A new key and alarm remote stabilizing device for helping prevent keys and auto remote control devices from banging against a steering column when a key is in the ignition. The inventive device includes a main panel with a ring panel coupled to the top end of the main panel. The back surface of the ring panel is designed for mounting to a vehicular surface such that a locking ignition switch on the vehicular surface extends through the central hole of the ring panel. The outer perimeter of a top panel is coupled to the lower portion outer perimeter of the lower portion of the main panel to form a pocket between the top panel and the main panel. The top edge of the top panel defines an opening into the pocket so that objects may be inserted therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to key holding devices and more particularly pertains to a new key and alarm remote stabilizing device for helping prevent keys and auto remote control devices from banging against a steering column when a key is in the ignition.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of key holding devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, key holding devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art key holding devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,605; U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,488; U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,040; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 322,720; U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,489; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,562.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new key and alarm remote stabilizing device. The inventive device includes a main panel with a ring panel coupled to the top end of the main panel. The back surface of the ring panel is designed for mounting to a vehicular surface such that a locking ignition switch on the vehicular surface extends through the central hole of the ring panel. The outer perimeter of a top panel is coupled to the lower portion outer perimeter of the lower portion of the main panel to form a pocket between the top panel and the main panel. The top edge of the top panel defines an opening into the pocket so that objects may be inserted therein.
In these respects, the key and alarm remote stabilizing device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of helping prevent keys and auto remote control devices from banging against a steering column when a key is in the ignition.


A method of planarizing a polysilicon gate are provided, comprising: growing a polysilicon gate layer on a substrate with trenches; depositing an oxide layer on the polysilicon gate layer; oxidizing the top portion of the polysilicon gate layer from the flat surface of the oxide layer, so as to form a silicon oxide interlayer in the top portion of the polysilicon gate layer; the bottom of the silicon oxide interlayer is aligned with or lower than the low-lying areas of surface of the polysilicon gate layer; removing the oxide layer and the silicon oxide interlayer, so as to obtain a flat surface of the polysilicon gate layer and avoid a series of problems resulted from the uneven surface in the subsequent processes.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is a height difference between an active area and a shallow trench area before a polysilicon gate begins to grow. The height difference will make the surface of the polysilicon gate after growth uneven. The uneven polysilicon gate surface will cause a series of problems to the subsequent processes, particularly to integrated circuit products followed by a SiGe epitaxial growth, SiGe residue may be present above the protuberance of the polysilicon gate. Thus, the protuberances should be removed and the polysilicon gate surface should be flat.
The protuberances on the surface of the polysilicon gate can certainly be removed by chemical mechanical polishing, but a special slurry is needed to polish the polysilicon material and a thickness difference of the polysilicon gate will be increased remarkably, that is to say, although the some parts of the protuberance can be removed, the thickness uniformity of the polysilicon gate on the whole wafer will become poor.
Additionally, an oxide layer is formed on the surface of the silicon oxide layer; flat oxide film can be obtained by either the process of the flowably chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) or the process of the spin coating. Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a view of the microscopic structure of the silicon oxide film deposited by FCVD, wherein the silicon oxide film is deposited faster on a trench area, thus the surface of the silicon oxide film obtained is flatter than the surface of the polysilicon gate layer.
Therefore, a technical solution for removing or eliminating the uneven surface of the polysilicon gate is expected to be provided, so as to further avoid a series of problems resulted from the uneven surface of the polysilicon gate in the subsequent processes.

SHANGHAI HUALI MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION


Provided are a method of transmitting data from a terminal through near field communication (NFC) according to information input to the terminal, and a terminal thereof. The method includes detecting a user interaction input to the terminal, determining data mapped to the detected user interaction; and transmitting the data mapped to the user interaction to the other device through the NFC.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to control methods for terminals performing near field communication (NFC) with other devices and terminals thereof, and more particularly, to data transmission methods for terminals transmitting data to other devices through NFC according to a user input and terminals thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, near field communication (NFC) is a technology for allowing terminals including personal computers (PCs) and mobile communication terminals such as, for example, portable phones, personal communication service (PCS) terminals, personal digital assistant (PDA) terminals, and notebook computers to perform wireless communication with other devices within a short distance. The NFC may be used for data communication between near field devices, which perform functions such as, for example, a payment service and an electronic key.
To perform the NFC, a terminal uses an NFC device having various operation modes. The various operation modes may include a card emulation mode and a reader mode.
In the card emulation mode, the NFC device may be manually operated to receive data by demodulating data from a magnetic field emitted from another reader device and transmit data to another reader device by modulating the impedance of an antenna circuit into a charge. In the reader mode, the NFC device may transmit data by modulating a magnetic field and receive data according to the transmitted data.
In general, a terminal using the NFC device may perform a plurality of services through the NFC. The terminal may transmit data according to a service to be performed among the plurality of services. For example, to perform a payment service, the terminal may transmit information about a credit card payment means through the NFC. As another example, the terminal may transmit an electronic key desired by a user, among electronic keys for a home, an office, a car, or the like, through the NFC. However, to transmit data according to the service to be performed, among the plurality of services, through the NFC, the user needs to execute an application installed in the terminal and select corresponding data, e.g., a payment means to be transmitted.
Therefore, it is important to transmit only data necessary for a service desired by the user, among the plurality of services, by reflecting a user's intention. Also, it is important to select data to be transmitted to the reader device through the NFC without requesting the user to select an application and transmit corresponding data each time the user uses a service based on the NFC.

Data transmission method for terminal performing near field communication and terminal thereof


An airbag device includes an airbag formed with at least one fabric panel and an inflator. The fabric panel includes at least one loop along a perimeter of the fabric panel. The inflator is a dual stage inflator configured to generate inflation gas during a first inflation stage and a second inflation stage to inflate the airbag. The airbag also includes a tether configured to help control the shape of the airbag when the airbag is inflating, the tether being positioned through the opening or loop when the airbag is in an uninflated state. The tether is severed by heat and/or pressure from inflation gases during the second stage inflation.

The present invention relates generally to the field of airbag cushions that can be deployed in two different volumes or shapes.
Airbags can inflate into different volumes. Conventionally, airbags with dual-volumes incorporate tethers. The tethers initially restrict the airbag cushion to a particular volume that is relatively smaller than the full volume that the airbag cushion is capable of achieving. The tether anchors are released by an electro-mechanical or electronically triggered pyro-mechanical control device in order to inflate the airbag cushion to the full volume.
Conventionally, a movable vent mechanism is incorporated into the airbags with tethers. Sliding pins or clamps are often included in the tether release mechanism to hold the tether in position in "small bag" mode and to release the airbag when transitioning into "large bag" mode. This release mechanism is commonly associated with a mechanical gas vent in the open position to release a portion of the generated gas into the surrounding space rather than into the airbag to allow for a reduced pressure in the "small bag" condition. This vent is closed to make a higher pressure when the tether anchors are released in the "large bag" mode. In the default condition, the airbag is in the "small bag" mode. The default condition is "small bag" mode because it is easier to release a pin or clamp on the tether than to catch a released tether after the airbag cushion begins to inflate.


