating duct 15, additionally. However, there has been a problem in that the lint filtered at the lint filter in a course of drying acts as a resistor in an air circulating passage of the condensing duct 14, the fan 17, and the heating duct 15, causing a problem of making air circulating efficiency poor.


A device for assembling a lens assembly includes a base, a barrel having a bottom, a universal joint disposed between the base and the bottom of the barrel, a push rod, and a resilient member. The universal joint is configured for allowing the barrel to tilt in any direction. The push rod is configured for depressing the lenses received to the barrel to form a lens barrel. The resilient member is disposed between the base and the bottom of the barrel. In process of assembling lenses, when the push rod presses the lenses received in the barrel, the lens assembly can hold the axis of the lenses in coaxial alignment under the cooperation of the universal joint and exert a uniformity force on a surface of the lenses. The lens assembly can eliminate the risk of breakage of the lenses and accurately position the lenses.

With the development of science and technology, portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) or the like are now in widespread use. Portable electronic devices including image capture devices are becoming increasingly fashionable. Device for assembling lens module is an important factor in performance of the lens modules to capture images. Therefore, an improvement in the device will help to improve the quality and ease with which the lens module captures images.
Generally, a lens module, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a lens barrel 31, a number of optical elements, such as lenses 32, and at least a spacer 33 for spacing the lenses 32, received in the lens barrel 31. In assembly, firstly, the lenses 32 and the spacer 33 are press fit together to form a lens unit using a cylinder 401 and a push rod 41 as shown in FIG. 5. Then, the lens unit is inserted into the lens barrel 31.
However, in the process of press fitting the lenses 32 and the spacer 33 together in the cylinder 401, the lenses 32 may not be level in the cylinder 401, due to factors such as dimension error or improper manual operation. This results in a failure to accurately position the lenses 32 and the spacer 33 relative to each other.
It is desired to provide a device for assembling a lens assembly which can overcome the above-described deficiency.


An aquarium system (10) includes an inlet reservoir (25), an aquarium tank (16) defining a container for water in fluid communication with the inlet reservoir (25) to receive water displaced from the inlet reservoir (25), an outlet reservoir (35) in fluid communication with the tank (16) for receiving water displaced from the tank (16), and a water treatment unit (45) in fluid communication with the inlet reservoir (25) and tile outlet reservoir (35). The water treatment unit (45) includes a rotatably supported media wheel (47) which has a first hollow portion (48) and a second portion (49) carrying a water displacement media (50). The media (50) is alternately submersible into and raisable out of water contained in the water treatment unit (45) as the media wheel (47) is rotated to displace water from the unit to the inlet reservoir (25), to thereby cycle water through the system. In one embodiment, the displacement media (50) is a biological media. In another embodiment, the media wheel (47) carries an algae screen (70) on its perimeter.

