An electronic cash register displays images for an article key receiving process and a total key response process on a screen, and in response to a first function key (IN indicative of eating inside), displays font data of a mark. Display attribution of the display is changed in accordance with the processing condition. That is, in response to the first function key, the background color at a predetermined area is changed in response to the first or second function key. An indicator for emitting a plurality of color rays indicates the processing condition with one of the color rays.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic cash register and a method of displaying a processing result in an electronic cash register.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An electronic cash register including a key board including article keys, function keys, and a total key, a microprocessor for processing, and a display such as an LCD, for displaying the result of the calculation is known.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved electronic cash register and an improved method of displaying a processing result in an electronic cash register.
According to the present invention, a first electronic cash register is provided which includes: a key board including article keys, a first function key indicative of eating inside the shop and second function key indicative of taking out, and a total key; a processor responsive to the key board for effecting one of predetermined processes including an article key receiving process and a total key response process; a font data storing portion for storing sets of font data; a setting portion responsive to the key board for generating and storing a first code indicative of a relation between the first function key and a first set of the font data and a second code indicative of a relation between the second function key and a second set of the font data; and a display responsive to the processor for displaying images for the article key receiving process and the total key response process on a screen, reading the first code from the setting portion in response to the first function key, displaying the first set of font data on the screen in accordance with the first code from the setting portion and reading the second code from the setting portion in response to the second function key to display the second set of font data on the screen in accordance with the second code from the setting portion. The first and second sets of the font data indicate font images other than character word images.
According to the present invention, a second electronic cash register is provided which includes: a key board including article keys, a first function key indicative of eating inside the shop, a second function key indicative of taking out, and a total key; a processor responsive to the key board for effecting one of predetermined processes including article key receiving process for receiving input of the article key, a first function key receiving process for receiving input of the first function key, a second function key receiving process for receiving input of the second function key, or a total key response process responsive to the total key at least; a condition judging portion for judging that the article key receiving processing has been just finished, judging that the input of the first function key is received, and judging that the input of the second function key is received; and a display responsive to the processor for displaying images for the article key receiving process and the total key response process on a screen. The display displays a condition of the processor in accordance with the judging result of the condition judging portion with predetermined information other than character words.
The second electronic cash register further includes: a font data storing portion for storing sets of font data; and a setting portion responsive to the key board for generating and storing a code indicative of a relation between one of sets of the font data and one of the predetermined processes, wherein the display reads the code from the setting portion when the judging result indicates one of predetermined processes, and displays the set of font data on the screen in accordance with the code from the setting portion.
In the second electronic cash register, the display includes a display attribution changing portion for changing display attribution at a predetermined area of the screen image in accordance with the judging result of the condition judging portion. In this case, the display attribution changing portion changes display attribution at the predetermined area of the screen image from a first background color to a second background color in accordance with the judging result. In this case, alphanumeric characters on the image for displaying for the article key receiving process may be displayed at the predetermined area and the alphanumeric characters on the image for displaying for the total key response process may be displayed at the predetermined area. On the other hand, the alphanumeric characters on the image for the article key receiving process may be displayed outside the predetermined area.
The second electronic cash register may further includes an indicator for emitting one of predetermined color rays in accordance with the judging result of the condition judging portion.
According to the present invention, a method of displaying processing result in an electronic cash register including a key board including article keys, a first function key indicative of eating inside the shop, a second function key indicative of taking out, and a total key and a processor responsive to the key board for effecting either of predetermined processes including article key receiving process for receiving input of the article key, a first function key receiving process for receiving input of the first function key, a second function key receiving process for receiving input of the second function key, or a total key response process responsive to the total key at least and a display is disclosed. The method includes the steps of; judging that the article key receiving processing has been just finished, judging that the input of the first function key is received, and judging that the input of the second function key is received; and displaying images for the article key receiving process and the total key response process on a screen, displaying a condition of the processor in accordance with the judging result with predetermined information other than character words.

Electronic cash register and a method of displaying a processing result in an electronic cash register


In a single wafer cleaning system of a single tank type in which wafers are one by one sprayed with chemical liquid and rinse water used in a successive order, not only can waste water is recovered while being classified into chemical liquid waste water and rinse waste water, but also the rinse waste water is recovered while being classified into cloudy rinse waste water and clean rinse waste water. A waste water classifying recovery apparatus comprises: chemical liquid waste water lines 15, 16 and a rinse waste water line 17 connected to a treatment tank 1; chemical liquid/rinse selective distributor automatic valves 10, 11, 12 respectively provided on the lines; a concentration meter sensor 18 for detecting a concentration of the rinse waste water on the rinse waste water line 17 downstream from the distributor automatic valve 12; a cloudy rinse waste water line 17a and a clean rinse waste water line 17b branched from the rinse waste water line 17 downstream from the concentration meter sensor 18; and cloudy/clean rinse distributor valves 13, 14 respectively provided on the waste water lines 17a, 17b; wherein the distributor automatic valve 13 on the cloudy rinse waste water line 17a or the distributor automatic valve 14 on the clean rinse waste water line 17b is opened according to a detection signal of the concentration meter sensor 18, so that the cloudy rinse waste water or the clean rinse waste water is separately drained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waste water classifying recovery apparatus for recovering waste water while classifying in a single wafer cleaning system in which wafers are cleaned especially one wafer at a time and particularly to a waste water classifying recovery apparatus in a wafer cleaning system in which rinse (cleaning with pure water) waste water after cleaning can be classified into cloudy rinse waste water and clean rinse waste water for recovery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a wafer cleaning system of a multistage batch type or a single tank (bath or container) type has well been known and waste water classifying recovery means are different between both types.
The wafer cleaning system of a multistage batch type, for example as shown in FIG. 4, comprises: a chemical liquid A tank 30 (bath); rinse tanks (baths) 31, 32; a chemical liquid B tank 33; and rinse tanks 34, 35, wherein chemical liquid A and chemical liquid B are respectively supplied to the chemical liquid A tank 30 and the chemical liquid B tank 33 through a chemical liquid A supply line 37 and a chemical liquid B supply line 38, while rinse water (pure water or ultrapure water) is supplied to all the tanks through a rinse water supply line 39. A transport robot moves a carrier in which many wafers are included sequentially through the chemical liquid A tank 30; the rinse tanks 31, 32; the chemical liquid B tank 33, the rinse tanks 34, 35 and the like so that the wafers are sequentially immersed into the tanks batchwise.
In a cleaning system of this type, waste water (including waste liquid, hereinafter same as this) can be recovered from each tank while classifying. That is, the chemical liquid A waste water is recovered from the chemical liquid A tank 30, the chemical liquid B waste water is recovered from the chemical liquid B tank 33, first rinse (cloudy rinse) waste water from the rinse tanks 31, 34 and second rinse (clean rinse) waste water from the rinse tanks 32, 35.
A wafer cleaning system of a single tank batch type, as shown in FIG. 5, has been proposed (see "VLSI Process System Handbook," published by Kohgyo Chosakai Co., Tokyo), in which chemical liquid A 43, chemical liquid B 44 and rinse water 45 are selectively supplied to a cleaning tank (container or vessel) 48 through a mixing chamber 46, wafers are placed in a cassette 41 in plural number and the cassette 41 are revolved in the cleaning tank 48 by a rotary shaft 47, so that the wafers are cleaned in a immersion treatment.
In a wafer cleaning system of this type, a waste water (drain) line 42 is provided with a three way valve 40 and the like, and the three way valve 40 is operated for draining in each of timings of change of cleaning by the chemical liquids A, B and the rinse water, so that chemical liquid A waste water, chemical liquid B waste water and rinse waste water are classified and recovered.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a single wafer cleaning system of a single tank (container or vessel) type has been known, in which wafers 2 are placed in a treatment tank 1 one wafer at a time and the wafers sequentially receive spray of the chemical liquids A, B and the rinse water. In a wafer cleaning system of this single tank type, since the wafers are sequentially sprayed with the chemical liquids and the rinse water one wafer at a time, classifying recovery of waste water is hard to be effected with a single waste water line 50 and mixed waste water of chemical liquids and rinse water has conventionally been collected.
The wafer cleaning system of a multistage batch type is advantageous in waste water processing, since each waste water in chemical liquid and rinse systems can be recovered while being classified, whereas there has been a tendency that as a wafer diameter is increased, a wafer cleaning system of a single tank type becomes adopted, since an installation space for tanks is increased.
As shown in FIG. 5, a wafer cleaning system of a single tank type is harder for classifying recovery than a wafer cleaning system of a multistage batch type because all the waste waters are recovered through the single waste pipe (drain) line 42, but since a wafer cleaning system of a single tank type in which a cassette is immersed in a treatment tank is allowed to have a comparatively long time in cleaning, classifying recovery can be effected by operating a three way valve 40 in synchronization with each step of cleaning.
However, in a single wafer cleaning system of a single tank type, as shown in FIG. 6, in which wafers are sequentially sprayed with chemical liquid and rinse water one wafer at a time, since each cleaning time for a wafer is short (on the order of 1 to 3 minutes) and therefore, timing in waste water recovery is hard to be correctly matched, there has been much of difficulty in classifying recovery of waste water from the single common waste water line 50. Therefore, there has conventionally been no way but to recover mixed waste water of chemical liquid and rinse water: classifying recovery of waste water into chemical liquid and rinse water, and further classifying recovery of the rinse water into cloudy rinse waste water and clean rinse waste water have been very hard. Especially, when classifying recovery of waste water into cloudy rinse waste water and clean rinse waste water is impossible, a trouble arises in purification and recycling of waste water and there has remained a problem that reasonable water utilization cannot be achieved.