A tree-based format may be implemented for data stored in a data store. A table may be maintained across one or multiple storage nodes in storage slabs. Storage slabs may be mapped to different nodes of a tree. Each node of the tree may be assigned a different range of distribution scheme values which identify what portions of the table are stored in the storage slab. Storage slabs mapped to child nodes in the tree may be assigned portions of the range of distribution scheme values assigned to a parent. Storage nodes may be added or removed for storing the table. Storage slabs may be moved from one storage node to another in order to accommodate the addition or removal of storage nodes.

As the technological capacity for organizations to create, track, and retain information continues to grow, a variety of different technologies for managing and storing the rising tide of information have been developed. Database systems, for example, provide clients with many different specialized or customized configurations of hardware and software to manage stored information. However, the increasing amounts of data that organizations must store and manage often correspondingly increases both the size and complexity of data storage and management technologies, like database systems, which in turn escalate the cost of maintaining the information. New technologies more and more seek to reduce both the complexity and storage requirements of maintaining data while simultaneously improving the efficiency of data storage and data management.
Different data formats may be implemented to optimize the performance of storage systems. For instance, by implementing a data format that locates data commonly accessed together, access performance for the data may be increased. In another example, a data format may sort or order data according to a particular scheme (e.g., by time) so that attempts to access data in a certain range (within the scheme) may be quickly located. Because different data formats may optimize some performance features over others, data formats can become specialized depending on the type of data stored or the way in which data is utilized. Data formats that are adaptable, preserving or improving multiple performance features are desirable in order to prevent costly changes from one data format to another or to reduce the cost of other operations performed to maintain a data format. For example, adding or reducing the number of storage locations (e.g., storage systems, servers, or nodes) may result in redistributing a large portion of the data in order to maintain locality or sorting data formats.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.


A developing device includes: a developing roller that supplies toner so as to develop an electrostatic latent image into a toner image; and a seal member that prevents toner from leaking from end portions in the axial direction of the developing roller to the outside and the developing device is characterized by a structure in that the developing roller includes a sheet member disposed so as to cover the surface of the end portions in the axial direction of the developing roller, and the sheet member has no seam in the circumferential direction, and has a surface roughness that is smaller than that of the developing roller, or has a surface hardness that is higher than that of a synthetic resin as a base material of the toner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing device that can be applied to an electro photographic type image forming apparatus typified by a copying machine or a printer. In addition, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with the developing device.
2. Description of Related Art
A photoconductor drum is widely used as an image carrier in an electro photographic type image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. A typical image forming operation using a photoconductor drum is performed as follows. The surface of the photoconductor drum is electrostatically charged at a predetermined potential uniformly by an electrification device, and a light beam from an LED or the like of exposing device is projected to the surface of the photoconductor drum. As a result, the potential is attenuated optically in a part so that an electrostatic latent image of an original image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device so that a toner image is formed. After the toner image is transferred to a sheet of paper, a cleaning device cleans the surface of the photoconductor drum so as to remove remaining toner. Then, a charge eliminating device emits charge eliminating light for eliminating electric charge as a preparation for the next image forming operation.
In the developing device that is a main part of the image forming operation as described above, a general method for developing an electrostatic latent image is to make toner adhere to a surface of a developing roller and to transfer the toner from the surface of the developing roller to the surface of the image carrier by electrostatic force. At this point, in order to realize a long life of the device and to maintain a good image quality, seal members are provided to both end portions in the axial direction of the developing roller so as to prevent the toner from leaking to the outside of the developing roller in the axial direction. An example of this developing device is disclosed in JP-A-2001-100525.
The method for preventing leakage of toner in the developing device as described in JP-A-2001-100525 is widely used because it can be easily adopted with a relatively simple structure. However, since this developing device has a structure in which the both end portions of the developing roller to which the seal members contact are also made of a conductive material, toner can adhere easily to these portions with electric action. In other words, toner can enter easily between the developing roller and the seal member. When toner enters between the developing roller and the seal member, the toner may be melted by frictional heat due to rotation of the developing roller and then may fix so as to affect badly and largely to life of the developing roller.
In order to solve this problem, there is proposed a method that makes it difficult for toner to enter between the developing roller and the seal member in the developing device. An example of the method is described in JP-A-2004-191430. According to the developing device described in JP-A-2004-191430, the end portions of the developing roller to which the seal members contact are made of a nonconductive material.
Since the end portions of the developing roller to which the seal members contact are made of a nonconductive material in the developing device described in JP-A-2004-191430, electric action does not work in these portions so that toner can hardly enter between the developing roller and the seal member. However, very complicated structure that requires much time and effort is necessary, which includes bonding a conductive material and a nonconductive material to each other on a bonding face having a special shape with adhesive and polishing the surface of the roller, for example, so that the end portions of the developing roller to which the seal members contact are made of nonconductive material. Therefore, cost of components and manufacturing cost are increased largely. It is desired to design the developing roller that can prevent toner from entering between the developing roller and the seal member, remaining, melting, and fixing there with a simple structure that can be realized at a low cost.
In addition, not only electric action but also surface roughness and surface hardness of the developing roller affect largely to transfer of toner. In other words, even if countermeasure is taken in consideration of electric action for preventing toner from entering between the developing roller and the seal member, the toner may be transferred by action of the surface roughness and surface hardness of the developing roller so as to enter between them. Furthermore, if the surface roughness of the developing roller is large, the toner that has entered between the developing roller and the seal member is difficult to go out and may remain. In addition, if the surface roughness is large, frictional heat as well as melting and fixing of the toner is easily generated between the developing roller and the seal member. The developing devices described in JP-A-2001-100525 and JP-A-2004-191430 do not have countermeasures against the generation of transfer of toner and frictional heat due to the surface roughness and surface hardness of the developing roller, so they tend to be in a state where toner can easily enter, remain, melt, and fix in a sealed portion of the developing roller. The melting and fixing of toner in the sealed portion of the developing roller may cause breakage of the developing roller or deterioration in image quality.