Aquarium enthusiasts have searched for the perfect water treatment system that will model a natural ecosystem. Water movement, oxygen and pH control, nutrient control and waste removal are essential for a healthy, captive water ecosystem. The system must support algae, aerobic bacteria, plankton and coral growth to satisfy these requirements.
Water movement facilitates the exchange of metabolites and mimics ocean tides which rise and fall over algae covered rocks. Algae, which is required for a healthy captive ecosystem, requires water movement. Several approaches have been used to mimic natural water movement. Lee Chin Eng circulated unfiltered sea water with air bubbles in his "nature's system" to model the wave action of nature ecosystems. Wave generators have been used to create water movement but unfortunately these devices can cause splashing which upsets the salt concentration of the water. Several references disclose systems which rely partially on equilibrium or gravity for water movement. Most contemplate the use of a water pump which is disadvantageous due to plankton mortality. Plankton is required to support coral and filter feeding organisms. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,831 to Fuerst et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,874 to Aubert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,821 to D'Imperio; U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,576 to Szabo and U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,227 to Willinger et al.). Some references use an air pump to induce water flow and introduce oxygen. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,581 to Rosenberg and U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,914 to Englert). Unfortunately, many of these devices also cause splashing.
Various methods and devices have been developed for controlling oxygen concentration, pH, nutrient availability and waste control. The most natural approaches have used biological filters or algae turf scrubbers. Biological filtration systems provide attachment surfaces for microorgansisms to increase biological and chemical activities.
Trickle filters are available for biological filtration. In such devices, water is typically removed from the aquarium and allowed to trickle over a bed of lava rock or plastic balls. Trickle filters provide an oxygen rich environment for the growth of aerobic bacteria because the bed is not submerged. However, trickle filters can take up a relatively large area and usually require dedicated plumbing and pump fixtures. As a result, such filters can be expensive and impractical in most applications and are not particularly useful for the average home aquarium.
Rotating biological filters are often used to support bacterial growth in home aquariums. These filter systems are partially submerged so that each portion of the media is alternately submerged and exposed to air. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,831 to Fuerst which discloses that the filter is rotated with a stream of water. One disadvantage of this device is that it requires a water pump. Bacterial filters are further limited because while they remove ammonia and particulate waste, they deplete oxygen and increase the concentration of nitrates and carbon dioxide.
Algae turf scrubbers address some of the limitations of biological filters in that they control oxygen concentration, pH and nutrient availability. Dr. Adey's system includes a shallow trough in fluid communication with an aquarium tank. A mesh screen in the trough supports algae growth and a wave surge bucket provides water movement. Because algae is most efficient when young, the algae must be harvested or scraped from the screen periodically. Harvesting simulates the grazing that occurs in natural systems. One disadvantage of this system, however, is that harvesting must be done manually which is labor intensive. Also, the centrifugal pumps required for these systems kill plankton and the splashing disrupts the salt concentration of the water. Furthermore, these systems require significant modifications to existing aquariums.
A need has remained for devices which connect easily to existing aquariums and support natural-type ecosystems by controlling pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide concentration, nutrient availability and waste removal without the disadvantages of splashing, killing plankton and extensive maintenance.


A slide catch-ejector assembly for an autoloading firearm. An embodiment of a firearm having a slide catch-ejector assembly includes a housing, a slide slidably mounted on the housing for rearward and forward axial movement, and an assembly having a slide catch portion configured for engaging the slide and an ejector portion configured for ejecting cartridge casings from the firearm. In one embodiment, the assembly is selectively movable in the housing between a deactivated position in which the slide catch portion is not engageable with the slide and an activated position in which the slide catch portion is engageable with the slide. The ejector portion is selectively movable into and out of axial alignment with a chamber that receives a cartridge via moving the assembly between the deactivated and activated positions.

The present invention generally relates to firearms, and more particularly to a slide catch and ejector assembly for autoloading pistols.
Subcompact firearms, such as semiautomatic autoloading pistols for concealed carry applications, present numerous design challenges due to the need to provide essentially the same functionality as full-size pistols, but in a relatively small physical package. Some subcompact pistols may have typical lengths between about 5-6 inches and weigh less than one pound in contrast to their longer and heavier full-size counterparts. Accordingly, it is desirable to minimize size and weight of these subcompact pistols to facilitate concealed carry by keeping the number of components required for a fully-functional pistol to minimum without sacrificing functionality and safety. Therefore, efficient use of limited available space which is at a premium is essential to providing lightweight and compact pistols suitable for concealed carry.
According to another aspect of full-size autoloading pistols, slide catch or hold mechanisms for holding the slide in an open position are known to facilitate inspection of the breech area of the pistol. Accordingly, a slide catch is desired that can be spatially and efficiently accommodated in the limited space available in a subcompact pistol format.