Waste water classifying recovery apparatus in wafer cleaning system


Methods and systems are provided for converting an asymmetric sensor response of an exhaust gas sensor to a symmetric response. In one example, a method includes adjusting fuel injection responsive to a modified exhaust oxygen feedback signal from an exhaust gas sensor, where the modified exhaust oxygen feedback signal is modified by transforming an asymmetric response of the exhaust gas sensor to a symmetric response. Further, the method may include adapting parameters of an anticipatory controller of the exhaust gas sensor based on the modified symmetric response.

An exhaust gas sensor may be positioned in an exhaust system of a vehicle for detecting an air-fuel ratio of the gas exhausted from an internal combustion engine. For example, the exhaust gas sensor readings may feedback to a controller for adjusting the air-fuel ratio of the engine by modifying the amount of fuel injector from a fuel injector of the engine.
Degradation of the exhaust gas sensor may cause engine control degradation resulting in increased emissions and/or reduced vehicle drivability. In particular, an exhaust gas sensor may exhibit numerous discrete types of degradation. The sensor degradation types may be grouped into filter type degradation and delay type degradation. Further, the sensor degradation types may either be symmetric or asymmetric. For example, a sensor with asymmetric type sensor degradation may have different response dynamics (such as response time or response rate) when the sensor response increases versus when the sensor output decreases.
Previous approaches for addressing the sensor degradation includes equipping the exhaust gas sensor with an anticipatory controller for correcting or compensating for the degradation. For example, parameters of the anticipatory controller may be adjusted based on the type of sensor degradation. Further, to maintain stability of the anticipatory controller system, gains of the feedback control routine of the controller, such as a proportional/integral control routine, may be reduced aggressively to reduce system instability.
However, the inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such systems. For example, adjusting parameters of the anticipatory controller may not address the asymmetric dynamics of the sensor response during rich-to-lean and lean-to-rich transitions. This may result in asymmetric engine operation when a commanded air-fuel ratio transitions in different directions (e.g. the rich-to-lean direction and the lean-to-rich direction). As a result, more or less fuel may be delivered in the direction of the degradation, and CO or NOx emission may be increased.
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a method comprising sensing an air-fuel ratio via an exhaust gas sensor; responsive to an asymmetric sensor response, generating a modified air-fuel ratio with a symmetric response based on the sensed air-fuel ratio; and adjusting fuel injection based on the modified air-fuel ratio. In this way, the anticipatory controller may compensate the sensor degradation similarly when the commanded air-fuel ratio transits in both the rich-to-lean and lean-to-rich directions, and the asymmetric engine operation may be reduced.
As one example, a method may comprise operating an engine with a commanded air-fuel ratio, and determining the type and magnitude of sensor degradation by comparing the sensed air-fuel ratio with a commanded air-fuel ratio. The exhaust gas sensor may be determined to have asymmetric type sensor degradation when a response rate and/or a response time of the sensor response is different responsive to the commanded air-fuel ratio transitioning in different directions (e.g., rich-to-lean direction or lean-to-rich direction). The exhaust gas sensor may exhibit symmetric type sensor degradation if the response rate and response time are the same responsive to the commanded air-fuel ratio transitioning in different directions, while the response rate or the response time is different from an expected value. Responsive to the asymmetric type sensor degradation, a modified sensor response may be generated by introducing a lower response rate and increased response time (e.g., modifying the sensor reading to be symmetric) as compared to the un-faulted portion of the sensed air-fuel ratio. As such, the modified sensor response may have the same response rate and/or the response time when the commanded air-fuel ratio transitions in each of the increasing and decreasing directions. As such, the modified sensor response is more symmetric comparing to the sensed air-fuel ratio. The modified sensor response may then be fed to an anticipatory controller with parameters adapted based on the sensor degradation. In this way, the anticipatory controller may operate more symmetrically and effectively to address sensor degradation during both rich-to-lean and lean-to-rich transitions. Further, calibration work of the controller may be reduced, and NOx and CO emissions of the engine may be reduced.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Exhaust gas sensor controls adaptation for asymmetric type sensor degradation


A practical location tracking device provides cost-efficient methods for inputting three-dimensional location information. This device comprises light sources and light receiving elements. Each light receiving element comprises two or more closely spaced planar light detectors with their light receiving surfaces facing different spatial directions. Three dimensional location is determined by comparing the relative light intensities detected by those light detectors.

This invention relates to optical location tracking devices. More specifically, this invention relates to devices using optical detectors to determine the locations of light sources.
Heretofore, a variety of optical location tracking devices have been built. U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,313 describes a location indicator using a scanning light beam. The location of an object is detected when the object blocks a scanning light beam. This type location tracking system comprises complex mechanical apparatus to generate a scanning light beam. The input device of the system must locate in a pre-defined narrow region. Any foreign object blocks the scanning light beam by accident will cause false interpretation. Its supporting electrical circuit is also complex. U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,668, U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,322, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,328 describe systems using an array of closely spaced optical sensors such as charge coupled devices (CCD) to determine the location of a light source. This type of location tracking systems must use a large number of closely spaced light sensors. A complex system is required to obtain information from a large number of sensors. The data analysis procedure is also complex. Another type of optical tracking devices are the sun tracking devices designed to aim a solar panel to face the sun. Two examples of sun tracking devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,781 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,268,185. Those sun tracking devices are able to determine whether the solar panels are off target or not, but they are not able to do accurate location measurement for a point source. U.K. Pat. No. 2,232,550 describes a direction-of-arrival sensor (DOAS) using four mirrors and four sensors to determine the incident angle of a collimated light beam. The DOAS device is fragile because it requires perfect reflectors that are arranged perfectly perpendicular to one another. It won't be able to tolerate dust or mist existed in practical operation conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,250 describes a location tracking device that only requires a small number of light sensors. The light emitted from a light source is confined by a vertical slit to form a line-shaped bright area. This line-shaped bright area falls on two light sensors with apertures of different shapes. The light incident angle is determined by measuring the ratio of the light intensities detected by those two light sensors. Those two light sensors must have uniform sensitivity at different locations for this device to be accurate. The light intensities in the line-shaped bright area also need to be uniform. Both requirements are not easy to achieve. The slit also limits available range and resolution of the system. All of the above optical location tracking systems are too complex to compete with existing commercial devices in terms of cost to performance considerations. They also tend to have reliability problems. It is desirable to have an optical location tacking device that can be manufactured with a cost-efficient process. It is also desirable to have a device that does not use any delicate component so that it can be reliable at normal operation conditions.


A hot sprue bushing is provided for transporting plasticized material from an injection nozzle to a mold cavity while controlling the temperature of the plasticized material. The hot sprue bushing has an elongate body having an inlet end for receiving the plasticized material, an outlet end for discharging the material, and a through passage for transporting plasticized material therethrough. The body also has first and second surfaces on opposed sides of the through passage and electrical heating means disposed adjacent the first and second surfaces respectively, the electrical heating means extending along at least a major portion of the length of the elongate body. Finally, the bushing has retaining means for retaining the first and second electrical heating means adjacent the first and second surfaces respectively and in heat conducting relationship therewith.

