An optical mask layer for a CT detector is disclosed and is disposed between the photodiode array and scintillator array of a CT detector. The optical mask layer, which may extend along the x-axis, z-axis, or both, is designed to absorb and/or reflect light emitted the scintillators of the scintillator array. Through this absorption and/or reflection, transference of light photons from a scintillator to the photodiode corresponding to a neighboring scintillator is reduced. This reduction in cross-talk reduces artifacts in a reconstructed image and therefore improves the diagnostic value of the image.

The present invention relates generally to diagnostic imaging and, more particularly, to a CT detector having an optical mask layer to reduce cross-talk between scintillators and neighboring photodiodes.
Typically, in computed tomography (CT) imaging systems, an x-ray source emits a fan-shaped beam toward a subject or object, such as a patient or a piece of luggage. Hereinafter, the terms "subject" and "object" shall include anything capable of being imaged. The beam, after being attenuated by the subject, impinges upon an array of radiation detectors. The intensity of the attenuated beam radiation received at the detector array is typically dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the subject. Each detector element of the detector array produces a separate electrical signal indicative of the attenuated beam received by each detector element. The electrical signals are transmitted to a data processing system for analysis which ultimately produces an image.
Generally, the x-ray source and the detector array are rotated about the gantry within an imaging plane and around the subject. X-ray sources typically include x-ray tubes, which emit the x-ray beam at a focal point. X-ray detectors typically include a collimator for collimating x-ray beams received at the detector, a scintillator for converting x-rays to light energy adjacent the collimator, and photodiodes for receiving the light energy from the adjacent scintillator and producing electrical signals therefrom.
Typically, each scintillator of a scintillator array converts x-rays to light energy. Each scintillator discharges light energy to a photodiode adjacent thereto. Each photodiode detects the light energy and generates a corresponding electrical signal. The outputs of the photodiodes are then transmitted to the data processing system for image reconstruction.
Generally, the photodiode is used to convert light signal or energy received to an electric current. Typically, the amount or value of the electric current generated is linearly proportional to the amount of light energy or signal detected. In this regard, for efficient and effective image reconstruction, it is imperative that the x-rays received by a scintillator, light emitted by the scintillator, and the light detected by the photodiode be localized. That is, the quality of the output of a photodiode may be compromised if there is a cross-communication between neighboring detector cells. This cross-communication is generally referred to as "cross-talk".
"Cross-talk" between detector cells of a CT detector occurs when data or signal is transferred between neighboring detector cells. Generally, cross-talk is sought to be reduced as cross-talk leads to artifact presence in the final reconstructed CT image and contributes to poor spatial resolution. Typically, four different types of cross-talk may result within a single CT detector. X-ray cross-talk may occur due to x-ray scattering between scintillator cells. Optical reflector cross-talk occurs by transmission of light through the reflectors that surround the scintillators. Known CT detectors utilize a contiguous optical coupling layer(s), typically epoxy, to secure the scintillator array to the photodiode array. This coupling layer produces an optical coupling cross-talk. This is due to light which is trapped and passes through the optical coupling layer into the region above an adjacent diode, where it is finally absorbed in the diode and converted to electrical signal. A fourth type of cross-talk is diffusion cross-talk. It is a combination of electrical and optical. This is due to optical photons which are typically generated close to the boundary between diode regions. The optical generated carriers diffuse within the field free regions of the diode and some are collected by adjacent diodes producing cross-talk. Both optical coupling cross-talk and diffusion cross-talk as defined above will be described as optical transference or optical transference cross-talk.
Cross-talk and especially cross-talk variation is a significant source of artifacts in CT imagers. To reduce cross-talk variation (in any form) between detector cells, the CT detector is manufactured to extremely tight tolerance so that high quality and artifact-free CT images may be reconstructed. Many of the cross-talk mechanism are very sensitive to small variations in detector dimensions and other properties. The misalignment of the scintillator array to the photodiode array drives the non-uniformity of cross-talk level from one cell to its neighbors. In order to reduce the variation of crosstalk from one cell to another, either a better alignment of diode to scintillator or a non-sensitive design is required.
One of the contributors of this cell-to-cell variation of cross-talk is the electrical cross-talk generated by diffusion of photo generated carriers between the individual photodiode elements. The lateral diffusion of photo generated carriers can be thought of as an increase in the photoactive area of the photodiode collection junction. This lateral diffusion leads to a lateral cross-talk which occurs when some photocarriers diffuse out of the cell collection site in which they are generated and are collected by a neighboring cell. This effect is even more pronounced in back-illuminated diodes because the thickness of the diodes increases the diffusion length before collection. A back-illuminated diode is a diode array where the light is incident on the side of the diode array opposite from the diode junctions.
It would therefore be desirable to design a CT detector with reduced electrical cross-talk for improved image reconstruction.


A micro-adjustable case neck turning tool which provides the mechanical capability for case neck trimming blade vernier driven vertical displacement adjustment and set in measured increments of 0.0002-inch and interpolated increments of 0.0001-inch for achieving consistent close tolerance trimming and trueing of the outside diameter of a cartridge case neck, thereby to uniformily undersize the same for close tolerance receiving and positioning thereof upon cartridge lock-up within a firearm chamber and thus increase the inherent cartridge factor accuracy by reducing substantially the potential for a mis-aligned angle of incidence in the bullet-to-bore relationship upon discharge delivery of a bullet from the case mouth into the firearm barrel.

The present invention relates to a processing tool for employment by precision firearm marksmen in preparing cartridges having high inherent accuracy characteristics, and is comprised of a micro-adjustable case neck turning tool which enables one to consistently achieve a measured close tolerance undersize trimming and trueing of a case neck outer diameter for minimal possibility of there being a mis-aligned angle of incidence in a loaded cartridge bullet-to-bore relationship upon cartridge ignition and discharge delivery of a bullet from the case mouth into the firearm barrel.
Part of the ballistic mechanics of safe discharge of a bullet from a cartridge case neck into the barrel bore upon cartridge ignition and firing is that there be a case neck expansion clearance space between the loaded cartridge case neck outer diameter and the firearm chamber neck recess inner diameter to allow for equalization of ignition pressures, and the recommended safe clearance standard in the foregoing respect is typically 0.009-inch, which is based on an overclearance allowance for accumulated chamber fouling from powder and metal residue build up over repeated cartridge discharges between bore and chamber cleaning. However, with a 0.009-inch clearance there is also a sufficient room to allow for an angular mis-alignment of a seated cartridge within the chamber so that upon cartridge ignition the bullet enters the barrel at a cant rather than being on axial alignment with the bore, which results in a significant inaccuracy consequence when one is involved in the art of precision shooting.
It is typical of precision shooters, as a procedural technique of the art, to clean their firearm bore and chamber much more frequently than is either the custom or habit of other types of shooters. Therefore, chamber to cartridge oversize allowance for purposes of accommodating fouling accumulation with respect to ballistic safety and cartridge ignition pressure build up is reduced, and closer cartridge neck-to-chamber tolerances may be safely accommodated, typically on the order of 0.0015 to 0.002-inch with resultant reduction of the likelihood of bullet cant and axial mis-alignment thereof with the barrel bore axis upon cartridge ignition.
In addition to applicant's tool, the case neck turning tool most widely available for trimming case necks to close tolerance undersize for precision shooting is known as the Marquart Precision Case Neck Turning Tool, manufactured by the Marquart Precision Company, Inc., of Prescott, Ariz., which is adequate and effective for case neck trimming but is limited to a conventional threaded screw trimming blade displacement adjustment means and thereby lacking the precise trimming blade displacement and set capability provided by the tool of instant invention.
The applicant herein by his invention provides a novel and utilitarian tool for accomplishing reliable and accurately changed micro-adjustably measured cartridge case neck trimming blade vertical displacements and sets of 0.0002-inch with interpolated increments of 0.0001-inch in the procedural carrying out of case neck turning.


In a hand-held power tool with a drive unit comprising at least one drive motor and a transmission coupled to the drive motor for driving a working tool, wherein the transmission can be shifted between at least two different gear ratios, a communication interface is provided for communication with a guide unit operable by a user and designed to receive gearshift instructions from the guide unit for shifting the transmission between the two different gear ratios according to the specific use.