Developing device preventing damage by toner and image forming apparatus having the same


Test board configurations and test method for semiconductor devices with simultaneous bi-directional (SBD) data ports are disclosed. The devices have two SBD data ports with a pass mode that relays data between the ports. Significantly, each device contains configurable switching elements that allow a test mode, wherein unidirectional input/output data on one SBD data port is mapped to bi-directional data on the other SBD data port. This allows device testing with automated test equipment that employs unidirectional data signaling, and yet allows such test equipment to test the SBD capability of such devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices employing simultaneous bi-directional transmission, and methods and apparatus for testing such devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices such as processors, controllers, memory devices, etc., are commonly equipped with data transceivers that allow them to receive and transmit digital signals. Conventionally, such transceivers are reconfigurable to either receive or transmit data across an attached transmission line. Recently, devices with simultaneous bi-directional (SBD) transmit/receive capability have received increased interest. As the name alludes to, SBD transceivers have the capability to receive and transmit digital data during the same clock cycle, on the same transmission line.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional SBD connection between two semiconductor devices 20 and 40. Devices 20 and 40 contain, respectively, SBD transceivers 22 and 42. SBD transceiver 22 contains a data driver 24 and a data receiver 26. An internal data signal to be driven, Dout1, is supplied as an input to driver 24 and as a control signal to receiver 26. The output of driver 24 is coupled to the input of receiver 26. Receiver 26 also receives two reference voltages, VrefH and VrefL, which it uses for comparisons, as will be explained shortly. The output of receiver 26 is a data input, Din1, to device 20.
Transceiver 42 of device 40 is preferably matched to transceiver 22 of device 20. Transceiver 42 contains a driver 44 and a receiver 46 connected in an identical configuration as the driver and receiver of transceiver 22. Driver 44 takes its input from an internal data signal Dout2, and receiver 46 generates a data input Din2.
Semiconductor devices 20 and 40 can be connected to each other in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, by connecting the outputs of drivers 24 and 44 to a transmission line 30. Note that in this configuration, the drive state of both driver 24 and driver 44 determine the bit line voltage VBL on transmission line 30. A common reference voltage generator 32 supplies Vref1 and VrefL to both circuits.
FIG. 2 contains waveforms illustrating the simultaneous exchange of data between devices 20 and 40 over transmission line 30. Dout1 is high during time periods T1, T2, and T5. Dout2 is high during time periods T1, T3, and T5. Consequently, during T1, drivers 24 and 44 both pull the bit line voltage VBL high, e.g., to an upper rail voltage Vh. During T2, driver 24 attempts to pull bit line voltage VBL high and driver 44 attempts to pull VBL low, e.g., to a lower rail voltage Vl. With matched drivers, VBL will assume an approximate voltage Vmid, halfway between upper rail voltage Vh and the lower rail voltage Vl. During T3, both drivers reverse, and VBL stays at Vmid. During T4, both drivers pull VBL low, to Vl.
Receivers 26 and 46 determine the drive state of the other device's driver during each time period by selecting an appropriate comparison voltage, based on the known drive state of their own driver. For instance, during T1 and T2, receiver 26 knows that driver 24 is driving line 30 high—thus the only two possible values of VBL are Vh (if driver 44 is also driving line 30 high) and Vmid (if driver 44 is driving line 30 low). Thus during T1 and T2, receiver 26 compares VBL to VrefH, which is midway between Vh and Vmid, and is able to determine that driver 44 was sending a high voltage during T1 and a low voltage during T2. Similarly, during T3 and T4, receiver 26 knows that driver 24 is driving line 30 low, and compares VBL to VrefL. Receiver 46 operates similarly, but based on the known state of driver 44, to determine the drive state of driver 24.
One use of SBD transmission technology is in a point-to-point memory system such as in the partial system depicted in FIG. 3. In such a memory system, devices can communicate with an upstream device and a downstream device over separate connections. For instance, device 20 can be a memory controller, and devices 40 and 60 can be two memory devices connected to the controller. As the controller initiates memory operations, it is upstream of device 40. And as device 40 is interposed between devices 60 and 20, device 40 is upstream of device 60. Address and control signal buses used to control memory operations are not shown in FIG. 3.
Although such a configuration can have any practicable data bus width, FIG. 3 shows a bus width of four bits. One bus consists of point-to-point bit lines 30-0, 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3, with device 20 as an upstream device and device 40 as a downstream device. A second bus consists of point-to-point bit lines 50-0, 50-1, 50-2, and 50-3, with device 40 as an upstream device and device 60 as a downstream device.
Device 40 has an upstream port consisting of four upstream SBD transceivers 42-0, 42-1, 42-2, and 42-3, and a downstream port consisting of four downstream SBD transceivers 48-0, 48-1, 48-2, and 48-3. Within device 40, upstream SBD transceiver is connected to a corresponding downstream SBD transceiver. Thus data received, e.g., at transceiver 42-0, is both a data input Din0 to device 40 and an input Ddn0 to the downstream driver of transceiver 48-0. And data Dup0 received, e.g., at transceiver 48-0, is multiplexed with device 40 output data Dout0 at a multiplexer 45-0, for input to the upstream driver of transceiver 42-0.
Devices 20 and 40 communicate n bits of SBD data as previously described, with the bit lines 30-n working in parallel. Depending on the memory operation, however, the data received by device 40 may be destined either for device 40 or for a downstream device (e.g., device 60), and the data transmitted by device 40 may be either internal data or data received from device 60. Thus devices 20 and 60 communicate data between each other using their respective point-to-point buses to device 40, and device 40 forwards data traffic between its upstream and downstream ports in a pass mode.

Semiconductor device and method for testing the same


A sticking apparatus in which a continuous film loaded on a film supply roller is cut off to a prescribed length and a base panel conveyed by a base panel conveyor is moved while said film is stuck, under pressure, to the plate by a pressure sticking roller. Support members for the roller are provided on the body of the apparatus so that the members can be moved rightward or leftward in order that the portion of the film, which is fed from the roller, and the other portion of the film, which is stuck to the plate, are made coincident with each other at the center line of the former portion in the direction of the feed thereof and that of the letter portion in the direction of the conveyance of the panel.