In plastic injection molding processes, a thermoplastic or thermoset molding compound is first heated to plasticity in an injection cylinder at controlled temperature. Afterwards, the plasticized compound is forced from the cylinder through a nozzle by means of pressure generated within the cylinder. On emerging from the nozzle, the plasticized compound is conveyed through a hole in a mold plate, usually stationary, by means of a sprue bushing (sprue for short) into the runner system or gate of the mold cavity. Once in the cavity, the resin assumes the shape of the cavity and is then cooled to the point where it is sufficiently solidified to retain the desired cavity shape. The mold is then opened, and the part is ejected or otherwise removed. The entire process is usually automated with the clamping of the mold parts prior to injection, and unclamping for part ejection or removal after cooling, taking place under the control of a microprocessor or other form of automated controller. Machines are rated by the number of ounces they will inject per piston or screw stroke and by the square inches of working area that can be clamped against injection pressure. Consequently, a machine can be used to fabricate a variety of different sized parts up to its maximum capacity. This is accomplished by using, among other things, plates of suitable thickness for the part at hand; large working areas and high injection pressures calling for robust mold plates to mount and sustain the large stresses created during the molding cycle. Plates used to make small parts, on the other hand, can be scaled down in size in accordance with the reduced stresses generated while molding them. Parts between the largest and smallest obviously require intermediate sized plates, and the industry has adopted standard plate thicknesses to promote productivity.
For best process performance regardless of part size, it is known to be beneficial to keep the temperature of the plasticized compound more or less constant throughout its travel to the cavity. This reduces process problems associated with material degradation due to thermal variability, improves yield by decreasing scrap losses, and increases machine production time by reducing down time due to freeze offs.
However, while standardized in many respects, particularly with respect to mold base or plate thicknesses, present molding machinery does not always provide for precise temperature control to take advantage of its beneficial effects. Indeed, much of the available machinery is still run employing cold sprue bushings which allow the temperature of the resin to be poorly controlled from the time it leaves the nozzle until it reaches a zone in the mold where temperature control is reacquired with, for example, internal heating channels in the mold.
More sophisticated practice, apparently not yet universally accepted, recognizes the advantages of controlling temperature by employing hot sprue bushings to convey material from the nozzle to the cavity gate, often times through the fixed mold plate, sometimes referred to as the "A" plate or base. A variety of approaches for providing heat in these hot sprue bushings have been used. Among these are the use of resistive heating elements and heat pipes such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,952 entitled "HOT PLASTIC INJECTION BUSHING" issued on Jul. 12, 1977. In the latter case, the heat pipes are used to transfer heat from electrically powered heater bands located at the nozzle end of the sprue bushing to regions along the bore near the tip.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,824 entitled "ADJUSTABLE HOT SPRUE BUSHING" issued on May 25, 1993, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, describes a hot sprue bushing of adjustable drop length so that it can be used in injection molding machines with a full range of different mold plate thicknesses to transport plasticized material from injection nozzles to mold cavities while controlling the temperature of the plasticized material. This hot sprue bushing comprises an elongate body having a head, a stem and a tip; the head has a reference seating surface which faces the tip. The elongate body has a through bore passing from end to end through the head, stem and tip of the body for transporting plasticized material through the sprue bushing from the head to the tip thereof. The body also has at least one non-through bore extending alongside the through bore, in heat conducting relationship with respect thereto; the non-through bore extending from the head through the stem and into the tip but is shorter than the elongate body. The, or each, non-through bore receives an electrically powered heating cartridge for controlling the temperature of the plasticized material as it travels along the through bore. In a preferred form of this hot sprue bushing, the body contains yet another bore which receives and positions a thermocouple substantially at the tip of the elongate body for controlling the temperature of the through bore over its full length.
Adjustment of the drop length of the hot sprue bushing is effected by means of a changing means manually positionable against the reference seating surface of the head and between this reference seating surface and the tip for shortening the initial drop length of the elongate body. This changing means has a mold plate seating surface selectively locatable over a predetermined range of distances between the reference seating surface and the tip to change the drop length of the hot sprue bushing, the changed drop length of the hot sprue bushing corresponding to the distance between the mold plate seating surface of the changing means and the tip. The hot sprue bushing may also have a cap which removably attaches to the head and has a recess having a shape complementary to that of standard injection nozzle shapes.
The adjustable hot sprue bushing of U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,824 gives good control of the temperature of the plasticized materials passing therethrough and is in commercial use. However, because the body of this hot sprue bushing needs to accommodate the through bore for the plasticized material, one or more bores, one for each heater cartridge, and the bore for the thermocouple, the body needs to be of substantial cross-section, and thus has a high thermal mass. This high thermal mass requires substantial heat input from the heater cartridges to maintain the proper operating temperature in commercial use, and thus the heater cartridges are subjected to a heavy-duty cycle, which reduces the working life of the heater cartridges. Such cartridge failure results in substantial down time of the of the injection molding machine, since it is necessary to disassemble the hot sprue bushing in order to replace the failed heater cartridge. It has also been found that, in commercial use, the cap of the hot sprue bushing is easily damaged and detached from the head. Finally, in the hot sprue bushing of U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,824, the wiring for the heater cartridges emerges from the bushing on a bracket secured to the cap of the bushing, and thus immediately adjacent the injection nozzle, in which location the wiring is somewhat susceptible to damage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,789 entitled "ADJUSTABLE HOT SPRUE BUSHING" issued on Aug. 1, 2000, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, describes a hot sprue bushing comprising an elongate body having a head, a stem and a distal end portion, and a through passage extending from end to end through the head, stem and distal end portion of the body for transporting plasticized material from the heat to the distal end portion. The distal end portion bears a first engaging device, and the head is of greater cross-section than the stem so that the head provides a first abutment surface extending outwardly of the stem. An electrically powered heater is wrapped around the stem of the head in heating conducting relationship. A sleeve surrounds the electrically powered heater; and a tip member has a second engaging device engaged with the first engaging device on the distal end portion, the tip member having a second abutment surface engaged with one end of the sleeve so as to urge the opposed end of the sleeve into engagement with the first abutment surface on the head. The tip member permits egress of plasticized material from the through passage in the body.
The hot sprue bushing of U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,789 provides control of the temperature of the plasticized materials passing therethrough, and has a desirably lower thermal mass so that the heater of the bushing can be operated at a low duty cycle, and thus with an improved working lifetime, as compared with the heater cartridges used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,824. Also, the hot sprue bushing of U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,789 permits location of a thermocouple adjacent the tip of the body for controlling the temperature of the through bore over its full length, while still allowing adjustment of the drop length of the hot sprue bushing, and allowing the wiring for the hot sprue bushing to emerge from the injection molding machine at a point spaced from the bushing, thereby rendering this wiring less susceptible to damage.
However, there is a trend in the injection molding industry towards the use of multiple bushing assemblies comprising a large number of hot sprue bushings fed from a single source of heated plastic material. In such multiple bushing assemblies, it is desirable that keep the cross-section of the individual bushings as small as possible in order to accommodate the maximum number of bushings within an assembly of given size and/or to provide maximum freedom in varying the number of bushings in the assembly. Since one broken or malfunctioning bushing may also render the entire assembly unusable, it is important that individual bushings can be removed and accurately relocated within the assembly. Since the tips of the bushings are subject to the most rapid wear, the bushing should provide for rapid removal and replacement of the tips. The individual bushings should be adapted to be fed from the single source of heated plastic material without requiring excessive lengths of piping, and in practice the easiest way to arrange this is to have the individual bushings fed from spaced lines of ports through which the plastic material is supplied.
Viewed against these criteria regarding suitability for use in multiple bushing assemblies, the hot sprue bushing of U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,789 has certain disadvantages. One disadvantage is the rather large cross-section of the bushing relative to the cross-section of the body. In the specific embodiment shown in the drawings of this patent, the length adjusting member has the form of a hollow cylinder having an internal thread which engages an external thread on the body of the bushing. The diameter of the length adjusting member is approximately twice that of the body, which requires a larger than desirable spacing between adjacent bushings in a multiple bushing assembly. Replacement of the tip of the bushing requires removal of the tip member, which in turn releases the sleeve and thus removes the compression on the heater. Thus, after replacement of the tip, the bushing must be carefully reassembled to ensure that the heater is not accidentally damaged. Finally, because adjustment of the drop length of the bushing is effected by moving the whole body relative to the length adjusting member, varying the drop length of the bushing also varies the position of the inlet end of the through passage relative to the surface on which the length adjusting member is mounted. If such a bushing is used in a multiple bushing assembly and it is desired to use different drop lengths for different bushings of the assembly (as is commonly the case where the assembly is used to make a plurality of different types of moldings simultaneously), the varying positions of the inlet ends of the through passages lead to problems in arranging the piping to supply heated plastic material to these inlet ends; either inconvenient flexible piping must be used or equally inconvenient arrangements must be made to allow for variation of the positions of the nozzles used to supply material to the inlet ends.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hot sprue bushing which retains the ability of the hot sprue bushing of U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,789 to supply heat to the plastic material over essentially the full length of the bushing, but which is better adapted for use in multiple bushing assemblies.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hot sprue bushing which can readily be removed and replaced in a multiple bushing assembly, with minimal risk of damage to the heating element of the bushing.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hot sprue bushing which permits multiple bushings to be fed in a convenient manner from a single source of heated plastic material.
Other objects of the invention will be apparent and will appear hereinafter in the following detailed description when read in connection with the drawings.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touch substrate and a manufacturing method for the same, and a display device. The touch substrate includes a base, and a white photoresist, a first flat layer, a first metal electrode layer, a second flat layer, and a second metal electrode layer sequentially formed on the base. The white photoresist is formed in a frame region of the touch substrate. The first flat layer is configured to cover the white photoresist and the base, so as to provide a flat surface for forming the first metal electrode layer. The display device includes the touch substrate and a display panel bonded thereto. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the height difference brought about by the white photoresist is planarized through the first flat layer, thereby avoiding the problem of disconnected wire in a metal electrode layer at the climbing position in the frame region.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of preparing a touch substrate, and particularly, to a touch substrate and a manufacturing method for the same, and a display device.
Currently, the capacitive touch screen is widely used in mobile phones, tablets and other fields. A conventional capacitive touch screen uses a Glass-Glass (GG) structure, that is, a structure bonding a layer of cover glass and a layer of touch glass. With the user's increasingly high demand for a light, thin and low-cost touch screen, the capacitive touch screen of the GG structure has been unable to meet user's needs. Glass-Film (GF), Glass-Film-Film (GFF), One Glass Solution (OGS) touch structures and the like are gradually being used.
Currently on the market the touch screen of the OGS structure compared to the GG, GF, GFF structure has encountered difficulty in the appearance. Conventional GG, GF, GFF structures use black ink or white ink as the frame material for the cover of the touch screen, and touch screens with a black frame and touch screens with a white frame may be produced. The OGS structure typically uses a photoresist material as the frame material. However, the white photoresist material technology on the market is not yet mature. If the glass cover using the white photoresist material wants to achieve the same optical effect as the cover using the white ink material, the thickness of the white photoresist material should be at least 15 um or more. And a layer of material with high light absorption coefficient should be additionally arranged above the white photoresist material to ensure the required optical density (OD value). Thus, the surface for forming the electrode layer is not flat and different positions on the surface have an excessive height difference therebetween, resulting in that in the frame region of the touch screen, the wiring in the electrode layer (made of ITO or metal) is disconnected at the climbing position so that the touch function is disabled.