The present disclosure relates to a hand-held power tool having a drive unit which for driving an insert tool has at least one drive motor and a gearbox that is coupled to the drive motor, wherein the gearbox is switchable between at least two different gear ratios.
Hand-held power tools which have a drive unit having a drive motor and a switchable gearbox wherein the drive unit is assigned a gear switching unit for switching the drive unit between at least two different gear ratios, are known from the prior art. The gear switching unit herein has an activatable shifting ring for switching gears.
Moreover, a hand-held power tool having a gear switching unit which is provided with an activatable shifting ring and an actuating unit having a servomotor is known from EP 2 848 371 A1. The servomotor herein, when activated, is configured to activate the activatable shifting ring in order to switch gears between the at least two different gear ratios.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hand-held power tool comprising a gearshift unit


A polyester composition is disclosed, which is characterized in that it contains, besides polyester, vaterite-type calcium carbonate obtainable through carbonation reaction of a calcium compound in a mixed medium of alcohol and water. The polyester composition is superior in compatibility between the polyester and the vaterite-type calcium carbonate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polyester composition and, more particularly, to a polyester composition containing a vaterite-type calcium carbonate prepared by a special method, excelled in slipperiness as well as wear resistance and less in the count of coarse projections.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Today, industrially manufactured polyester, especially polyethylene telephthalate (hereinafter referred to as "PET"), is excelled in both physical and chemical properties and is widely in use as fiber, film and other molded articles. In the field of films, for example, it is used in the manufacture of magnetic tape such as audio tape and video tape, for capacitor uses, photographic uses, and packaging and OHP-related uses.
In the field of polyester film, the workability in film-making steps and in processing steps in other uses depends largely on its slipperiness and anti-shaving property, this, in turn, determining the quality of products. In case the slipperiness and/or anti-shaving property are insufficient and when, for example, the surface of polyester film is coated with a magnetic material for manufacture of magnetic tape, friction between the coating roll and the film surface is markedly high as well as the wear of the film surface and, in extreme cases, creases and abrasions are caused to be formed in the film surface. And even after slitting the film coated with the magnetic material, marked friction is caused between many guide parts, playback heads et cetera, this causing separation of chalk-like substance resulting from abrasion, generation of strain, shaving of polyester film surface, and it often results in missing of magnetic recording signals, so-called drop-out.
Hitherto, many methods have been proposed for lowering the friction coefficient of polyester such as incorporating fine particles into polyester to impart a fine and proper degree of roughness to the surface of a molded article but none of them were satisfactory in film's transparency and wear resistance due to insufficient compatibility between such fine particles and polyester. To further explain the method, a large number of methods have hitherto been proposed represented by:
(1) a method in which a part or whole of catalyst et cetera used in polyester synthesis are separated in the reaction process (inner particles separation method), and
(2) a method in which fine particles of calcium carbonate, silicium dioxide and the like are added during polymerization or thereafter (outer particles adding method).
With such particles imparting surface roughness to polyester film, the slipperiness-improving effect attainable is generally larger with increasing size thereof. In precision uses such as magnetic tape and video tape, in particular, however, the increased size of such particles itself can cause defects such as drop-out, hence the surface roughness of film is required to be as small or fine as possible, and required is satisfaction of these contradictory requirements simultaneously.
In the inner particles separation method (1), in which the particles in question are of a metallic salt of polyester component or the like, the compatibility with polyester is relatively good, but it is difficult to control the quantity of particles added and the particle size as well as to prevent formation of coarse particles.
Meanwhile, in the method (2), the slipperiness attainable can be improved by adding fine particles properly selected in particle size and with coarse particles removed by classification and the like and properly controlling the quantity thereof. Since, the compatibility between inorganic fine particles and polyester as organic component is insufficient, however, separation takes place in the boundary between particles and polyester, this giving rise to formation of voids. If such voids should exists in polyester, elimination of particles from polyester film is likely to be caused by contact between polyester films or between polyester film and other media and resultant damage of polyester film or the like, this resulting in, for instance, chalking of the film for magnetic tapes and the aforementioned phenomenon of drop-out. Also, large gaps are bound to exist around the individual particles, this interfering with transparency of polyester film. Hence, the lack of compatibility between inorganic particles and polyester is a problem to be solved for improvement of wear resistance and transparency.
For improvement of compatibility between inorganic particles and polyester proposed is coupling reaction between silane type compound or titanate type compound and inorganic compound, but there have been noted various problems such as complicatedness of the treating process and the effect attainable not so good as expected. Also, for improvement of dispersibility of such inorganic compounds in polyester there has been taken a method of preparing glycol slurry of fine particles of the inorganic compounds and adding it in the course of polyester manufacture. Such inorganic compounds, however, have such defects as being hardly good in dispersibility or and in dispersion stability, being subject to precipitation and deposition and tending to form a hard cake which is hardly redispersible, when glycol with inorganic compounds suspended therein is stored over a long period, and further tending to agglomerate in glycol or in the course of polyester manufacture. The existence of agglomerated coarse particles in polymer causes breaking of yarn during spinning, formation of large projections in film or of fish eyes. Especially when it is used as film for magnetic tape, it gives rise to drop-outs or lowering of S/N ratio, hence development of microparticles without formation of agglomerated coarse particles is awaited.
As one of inorganic compounds used in these outer particles adding methods, monodisperse spherical silica obtainable by hydrolysis, condensation or the like of alcoxysilane is developed and its possibility as anti-blocking agent for video-tape required to have a high degree of quality has been studied.
The aforementioned spherical silica is, however, difficult to prepare economically for the price of alcoxysilane as its material being extremely high and also a long time is required for reaction due to slow progress of hydrolysis and, also, the compatibility of polyester is insufficient compared with those of other inorganic particles added externally to polyester, the aforementioned spherical silica is apt to release from polyester film due to damage of polyester film, this possibly causing chalking or drop-out of film for magnetic tape. Further, since the aforementioned silica is extremely high in Mohs hardness, being 6 or more, there is a large defect of the spherical silica released from polyester film injuring the surface of the reproduction head of the video tape recorder. In this respect, the Mohs hardness of calcium carbonate is approximately 3, this being relatively low among inorganic particles in general. Hence, development of calcium carbonate, same as or better than the aforementioned silica in uniformity and dispersibility and improved in compatibility with polyester has been expected.
Of those fine particles used in polyester manufacture, calcium carbonate, whose material, limestone, yields abundantly in Japan, is being widely used as filler in many fields such as manufacture of paper, paint, rubber and plastic. This calcium carbonate is generally divided into two major categories of heavy calcium carbonate and precipitated calcium carbonate (synthetic calcium carbonate).
Heavy calcium carbonate is calcium carbonate prepared in various grades by classification of mechanically ground limestone, which has a feature of being relatively low in manufacturing cost but broad in particle size distribution and has a defect that by the current grinding-classification technique calcium carbonate higher than a given degree of fineness is unattainable.
Meanwhile, precipitated calcium carbonate is a synthetic calcium carbonate prepared by a chemical method such as carbon dioxide gas carbonation process in which unslaked lime obtained by calcinating limestone at a high temperature is caused to react with water to prepare milk of lime and then letting carbon dioxide gas resulting from calcination of limestone through the milk of lime, lime soda process in which milk of lime is caused to react with sodium carbonate and soda process in which calcium chloride is caused to react with sodium carbonate. Compared with the heavy calcium carbonate obtained by mechanically grinding limestone, this kind of calcium carbonate has a uniform form of primary particle and a relatively good dispersibility. The primary particle form and primary particle size or diameter of precipitated calcium carbonate are arbitrarily selectable by selection of the carbonation conditions such as concentration, temperature, pH, reaction time, and kinds or quantities of additives. The precipitated calcium carbonate, however, tends to have its primary particles cohere or agglomerate to form secondary particles (agglomerates of primary particles) and, therefore, has a defect of being unable to prepare without formation of secondary particles by any conventional carbonation method unless proper mechanical aftertreatment such as wet-grinding by the use of a wet grinder.
These kinds of calcium carbonate are preferably used, for they are relatively low in hardness compared with other fine particles used in manufacture of polyester, and the following methods have hitherto been often used.
(1) A method of repeatedly classifying pneumatically heavy calcium carbonate as it is or with its surface treated with fatty acid, resin acid or one of alkaline metal salts thereof for elimination of coarse particles about 5 .mu.m or more in particle size, this followed by dispersion in glycol before use.
(2) A method of dispersing heavy calcium carbonate in glycol and wet-grinding it by the use of a wet grinder such as a sand mill, this followed by wet classification for elimination of coarse particles about 3 .mu.m or more in particle size before use.
(3) A method of dispersing precipitated calcium carbonate having a specific level of dispersibility and having its particle size in a specific range, this followed by wet-grinding under specific conditions before use.
For use in polyester, however, calcium carbonate prepared by the aforementioned method (1), (2) or (3) has the following fatal defect.
In case of the method (1);
(a) Even if a commercially available fine grade of heavy calcium carbonate is selected for pneumatic classification, the particle size distribution of such heavy calcium carbonate is broad allowing existence of coarse particles 4-6 .mu.m in size. And perfect elimination of coarse particles up to about 3 .mu.m in size is difficult even by repeated classification by the use of a high-level pneumatic classifier. Hence, heavy calcium carbonate prepared by this method is difficult to use in the manufacture of extremely thin polyester film used as material of audio tapes et cetera.
(b) When heavy calcium carbonate surface-treated with fatty acid, resin acid or one of alkaline metals thereof for improvement of classification efficiency of pneumatic classification, the dispersion stability in glycol is deteriorated due to the poor compatibility of such surface treating agent with glycol.
(c) The fineness of heavy calcium carbonate for pneumatic classification is limited, hence preparation of calcium carbonate with its particle size in a given range is infeasible.
In case of (2);
(a) Since in this method heavy calcium carbonate as material is ground by the use of a wet grinder, calcium carbonate with its mean particle size in a given range is feasible with a relative ease compared with the method (1). Wet grinding, however, gives cause for formation of a large amount of fine particles unnecessarily small in size, this resulting in a broad particle size distribution and undesirable decrease of the absolute quantity of calcium carbonate contributing to the desired improvement of friction behavior of polyester film. Worse, such ultra-fine particles re-agglomerate in glycol to form coarse secondary particles, which often deteriorate the physical properties of polyester films or fibers.
(b) Even when heavy calcium carbonate as material is wet-ground by the use of a wet grinder, it is possible that coarse particles 4-6 .mu.m in size are contained in the ground calcium carbonate by the phenomenon called "short pass" (a phenomenon in which coarse particles in the material to be ground are discharged from a wet grinder almost intact) and, even if attempt is made for elimination of such coarse particles by a wet centrifugal classifier, the size of particles economically eliminatable by classification is about 1 .mu.m. Hence calcium carbonate prepared by this method is not usable for polyester films intended for specific uses requiring perfect elimination of particles 1 .mu.m or more in size, for example, 8 mm video tape.
In case of (3);
Since in this method precipitated calcium carbonate used as material has dispersibility higher than a specific level in particle size and degree of dispersion and wet-grinding is carried out under specific grinding conditions, the quantities of coarse particles and unnecessarily fine particles are definitely less than in cases (1) and (2) and calcium carbonate relatively uniform in particle size and sharp in distribution of projections in film surface is obtainable. Even by this method, however, it is difficult to prepare calcium carbonate with no coarse particle about 1 .mu.m in size and to date the final finishing step by centrifugal classification, screening or the like has been taken as indispensable. Further, with the wet-grinder indispensable for the process, partial damage of the grinding media such as glass beads is inevitable, this resulting in undesirous incorporation of traces of broken media 10-30 .mu.m in particle size.