The present invention relates to a sticking apparatus, and more particularly to a film sticking apparatus for adhering film to the film sticking surface of a panel so that the film is set in a position corresponding to the width of the panel.
When a continuous stratified film roll is to be fitted to a film supply roller in a conventional sticking apparatus, film roller securing members are fixedly fitted to the continuous stratified film roll at both the ends thereof and the film supply roller is then set in the body of the apparatus. In preparation for sticking a continuous stratified film for the first time, the leading edge portion of the film is pulled out from the continuous stratified film roll and held on a film feed member (which is a main vacuum suction plate) by suction in such a manner that the film is free of wrinkles. In that case, the center of the width of the continuous stratified film is positioned coincident with the width of the film feed member. The positioning is performed by altering the positional relationship between the film supply roller and the continuous stratified film roll. A panel conveyed by a conveyor is adhered to the continuous stratified film under heat and pressure while a constant tensile force is applied to the film. An apparatus was disclosed in the Japanese Patent Applications (OPI) Nos. 124920/87 and 117487/88 (the term "OPI" as used herein means an "unexamined published application").
The above-mentioned conventional sticking apparatus has problems in that it is time-consuming to position the center of the width of an upper an a lower continuous stratified films coincident with the width of the corresponding one of an upper and a lower film feed members, it is very difficult to precisely perform that positioning, and the operating person of the apparatus is forced to perform the positioning while assuming an uncomfortable posture. The above-mentioned apparatus also has problems in that the film supply roller is heave and complicated in structure, and the film supply rollers are too expensive so as to allow the user of the apparatus to keep extras on hand to enhance the production efficiency thereof. When the film is being adhered to the panel, a constant force is applied to a film supply roller holding shaft, regardless of the width and winding diameter of the continuous stratified film. For that reason, the tension of the film being adhered to the panel changes as the width and/or winding diameter of the film changes. This results in wrinkling of the stuck film and/or the formation of an air bubble between the film and the panel.


A high strength reinforcing bar splice uses a contractible jaw assembly bridging the bar ends to be joined. The jaw assembly includes interior teeth designed to bite into the projecting ribs or deformations on the outside of the bar ends which form the overall diameter of the bar but not the core or nominal diameter of the bar. The jaw assembly is constricted from both axial ends by driving tapered locking collars on each end of the jaw assembly with a tool while concurrently causing the jaw assembly to constrict and bite into the bar ends. When the tool is removed, the collars remain in place locking the jaw assembly closed. The splice provides not only high tensile and compressive strengths but also has good fatigue and dynamic strength to qualify as a Type 2 coupler.

In steel reinforced concrete construction, there are generally three types of splices or connections; namely lap splices; mechanical splices; and welding. Probably the most common is the lap splice where two bar ends are lapped side-by-side and wire tied together. The bar ends are of course axially offset which creates design problems, and eccentric loading whether compressive or tensile from bar-to-bar. Welding is suitable for some bar steels but not for others and the heat may actually weaken some bars. Done correctly, it requires great skill and is expensive. Mechanical splices normally require a bar end preparation or treatment such as threading, upsetting or both. They also may require careful torquing. Such mechanical splices don't necessarily have high compressive and tensile strength, nor can they necessarily qualify as a Type 2 mechanical connection where a minimum of five couplers must pass the cyclic testing procedure to qualify as a Type 2 splice in all United States earthquake zones.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a high strength coupler which will qualify as a Type 2 coupler and yet which is easy to assemble and join in the field and which does not require bar end preparation or torquing in the assembly process. It would also be desirable to have a coupler which could be assembled initially simply by sticking a bar end in an end of a coupler sleeve or by placing a coupler sleeve on a bar end.


An apparatus includes an expandable member and an elongate assembly. The expandable member is configured to displace a first portion of a bone structure relative to a second portion of the bone structure when moved from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The elongate assembly includes a shaft and an elongated member disposed with a lumen defined by the shaft. A proximal end portion of the expandable member is coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft such that the proximal end portion of the expandable member does not rotate relative to the distal end portion of the shaft when at least a portion of the expandable member is twisted about the elongated member through at least four revolutions.

The invention relates generally to medical devices and procedures. More particularly, in some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a catheter assembly and an expandable member for repairing bone defects, displacing tissue and/or compressing tissue.
Expandable members are used in various minimally-invasive medical procedures. When deployed, the expandable member may be exposed to rough surfaces and/or high inflation pressures. Such an environment can cause abrasion, tearing and/or puncturing of the expandable member, thereby rendering them inoperative. Moreover, upon completion of such procedures, the expandable member is often returned to its collapsed configuration so that it can be removed from the patient's body, for example, via a cannula. Even when placed in a collapsed configuration, however, expandable members can have a wall thickness and/or an overall size such that even when in the collapsed configuration the balloons are not easily removed through the cannula.
Some known medical devices are configured to wrap an expandable member to reduce the size of the expandable member when in the collapsed configuration. Many of these medical devices, however, do not include components, such as for example, a shaft, a connector or the like, configured to withstand the torsional stress caused by such twisting.
Some known medical devices are configured to wrap and/or fold the expandable member to reduce the size of the expandable member when in the collapsed configuration. Many of these medical devices, however, do not include any mechanism for controlling the rotation of the expandable member.
Thus, a need exists for medical devices with expandable members having improved resistance against abrasion, tearing and/or puncturing for in various medical applications. For example, a medical device having an expandable member having multiple layers and/or coatings configured to resist tearing and puncturing may be desirable for use in environments in which the expandable member may contact hard, rough surfaces. A medical device having a mechanism for controlling the rotation of an expandable member may also be desirable. For example, an improved mechanism for contracting an expandable member after deployment may be particularly applicable in percutaneous medical procedures.

Apparatus and methods for use of expandable members in surgical applications


An oxygen absorbent composition containing a linear hydrocarbon polymer having one or more unsaturated groups or a mixture of a linear hydrocarbon polymer having one or more unsaturated groups with an unsaturated fatty acid compound and an oxidation promoter as essential components and optionally containing a basic substance and/or an adsorption substance; an oxygen absorbent parcel formed by packing the oxygen absorbent composition with a gas-permeable packing material; and a method of preserving an article by means of same.