Touch substrate and manufacturing method for the same, and display device

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Systems and methods are provided for optimizing allocation of client devices, such as gaming devices, to different available data centers and servers, such as gaming servers, within a data center. The allocation maintains a satisfactory user experience while balancing costs and resource usage. Embodiments of the invention match a client to a data center and server based on a set of criteria related to the client device, user of the client device, game or application the user desires to play, available data centers for supporting the client device, and conditions of the network between the client device and data center. An allocation algorithm may be used to determine resource-efficient allocation. In one embodiment, a bidding process is employed wherein a client and data center are matched based on bids received from data centers. In one embodiment, allocation is periodically evaluated to determine if reassignment to another data center is needed.

Video games have become increasingly popular. Some video games allow multiple players to interact within the same game using client devices that are remotely located from each other. For example, in a cloud gaming environment, multiple client devices throughout the world could connect over a network to a game hosted on a server in a data center. As the client devices join a game, they are assigned to a particular available data center and server.


A tachometer for monitoring several functions on an implement, such as engine, shaft and ground speeds. A microprocessor receives a-c input signals which vary in frequency as the shaft or ground speeds change. A time window synchronized with a rising edge on the desired input signal is provided during which the number of falling edges are counted. A running total weighted average of a number of successive counts is used to update a digital readout indicating speed. Each new count is compared with the previous average and, if a sudden speed change occurs, the processor shifts to a fast update mode in which the new count is used to immediately update the readout. Programming switches are provided for selecting the proper ground speed time window for a given tire size and for providing a ground speed indication in either kilometers per hour or miles per hour.

The present invention relates generally to a speed monitor and more specifically to a digital tachometer.
On certain farm implements it is advantageous to be able to monitor several operating parameters. On a combine, for example, proper ground speed, header shaft speed, cleaning fan speed and engine speed are necessary for efficient removal of the crop from the field. Such problems as malfunctions, misadjustments, clogging and excessive loading can be quickly detected by monitoring the various speeds.
Although numerous digital tachometer devices are available, heretofore none have been completely satisfactory. Some require a separate instrument for each function and, as a result, are high in cost and require much panel space at the operator's station.
Accuracy is a problem with many tachometers. Some respond well during periods when the speed monitored is steady but have a slow response during acceleration and deceleration. Averaging techniques are often used which do not provide a true indication of speed and which can even, in certain situations, give an indication that speed is increasing when in fact the speed has just begun to decrease. If the device is made to respond quickly for accurate readings during periods of acceleration or deceleration, the display often is difficult to read during operation at steady speeds since small changes in the reading will cause constant change in the least significant digit. To prevent constantly changing digits at steady speeds, accuracy is often compromised.
Commonly, magnetic transducers detecting passage of teeth on a rotating member provide an alternating current input to the device which varies in amplitude with the angular velocity of the rotating member. At low speeds, problems of noise and sensitivity affect accuracy. Jitter often occurs because circuitry is used which counts the number of cycles or pulses occuring during a given clock period begun at random. This random counting can result in different counts for consecutive clock periods even if the speed remains constant. This causes the least significant digit to change constantly, which is annoying to the operator.
Ground speed measurements are usually derived from the rotational speed of a drive shaft and are affected by the size of the tires provided on the implement. If the tire size is changed, the ground speed indicated will be inaccurate. To correct for such changes, or alternatively to set the device to read in different units such as kilometers per hour rather than miles per hour, often requires an adjustment of a trimming potentiometer while a signal generator connected to the tachometer input simulates a signal for a given speed.


A method of producing a molecular composite material including a rigid aromatic polythiazole and a matrix polymer is disclosed which includes the steps of:. (a) polymerizing an aromatic diaminodithiol compound, hydrogen atoms of thiol groups of which aromatic diaminodithiol compound are substituted with substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, with a dicarboxylic acid derivative to form an aromatic polythiazole prepolymer; PA1 (b) preparing a homogeneous solution of the aromatic polythiazole prepolymer and the matrix polymer in an organic solvent; and PA1 (c) after removing the organic solvent, heating a mixture of the aromatic polythiazole prepolymer and the matrix polymer to cause a thiazole ring closure reaction.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a molecular composite material comprising a rigid aromatic polythiazole and a matrix polymer, which molecular composite material is suitable as a structural material for aircrafts, automobiles, spacecrafts, etc.
Recently, to achieve the reduction of weight of aircrafts, automobiles, etc., plastic materials called "engineering plastics" having excellent mechanical properties, heat resistance, etc. have been increasingly used. Apart from this, development has been actively carried out to provide composite materials such as FRPs consisting of plastic materials and high-strength, high-modulus fibers such as carbon fibers, and these composite materials are being used in many applications.
It is known that the strength of these composite materials largely depend not only on the strength of plastics and reinforcing fibers but also on the interfacial strength of the fibers to the matrix resins. Also, the impregnating capability of matrix resins into the fiber-reinforced preforms affect the ease of production of composite materials and the strength of the resulting products. Accordingly, even though high-strength, high-modulus fibers and resins are used as starting materials, composite materials having excellent strength are not necessarily obtained.
Under such circumstances, to overcome the above problems, proposals have been made to develop high-strength polymer blend composites (molecular composite materials) by finely dispersing rigid polymers such as aromatic polyamides, etc. in matrix resins to a molecular level.
Aromatic polymers suitable for molecular composite materials include those containing heterocyclic repeating units such as thiazole rings, imidazole rings, oxazole rings, etc. Among them, aromatic polythiazole having a thiazole ring is highly promising because of its excellent mechanical strength.
In the meantime, the homogeneous dispersion of a reinforcing polymer in a matrix polymer cannot be achieved if the reinforcing polymer is simply blended with the matrix polymer. This means that simple blending fails to provide a molecular composite material having excellent mechanical properties. Therefore, various attempts have been made so far.
For instance, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-287167 discloses a method of producing a polymer composite comprising the steps of introducing a polymer solution mainly containing (A) a reinforcing polymer consisting of polythiazole having a substantially rod-shaped skeleton and (B) a fusable matrix polymer into a solidification bath, and forming it into a film, the above polymer solution showing an optical anisotropy and being solidified via an apparent, optically isotropic phase after immersion in the solidification bath.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-7976 discloses a polymer composition comprising a reinforcing polymer A consisting of polythiazole having a substantially rod-shaped skeleton, and a matrix polymer B consisting of a less-crystallizable aromatic copolyamide having a glass transition temperature of 200.degree. C. or higher and a flow initiation temperature of 500.degree. C. or lower, a weight ratio A/(A+B) being 0.15-0.70. When the aromatic copolyamide is kept at a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its flow-initiation temperature for an arbitrary period of time within 5 hours, the resulting crystals have apparent sizes of 25 .ANG. or less.
However, in the methods of producing polymer composites as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-287167 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-7976, homogeneous dispersions of the reinforcing polymers in matrix polymers are not expected. This means that the resulting molecular composite materials do not show largely improved mechanical strength, etc. This appears to be due to the fact that the rigid reinforcing polymers and the matrix polymers do not show good compatibility with each other.
Thus, proposals have been made to provide a method of producing a molecular composite material of a rigid aromatic polymer without resorting to mixing the rigid aromatic polymer and a matrix polymer in an acidic solvent, the method comprising the steps of homogeneously mixing a prepolymer of the rigid aromatic polymer and a matrix polymer or its prepolymer in an organic solvent, removing the organic solvent and then heating it so that the rigid aromatic polymer is formed from its prepolymer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 64-1760 and 64-1761). By the above methods, molecular composite materials having relatively good mechanical strength, etc. can be produced.
However, since these molecular composite materials fail to show sufficiently high mechanical strength, further improvement is desired. Insufficient mechanical strength of the conventional molecular composite materials obtained by using the aromatic polythiazole prepolymers is due to the fact that in the process of producing the aromatic polythiazole prepolymers, part of thiol groups in the prepolymers is subjected to a thiazole ring-closure reaction or a cross-linking reaction, forming insoluble components, and that therefore good dispersion of aromatic polythiazole cannot be achieved.