Polyester composition containing vaterite-type calcium carbonate


To provide a method for manufacturing an electro-optical device that is capable of controlling more smoothly brightness as compared with a control in every one frame and preventing large current from flowing when switching frames in a peak brightness control, a method of driving the same, and an electronic apparatus. A grayscale data average value operation unit 33 performs, for each line, an average value calculation of grayscale levels of images corresponding to images of an one-frame-length and outputs, based on average value for the one frame-length, mode signals M1 to M4 for brightness control in each line. A driver input data converter 34 rewrites, based on the mode signals M1 to M4 from the grayscale data average value operation unit 33, grayscale data HD for one line among grayscale data from a frame memory 31 into grayscale data DD. The driver input data converter 34 outputs grayscale data DD which is image data for the one frame-length and whose brightness is adjusted in a signal generating circuit.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an electro-optical device, a method of driving the same and an electronic apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, electro-optical devices such as liquid crystal display devices employing liquid crystal elements, organic electroluminescent display devices employing organic electroluminescent elements, electrophoresis devices employing electrophoresis elements are known. In such electro-optical devices, when displaying images, a brightness control (a peak brightness control) is performed such that for relatively dark grayscale display, overall brightness becomes higher and for relatively bright grayscale display, overall brightness becomes lower. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-34946. Typically, in the peak brightness control, from image data for one frame in every one frame, general brightness of the frame is obtained. And then, based on the obtained general brightness, a judgment is preformed on whether image of the frame is bright image or dark image, and thus overall brightness is adjusted. By performing the peak brightness control, it is easy to view a screen and a consumption of power can be decreased.
However, in the above-mentioned peak brightness control, general brightness of the frame is obtained in every one frame and overall brightness is controlled. Accordingly, if a brightness change between frames is large in such a manner that frame image is changed from full black to full white, a large current abruptly flows when switching frames, thereby causing a noise. Besides, it is necessary for a power source circuit having high driving ability, which supplies electric power for each pixel circuit to drive the electro-optical device.

Electro-optical device, method of driving the same and electronic apparatus


A hollow stranded wire (2) has a first layers (4) and second layers (6). The second layer is located outside the first layer. The first layer is formed by twisting eight first element wires (8) which are flat wires. The second layer is formed by twisting eight second element wires (10) which are flat wires. A ratio (Ww/Tw) of a width Ww to a thickness Tw of each flat wire is from 2 to 11. A twisting direction of the second element wires is opposite that of the first element wires. A twisting angle of each first element wire is not greater than 85°. A twisting angle of each second element wire is not greater than 85°. A ratio (D/T) of an average diameter D to a thickness T of the hollow stranded wire is not less than 5 and not greater than 20.

Medical devices that are inserted into body cavities are used for medical treatments such as endoscopy. JP2006-230635 discloses a medical device having a hollow coil. Another member is inserted into the hollow coil, and a medical treatment is performed.
As a hollow coil for a medical device, a coil formed by winding one wire has been known. A coil formed by winding two wires has also been known. A coil with a two-layer structure has also been known.


A sheet-like light source device comprising a plurality of bar-shaped light sources, a diffusing plate for diffusing light emitted from the light sources, and a reflecting plate capable of mirror reflecting the light emitted from the light sources to the diffusing plate side. The reflecting plate is provided in a position opposite to the diffusing plate with respect to the light sources. The reflecting plate has at least one convex portion formed in parallel with the light sources in a space between the two adjacent light sources. It is possible to decrease or remove shield printing which has conventionally carried out over the diffusing plate, thereby enabling manufacture of a back light having a high efficiency.

The present invention relates to a sheet-like light source device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a back light device of a perpendicular type to be used as a back light of a liquid crystal display.
A non-light emission display device such as a liquid crystal display is provided with a sheet-like light source device referred to as a back light to irradiate uniform light on an image display element from the back. For the back light, a back light of a side-light type has been often used with a reduction in the thickness of the liquid crystal display.
In the side-light type, however, an increase in the size of the screen and the precision of a recent liquid crystal display is limited. For this reason, a back light having a higher luminance has been required than that of the back light of the side-light type which is a current mainstream. For the request, recently, a back light of a perpendicular type shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has often been manufactured. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view and FIG. 10 is a sectional view.
More specifically, the back light of the perpendicular type has a plurality of light sources 21 (for which a fluorescent lamp is mainly used) provided in a space under a display device 25 and serves to guide light of the light source 21 to the display device 25. In that case, a reflecting plate 22 is provided on the opposite side of the display device 25 with respect to the light source 21 in order to efficiently guide light of the light source 21 to the display device 25 side. In many cases, it is hard to control the direction of light emitted from a lamp. Therefore, a white reflecting plate 22 for diffusing and reflecting light is selected. Moreover, a diffusing plate 23 is provided between the light source 21 and the display device 25 in order to make the light emitted from the light source 21 uniform. In some cases, furthermore, optical sheets (not shown) such as a prism sheet for collecting light in a desirable direction is provided between the diffusing plate 23 and the display device 25.
In a conventional back light device, the light (direct light) directly emitted from the light source 21 to the light emitting face side is directly incident on the diffusing plate 23, and light emitted to the anti-light emitting face side is reflected by the reflecting plate 22 and is then incident on the diffusing plate 23 (reflected light). As a result, a luminance is high on a display surface just above the light source 21 and a display unevenness is recognized. For this reason, a light uniform processing is carried out, that is, the diffusing plate 23 is subjected to printing for shielding light. Thus, uniform light emission can be obtained.
In the conventional back light device of the perpendicular type, a dimension in a vertical direction is less restricted than that of the back light device of the side-light type and the degree of a display unevenness is also lessened. The above technique can be employed because uniform light emission can be obtained by only the printing on the diffusing plate 23. In the near future, however, it is apparent that a back light device having a small thickness, a narrow frame and a high efficiency is required for the back light device of the perpendicular type in the same manner as the back light device of the side-light type. In the thin back light of the perpendicular type, a ratio of direct light to reflected light is different from that of the conventional back light and the direct light is more increased than the reflected light. For this reason, the light shield printing on the diffusing plate 23 cannot fully make the light uniform. Thus, there has been a problem that the display unevenness is more remarkable. Moreover, when the intense direct light is shielded through the light shield printing subjected to the diffusing plate 23 in the same manner as that in the conventional art, the utilization efficiency of the light of the back light is reduced so that the efficiency of the back light is deteriorated.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 275525/1992 or the like has disclosed a technique for making light uniform without using the light shielding means. In a liquid crystal display having a back light described in the publication, a reflecting plate is protruded upward like a mountain in the middle position of two adjacent light sources, and a convex portion of the reflecting plate serves as a mirror surface and a concave portion thereof serves as a scattering surface. Accordingly, it is necessary to carry out a working and an assembly with high precision in order to actually apply these techniques or a plurality of expensive members should be additionally used, which is contrary to the fabrication of a back light at a low cost. Therefore, it is hard to fabricate an inexpensive plane light source through these techniques.
The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, it is an object thereof to provide a sheet-like light source device which is inexpensive and thin and has a uniform luminance distribution while minimizing a reduction in the utilization efficiency of light.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sheet-like light source device comprising a plurality of bar-shaped light sources, a diffusing plate for diffusing light emitted from the light sources, and a reflecting plate capable of mirror reflecting the light emitted from the light sources to the diffusing plate side, the reflecting plate being provided in a position opposite to the diffusing plate with respect to the light sources,
wherein the reflecting plate has at least one convex portion formed in parallel with the light sources in a space between the two adjacent light sources.
It is preferable that the convex portion takes a sectional shape having three or more straight portions.
It is preferable that a straight portion forming at least a base bottom part of the convex portion is set to have such an angle as to reflect the light emitted from the light source onto a part almost just above the light source, and
a straight portion provided on the base bottom part of the convex portion is set to have such an angle as to reflect the light emitted from the light source onto a portion between the two adjacent light sources.
It is preferable that an inclination of each straight portion constituting the sectional shape of the convex portion has a relationship of:
xcex81 less than xcex82 less than  . . .  less than xcex8nxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
(wherein xcex8n represents an angle formed by the straight portion and a normal of the diffusing plate and n=1 represents a straight portion forming the base bottom part of the convex portion of the reflecting plate).
It is preferable that the sectional shape of the convex portion is symmetrical with respect to a center line of the two adjacent light sources arranged in parallel.
It is preferable that a straight portion constituting the section of the convex portion which is the closest to the diffusing plate is parallel with the diffusing plate.
It is preferable that both ends of the reflecting plate in a direction of the arrangement of the light sources is constituted by a portion perpendicular to the diffusing plate and a half on one of sides of the convex portion.
It is preferable that the convex portion has a plurality of sectional shapes in an axial direction of the light source.
It is preferable that the sectional shapes of the convex portion is continuously changed in the axial direction of the light source.
It is preferable that a plurality of convex portions are provided and two adjacent convex portions have different sectional shapes.
It is preferable that a wiring of the light source is accommodated on an internal face side of the convex portion.
In accordance with present invention, there is also provided a sheet-like display device comprising a sheet-like light source device and at least a plane type display part, wherein the sheet-like source device comprises a plurality of bar-shaped light sources, a diffusing plate for diffusing light emitted from the light sources, and a reflecting plate capable of mirror reflecting the light emitted from the light sources to the diffusing plate side, the reflecting plate being provided in a position opposite to the diffusing plate with respect to the light sources, and wherein the reflecting plate has at least one convex portion formed in parallel with the light sources in a space between the two adjacent light sources.
It is preferable that the plane type display part displays an image by utilizing a birefringence of a liquid crystal.
It is preferable that a member for an electric circuit is accommodated on an internal face side of the convex portion.
More specifically, the technical means of the present invention pays attention to the fact that the light emitted from the light source toward the reflecting plate has conventionally been reflected by diffusion reflection and has not been controlled. Thus, the present invention has an object to provide a back light which is thin and inexpensive and has a high efficiency by using a reflecting surface of the reflecting plate to carry out mirror reflection, thereby controlling the light and minimizing or deleting printing to be performed over the diffusing plate. Moreover, other members for making the light uniform are not required. Therefore, it is possible to fabricate an inexpensive sheet-like light source during mass production.