This invention relates to an oxygen absorbent composition which can absorb water, oxygen, acidic substances, etc., and optionally, which can also adjust humidity. This invention relates to an oxygen absorbent parcel formed by enclosing the above oxygen absorbent composition in a gas-permeable packing material which is impermeable to fine dust or capable of protecting the an article preserved from fine dust.
Further, this invention provides a method for use of the above oxygen absorbent parcel to suitably preserve metals, metal products, electronic products, electronic parts and components, dried foods, medicaments, photographs, ancient documents, pictures, pressed flowers, etc.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 040880/1987 proposes a method using oxygen absorbents containing catechol, ascorbic acid and a metal powder as essential ingredients. However, this method has a defect in that since these oxygen absorbents require a water content to absorb oxygen, a metal, when preserved, causes rust on its surface or an article preserved absorbs humidity due to transpiration of co-present water. In order to prevent this transpiration of a water content, Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 15378/1981 proposes a method using an oxygen absorbent and a desiccant in combination. In this method, however, a water content is transferred from the oxygen absorbent to the desiccant, and the oxygen absorption is terminated before required or the drying function is deteriorated.
As a method to overcome the above defects of the oxygen absorbent, Japanese Patent Publications Kokai Nos. 55641/1981, 198962/1988, 67252/1989 and 285973/1986 propose oxygen absorbents which require no water content to absorb oxygen, i.e. oxygen absorbents containing an unsaturated fatty acid compound as a main ingredient Since, however, the oxygen absorption rate and capability of these oxygen absorbents are low, it is required to increase the amount of an oxygen absorbent composition in order to achieve sufficient oxygen absorption, and when an article is preserved in a container for a long period of time, the oxygen concentration in the container sometimes gradually increases due to the article preserved and oxygen and water which have penetrated the container to some extent. Therefore, the expected effect on preservation has limits.
It is the first object of this invention to increase the oxygen absorption rate and oxygen absorption capability (maximum oxygen absorption) of the above oxygen absorbent composition and provide fields of article preservation technologies with an oxygen absorbent composition which can secure preservation of an article as long as possible in as small an amount as possible.
In preservation of paintings, calligraphic works, antiques and photographs, it is conventional Practice to enclose these articles and a desiccant together in a container and seal the container, since humidity is considered to have a bad influence. When these articles are preserved for a long period of time, however, a satisfactory effect is not always obtained, and undesirable phenomena such as color fading and "cracking" are found.
In order to overcome the above defects, Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 198962/1988 discloses a method for adjusting the oxygen concentration inside a sealed system to not more than 0.1% by means of a small gas-permeable parcel containing an oxygen absorbent which requires no water content for oxygen absorption and a desiccant.
The above method is preferably usable to preserve metal products and semiconductor devices since the humidity inside the sealed system can be decreased considerably. However, it is difficult to apply this method to the preservation of articles which undergo a chemical change or biological deterioration due to the presence of oxygen and which undergo physical fracture due to an influence of water (e.g. cracking and peeling when the articles are dried excessively or swelling and fusion when too much an amount of water is present).
Examples of such articles are ancient documents, ancient books, photographs, specimens, medicaments, magnetic tapes, etc. No good methods have been available, or it has been difficult, to preserve these articles well.
It is the second object of this invention to provide an oxygen absorbent composition which can easily maintain any degree of humidity optimum for preserving an article and which absorbs oxygen or an acidic substance inside a system.
For rust prevention of metals, metal Products, electronic products, electronic Parts and components, etc., during the preservation thereof, it has been attempted to enclose a composition having rust-preventing activity such as silica gel, volatile rust preventive, or the like in a gas-permeable packing material, enclose the resultant Parcel and an article together in a container and seal the container.
However, fine powders adhere to a surface of this rust preventive parcel when the parcel is produced or when the composition is enclosed in a packing material, and the fine powders contaminate an article preserved or cause a short electrical circuit.
When a rust preventive is exposed to atmosphere for a long period of time before enclosing it in a container together with an article and sealing the container, various defects arise. For example, the performance of the rust preventive is degraded, or it is impossible to sufficiently prevent water or an acidic substance from forming rust.
It is the third object of this invention to develop a rust preventive parcel which has a surface devoid of fine powders, which exhibits performance undegradable even if exposed to atmosphere before use, and which sufficiently prevents water and an acidic substance from forming rust, and to use such a rust preventive parcel to preserve electronic parts, electronic products, semiconductor parts and semiconductors.
When a parcel packed with a rust-preventive composition is used to preserve electronic parts and products, parts for semiconductor devices in particular, and materials for manufacturing semiconductor devices, a packing material formed of a laminate of paper and a porous plastic film is used as a gas-permeable packing material. However, when this packing material is used to pack a rust-preventive composition, dust floating in air adheres to a surface of the packing material under the attraction of static electricity of the packing material. It is undesirable to use such a rust preventive parcel as it is in order to preserve electronic parts and products, parts for semiconductor devices in particular, and materials for manufacturing semiconductor devices, since these articles preserved are contaminated, an electrical short circuit is formed, or rust is formed in circuits.
Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 55075/1988 proposes a double-packed oxygen absorbent parcel formed by packing an oxygen absorbent parcel with a gas-permeable bag of a plastic film having pores measuring 0.2 to 2 mm in diameter. Since, however, diameters of the pores are large, dust of the oxygen absorbent composition passes through the pores, and the contamination with the dust cannot be prevented.
It is the fourth object of this invention to provide a parcel of which the packing material has a surface free from adherence of dust and prevents dust of a composition from passing through.
A photograph is widely and generally used to convey an image as information. However, substances constituting a photograph change with time, and it has been difficult to preserve a fixed image in an as-fixed state for a long period of time.
When a photograph is preserved under atmosphere having a high humidity, mold occurs in a gelatin layer used as a material, a base film contracts due to oxidation of a dyestuff or a change in humidity, or a dyestuff alters in properties due to a reducing substance present in air.
There is a method for preserving a photograph not by stabilizing photograph-constituting materials but by controlling an environment.
Japanese Patent Publication Kokai Nos. 88256/1986 and 167836/1989 disclose a method for preserving photosensitive materials with an antioxidant (specifically, an inert gas and/or an oxygen absorbent) and/or a desiccant. This method may be taken into consideration as it is in order to preserve a photograph for a long period of time. However, the defects of this method are as follows:
(1) When an inert gas is used as an antioxidant, it is impossible to reduce an oxygen concentration inside the system Preserving a photograph to a degree in which photograph-constituting substances do not undergo oxidation. Further, this method cannot be utilized easily since an apparatus for substituting an inert gas is required.