Method of producing molecular composite material including aromatic polythiazole


A modular printer that can be configured to provide different printing sizes, models, and features. The modular printer has a base module that includes base printing electronics, and a drive and print mechanism. Coupled to the base module are different communication modules that provide an interface for the operator of the printer. Different battery modules are designed to interface with the other modular sections.

Most companies that manufacture commercial and retail printers have a line of different models to meet different business operations and technologies. The manufacture of printing devices is a highly competitive field, requiring costs to be pared as greatly as possible. Having to fabricate different types of printing devices allows for some cost cutting, by using identical parts in several different models. However, the different requirements of each printing operation, and the different technologies involved usually do not allow for much interchangeability of parts. Hence, manufacturers have a large inventory of different printer sizes and models.
The present invention seeks to provide a modular printer, the design of which allows for ease of configuration to different feature sets, different operations, and different technologies.
The modular printer of this invention comprises a base module that contains the base printing electronics, and a drive and print mechanism. This base module can be paired with two different media cavities: (1) a cavity for accommodating a two inch paper supply roll; and (2) a cavity for supporting a three and one-quarter inch supply roll. The smaller, two inch cavity, naturally, can be used in one of the smallest sized printers, while the three and one-quarter inch cavity can be employed for one of the largest printers in the industry.
Coupled to the base module is a communications module that provides an interface for the operator of the printer. The communications module itself can be configured, so that more than one interface can be interchanged with the base module. The module can be designed to provide a simple or sophisticated interface. The communication module can be configured for RF capability, an expanded keyboard, a display, a magnetic stripe reader, and a parallel interface. Electrical connectivity is achieved through a standard communications bus [I.sup.2 C]. This allows for expandability by the end user, repair depot, or other, allowing the printer to evolve with individual application requirements.
The battery modules are also designed to interface with the other modular sections, in order to allow for expandability in the future. Provisional contacts between the battery module and the printing mechanism provide a means by which different battery types, such as NiCad, NiMH, Li ion, lead acid, polymer, etc., can be employed. This is accomplished through electronic battery identification means. The provisional contacts also provide a means for assessing the charging status (coulomb counter) for each battery.
The interchangeability provided by the modularized printer of this invention greatly reduces the cost of manufacture, and the costs associated with carrying a large line of printer models. In addition, the modular design provides for quick changeovers to new and more sophisticated printing models, as well as allowing upgrading, or addition of the latest technological user features.


Methods and apparatus for a memory system using line termination circuits in each memory unit (e.g., integrated circuit memory device) are disclosed. The memory unit contains termination control logic that sets the state of a controllable termination circuit to control reflections on the data bus. The termination control logic determines the proper state for the termination circuit from the state of its memory unit, and in some cases, from the approximate state of the data bus as gleaned from commands decoded from the command/address bus. A termination configuration register on the unit can be used to define the appropriate termination state for each unit state and/or data bus state.

Microprocessors, digital signal processors, digital imaging devices, and many other types of digital data processing devices rely on an attached high-speed memory system to hold data and/or processor instructions needed by the processing device. As these processing devices become faster and more powerful, the increased demands placed on them generally translate to a need for larger and faster attached memory systems.
FIG. 1 depicts a typical memory system configuration 20. A host processor 22 issues data store and retrieve requests to a memory controller 24 over a front-side bus FSB. Memory controller 24 acts as an intermediary for the exchange of data between processor 22 and memory units 26A, 26B, 26C, and 26D.
Typical memory systems have an address/command bus 28 and a separate data bus 30, each of which carries memory signals on a set of signal lines. Memory signals fall generally into one of several categories including clock and control signals, address signals, command signals, and data signals. Data signals carry the actual data that will be stored in, or retrieved from, a memory device, and pass across data bus 30. Address signals specify the location within a memory device where data is to be read from or written to. Command signals instruct a memory device as to what type of operation is to be performed, e.g., read, write, refresh, and possibly as to which of several access modes (such as a burst mode) should be used for a data transfer. Address/command bus 28 may have separate address lines and command lines, or addresses and commands may share a common set of lines and use temporal address/command separation. Clock and control signals synchronize the other signals passing between controller 24 and the memory devices. Four control signal lines are shown in FIG. 1—the chip select signal lines CSA, CSB, CSC, and CSD. When memory controller 24 places addresses and commands on bus 28, it asserts a chip select signal corresponding to the memory unit that it is targeting. The selected memory unit processes the command and performs the requested read or write command; the other units remain idle.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, data bus 30 is a multi-drop memory bus. In other words, bus 30 is arranged with a backbone of signal lines. A signal line stub, or "drop", connects each of the memory devices to the backbone, e.g., drops 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D. Electrically, each stub or drop is a potential source of noise on data bus 30, as signal reflections from stubs connected to idle memory units can reach the intended recipient of a data transfer out-of-phase with the original signaling, increasing the probability that erroneous data will be sensed at the receiver.
As data bus speeds increase—even as logical voltage swings decrease in some cases—to increase memory capabilities, reflected signals become increasingly problematic. FIG. 2 shows one memory system implementation 40 that addresses this problem. Memory units 46A and 46B connect with controller 42 conventionally using an address/command bus 28, a data bus 30, and chip select signal lines CSA and CSB. Two additional control signal lines, TEA and TEB, can be asserted respectively to memory units 46A and 46B.
Each device communicating on bi-directional data bus 30 has a receiver/driver circuit (R/DA and R/DB, respectively, for memory units 46A and 46B, R/DC for controller 42) coupled to its stub of the data bus. In addition, each device has a termination circuit (TCA, TCB, TCC) coupled to its stub of the data bus. When enabled, each termination circuit absorbs signals propagating down its respective stub, thus diminishing the amount of energy reflected on that stub.
Termination control logic 44, residing within memory controller 42, controls the state of each termination circuit. For instance, when controller 42 is writing data to memory unit 46A, it asserts both TEA and TEB to enable termination circuits TCA and TCB. When controller 42 is reading data from memory unit 46A, it deasserts TEA and asserts TEB, and internally asserts TEC. Similar but reversed termination signaling occurs when memory unit 46B is the target device. This is but one example—TEA and TEB could be operated according to various other termination rules.

Memory bus termination with memory unit having termination control


Disclosed herein is a cable packaging for medical devices that is provided with a perforated line and having heat shrinkage characteristic. With a capable packaging for medical devices to wrap around a cable that is configured to connect two or more apparatuses to each other, the cable packaging is formed of material that is shrunken by heat so as to come into close contact with the cable, and the cable packaging includes a perforated line so as to be separated from the cable. By forming the packaging using heat shrinkage material, a packaging volume is reduced, and by fixing the packaging so as to come into close contact with the cable, the durability of a connecting portion is improved. By forming a perforated line, the packaging is removed or maintained according to use of a user, and contaminated substance is easily cleaned

1. Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cable packaging for medical devices, and more particularly, to a cable packaging for medical devices that is provided with a perforated line and formed using contractive material by heat.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cable refers to a bundle of conductive material being used to connect two or more apparatuses to each other. In general, the cable is composed of a conductor configured to deliver electrical signals and a protective cover, which is formed of insulating material, configured to wrap around the conductor.
A packaging is used to prevent a contamination of an exterior surface of the cable. The reason for using the packaging is to protect the exterior surface of the cable from contamination or damage while a delivery is being made. However, a user uses the packaging without removing the packaging from the cable even after the cable is installed at the place of an installation due to the concern over the exterior surface of the cable being contaminated.
Particularly, in the case of a medical device, the cleanliness is highly vital with respect to the environment in which the medical device is being used. In a case when the packaging of the cable for the medical device is contaminated or in a case when the cable is contaminated as the packaging is removed, a patient may feel certain level of displeasure as a result.
The conventional packaging formed of vinyl substance may be difficult to clean in a case when the packaging is contaminated. In addition, since the volume of the packaging is large, a tangling of the cables or a physical interference may be occurred. In addition, the packaging is moved according to the movement of the cable without being fixed to the cable, therefore a difficulty is present in the usage of the cable. Furthermore, a user may be needed to be provided with additional material to adjust the packaging range of packaging to fit the environment in which the cable is to be used.