A mobile terminal including a case; a touch key mounted in a predetermined portion of the case and configured to generate touch type input data; a light source arranged on a back side of the touch key and configured to emit light; and a light diffusion unit configured to diffuse the light emitted from the light source and provide a backlight to the touch key. Further, the light diffusion unit includes a light guide part configured to guide the light emitted by the light source; an air gap arranged on the light guide part and configured to diffuse the light provided from the light guide part; and a diffuser arranged on the air gap and configured to diffuse the light provided from the air gap towards the touch key.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of application, the present invention relates to a mobile terminal including a user input unit having a backlight provided therein.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, terminals can be classified into mobile terminals and stationary terminals. In addition, the mobile terminals can be further classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals.
Further, a mobile terminal is a device which may be configured to perform various functions such as data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files and outputting music via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display.
There are ongoing efforts to support and increase the functionality of mobile terminals. Such efforts include software and hardware improvements, as well as changes and improvements in the structural components which form the mobile terminal.
Accordingly, there may be improvement of a user input unit, specifically, a backlight provided in a touch type touch pad or pressure type key button. A conventional backlight has following disadvantages.
Different from a backlight provided in a display, such a user input unit in a mobile terminal has an internal space limitation. Accordingly, it is difficult to use a member for diffusing a light of a light source such as an optical film for vertical direction light concentration, for example, double BEF (DBEF) or a brightness enhancement film (BEF) rather than a light guide film and a diffuser in the user input unit.
As a result, the light of the light source guided to the user input unit is not diffused sufficiently and the backlight cannot be provided to the user input unit uniformly.


Methods and systems are provided for managing a compressor temperature using EGR to address surge and condensation. A variable mixture of cooled compressor recirculation flow and hot EGR is provided to a compressor inlet. A composition of the mixture is adjusted to maintain a compressor inlet temperature sufficiently warm so as to reduce ingestion of condensation, and a compressor outlet temperature sufficiently cold to be within component temperature limits with flow above the surge limit.

Engine systems may be configured with a boosting device, such as a turbocharger, for providing a boosted aircharge and improving peak power outputs. Therein a turbine is rotated using energy from an exhaust flow, the turbine then driving a compressor which delivers a boosted aircharge to the engine intake. In an effort to meet stringent federal government fuel economy standards, engine systems may also be configured with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems wherein at least a portion of the exhaust gas is recirculated to the engine intake. For example, the EGR system may be a low-pressure EGR system (LP-EGR) that recirculates exhaust gas from downstream of an exhaust turbine to upstream of an exhaust compressor. EGR benefits include an increase in engine dilution, decrease in exhaust emissions, and improvements in fuel economy.
The compressor and other intake system components have temperature limitations, to avoid coking and/or thermal stress or damage. Therefore, the EGR is cooled substantially before introduction into the air induction system by a costly EGR cooler (different from the charge air cooler located downstream of the compressor). However, since EGR has relatively large water content (e.g., 8% water by mass for gasoline), the addition of LP-EGR at this substantially lower temperature to the intake at a pre-compressor location increases the risk of condensation at both a compressor inlet as well as a charge air cooler outlet. Specifically, under cold ambient conditions, when the humid EGR is mixed with cold ambient air, water droplets can form. Water droplets impacting the compressor blades which are rotating at high speeds (e.g., 200,000 rpm or above) can cause damage to the blades. In addition, since the ingested water slows the rate of combustion, the introduction of water into the engine can increase the likelihood of misfire events.
To address these issues, engine control systems may employ various approaches to limit the condensation. One example approach is shown by Rimnac et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,171. Therein, if conditions favoring EGR condensation are determined, intake manifold temperatures are increased by redirecting some or all of the EGR flow to avoid the EGR cooler. Additionally, some or all of the charge air is redirected from an outlet of the compressor to the engine intake, while bypassing the charge air cooler. As a result, a higher effective intake air temperature is provided which reduces the likelihood of condensation.
However, the inventors herein have identified potential issues with such an approach. Since the approach of '171 does not actively estimate humidity at the engine intake, there may be ambient temperature and humidity conditions where even with the redirection of the charge air, condensation occurs at the engine intake, degrading, boosted engine performance. It also does not address the compressor temperature limitations.
In one example, some of the above issues may be addressed by a method for an engine comprising: mixing compressor recirculation flow from downstream of a charge air cooler with exhaust gas, and delivering the mixture to a compressor inlet. In this way, hot EGR that has not been cooled by an EGR cooler can be mixed with cooled compressor recirculation flow to improve temperature and relative humidity management of the compressor inlet air.
As one example, a boosted engine system may include a first passage for recirculating compressed air from downstream of a charge air cooler (and upstream of an intake throttle) to a compressor inlet via a compressor recirculation valve. In this way, compressor recirculation flow that has been cooled upon passage through the charge air cooler can be delivered to the compressor inlet. The engine may further include a second passage for recirculating exhaust gas from downstream of an exhaust turbine to the compressor inlet, unobstructed, via an EGR valve. In this way, hot EGR that has not passed through an intercooler or any other secondary cooling device can be delivered to the compressor inlet. The first and second passages may join at a location upstream of the compressor and downstream of both the valves. By adjusting a position of the first and second valves, cooled compressor recirculation flow may be mixed with the hot EGR to provide a temperature-controlled mixture to the compressor inlet. For example, the composition of the mixture may be adjusted to increase the amount of hot EGR and decrease the amount of compressor recirculation flow when the compressor inlet temperature is low. As another example, the composition of the mixture may be adjusted to decrease the amount of hot EGR and increase the amount of compressor recirculation flow when the compressor outlet temperature is high, or when there is a possibility of compressor surge.
In this way, compressor temperature management is improved. By not requiring cooled EGR, the need for a dedicated EGR cooler is reduced. For example, the cooler may be dramatically downsized or removed from the design, providing component reduction benefits. By using cooled compressor recirculation flow to cool the EGR, a relative humidity and temperature at the compressor inlet, as well at a compressor outlet, can be tuned more precisely. In particular, the compressor inlet and outlet temperatures can be maintained within a range that improves turbocharger performance. By reducing the formation of condensation at the compressor inlet, issues related to the ingestion of condensate (such as misfire, degradation of compressor blades, and engine stall) can be better addressed. Further, use of cooled compressor recirculation flow can concurrently improve the compressor's margin to surge, while also reducing thermal amplification effects that can occur with the use of warm compressor recirculation flow. Overall, boosted engine performance is improved.
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.