(2) A sealing method keeping an oxygen absorbent inside the system has an effect that an oxygen concentration can be decreased until photograph-constituting substances are not oxidized. However, water contained in an oxygen absorbent is sometimes transferred to a film inside the system to cause physical destruction such as fusion between the film and a packing material Further, in an iron-containing oxygen absorbent generally used, the absorbent absorbs oxygen and hydrogen is generated although its amount is small. Due to this dyestuff are altered in properties and preservation of a photograph is affected.
(3) In a sealing method keeping a desiccant inside the system, an alteration of a photograph is slowed since the humidity inside the system is decreased. However, a desiccant is not capable of inhibiting oxidation of photograph-constituting substances. Therefore, this method only has an effect of inhibiting occurrence of mold from the viewpoint of long term preservation, and cannot be applied in order to secure an image. Further, when the humidity inside the system is decreased excessively with a strong desiccant, physical destruction of photograph-constituting substances such as a crack and peel may arise. It is therefore required to determine a suitable amount of the desiccant, and such determination is difficult.
(4) In a method using an oxygen absorbent and desiccant in combination, water is essential for an oxygen absorption reaction, and the water is transferred to the desiccant to terminate the oxygen absorption reaction during a short period of time. In some cases, oxygen remains in the system. It is therefore very risky to employ such a method for long-term preservation.
It is the fifth object of this invention to preserve a photograph as it is for a long period of time by a simple method in which the photograph is enclosed in a container together with an oxygen absorbent and a desiccant.
A bearing for a rotor (to be simply referred to as "bearing" hereinafter) is mainly manufactured from a bearing steel, and packed and stored after rust-preventive oil is applied on it. Thereafter, a manufacturer of precision machines and electronic machines and components carries out steps of removal of the rust-preventive oil, application of machine oil, assembly, etc.
When a manufacturer manufactures a bearing as a part and delivers it to another manufacturer, the bearing is coated with rust-preventive oil or immersed in rust-preventive oil in order to prevent rust formation during the delivery from one manufacture to another and storage at a warehouse. Since, however, the rust-preventive oil is unnecessary or a hindrance at the assembly time, a washing step for removal thereof is required.
It is troublesome to carry out steps of applying a coating which is unnecessary or a hindrance for a future operation and removing the coating at a later time. It is naturally desirable to do away with such steps.
Further, the above washing step uses an organo-halogen-containing solvent such as Freon, trihaloethane, trihalomethane, or the like, and these solvents destroy an environment. It is therefore desired to reduce the use amount thereof
A bearing which is required to have a precisely rolling properties is affected due to inclusion of a foreign matter (dust) in a rust-preventive oil. In particular, in the case of a bearing for a precision machine and electronic machine and components, a large amount of an ultrapure solvent is required to wash such foreign matter off and remove it.
As explained above, when a preservation method using a rust-preventive oil is employed, it is necessary to remove the rust-preventive oil and dust contained in the rust-preventive oil. When oil and dust have a bad influence on not only a bearing but also other parts in a precision machine and a electronic machine and component in particular, it is indispensable to remove the oil and dust before use, and for this reason, a complicated working and the use of a large amount of a solvent are required. As a result, a product price increases and the solvent causes environmental contamination.
It is the sixth object of this invention to provide a method for preserving a bearing, which can be put to practical use even without using any rust-preventive oil.
A copper powder, silver powder, iron powder, rare earth metals, lead, tin and a powder of these (to be simply referred to as "a metal powder" hereinafter) are mainly used as a material for a sintered part of a machine and electronic machine and component, magnetic substance, solder, electrically conductive paste, etc. A carbon powder is sintered and used as a magnetic substance, heat-resistant part, etc. These powders are easily oxidized when exposed in air, which oxidation causes undesirable results such as a decrease in strength of a sintered part, a decrease in magnetic density, a decrease in solder adhesion and insulating properties, etc. Therefore, the oxidation of these powders is conventionally prevented by a method of substituting an inert gas such as nitrogen, argon, or the like for oxygen in a container (to be referred to as "gas substitution method" hereinafter), a method of enclosing them in a container together with a desiccant and sealing the container, a method of immersing them in an animal or plant oil, silicone oil, or the like, or some other methods.
However, in the gas substitution method, it is difficult to completely substitute an inert gas for oxygen and water among power particles, and the preservability is deteriorated due to oxygen and water which have permeated a packing material. A highly active powder undergoes oxidation even in the absence of water.
In a method of immersing them in an animal or plant oil or silicone oil, no desired strength is obtained when a powder is shaped under pressure and sintered. Hence, it is necessary to wash the animal or plant oil off with a solvent. The use of a large amount of the solvent deteriorates a working environment and affects natural environment. Organohalogen-containing solvents such as a Freon compound, e.g. trichlorofluoromethane, trihaloethane, trihalomethane, etc., used for the above washing cause environmental destruction, and it is therefore desired to decrease them.
Such a conventional method for preserving powders being oxidized has a limitation in preservation, and there are some highly active powders which cannot be preserved by this method. A manufacture for these powders being oxidized having a problem in preservation is required to manufacture such powders only after receipt of an order due to difficulty in preservation, and the manufacturer is required to have excess facilities and labor force. A user is also required to be punctual for a delivery term and strictly observe the time for use. These make steps, other documentation, etc., complicated uselessly and cause a useless increase in a cost.
It is the seventh object of this invention to develop a technique which can overcome the above defects of conventional methods and permit preservation of powders being oxidized simply and securely.
When a shadow mask formed of iron, a lead frame formed by plating a part or entire surface of an iron or iron-nickel alloy sheet with silver or gold, and the like are exposed to air, rust is formed on the surface thereof, and disadvantageously, problems such as contamination with dust, a decrease in solder-adhesion to a printing board, etc., arise. In particular, dew is formed due to a drastic change in temperature and humidity during the transportation abroad by air, and formation of rust is Promoted. The following methods have been proposed to prevent the rust formation.
(1) Method by gas substitution
Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 139370/1989 proposes a method in which nitrogen gas is substituted for air in a container. This method, however, has the following defects. A special apparatus is required for gas substitution, it is difficult to carry out efficient gas substitution in a container, it is difficult to achieve the object of this method even if a large amount of nitrogen gas is used, and the like.
(2) Method using nitrogen gas substitution and desiccant in combination
Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 139380/1989 proposes a method using nitrogen gas substitution and a desiccant in combination. However, this method also has the same defects as those in above (1).
And, the humidity inside the system increases due to water which has penetrated through a packing material, and the presence of the desiccant alone is not sufficient to prevent water on a metal surface from forming dew due to a drastic change in temperature and humidity during the transportation.
It is the eighth object of this invention to make it possible to transport metals and products including metals abroad without causing rust and with keeping them intact.