Slide catch-ejector assembly for firearm


A lathe chuck has a chuck body rotatable about an axis and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced and radially extending inner guides and with a plurality of angularly spaced and radially extending outer guides. Each of the inner guides in turn has an axially forwardly directed and radially extending blocking surface and an axially forwardly opening recess at the respective blocking surface. Inner jaws parts are radially displaceable in the chuck body in the inner guides and outer jaw parts projecting axially from the chuck body are radially displaceable therein in the outer guides. An operating element engages the inner jaw parts and jointly radially displaces them between radially inner and radially outer positions. Each inner jaw part has a coupling member axially displaceable between a forward coupling position engaging the respective outer jaw part and locking same radially to the inner jaw part and an axially offset decoupling position allowing relative displacement of the respective inner and outer jaw parts. Each blocking surface prevents displacement of the respective coupling member into the decoupling position except when it is aligned with the respective recess which only occurs in the radial outer position of the pair so that the inner and outer jaw parts can only be decoupled when they are in the radial outer position.

My first above-cited copending application describes a split-jaw lathe chuck having a chuck body rotatable about an axis and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced and radially extending inner guides and with a plurality of angularly spaced and radially extending outer guides. An inner jaw part wholly received within the chuck body is radially displaceable in each of the inner guides and an outer jaw part projecting axially from the chuck body is radially displaceable in each of the outer guides. An operating element is engaged with all of the inner jaw parts to jointly radially displace them. A coupling member is axially displaceable in each of the inner jaw parts between a coupling position in which the respective inner jaw part is locked for joint radial movement with the respective outer part and an axially offset decoupling position allowing relative radial displacement of the outer jaw parts and the respective inner jaw parts. These coupling members may be independently operable or jointly operable by means of a cam ring.
Such a split-jaw lathe chuck has proven extremely useful. The inner jaw parts can be displaceable only through a relatively limited radial stroke, so that is is possible for the operating member to achieve a considerable mechanical advantage for extremely tight clamping of a workpiece by the jaws. Workpieces of different sizes are accommodated by displacing the outer jaw parts relative to the inner jaw parts so as to position them in such a manner that the limited radial displacement of the inner jaw parts when coupled to the outer jaw parts allows these outer jaw parts to engage and clamp the workpiece, no matter what its size.
A disadvantage of this system is, however, that during setting of the outer jaw parts relative to the inner jaw parts it is possible for the inner jaw parts to move somewhat. It is also possible for the lathe to be started up when one of the outer jaw parts is not properly linked to its respective inner jaw part, so that the workpiece can slip out. What is more it is possible for a machine operator to set all of the outer jaws for a given workpiece size, only to find that the inner jaw parts were in their radial innermost position during such setting so that they will have to be moved to their outermost positions and all of the outer parts reset. It is noted that the operating member for the inner jaw parts is normally connected to some sort of safety arrangement that prevents the chuck from being rotated by the drive motor of the lathe until the jaws are tightly engaged with the workpiece. This can most easily be done by sensing the position of the operating member.

Split-jaw lathe chuck with lockable inner jaw parts


A method and structure for an integrated chip structure comprises a substrate having a power supply, a chip attached to the substrate, at least two decoupling capacitors attached to the chip and to the power supply, and a control circuit adapted to select physical locations of active decoupling capacitors to be interspersed with inactive decoupling capacitors. The invention selectively connects and disconnects the decoupling capacitors to and from the power supply, such that the inactive decoupling capacitors provide a uniform heat dissipation function across the chip and the active decoupling capacitors provide a uniform power regulation function across the chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to heat dissipating elements and decoupling capacitors and more particularly to a structure that utilizes the decoupling capacitors as heat dissipating elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
Both decoupling capacitors and heat sinks are discrete devices conventionally added to a semiconductor chip at the packaging level. The decoupling capacitor is used to stabilize the supplied voltage levels, so that any noise spike can be damped or filtered away. The heat sink, on the other hand, is used to remove the heat generated by the chip and provides a large surface area. Over the years of technology advancements and process scaling, on-chip decoupling capacitors have been developed that use high-density capacitors such as deep-trench capacitors, stacked capacitors. Placing decoupling capacitors closer to the devices improves power stability. The decoupling capacitors which are placed closer to the devices suffer less voltage rippling effect due to increased filtering.