A hermetically sealable container with internal partial vacuum making facilities, comprising a base body with which a lid is hermetically associable, the lid having, at least in its peripheral region, an elastically flexible portion that has a groove arranged peripherally and open toward the edge of the base body. On the edge of the base body, at least one through hole is provided, arranged at a distance from the free border of the edge of the base body that is shorter than the depth of the groove.

The present invention relates to a hermetically sealable container with means for producing an internal partial vacuum.
As is known, containers generally used to preserve foodstuffs are already commercially available which can be closed hermetically and have a lid, usually made of flexible material, which is flexible so that it is possible to expel a certain amount of air during closure, so that when the lid is released a partial vacuum is produced inside the container.
In the prior art devices, the air expulsion step must be performed with the lid on, with the lid groove for forming a seal with the edge of the base body having to remain, at least in some portions, spaced from the edge of the base body. Therefore during the final step of the lid closure a certain amount of previously expelled air often reenters the container, consequently reducing is the partial vacuum.
Another problem noted in the containers of the prior art is that a certain skill is required from the users in order to achieve correct closure.

Hermetically sealable container with internal partial vacuum making facilities


Method and system for audio synthesis of a digital data file representing an assembly of information-bearing sounds in digital form. One or more spaced apart data segments are designated as key blocks and are removed from the original data file. The remainder of the data file is encrypted or otherwise encoded and communicated to a selected recipient on a first channel. Locations, sizes and separation distances of key blocks from each other within the original data file and a selected portion of the encoding or encryption key are placed in a data supplement. The removed segments and data supplement (optional) are communicated to the selected recipient on a second channel and/or at another time. The original data file is recovered by using the data supplement information, or using already available information, decoding or decrypting the encoded or encrypted data file and replacing the removed segments within the data file remainder. Neither the remainder data file nor the removed segments plus data supplement is sufficient, by itself, to allow reproduction of the original data file. Each of the remainder data file and the removed segments plus data supplement can be distributed separately and subsequently combined when authorization or license to reproduce the sounds has been obtained.

Digital synthesizers or other electronic systems that create music or other sound can often be utilized as an electronic musical instrument or electronic sound machine. A digital synthesizer is often arranged to accept signals from a musician or operator interface and to produce digital output signals that represent analog signals in the audio frequency range. A digital synthesizer is also frequently arranged to accept pre-recorded sequences of music events in a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format.
A digital output signal from a digital synthesizer can be converted to an analog signal and delivered to equipment, such as a loudspeaker, tape recorder, mixer or other similar device, to reproduce the signals as intelligible sound. The digital synthesizer can be arranged to provide output signals that simulate the sounds of one or more conventional musical instruments. Alternatively, the synthesizer can be arranged to simulate sounds that would be emitted by a theoretical instrument having predetermined audio characteristics that are partly or wholly different from the corresponding characteristics of any convention, known instrument.
For previous synthesizers, synthesis of music and other sounds is a formidable task. A real musical instrument produces a complex blend of many different frequencies and impart what is commonly referred to as "tone color" or "timbre" to the associated sound. For example, a percussion sound made by a drum or cymbal is an aperiodic sound that cannot be fully described by any simple mathematical function. Accordingly, the reproduction or synthesis of digital signals representing sounds as rich and complex as a real musical instrument is a formidable task for digital signal sampling and processing. Ideally, the synthesizer should respond to the nuances of a musician's manipulation of the interface (e.g., a particular musical instrument). For example, a snare drum has many different audio characteristics when played in different locations, such as adjacent to the center of the drum membrane, adjacent to the rim, or on the rim of the drum. Additionally, the audio characteristics of a percussion instrument will vary with the striking force and stylistic inflection of the musician.
By providing a large enough waveform database, more realistic and expressive synthesis of a given group of sounds can be achieved. Many synthesizers relying on waveform sampling technology are used extensively in the music and multimedia fields for their ability to create musical sounds that closely emulate the sound of a musical instrument.
At present, a digital synthesizer system often utilizes a MIDI to control the synthesizer. The MIDI interface creates control signals or other MIDI control data. The MIDI control data may represent a music event, such as occurrence of specific musical notes from a particular musical instrument, such as a piano, drum or horn. However, MDI has some fundamental limitations. For example, a synthesizer that uses a MDI notation has trouble recreating a human voice.
A conventional synthesizer system utilizes a large solid state memory that stores the digital waveform signals representing each note played on a particular instrument. The memory can be a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a read only memory (ROM) or some other similar memory with sufficiently rapid response. When a musician actuates a key or other interface device, the appropriate waveform is selected, depending upon the key actuated and upon the intensity and velocity of the key strike. The waveform is then converted into an analog output signal for sound reproduction. A digital waveform signal can be combined with other waveform signals that represent other musical notes being displayed, before the conversion to an analog output signal.
In this arrangement, the synthesizer, in effect, merely plays back digital recordings of individual musical notes or other sounds. Each waveform signal is stored as a collection of individual data words, each representing a single sample of the waveform at a particular time.
A sequencer is a device for editing musical data, such as MIDI events, and converting the musical data into a musical signal in real time. Synthesizers are frequently used together with a computer to play a musical score. In this arrangement, a sequencer reads a MIDI file as an ordered sequence. However, it is generally recognized that MDI files and synthesizers are unable to recreate the nuances in a recording or to capture the background noises of a live audience.
Other prior art systems store only one or a relatively few waveform signals representing each musical instrument. These stored waveforms are then adjusted by digital signal processing or other electronic techniques, such as nonlinear distortion, to reflect the frequency and amplitude changes associated with particular musical characteristics, as indicated by the MIDI control data. For example, the frequency and amplitude of a sample waveform representing middle C on a piano can be adjusted to synthesize a different piano note and volume. However, these synthesizers are unable to (re)produce the complex blends or tone color with high enough fidelity for the musically trained ear.
In another approach, some systems use digital filtering to adjust the harmonic content of a particular note. However, these systems require a large amount of computer power and can be affected by audio quality degradation.
What is needed is an audio synthesizer system that can reliably reproduce all types of sounds, including music and the human voice. Preferably, the system should allow a separation of music or other information-bearing sound into two or more selected components, where no single component allows reproduction of sounds resembling the original sounds. Preferably, the system should allow encryption or other encoding of one or more of the selected components and should allow change of parameters affecting the format of one or more of the components.

Audio delivery and rendering method and apparatus


A switch group selectively outputs a signal input from IC terminals and a reference voltage. Another switch group selectively outputs a signal input from IC terminals and a reference voltage. A differential amplifier amplifies a differential voltage between a signal output from the switch group and a signal output from the another switch group. The switch group and the another switch group include the same number of switches. When to select any of signals input from the IC terminals in the switch group, a reference voltage is selected in the another switch group. When to select any of signals input from the IC terminals in the another switch group, a reference voltage is selected in the switch group.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and relates, for example, to a semiconductor device to which a sensor is coupled.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-126116 discloses a position detection device which detects an indicated position using a pen. The position detection device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-126116 has a plurality of loop coils and a voltage detection amplifier. The loop coils are provided for receiving a signal with a frequency transmitted by a pen as a position detection device. The amplifier detects the signal received by the loop coils. The plurality of loop coils are coupled to the voltage detection amplifier through a reception channel selection switch group. The reception channel selection switch group has a plurality of switches respectively corresponding to the loop coils. One ends of the loop coils are coupled to a reference voltage source, while the other ends thereof are coupled to one input terminal of the voltage detection amplifier through respectively corresponding switches. A reference voltage output by the reference voltage source is input to the other input terminal of the voltage detection amplifier.
In the reception channel selection switch group, one of a plurality of switches is controlled to be ON, while the rest of switch(es) is controlled to be OFF. By so doing, one of the plurality of loop coils is coupled to the voltage detection amplifier. The voltage detection amplifier detects and amplifies a reception signal received by the coupled loop coil. In the position detection device, the reception signal received and amplified by the voltage detection amplifier is sampled by a sampling circuit, and input to a signal process arithmetic circuit. The signal process arithmetic circuit performs various arithmetic operations including DFT (Discrete Fourier Transform) for the sampling data of the reception signal, and calculates the amplitude and phase of the reception signal.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-114243 discloses a battery pack voltage detection circuit. The battery pack voltage detection circuit disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-114243 has a resistance element circuit formed from a predetermined number of resistance elements, a differential amplifier having a pair of input terminals, and a multiplexer. In the resistance element circuit, one ends of the predetermined number of resistance elements are individually coupled to the electrode terminals of a plurality of battery modules which are coupled in series to form a battery pack. The multiplexer has a plurality of switching elements for individually coupling the other ends of the resistance elements and input ends of the differential amplifier. The multiplexer controls a pair of switching elements to be ON in a sequential order, and outputs a voltage of each battery module sequentially to the differential amplifier.