A disposable glove for a glove donning system is provided. The disposable glove has a first layer and a second layer. The second layer superimposes a region of the first layer. The first and second layers are joined together along their peripheries to form a abutted portion and an opening for inserting a hand between the first and second layers. The first layer of the glove has a mounting section having a mounting hole and a line of weakness extending between the mounting hole and a rear edge of the mounting section; said mounting hole for mounting the glove on fastening means of a glove rack. The glove is mounted on the glove rack by inserting the fastening means into the mounting hole of the glove, and the glove on the glove rack can be taken off the glove rack by inserting a hand into the glove and applying a force to the glove in a direction of donning.

Disposable gloves are mandatory equipment in many industries that require clean and/or sterile environments, e.g., the foodservice industry. The use of disposable gloves reduces the spread of viruses and other contaminants among individuals. In the foodservice industry, such contaminants are less likely to be transmitted from employees to food when employees regularly wear gloves, when employees frequently and regularly replace used gloves with new ones, and when gloves require little handling to be donned.
Many types of disposable gloves are known to and used by the foodservice industry. One type comprises two superimposed layers of thermoplastic film sealed together along their peripheries, leaving an opening for a hand to be inserted between the two layers. A two-layered disposable mitt is shown in Crinberg U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,099, and a method of forming such a mitt is shown in Bradfield U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,322. (It is intended that the word 'glove' include both multi-finger mitts and five-finger gloves.)
Disposable gloves are generally sold in stacked units containing a supply of gloves layered one on top of the other. Gloves may be sold in a dispenser, such as a paperboard box, which encloses the stack and from which gloves may be removed one at a time. (A glove is typically removed in the manner that a paper tissue is removed from a tissue dispenser.) A box dispenser thus provides a simple and economical means for protecting the stored gloves from contamination and for dispensing the gloves. Variations of box dispensers for disposable gloves are shown in McLaughlin U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,293 and Hoffrichter U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,682.
Box dispensers also have several drawbacks. For example, a disposable glove is often difficult to don after removing it from a box dispenser. Upon being dispensed, the glove may have creases and/or be folded, requiring a user to straighten it out before donning it. A user may have difficulty first finding and then separating the glove opening into which the hand is inserted. Therefore additional dispensing configurations have also been developed. One such configuration comprises a stack (or 'saddle') of disposable gloves held together by a heat-fused detachable portion of the gloves, which portion may be covered by a flap as shown in Klecena U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,741. The gloves advantageously remain flat as they are removed from the detachable portion, in order to facilitate the process of donning them after they are removed. However, as is the case with the box dispensers, a glove must first be removed from the stack before it is donned.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved configuration for a disposable glove system whereby a disposable glove may be donned more easily and quickly than heretofore. The new and improved system of the present invention is especially valuable in the foodservice industry, where efficiencies in the nature of time-saving and in the ease and simplicity of donning the gloves result in significantly increased productivity and enhanced hygiene. It is a further object of the invention to provide a disposable glove rack from which a glove can be removed and donned more easily, more quickly, and more safely, in order to encourage the frequent and regular replacement of used gloves with new ones.

Disposable glove for a glove donning system


An activated alumina formed body with a high bulk density and a large macro-pore volume is provided. The activated alumina formed body can be produced by a method comprising the steps of calcining a gibbsite-phase aluminum hydroxide having a median particle size of from about 10 μm to about 35 μm and a packed bulk density of from about 1.05 g/cm3 to about 1.3 g/cm3 to obtain an at least partially rehydratable alumina powder; forming the rehydratable alumina powder in the presence of water; maintaining the formed body in the presence of water to rehydrate the formed body; and calcining the rehydrated formed body to obtain an activated alumina formed body. The activated alumina formed body is usable as an adsorbent, a catalyst supporting precious metal or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an activated alumina formed body. More specifically, the present invention relates to an activated alumina formed body having a high bulk density and a large macro-pore volume, and a method for producing the activated alumina formed body.
2. Related Art of the Invention
Transition alumina formed bodies, in which alumina has a variety of crystal phases other than α form and is represented by Al2O3, are used as drying agents, adsorbents, catalysts, various carriers and the like. For these usages, it is preferred that an alumina formed body to be used have a large pore volume in order to increase the diffusion rate of molecules into the alumina formed bodies. Specifically, it is preferred that the alumina formed bodies have a large volume (macro-pore volume) of macro pores having a radius of about 0.1 μm or more, more preferably a radius of about 0.3 μm or more.
On the other hand, when an activated alumina formed body is used in a fixed bed facility as a catalyst carrier, an adsorbent or the like, the activated alumina formed body is preferably packed in a large amount in order to improve catalyst life, the adsorption amount therewith or the like and, therefore, the activated alumina formed body having a high bulk density is desired.
The following techniques are known as methods for producing an activated alumina formed body having a large macro-pore volume.
Method (1): An aluminum salt is neutralized to obtain an alumina gel, while controlling the precipitation condition of alumina, followed by being washed, dried, formed and calcined to obtain an activated alumina formed body (for example, as in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-1767, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,394).
Method (2): A rehydratable alumina is mixed with a fibrous flammable organic pore-generating agent, followed by being formed, rehydrated and calcined at a temperature of 450° C. to 650° C., to obtain an activated alumina formed body (for example, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-6006, which corresponds to Great Britain Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1,356,239).
Method (3): An organic pore-generating agent such as Polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, crystalline cellulose and carbon black is utilized to obtain an activated alumina formed body. And a polymethacrylic acid ester is utilized as an organic pore-generating agent, which is removed at a low temperature, to obtain an activated alumina formed body (for example, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-245281).
However, by any of the methods (1)-(3), the total pore volume increases with increase in macro-pore volume, which results in reduction in bulk density. As a result, it is difficult to obtain an activated alumina formed body having macro-pores with a high bulk density. In addition, by any of the above methods, the resultant activated alumina formed body costs high.
On the other hand, the following method is known as a method for producing an alumina formed body at a low cost.
Method (4): Bayer process is conducted using a gibbsite-phase aluminum hydroxide having a median particle size of about 1 μm to 35 μm and having a quartile deviation of a particle size distribution of about 1.5 or less, to obtain an rehydratable alumina. The rehydratable alumina is formed into a shape of a formed body, followed by being rehydrated and then being calcined, to obtain an activated alumina formed body (for example, as in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-24932, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,899). The obtained activated alumina formed body tends to have a large macro-pore volume.
However, method (4) also has problems such that the activated alumina formed body has a large total pore volume, while having a large macro-pore volume. Specifically, as shown in Example 1 of the specification of the above ) publication JP-A-63-24932, the resultant activated alumina body has a packed bulk density of as low as 0.58 kg/l (=g/cm3), since the total pore volume increases. It is difficult in method (4) to provide an activated alumina formed body having macro pores and yet having a high bulk density.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Activated alumina formed body and method for producing the same


A medical device includes a housing configured for implantation within a body of a patient. Detection circuitry is disposed in the housing and coupled to an electrode arrangement. The detection circuitry is configured to sense a cardiac electrical signal from the patient. A processor is coupled to the detection circuitry and configured to compute a first measure of heart rate variability (HRV) using the cardiac electrical signal, and compute a second measure of HRV using the cardiac electrical signal, the second measure of HRV differing from the first measure of HRV. The processor is also configured to produce an index of patient status derived from a ratio of the first and second measures of HRV, such that the index is a normalized HRV metric personalized to the patient. The processor or a remote system can use the index to assess acute and chronic changes in patient status.