Shared on-chip decoupling capacitor and heat-sink devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of building a structure on a substrate, said method including the steps of providing on the substrate a support arrangement capable of adopting a first, substantially rigid state whilst the structure is being built thereabove, and a subsequent, second state permitting the accommodation of movement of, and/or forces in, the substrate (e.g. due to heave). The support arrangement comprises fluid confinable means which, in the arrangement's first state, confines a fluid therein to a first space and is operable (via said fluid) to support the structure or at least parts thereof above the substrate, and which, in the arrangement's second state, does not confine the fluid and is either in a reduced space or is readily compressible to a reduced space by said movement and/or forces.. The fluid confining means may comprise a container comprising a flexible-walled main body and a closure member for the body, said closure member comprising, as at least part of its wall, an element degradable in a predictable manner with the intended fluid contents of the container. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the degradable element comprises a magnesium alloy to degrade in a predictable manner by the effect of water or a saline solution within the container.

Ground heave is a well known phenomenon, arising particularly but not exclusively in clay soils, in which the substrate expands (e.g. in the event of prolonged rain following a long period without rain, or after removal of a tree from adjacent a structure which upsets the substrate water balance) exerting large pressures on any structure built onto or into the substrate leading to cracking of the structure foundations and walls and--in the extreme--to the complete failure of the structure.
Clearly it would be possible to avoid this problem by ensuring that a void is provided beneath the lowermost part of the structure as it is built into which void the substrate may move--if subject to heave--without affecting the building thereabove. Such a solution is possible only if the lowermost part of the building is preformed since if it is being built "on-site" it needs to be supported--at least until it is sufficiently stable to stand on its own above the substrate.
To overcome this problem and permit structures to be built on substrates in which heave is likely to occur it has been proposed to provide a compressible volume between the parts of the structure in contact with the substrate and the substrate itself (notably the ground beams and ground slabs used in the structure).
One such known proposal is to provide a compressible foamed plastics material (e.g. expanded polystyrene) layers between the substrate upon which the structure is being built and the ground beams and ground slabs of the structure. Such a solution adds greatly to the safety of a structure, when the substrate on which it is built heaves, by reducing by partial absorption the stress transmitted to the structure. However, the compressibility of the plastics foams known to us is limited and the material always transmits a certain amount of loading to the structure. As a result the thickness of the foamed plastics layers required are much greater than would be needed if a complete void were provided beneath the structure (up to 2.5 times the thickness). This exacerbates another disadvantage--that of the foamed plastics layer compressing under the weight of concrete as it is poured.
Another known proposal provides a sandwich support arrangement having wood or fiber boarding mounted on either side of a central, fibrous paper-like honeycomb. When dry the central honeycomb section of the support arrangement will support the weight of wet concrete as it is poured, but when wet its ability so to do is considerably reduced. Such an arrangement offers advantages over the foamed plastics layers proposal and the support need be only 10-15 mm deeper than would have been a complete void.
A disadvantage of this proposal, however, is the need to keep the central honeycomb section of the arrangement dry for it to retain its strength whilst it is supporting, for example, concrete being poured to form a ground beam or a reinforced concrete ground slab. Thus when using arrangements embodying this proposal it is now becoming a common requirement completely to cover the support arrangement with a water impermeable sheet--e.g. polythene--to prevent the central honeycomb section of the arrangement collapsing under the weight of the concrete being poured (or even, prior to the concrete being poured, by the weight of bars placed on it to reinforce the concrete) following a shower of rain--or even from the effects of moisture in the concrete itself.
Further disadvantages of such a sandwich support arrangement are that, under certain conditions, it can (like other wood and certain cellulose products) biodegrade to form methane gas, which is dangerous (see `New Civil Engineer` of Apr. 11, 1991), and that it can harbour and promote infestation and/or dry rot.
Objects of the invention include the provision of methods of building structures and of apparatus and arrangements for use in such methods which overcome or at least alleviate the above-mentioned and/or other problems or disadvantages of the prior art.