Oxygen absorbent composition and method of preserving article with same


A well-logging device may include a housing to be positioned within a larger borehole of a subterranean formation and thereby define a stand-off distance with respect to the larger borehole. The well-logging device may also include at least one radiation source carried by the housing to direct radiation into the subterranean formation, and radiation detectors carried by the housing in azimuthally spaced relation to detect radiation from the subterranean formation. The well-logging device may further include a controller to cooperate with the radiation detectors to determine at least one property of the subterranean formation corrected for the stand-off distance.

To determine a porosity of a subterranean formation, it may be desirable to make several simultaneous measurements. One tool for measuring porosity is based on neutron transport through the subterranean formation. The neutron flux attenuated with distance from the source may depend strongly on the hydrogen content of the subterranean formation. For a neutron source, radioisotopic sources or accelerator based sources are used in existing tools.
If pore spaces are filled by liquid, the higher porosity corresponds to a higher hydrogen index. The detected neutron counts are generally lower in this case. A properly calibrated tool may increase the accuracy of the porosity measurement in liquid-filled formations if the matrix composition is known. However, the measurement may be affected by various environmental conditions.
On the other hand, the same measurement may be less accurate for gas-filled subterranean formations when the hydrogen content in the pore spaces is lower due to the relatively low density of the gas. A density measurement may address this ambiguity. For the same porosity of the subterranean formation, the gas-filled and liquid-filled matrix have different densities.
One environmental condition that may affect the porosity measurement is tool position or stand-off in the borehole. The stand-off and the borehole fluid (liquid or gas) may impact the count rate in radiation detectors.

Well-logging apparatus including azimuthally spaced radiation detectors


An anti-spill liquid container is disclosed and taught wherein the center of gravity of the container/liquid combination causes the container to inherently roll to a predetermined, non-spill, position if the container is inadvertently "knocked over." The invention disclosed and taught is applicable to any generally cylindrical container and is particularly suitable for drinking cups as commonly used in the fast food industry.

The present invention relates to liquid containers generally having a cylindrical configuration. More specifically the invention taught herein relates to a means for orienting such containers to a desired rotational position, by the dynamic action of the fluid therein, when the container is inadvertently upset from its normal upright position.
Although the invention disclosed and taught herein is particularly suitable for application to drinking cups typically used in the fast food industry, and the preferred embodiment as disclosed, herein below, teaches the invention in the form of such a drinking cup, one skilled in the art can readily apply the herein invention to containers used in other industries such as chemical transporting barrels or drums typically used in the chemical industry and other similar industrial and/or household applications.


The present disclosure generally relates to the use of loyalty accounts, private label payment accounts, and general payment accounts using a wearable electronic device with an electronic wallet. Various accounts are linked to the electronic device. In some examples, the electronic device is NFC-enabled. The electronic device may be used to provide loyalty account information and payment account information to a payment terminal, such as an NFC-enabled payment terminal.

The use of electronic devices for making payments at point-of-sale terminals and over the Internet has increased significantly in recent years. Exemplary point-of-sale terminals include Near Field Communication-enabled (NFC-enabled) terminals, bluetooth-enabled terminals, and barcode scanner-enabled terminals. Electronic devices can be used in conjunction with these exemplary terminals to enable the user of the electronic device to make a payment for the purchase of, for example, a good or service.

User interface for loyalty accounts and private label accounts for a wearable device


An image processing system includes: a server apparatus connected to a first network; an image processing apparatus connected to a second network; and a gateway apparatus, wherein the server apparatus includes: a transmitting unit configured to transmit job data of a job by the first communication protocol, the image processing apparatus being made to execute the job; and an adding unit configured to add content information to the job data, the content information indicating contents of the job, and the gateway apparatus includes: an analyzing unit; a determining unit; and an executing unit.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing systems, gateway apparatuses, server apparatuses, gateway apparatus control methods, server apparatus control methods, gateway apparatus control programs, and server apparatus control programs. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus can execute a job based on job data transmitted from a server apparatus by HTTP, a gateway apparatus, the server apparatus, a method of controlling the gateway apparatus, a method of controlling the server apparatus, a program for controlling the gateway apparatus, and a program for controlling the server apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
Instead of server software that is operated by a server so as to reduce the server introduction/management costs in a LAN (Local Area Network), so-called cloud applications are now widely spread. When executed with the use of a so-called cloud server connected to the Internet, a cloud application can provide various kinds of services to a user.
In some cloud system that provides a cloud application in a usable form, the cloud application provides various kinds of services while communicating with devices such as MFPs (Multi-Function Peripherals) or printers that are operated in a LAN in each corporation. In an image forming system using such a cloud system, communication from the cloud application to a device is conducted. This communication is to access an MFP or the like in an intranet from the Internet. Therefore, due to the function of a so-called firewall normally located on a boundary between the Internet and an intranet, communication cannot be conducted in some cases. In an environment where private IP addresses are allocated to MFPs, for example, the IP address of an MFP cannot be designated from the cloud application side, and communication might not be possible. In view of this, a gateway apparatus that relays communication between an apparatus on the Internet side and a device in a LAN is used.
A gateway apparatus is constantly connected to a management server that can be connected thereto via the Internet, and generates an HTTP tunnel with an apparatus such as a cloud server on the Internet side based on a result of communication with the management server, for example, so that relayed communication between the apparatus on the Internet side and an image processing apparatus in a LAN can be established.
JP 2012-133728 A discloses the configuration of a printing system in which, in accordance with a printing instruction from a portable terminal, an information processing apparatus in a LAN converts print target data into a printer language that can be interpreted by an image forming apparatus in the same LAN. In this printing system, if there is an information processing apparatus having a printer language conversion function, the printing management server in the LAN transmits the address of the information processing apparatus to the portable terminal.
JP 2008-181193 A discloses an information management system in which an image forming apparatus is remotely managed by a management server. In this information management system, even when two or more instructions are issued, the management server generates a combined instruction from the two or more instructions, and transmits the combined instruction to the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a relaying operation to be performed by a conventional gateway apparatus.
In the example case shown in FIG. 9, print data 84 is transmitted from a cloud server 88 to an MFP 89 via a gateway apparatus 81.
Specifically, in step S281, the cloud server 88 transmits HTTP data 82 including the print data 84 to the gateway apparatus 81 through an HTTP tunnel. The HTTP data 82 includes an HTTP header 82a and an HTTP body 82b, and the print data 84 is included in the HTTP body 82b, for example.
After the HTTP data 82 is transmitted, the gateway apparatus 1 in step S282 analyzes the HTTP data 82, and transmits the print data 84 included in the HTTP data 82 to the MFP 89. The MFP 89 performs printing based on the print data 84. As described above, as the gateway apparatus 1 relays the data transmitted from the cloud server 88 to the MFP 89, the MFP 89 can perform printing. In this case, the print data 84 may be transmitted as the HTTP body 82b to the MFP 89.
Where an image forming apparatus in a LAN performs printing from a cloud application, there is a demand for a print log server that is provided in the LAN or the like and records a print log. As the images that have been formed by the image forming apparatus in the LAN are recorded as a print log into the print log server, the management operation can be readily performed later on the image forming system.
In a case where a print log server records a print log, a cloud application causes an information forming apparatus to perform a print log transfer function by adding a print log transfer request to the print job information to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus, for example. However, if the image forming apparatus that performs printing is not capable of performing the print log transfer function, information is not transmitted to the print log server, and therefore, appropriate print log recording is not performed.
So as to solve such a problem, the function information about each image forming apparatus may be stored into the cloud server. A user manually registers the function information in the cloud server, or the cloud server requests the function information from each image forming apparatus and receives the function information in reply. In this manner, the function information can be stored into the cloud server. The cloud server checks the function information stored therein. If the target image forming apparatus does not have the print log transfer function, the cloud server can notify the terminal that has issued the printing instruction of the error, or present a substitute image forming apparatus having the print log transfer function.
In such a system in which the cloud server holds the function information about each image forming apparatus, however, the amount of information being handled by the cloud server is enormous, as the cloud server manages the function information about the image forming apparatuses from all over the world. Therefore, the costs for the construction and maintenance of the cloud server are increased.
In other cases, the function information about the image forming apparatuses in a LAN may be held by a gateway apparatus that is provided in the same LAN. In this case, a user manually registers the function information in the gateway apparatus, or the gateway apparatus requests the function information from each image forming apparatus and receives the function information in reply. In this manner, the function information about each information apparatus can be stored into the gateway apparatus. If the target image forming apparatus does not have the print log transfer function, the gateway apparatus can notify the cloud server or the management server of the error so that the terminal that has issued the printing instruction will be notified of the error, or present a substitute image forming apparatus having the print log transfer function. Alternatively, the gateway apparatus may perform the print log transfer function.
However, such a system in which a gateway apparatus holds the function information has the following problem. The gateway apparatus performs a relaying operation by transmitting data transmitted from the cloud application to an image forming apparatus as it is. Since the information in a print job is not interpreted by the gateway apparatus, the gateway apparatus cannot determine whether the print job requests print log transfer.