Electrical signals cause a heart to beat. In a healthy patient, regular heart beats pump blood through the cardiovascular system. The human cardiovascular system is responsible for receiving oxygen-deprived blood into the heart from the venous system of the body, delivering the oxygen-deprived blood to the lungs to be replenished with oxygen, receiving the oxygenated blood from the lungs back into the heart, and delivering the oxygenated blood to the body via the arterial vasculature. This process is regulated within the heart by electrical pulses that control the operation of the heart's receiving and pumping chambers.
In a healthy heart, the sinoatrial node of the heart generates electrical pulses in a consistent and regulated fashion to regulate receiving and pumping blood in the heart's chambers. The electrical impulses propagate as activation wavefronts across the atria, the upper chambers of the heart, and cause cells of the atria to depolarize and contract, which forces blood from the atria to the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart. The ventricles receive the blood from the atria, and the wavefront, after passing through the atrioventricular node and moving to the Purkinje system, moves to cells of the ventricles causing the ventricles to contract and pump the blood to the lungs and to the rest of the body.
Various aspects of cardiac activity (e.g., heart rate, arrhythmias) can be detected by measuring, recording, and analyzing cardiac electrical signals, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. One way of measuring ECG signals involves attaching electrodes, typically ten, externally to a patient's skin and sensing the electrical signals that form the ECG waveform. Implantable monitoring systems can be implanted under the skin with electrodes that sense subcutaneous electrical signals, including ECG signals, which are analyzed as being indicative of cardiac activity.
Heart rate variability can be an important factor to consider when processing or otherwise using a cardiac signal. It is, in some instances, a measure of patient health and cardiac stability. For instance, it can be difficult to quantify how effectively a drug (such as, for instance, beta blockers) is regulating cardiac heart rate due to heart rate variability. In some instances, device-based atrial fibrillation (AF) detection involves measures of heart rate variability. Devices commonly use fixed variability ratios (i.e., 8%, 12%, or 18%); however, each patient has a unique variability that is modulated by a multitude of factors, such as age, gender, autonomic drive, disease severity, medication usage, etc. Therefore, what might be considered regular in one patient may be dangerously irregular in another.

Apparatus and method for personalized cardiac signal processing


The aim is to avoid damaging lubricating-film discharges occurring via bearings (WL) in electrical machines. For this reason, provision is made for a current to be forced to flow through the bearing (WL) specifically, with the aid of a current source (IQ). The current then flows from one of the two bearing components via the lubricating film to the other bearing component. Alternating currents are particularly suitable since the lubricating film is conductive, so that the capacitance defined by the lubricating film cannot be charged, or can be charged only slightly.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for avoiding damaging bearing currents in an electrical machine, and to an electrical machine which is equipped with an apparatus such as this. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method for avoiding damaging bearing currents.
The aim is to avoid lubricating film discharges in bearings, as far as possible, such as those which can occur in steam or gas turbine rotors on bearings. Specifically, the friction of the fluid jet on the blades in these rotors results in electrostatic charging. Furthermore, the bearings of gearboxes, piston engines or other mechanical rotating machines are also intended to be protected. In addition, one aim is in principle to avoid damaging bearing currents in variable rotation speed machines.
Variable rotation speed motors are nowadays generally fed from voltage intermediate-circuit converters. The use of a voltage intermediate-circuit converter for feeding leads to bearing currents in the motor bearings. These bearing currents can lead to premature failure of the bearings, depending on the design of the motor. The failure is due to groove formation on the running surfaces of the bearing (vibration, noise) and to decomposition of the bearing grease.
In order to suppress bearing currents, so-called circulating currents, current-insulating bearings are frequently used, for example bearings with ceramic insulation of the outer ring or inner ring. Alternatively, hybrid bearings are used, with steel rings and ceramic roller bodies, in order to avoid circulating currents and EDM currents. However, these bearings are very expensive and are therefore avoided as much as possible. In addition, solutions for avoiding bearing currents are known in which the rotor is grounded by means of grounding brushes. However, the grounding brushes are subject to wear, and the contacts are not reliable, particularly in rough environmental conditions. In addition, in an "Industry White Paper" entitled "Inverter-Driven Induction Motors Shaft and Bearing Current Solutions", the Rockwell Company have proposed that specific shielding be provided between the rotor and stator. In addition, converters with specific pulse patterns to reduce the bearing currents are also known for this purpose. All these solutions have the common feature that they are relatively expensive and complex.

Electrical machine having an apparatus for avoiding damaging bearing currents, and a corresponding method


A ruggedized housing for a portable radio is provided. The housing is formed of a front housing portion, a rear housing portion, and a battery cover. The front housing portion has a top surface with offset tapered edges, without any user interface radio controls. An antenna protective cover having offset tapered edges and a straight vertical side couples to the top surface. The offset tapered edges of the antenna protective cover align with the offset tapered edges of the top surface of the radio. The straight vertical side of the antenna protective cover aligns flush with the side housing of the radio. A lanyard through-hole feature is located and protected by a contoured end of the top surface and is located diagonally opposite a top tip end of the antenna protective cover. The top tip end of the antenna protective cover and the lanyard encasement are sloped in opposite directions.

Communication devices, such as portable radios, are utilized in a wide variety of communication environments, such as business, consumer retail, security and the like. Many portable radios utilize a variety of top surface protruding elements, such as control knobs and an external antenna. The protruding elements of such devices may cause discomfort to a user when the device is attached to a belt or worn in a pocket. There is a strong desire to minimize protruding elements on a portable radio and when protruding elements are present, to minimize interference of those elements with the user's body. Robustness which provides protection under drop conditions is also highly desirable.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved portable radio.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Portable radio with external antenna cover and lanyard through-hole feature


An apparatus is provided to produce an optical illusion of variable geometric patterns. The apparatus may be used as an electronic toy, display or kinetic art mural, as well as a demonstration aid in geometry, physics or physiology. An array of light emitting diodes mounted on a rotating disk or carrier is selectively activated to control the geometric patterns formed.

The present invention relates to forming variable patterns with lights.
Various prior patents have related to structures for forming different kaleidoscopic designs or other scintillating or shining images. Those known to applicant are U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,800,054; 1,904,901; 1,940,500; 1,550,036; 3,737,647; and 4,097,917. Another patent also known to applicant, U.S. Pat. No. 3,272,506 related the generation of the subjective effect of color to a viewer.
However, of these patents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,617 utilized fiber-optical rods and U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,647 was directed to light-emitting diodes for use with costumes and personal ornaments.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,940,500 and 1,904,901 light bulbs were rotated within a cover member which had a number of jewels mounted thereon so that a sparkling visual effect was produced. U.S. Pat. No. 1,550,036 related to a rotatable disc which had a number of various colored lights mounted on it. As the disc rotated, the current intensity furnished to the various lights could be adjusted to vary the blend of the color apparent to a viewer, while different designs could apparently be superimposed on the colored revolving field.
In U.S. Pat. No. 1,800,054, a disk of light bulbs was varied in its speed of revolution according to a fixed operating cycle so that a certain pattern of images was visible to a viewer.


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording media and including a developer bearing member configured to bear developer and carry the developer, a regulating portion disposed opposite to the developer bearing member and configured to regulate an amount of the developer on the developer bearing member, a first chamber configured to supply the developer to the developer bearing member, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber to form a circulating route of the developer. In addition, a first feeding member feeds the developer in the first chamber, and a second feeding member feeds the developer in the second chamber. A control portion executes, in a non-image forming state, a mode of driving the developer bearing member in a condition in which the first feeding member is stopped.

An image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and a multi-function printer having a plurality of functions of such apparatuses using an electro-photographic or electrostatic recording system is configured to visualize (develop) an image by applying developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum. Conventionally, some developing apparatuses used in such development are known to use two-component developer (referred to simply as 'developer' hereinafter) composed of toner, i.e., non-magnetic particles, and carrier, i.e., magnetic particles.
In such a developing apparatus, the developer is carried on a surface of a developing sleeve and is conveyed as the developing sleeve rotates. While being regulated in amount (layer thickness) by a regulating blade, i.e., a developer regulating member, disposed in close proximity with the developing sleeve, the developer is conveyed to a developing area facing a photosensitive drum. Then, an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed by the toner within the developer.
Here, as the developing apparatus, there is well known a developing apparatus having a so-called function separated type configuration including a supply chamber (first chamber) supplying the developer to the developing sleeve and a recovery chamber (second chamber) recovering the developer from the developing sleeve. There is also known a developing apparatus having a so-called carrier refreshing configuration of replenishing new developer and of discharging extra developer from a discharge port because the carrier deteriorates and drops its charging performance during its use. A configuration of executing the following control is known as the function separated type developing apparatus having the carrier refreshing configuration.
For instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-53451 proposes an arrangement (mode) of reducing a ratio of rotational speed Vsc of a conveying screw circularly conveying the developer in the supply and recovery chambers and rotational speed Vsl of the developing sleeve in order to remove a toner layer generated at an upstream location of the regulating blade. That is, if the image forming operations are carried out continuously, toner deposits upstream of the regulating blade, thus forming the toner layer. Because the toner layer narrows down a gap between the developing sleeve and the regulating blade, it causes a conveyance failure hampering the supply of the developer to the developing sleeve. Then,Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-53451 proposes to remove the toner layer by temporarily interrupting the image forming operation and by executing the above-mentioned control (mode) when the image forming operations are continuously carried out.
Still further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-152098 proposes a control (mode) of driving the conveying screw while retarding the rotational speed of the developing sleeve to be slower than that during the image forming operation in order to restrain the developer from overflowing out of the developing apparatus even if the developer is unevenly distributed in one chamber of the supply and recover chambers. For instance, in a case of a configuration in which the recovery chamber is disposed under the supply chamber in the function separated type developing apparatus, the developer is liable to be unevenly distributed in the recovery chamber. If the developer is tried to be recovered to the recovery chamber from the developing sleeve in such state, there is a possibility that the developer overflows out of the recovery chamber. Then, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-152098 conveys the developer from the recovery chamber to the supply chamber and discharges the developer forcibly from a discharge port of the supply chamber by executing the above-mentioned control (mode) in forming no image.
However, there is a case when it is unable to fully restrain the toner layer from being generated upstream of the regulating blade even if the developing sleeve and conveying screws are driven in forming no image in driving conditions different from those in forming an image as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-53451. Then, there is a need for a developing apparatus capable of fully restraining the toner layer from being generated upstream of the regulating blade with a simple structure.
Still further, when the controls (modes) described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 2011-53451 and 2010-152098 are executed, the distribution of the developer in the supply and recovery chambers are differentiated from a normal distribution. That is, in the case when the control (mode) described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-53451 is executed, the distribution of the developer becomes different and the developer is stored more in the recovery chamber than the supply chamber, differing from the distribution in forming an image. Still further, as compared to a stationary state, i.e., the distribution of the developer in forming an image, spots where a developer face level has risen are partly generated. If an image is started to be formed in this condition, the developer at the spots in which the developer face level has risen is very likely to be conveyed to the discharge port without collapsing, thus possibly ending up being excessively discharged.
Still further, if the control (mode) described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-152098 is executed, a height of the developer face level in the supply chamber increases, so that there is also a possibility of discharging the developer excessively from the discharge port of the supply chamber if an image is formed as it is.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a developing apparatus capable of restraining such troubles otherwise caused by such control of disturbing the distribution of the developer face level within the supply and recovery chambers in forming no image, even when such controls (mode) are executed.