A modular knurling tool is provided having a tool shank defining a first dove-tail connector and having at least one adjustment drive recess. Any selected one of a number of different knurling heads are adjustably connected to the tool shank by a second dove-tail connector, such that with the tool shank mounted in the tool support of a metal working machine, the knurling head is linearly adjustable along an axis that is oriented in normal relation with the longitudinal axis of the tool shank and in normal relation with the axis of the rotating work piece. A threaded adjustment member is positioned with a circular thrust element thereof located in rotatable relation within the adjustment drive recess so that rotation of the threaded adjustment will impart linear adjustment movement to the knurling head relative to the tool shank. A locking mechanism is also provided for the first and second dove-tail connections to lock the knurling head in immovable relation with the tool shank after proper knurling head adjustment has been achieved.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to knurling tools for use by rotary metal working machines such as automatic screw machines, lathes, CNC machines and the like. More particularly, the present invention is directed to modular knurling tools having a tool shank adapted for support by the tool support of a metal working machine and defining an adjustable connector to which any one of several types of knurling heads is releasably and adjustably connected and selectively and securely locked.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Typically, knurling tools have been provided having a tool body having a shank that is of a dimension for mounting by the tool holder assembly of a lathe, CNC or other type of metal working machine so that one or more knurling wheels, rotatably supported by the knurling tool body, can be positioned in forcible engagement with a rotatable workpiece to thus knurl or deform the outer surface of the workpiece and define a desired knurling pattern. Typically, the only component of the knurling tool that is replaceable is the knurling wheels. These knurling tools are usually designed to form only a single knurling pattern so that changing the knurling pattern requires replacement of the knurling wheel or wheels. If a different type of knurling pattern is desired it is often more practical, rather than replace the knurling wheels of a particular tool, to acquire a separate knurling tool with the desired wheel pattern. Many times work piece knurling activities require a knurling tool having two knurling wheels oriented in angular relation with one another so that the patterns of the knurling wheels will overlap on the work piece to provide a desired composite pattern. In such case it is often necessary to acquire a special knurling tool to produce this desired knurling pattern on work pieces. Because of these conventional knurling tool practices it is typical for machining organizations to eventually accumulate a large number of knurling tools, thus requiring significant machine tool capital investment and requiring significant tool crib organization and control activities for efficient operation of a machining business. All of these factors constitute impediments to the commercial success of work piece knurling operations by increasing the ultimate costs of machining operations.
Over the years a number of others have determined the feasibility of providing knurling tools that can be adjusted or converted so as to provide the capability for accomplishing a number of differing knurling tasks with a single adjustable knurling tool. Examples of such adjustable knurling tools and adjustable or convertible tools in general are represented by U.S. Pat. No. 1,492,814 of Sheberashenko; U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,950 of Boyer; U.S. Pat. No. 2,796,779 of Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,212of Brinkman and U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,226 of Che. The problem with most adjustable machine tools of this nature is the lack of stability or rigidity during machining operations, which compromises the quality of the machining operations that can be accomplished. For quality machining operations, including knurling operations, the machine tools must be absolutely immovable during machining operations, even when placed under heavy load or operated at high speed for high production. The adjusting mechanisms with which most of these types of machine tools are provided typically allow some tool movement, especially when the tools are being used under heavy load or at high speed. It is desirable therefore to provide a modular knurling tool having the capability for efficiently stabilized rotary support of single, dual or multiple knurling wheels so that the resulting knurling operation will be of high quality and high performance. Since set-up time is also a problem that interferes with the commercial feasibility of adjustable machine tools of any type, it is desirable to provide a modular knurling tool having a single tool shank that can be set up by the tool holder of a machine in the usual fashion. The mounted tool shank is adapted to receive any one of a number of knurling heads without necessitating its removal from the tool holder. This feature will allow knurling heads to be easily and simply interchanged as needed for variation in the character of knurling that is desired and will allow a machining facility to maintain a minimum number of tool shanks, thus also minimizing the overall machine tool inventory that is necessary for operation of the machining facility. It is also desirable to provide a modular knurling tool that, without disturbing the mounting of the tool shank in the tool holder of a metal working machine, can be simply and efficiently adjusted with respect to the work piece being knurled so that knurling operations can continue with a minimal of delay in the event adjustment becomes desirable.
When adjustable knurling tools are utilized they are typically of such bulky nature that work pieces cannot be knurled close to or against a square work piece shoulder. It is desirable to provide a modular knurling tool having a tool shank that is adapted to receive a knurling head having one or more outboard knurling wheels that are so located with respect to the tool head that cylindrical surfaces of work pieces intersecting abrupt shoulders can be provided with knurling.
One of the problems that typically plague high performance, high speed knurling operations is the high degree of wear that knurling wheels encounter as they are subjected to high speed knurling while heavy force is being applied, thus subjecting the knurling wheels to significant heat and significant thrust loads. It is also desirable to provide a modular knurling system which incorporates knurling wheels and knurling wheel support that will effectively accommodate the heavy thrust loads and resist heat buildup during high speed and high performance knurling operations.


The present invention is directed to a unique strain of Bacillus subtilis for inhibiting growth of plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria and methods for treating or protecting plants from fingal and bacterial infections.

Microbial infection of plants, meaning infection due to a fungal, bacterial or viral agent, is a significant agricultural problem, often resulting in pronounced loss of crop quality and useability.
Plants are susceptible to attack by a variety of phyto-pathogenic fimgi. One particularly damaging plant phytopathogenic fungus is Botrytis cinerea Pers, and plant diseases caused by Botrytis sp. are some of the most widely distributed and common diseases of greenhouse-grown crops, field crops, vegetables, ornamentals, and fruits throughout the world. One species of Botrytis, B. cinerea, is the causal agent of several severe fruit diseases, including grey mold of strawberry (Fragaria ' ananassa Duchesne) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) (Agrios, 1988). Botrytis-related diseases cause losses not only in the field, but also in storage, in transit, and in the targeted wholesale and retail markets.
Other detrimental fungal plant pathogens include Fusarium oxysporum, which causes wilt in numerous plants, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which causes scelerotinia wilt, and Rhizoctonia solani, which can cause seedling damping off and root rot disease. Additional genera of phytopathogenic fungi include Aspergillus, Penicillium, Ustilago, and Tilletia.
The control of phytopathogenic fungi is of significant economic importance, since fungal growth on plants or parts of plants (e.g., seeds, fruits, blossoms, foliage, stems, tubers, roots, etc.) can inhibit production of foliage, fruit, or seeds, as well as reduce the quality and quantity of the harvested crop. Although most crops are treated with agricultural fingistats or-fungicides, fingal damage to agricultural crops typically results in revenue losses to the agricultural industry of millions of dollars annually.
Current control measures against plant fungal diseases include breeding cultivars for improved fungal resistance, cultural control, or the application of compounds or organisms that are toxic or otherwise antagonistic to the pathogen or towards the expression of disease symptoms.
These approaches have various problems that limit their effectiveness. For example, genetic resistance is often lacking in the desired commercial cultivars, while cultural methods, such as canopy management and reduced planting densities, are labor intensive and of limited efficacy. The application of synthetic fungicides for controlling plant fungal diseases may be expensive and have associated health risks.
The continuous economic toll taken by ph,topathogenic fungi suggests a need to develop new, more effective approaches for preventing fungal infection in plants. Additionally, these requirements should be met without significant adverse side effects to the plant or to the environment, and without seriously restricting planting or growth conditions, or requiring expensive chemical treatment of either growing plants or harvested fruit.