Developing apparatus having developer distribution control


Provided is a wrong-way-driving suppression device and the like for suppressing wrong-way-driving of a vehicle on a one-way road using existing map data and an onboard device or the like.

A road connecting a main line of a motor way or the like and a rest facility such as a service area or a parking area (including a facility with only a rest space without a building) (hereinafter referred to as "connection road") is one-way; however, it is assumed that a vehicle may accidentally travel in a wrong direction when returning from the rest facility to the main line. In response to this, proposed is an onboard device for storing one-way information of roads in rest facilities or connection roads, comparing a direction in which travel is permitted in a one-way road near the position of a host vehicle with a traveling direction of the host vehicle, and notifying by speech or the like when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling in a wrong direction (Patent Literature 1).
Also proposed is a system for determining whether a vehicle is traveling in a wrong direction by transmitting identification information from a wireless transmitter installed on a road side at a boundary between a rest facility and a connection road and receiving the identification information by a wireless receiver mounted on the vehicle and, when determination is made that the vehicle is traveling in the wrong direction, performing notification by speech or the like (Patent Literature 2).

Wrong-way-driving suppression device, wrong-way-driving suppression method, and wrong-way-driving suppression system

Abstract: The wrong-way-driving suppression device according to the present invention includes: a current position acquiring unit for acquiring a current position of a host vehicle; a traveling direction acquiring unit for acquiring a traveling direction of the host vehicle; a map data acquiring unit for acquiring surrounding map data of the current position; a traveling status determination area setting unit for setting a determination area where a traveling status of the host vehicle is to be determined from the current position and the surrounding map data; a correct traveling direction storing unit for storing, as a correct traveling direction, a traveling direction of the host vehicle at the time of passing a connection point of an entrance-side connection road with a main line in the determination area, the entrance-side connection road connecting the main line and an entrance side of a rest facility; and a notification instructing unit for instructing a notifier to perform predetermined notification when an angle formed by a traveling direction of the host vehicle and the correct traveling direction is larger than or equal to a first threshold value in the determination area.


An apparatus applies dressing fluid to a bowling lane surface in a discrete pattern laterally across a plurality of zones on the bowling lane. A carriage, for movement along a bowling lane, has an applicator mounted thereon for applying the dressing fluid to the bowling lane surface. Dressing fluid is supplied from a reservoir by means off a plurality of pulse valves which supply the dressing fluid to a plurality of fluid dispersion chambers, each having an inlet connected to one of the pulse valves and having an outlet positioned to apply dressing fluid to the applicator. The outlet has a width equal to the width of one of the zones. A controller is provided for selectively activating each of the pulse valves to discharge a discrete amount of fluid dressing into each dispersion chamber. Each zone may be the width of one board across the bowling alley so that different discrete amounts of oil can be applied to each board. A method is provided to supply discrete amounts of bowling lane dressing to each of a plurality of zones wherein each zone is one board width or portion of a board width.

Many types of bowling lane maintenance machines have been developed for the purpose of applying bowling lane dressing to a bowling alley in a predetermined lateral pattern across the alley. In many cases, the apparatus which was developed was done so in response to rules laid down by the American Bowling Congress. As these rules have changed, different lane maintenance machines, which will better accommodate new rules, have been developed. Under current rules, virtually any lane dressing application pattern is permissible. Therefore, it is desirable to have a lane maintenance machine which can put lane dressing down across an alley in virtually any desired pattern. Prior art devices have been developed which provide some variation in the application of the oil pattern across the bowling lane, but none provide complete versatility.
Ingermann et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,884 provides an oil transfer device for transferring lane dressing from a reservoir to an applicator roller. The device includes pressure fingers which can be adjusted to vary the amount of oil transferred from the reservoir to a transfer roller by a wick. For any given pressure across the transfer roller, the amount of oil applied from the transfer roller to the applicator roller is strictly a function of the speed of the transfer roller.
Davis U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,815 discloses a lane maintenance machine which has a plurality of discharged heads which are each movable laterally across a portion of the apparatus and each discharge head includes a discharge pencil for discharging a predetermined amount of lane dressing onto the transfer roller as the discharge head moves across a portion of the apparatus. This device is intended to provide precise control of application of lane dressing to each portion of the transfer roller and to provide controlled variable amounts of lane dressing across each portion. However, it cannot vary the amount of lane dressing incrementally from one board of the bowling alley to the next.
Ingermann et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,277 provides a variable speed transfer roller for applying lane dressing from the reservoir to the applicator roller. By varying the speed of the transfer roller, the amount of dressing applied across the applicator roller can also be varied. However, the change is uniform clear across the applicator roller and hence across the bowling lane.
Davis U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,290 discloses an apparatus for applying lane dressing in which the reservoir has a plurality of wicks extending from the top thereof each of which can be selectively controlled to bring them into and out of contact with the transfer roller to apply lane dressing selectively across a distance equal to the width of each wick. This apparatus is suitable for its intended purpose but does not provide for separate application of lane dressing in predetermined amounts to each board across a bowling lane.
Smith et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,728 discloses an apparatus which has a segmented transfer roller wherein each segment can be driven at different speeds. By varying the speed of the different segments, different amounts of lane dressing can be applied across different portions of the bowling alley. This apparatus is also suitable for its intended purpose but does not provide means for selectively varying the lane dressing on each board across a bowling lane.
Smith et al U. S. Pat. No. 5,274,871 discloses an apparatus which has a segmented transfer roller with a plurality of roller segments. A plurality of pivotally mounted reservoirs are provided, one reservoir corresponding in length with each roller segment and being mounted for pivotal movement to bring its wick into and out of operative contact with the respective roller segments. This arrangement provides more possible variations in the application of lane dressing to a bowling lane but still does not permit the application of different amounts of lane dressing to each individual board.

Apparatus for selectively metering dressing onto a bowling lane surface


A method and a device for avoiding a collision of a motor vehicle with at least one other object which approaches the motor vehicle in such a way that a collision between the motor vehicle and the approaching object is imminent, a friction coefficient variable being ascertained which represents the friction coefficient potential of the motor vehicle, and at least one action for avoiding and/or reducing the consequences of a collision between the motor vehicle and the approaching object being carried out as a function of the friction coefficient variable.

Methods for avoiding collisions between motor vehicles and other objects, for example, other motor vehicles or bicycle riders, pedestrians, and immovable objects, have existed for several years, and are already being installed in motor vehicles as standard equipment.
Particularly serious collisions frequently occur if two motor vehicles collide head-on. It is not uncommon for accidents of this type to be fatal, particularly as the speed of the two motor vehicles may be high particularly on freeways, and the relative speed between the two motor vehicles may be very high.
German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 020 647 A1 describes a method for collision avoidance or collision consequence mitigation for motor vehicles. Here, among other things, a time-distance relationship is used for selecting the necessary actions, taking into consideration the surroundings of a motor vehicle.

Method and device for avoiding a collision of a motor vehicle with at least one other object which approaches the motor vehicle in such a way that a collision between the motor vehicle and the approaching object is imminent