Biological control of plant fungal infections


A system for monitoring the charge flow in a hydrostatic system. The system provides a sharp edge orifice restriction in the drain from the hydrostatic pump, creating a back pressure in the drain that is proportional to the fluid flow through the drain. A pressure switch mounted in the pump case, or in the drain, detects the back pressure in the drain. The pressure switch is designed to be activated at a back pressure that corresponds to the intended charge flow at a specific engine speed. During operation, if the back pressure is not sufficient to cause the pressure switch to be activated at the predetermined engine speed or at a faster engine speed, the charge flow is not sufficient and a warning signal is generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydrostatic system and in particular to a system having a means for monitoring the charge pump flow to ensure adequate charge flow is provided to the hydrostatic pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hydrostatic drive utilizes fluid at high pressure and relatively low speed to transfer energy in a closed circuit between a hydrostatic pump and motor. The raise in pressure of the fluid, which will not compress, is what transfers the energy. A charge pump is used to supply fluid, usually oil, under pressure to the hydrostatic pump. An adequate supply from the charge pump is required for proper functioning of the hydrostatic system.
When a hydrostatic system is used to steer a vehicle, such as a track laying vehicle, it is desirable to monitor the flow of the charge pump to ensure that adequate flow is provided for proper steering functioning. Over time, the charge pump may wear, causing a decrease to occur in the charge flow. In a hydrostatic steering system, fluid flow is only required during a relatively small portion of the vehicle operating time, when the vehicle is being turned.
One attempt to monitor the charge flow has been to sense the charge pressure. However, since charge flow is only needed during turning, even if the pump has worn, there will likely be enough charge flow for the charge pressure to be adequate. That is, until steering is needed and the charge flow is now inadequate and the pressure drops. Thus, a pressure sensor at the charge flow outlet is only adequate to detect a catastrophic and sudden failure of the charge pump.
The present invention provides a system for monitoring the charge flow so that a decrease in the flow rate, even if the charge flow pressure remains satisfactory, can be detected. In a hydrostatic system, the case drain flow from the pump and the motor are joined and directed to the reservoir. The charge pump flow and the drain flow are thus equal. The system of the present invention provides a sharp edge orifice restriction in the drain, creating a back pressure in the drain that is proportional to the fluid flow through the drain. A pressure switch mounted in the pump case, or in the drain, detects the back pressure in the drain. The pressure switch is designed to be activated at a back pressure that corresponds to the intended charge flow at a specific engine speed. During operation, if the back pressure is not sufficient to cause the pressure switch to be activated at the predetermined engine speed or at a faster engine speed, the charge flow is not sufficient and a warning signal is generated.

Hydrostatic system with charge flow monitoring


A golf club head includes a striking plate, a golf club head body and a plurality of annular flexible portions. In assembling, the striking plate mechanically connects to a front side of the golf club head body. The golf club head body forms a crown portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion and a side portion to constitute a body member. The annular flexible portions are provided on an inner surface of the golf club head body. Thereby, the annular flexible portions can increase an elastic deformation of the golf club head body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wood type golf club head. More particularly, the present invention relates to a golf club head body having a plurality of annular flexible portions in place that increases an elastic deformation of the golf club head body.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional wood type golf club head typically includes a golf club head body and a striking plate connected thereto. Generally, the striking plate is made of material with high coefficient of resilience (C.O.R.) and used to strike a golf ball. The golf club head body can be selectively made of metal or nonmetal (such as carbon fiber) and used to return a striking stress to the striking plate. Structurally, the golf club head body includes a crown portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion and a side portion to constitute a body member. By such an arrangement, the golf club head can return the striking stress to the striking plate and absorb remained vibrations while striking golf ball.
U.S. patent application Publication No. 2003/0064823 discloses a golf club head. The golf club head commonly includes a golf club head body and a striking plate. In particular, the striking plate includes an inner surface provided with annular-stepped portions that change in thickness for increasing an elastic deformation of the striking plate. As to the golf club head body, it has no corresponding structure for relatively increasing an elastic deformation of the entire golf club head.
However, the golf club head body cannot effectively return the striking stress to the striking plate due to no relative increase of the elastic deformation of the entire golf club head. Additionally, exerting a greater striking stress may cause the golf club head body to permanently deform and crack. In other words, even if the striking plate obtains excellent elasticity, it cannot provide an excellent striking ability with limited elastic deformation of the golf club head body.
Hence, there is a need for a structure of the golf club head body to improve an elastic deformation of the golf club head body for striking a golf ball. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to modify the golf club head body.
The present invention provides a golf club head body having a plurality of annular flexible portions in place that increase an elastic deformation of the golf club head body. Thereby, the annular flexible portions of the golf club head body can increase striking ability, eliminate metal fatigue and intensify strength of the golf club head in such a way to mitigate and overcome the above problem.


A shaving apparatus cleaning device includes a reservoir for holding a supply of a cleaning fluid and a cleaning receptacle for receiving the shaving apparatus. The reservoir has a discharge orifice through which the cleaning fluid is allowed to flow from the reservoir to the cleaning receptacle. The reservoir and the cleaning receptacle are designed so that the level of the cleaning fluid in the reservoir is higher than a pre-determined minimum level of the cleaning fluid in the cleaning receptacle, and a flow of fluid generated by the difference between levels and flowing from the reservoir to the cleaning receptacle is controllable in dependence upon the actual fluid level in the cleaning receptacle.

Cleaning devices for shaving apparatus are used for the removal of particles of hair and other debris adhering in the shaving head section. Such cleaning devices can be manually or electrically operated.
For example, a manually operated cleaning device disclosed in EP 0 743 883 B1, has two containers for a flushing fluid. One container has a variable volume such that the flushing fluid can be pumped between the containers by varying the volume. The shaving unit is arranged in a receptacle between the containers and can be flushed in the current of fluid. The fluid passes through a filter which retains debris.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,416 discloses a cleaning device for an electric razor which has a casing with an access opening for receiving the cutter portion of the razor. The casing accommodates a motor-driven fluid impelling assembly for generating a circulating current of a cleaning fluid, and a collector for accumulating hair and other particles. For cleaning, cleaning fluid is flushed through the cutter portion while, at the same time, the razor which is connected to the cleaning device is set in operation.
DE 44 02 238 C2 discloses a cleaning device for the shaving head of a dry shaver. The cleaning device includes a receptacle for the shaving head of the shaving apparatus and at least one cleaning fluid reservoir. The receptacle is disposed above the level of the cleaning fluid and is adapted to be supplied with cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir by means of a motor-driven pumping device. The receptacle is connected with the cleaning fluid reservoir via an overflow device and/or via at least one outlet opening.
DE 690 21 898 T2 discloses a dry shaving apparatus with a drivable shaving member and a separately drivable vibratory device. The vibratory device serves to dislodge hair particles and other debris adhering to the shaving member or other parts of the shaving apparatus. The vibratory device is put in operation by reversing the direction of rotation of the electric motor of the shaving apparatus compared to the direction of rotation used in shaving mode. During this reversed direction of rotation, a vibrating motion is produced by means of a claw coupling which, during operation of the motor in the normal direction of rotation, drives the shaving member. A polarity-reversing switch for reversing the direction of rotation is provided on the shaving apparatus. It is also possible for the electric motor to be put in operation automatically in the reversed direction of rotation for a short period after the shaving apparatus is switched off.
A cleaning device for a shaving apparatus that can be manufactured economically and provides effective cleaning with an acceptable level of user-friendliness is desired.


The invention provides combinations comprising a MEK inhibitor (such as GDC-0973 or GDC-0623), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an ERK inhibitor (such as GDC-0994). The combinations are particularly useful for treating hyperproliferative disorders, such as cancer.

The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway is activated in more than 30% of human cancers, most commonly via mutation in the K-ras oncogene and also via mutations in BRAF. The pathway has therefore attracted significant interest as a therapeutic target or cancer (P. J. Roberts and C. J. Der, Oncogene 2007 26:3291-310)). Efforts to target RAS directly have not been successful to date, but recent clinical trials with BRAF and mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitors have suggested targeting these downstream RAS effectors holds promise in the treatment of cancers harboring oncogenic mutations in the pathway (K. T. Flaherty et al., Curr. Opin. Oncol. 2010 22:178-83). Although clinical responses and antitumor activity can be impressive, particularly for BRAF inhibitors in BRAF mutant melanoma, the majority of patients ultimately develop clinical resistance and progressive disease (Flaherty, supra; D. B. Solit and N. Rosen, N. Engl. J. Med. 2011 364:772-4). Preclinical studies have identified multiple mechanisms of acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors, including, switching between RAF isoforms (J. Villaneuva et al., Cancer Cell 2010 18:683-95), upregulation of RTK or NRAS signaling (R. Nazarian et al., Nature 2010 468:973-7), and reactivation of mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) signaling via COT activation (C. M. Johannessen et al., Nature 2010 468:968-72) or a MEK kinase activating mutation (N. Wagle et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 2011 29:3085-96). Similarly preclinical studies have identified distinct mechanisms by which cell acquires resistance to MEK inhibition, including amplification of mutant BRAF (R. B. Corcorran et al., Sci. Signal 2011 3:ra84), STAT3 upregulation (B. Dai et al., Cancer Res. 2011 71:3658-68), or mutations in the allosteric pocket of MEK that can directly binding of inhibitors to the MEK kinase activity (H. Wang et al., Cancer Res. 2011 71:5535-45; C. M. Emery et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 2009 106:20411-6). MEK mutations have been described in tumors samples from patients treated with MEK (Emera, supra) or BRAF (Wagle supra) inhibitors, showing clinical relevance.
While selective ERK1/2 inhibitors have been reported and are current in clinical development, in comparison with RAF and MEK inhibitors, the identification and development of small molecule inhibitors against ERK1/2 that act directly downstream of MEK, has lagged behind.

Use of a combination of a MEK inhibitor and an ERK inhibitor for treatment of hyperproliferative diseases


A document printing system may include a print engine, a controller coupled to the print engine and a communication port in electrical communication with the controller. The communication port can read a portable memory device, which stores an electronic secure file for authorizing the print engine. The portable memory device may store data such as the device identification code, the vendor identification code, the creation date for the electronic secure file. The electronic secure file may also store the device identification code, the vendor identification code, the creation date for the file itself, as well as a balance amount. The system may authorize a print engine by comparing the data in the electronic secure file and data stored on the portable memory device. If the comparison of data finds a mismatch, the system may determine that the print engine is not authorized; or that the service is authorized if otherwise.

This disclosure relates to authorization of services and particularly to authorizing a service using a portable memory device to authorize a device, such as a print device, to perform a service such as a document printing service.
Traditional on-demand service solutions require specific hardware to initiate a device service. For example, in on-demand print solutions, a currency acceptor device may be connected to the foreign device interface (FDI) port of a multi-function peripheral (MFP), or a card reader is connected to the MFP, to enable reading of an external medium. These solutions usually require expensive hardware and/or a complex backend system to handle the payment authorization process. Further, solutions with a card reader may be vulnerable to fraud as a hacker that attaches special equipment to the card reader can duplicate the information embedded in the external medium.
This document describes a system that may address the issues described above.

Method and apparatus for authorizing a print device to perform a service


A microphone is provided, including a base having a chamber; and a capacitor system fixed to the base. The capacitor system includes a backplate fixed to the base and a diaphragm located in the chamber. The backplate and the diaphragm form a capacitor structure. The diaphragm is fixed to the backplate and partitions the chamber into a front chamber and a back chamber. The backplate is provided with a sound receiving hole in communication with the front chamber. The base or the backplate is provided with a vent hole for communicating the back chamber with the outside. The microphone provided by the present disclosure has the advantages of high reliability.

With the rapid development of portable electronic terminals, microphones being important acoustic components of portable electronic terminals are also continuously improved. In the related art, a microphone includes components such as a backplate, a diaphragm, and the like. In processes of dropping and air blowing, in order to avoid damage to the microphone by excessive large air pressure in a back chamber, a solution in the related art is to provide a vent hole on the diaphragm adjacent to the back chamber so as to communicate the vent hole with the sound receiving hole on the backplate, therefore a portion of an airflow can be released via the vent hole and the sound receiving hole, thereby reducing the air pressure in the back chamber.
The inventors of the present disclosure have found that the following problems exist in the related art. Arranging the vent hole on the diaphragm is liable to cause the strength of the diaphragm to decrease, and particulate substance or volatilization substance in the back chamber may also enter a space between the backplate and the diaphragm via the vent hole on the diaphragm. These two reasons may affect the normal operation of the diaphragm, resulting in low reliability of the microphone. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a new microphone to solve the above problems.

AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides a method for preventing the defect the in shape of via holes cased when an alumina mask is used for the dry etching of an interlayer insulator composed of an SiOC film in the dual damascene process in which via holes are formed prior to forming wiring trenches. That is, after forming an alumina mask on an interlayer insulator composed of a low-k SiOC film via a cap insulator, the cap insulator and the interlayer insulator are dry-etched with using a photoresist film as a mask to form via holes. Next, after removing the photoresist film, the inside of the via holes are cleaned by using dilute hydrofluoric acid solution to remove alumina residue. Thereafter, the cap insulator and the interlayer insulator are dry-etched with using the alumina mask as a mask to form wiring trenches.

As a technique for realizing a high-speed and high-performance LSI, the reduction of dielectric constant of an interlayer insulator and the adoption of Cu wiring formed by using the damascene method have become more and more indispensable. Especially, the reduction of dielectric constant of an interlayer insulator is a quite important technique because it can reduce not only the capacity between wirings but also the power consumption in the LSI.
As the damascene method, the single damascene method in which plugs are embedded in via holes and then Cu wiring is formed in wiring trenches and the dual damascene method in which the Cu wiring is formed simultaneously in the via holes and the wiring trenches are known. However, from the viewpoint of the reduction in the number of process steps, it is expected that the dual damascene method will become the mainstream.
An example of the process of forming the Cu wiring by the use of the dual damascene method will be described. First, an interlayer insulator is formed on a lower wiring and then an insulator for a hard mask is deposited on the interlayer insulator. Subsequently, the dry etching is performed with using a photoresist film as a mask so as to form the via holes in the insulator for a hard mask and the interlayer insulator. Next, after removing the photoresist film, the dry etching is performed halfway into the interlayer insulator with using the insulator for a hard mask as a mask, thereby forming wiring trenches. As described above, since the etching of the interlayer insulator is stopped halfway in the process of forming the wiring trenches, an insulator having an etching selectivity to the interlayer insulator higher than that of a photoresist film is used as the mask in this etching. Thereafter, the Cu film is embedded in the via holes and the wiring trenches by sputtering or plating, and then, the Cu film outside the wiring trenches is removed by the chemical mechanical polishing. In this manner, the Cu wiring is formed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-168738 discloses the case where an SiOC insulator having a dielectric constant lower than that of a silicon oxide film is used as an interlayer insulator used when forming the Cu wiring by the damascene method, wherein a silicon nitride film, a silicon carbide (SiC) film, and an SiCN (silicon carbonitride) film are shown as an insulator for a hard mask.
Although it does not relate to the damascene method, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-31899 discloses a technique for patterning the metal wiring of fine lines and spaces, in which a hard mask layer composed of a metal oxide film and a photoresist film deposited thereon are used as masks. It is said that tantalum oxide, alumina, and titanium dioxide are preferably used as the metal oxide.

Manufacturing method of semiconductor device


A method of producing analgesia in nociceptive and neuropathic pain is disclosed. The method includes administering to a subject an omega conopeptide which is characterized by its ability to (a) inhibit electrically stimulated contraction of the guinea pig ileum, and (b) bind selectively to omega conopeptide MVIIA binding sites present in neuronal tissue. Also disclosed are novel omega conotoxin peptides effective in producing analgesia.

Chronic or intractable pain, such as may occur in conditions such as bone degenerative diseases and cancer, is a debilitating condition which is treated with a variety of analgesic agents, and often opioid compounds, such as morphine.
In general, brain pathways governing the perception of pain are still incompletely understood, sensory afferent synaptic connections to the spinal cord, termed "nociceptive pathways" have been documented in some detail. In the first leg of such pathways, C- and A-fibers which project from peripheral sites to the spinal cord carry nociceptive signals. Polysynaptic junctions in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord are involved in the relay and modulation of sensations of pain to various regions of the brain, including the periaqueductal grey region (McGeer). Analgesia, or the reduction of pain perception, can be effected directly by decreasing transmission along such nociceptive pathways. Analgesic opiates are thought to act by mimicking the effects of endorphin or enkephalin peptide-containing neurons, which synapse presynaptically at the C- or A- fiber terminal and which, when they fire, inhibit release of neurotransmitters, including substance P. Descending pathways from the brain are also inhibitory on C- and A-fiber firing.
Certain types of pain have complex etiologies. For example, neuropathic pain is generally a chronic condition attributable to injury or partial transection of a peripheral nerve. This type of pain is characterized by hyperesthesia, or enhanced sensitivity to external noxious stimuli. The hyperesthetic component of neuropathic pain does not respond to the same pharmaceutical interventions as does more generalized and acute forms of pain.
Opioid compounds (opiates) such as morphine, while effective in producing analgesia for many types of pain, are not always effective, and may induce tolerance in patients. When a subject is tolerant to opioid narcotics, increased doses are required to achieve a satisfactory analgesic effect At high doses, these compounds produce side effects, such as respiratory depression, which can be life threatening. In addition, opioids frequently produce physical dependence in patients. Dependence appears to be related to the dose of opioid taken and the period of time over which it is taken by the subject. For this reason, alternate therapies for the management of chronic pain are widely sought after. In addition, compounds which serve as either a replacement for or as an adjunct to opioid treatment in order to decrease the dosage of analgesic compound required, have utility in the treatment of pain, particularly pain of the chronic, intractable type.
Although calcium blocking agents, including a number of L-type calcium channel antagonists, have been tested as adjunct therapy to morphine analgesia, positive results are attributed to direct effects on calcium availability, since calcium itself is known to attenuate the analgesic effects of certain opioid compounds (Ben-Sreti). EGTA, a calcium chelating agent, is effective in increasing the analgesic effects of opioids. However, results from tests of calcium antagonists as adjunct therapy to opioids have been contradictory; some L-type calcium channel antagonists have been shown to increase the effects of opioids, while others of these compounds have been shown to decrease opioid effects (Contreras).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,403 describes the use of omega-conopeptides having defined binding/inhibitory properties in the treatment of ischemia-related neuronal damage. Co-pending parent U.S. Patent application U.S. Ser. No. 07/814,759 demonstrates the effectiveness of omega-conopeptide compositions in certain animal models of pain. Specifically, omega-conopeptides MVIIA and TVIA and derivatives thereof having related inhibitory and binding activities were demonstrated to produce analgesia in animal models of analgesia in which morphine is the standard positive control. The present invention is directed to the discovery that such omega conopeptides also exhibit analgesic properties in certain models of analgesia, such as neuropathic pain models of analgesia, in which morphine is not expected to produce positive results.