Image processing system, gateway apparatus, server apparatus, method of controlling gateway apparatus, method of controlling server apparatus, program for controlling gateway apparatus, and program for controlling server apparatus wherein the job includes an operation related to the job


The present invention provides a differential amplifier with a plurality of input pairs. The differential amplifier not only includes a differential amplifier with a single input pair but also includes a pair of transistors and a current source to provide the input signals of an extra input pair. The pair of transistors and the differential amplifier with a single input pair share a same load unit. In addition, by using control signals to control the on/off state of each current source, the input signals of the plurality of input pairs are switched, and thereby improve the signal quality. Thus, the need of an additional electrostatic discharge device (ESD device) may be avoided, and thereby reduce cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a differential amplifier, and more particular, to a differential amplifier with a plurality of input pairs.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the prosperous progress of electronics, a differential amplifier has being broadly used in various circuit designs. A typical differential amplifier comprises two input terminals, and the output signal thereof is the difference between two voltages at the two input terminals multiplied by the gain of the amplifier. In order to switch different input signals, a conventional differential amplifier employs switches at the input terminals thereof to accomplish the switch operations.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional differential amplifier to switch two input pairs. Referring to FIG. 1, the differential amplifier includes a load unit 101, a load unit 103, two transistors 105 and 107, a current source 109 and switches 111, 113, 115 and 117. The operation voltage and the grounded terminal herein are respectively represented by VDD and GND. As the switch 111 is turned on, an input signal INA1 of a first input pair is conducted to the gate terminal of the transistor 105; as the switch 113 is turned on, an input signal INB1 of the first input pair is conducted to the gate terminal of the transistor 107. Thus, as the switches 111 and 113 are simultaneously turned on, the differential amplifier would receive the input signals of the first input pair.
Similarly, as the switch 115 is turned on, an input signal INA2 of a second input pair is conducted to the gate terminal of the transistor 105; as the switch 117 is turned on, an input signal INB2 of the second input pair is conducted to the gate terminal of the transistor 107. Thus, as the switches 115 and 117 are simultaneously turned on, the differential amplifier would receive the input signals of the second input pair. It can be seen that in the prior art, the input signals of a plurality of input pairs are switched by using a plurality of switches disposed at the gate terminals of the transistors 105 and 107.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of another conventional differential amplifier to switch two input pairs. Referring to FIG. 2, the differential amplifier includes a load unit 101, a load unit 103, two transistors 105 and 107, a current source 109, a load unit 201, a load unit 203, two transistors 205 and 207, a current source 209 and switches 211, 213, 215 and 217. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the prior art employs an additional differential amplifier to provide another set of input signals incorporated with four switches to achieve the switching operations of a plurality of input pairs. In other words, as the switches 211 and 213 are turned on, the output signals OUTA and OUTB are provided by the input signals INA1 and INB1 of the first input pair; as the switches 215 and 217 are turned on, the output signals OUTA and OUTB are provided by the input signals INA2 and INB2 of the second input pair. It can be seen that in the prior art, the input signals of a plurality of input pairs are switched by disposing additional differential amplifiers and using a plurality of switches disposed at the output terminals thereof.
The differential amplifiers shown by FIGS. 1 and 2 have a common disadvantage that the turn-on impedance of the switches is too high, which would largely affect the quality of high-frequency signals. In order to lower the turn-on impedance, the switch area must be substantially increased. In addition, the switches 211, 213, 215 and 217 must be disposed at the output nodes as shown by FIG. 2, but in fact, the two differential amplifiers may be located quite far from each other and long signal lines may needed to connect the two sets of output signals to the switches. Thus, the long signal lines may become one of electromagnetic interference sources and lead to poor signal quality. Furthermore, considering that in the prior art, metal oxide semiconductor transistors (MOS transistors) are popularly used as switches, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, four switches are disposed at the input signal terminals of the differential amplifier. Thus, additional electrostatic discharge devices (ESD device) are required, which are a considerable waste of space and cost. In FIG. 2, although the additional ESD device is saved, but an additional differential amplifier is required, wherein in particular, a load unit is employed, which leads a significant increase in cost.
Accordingly, manufacturers are eager to seek a proper solution to overcome the above-mentioned problems.

Differential amplifier with a plurality of input pairs


Presented herein is the construction of pipettor tips (termed MSIA-Tips) containing porous solid supports that are constructed, covalently derivatized with affinity ligand, and used to extract specific proteins and their variants from various biological fluids by repeatedly flowing the fluids through the MSIA-Tips. A second protein species (a mass-shifted variant of the targeted protein doped into the samples at a constant concentration) is co-extracted with the endogenous protein and variants and is used as a quantitative internal reference standard (IRS). Nonspecifcally bound compounds are rinsed from the MSIA-Tip using a series of buffer and water rinses, after which the wild type protein, protein variants and the IRS are eluted from the MSIA-Tips directly onto a target in preparation for analysis such as MALDI-TOF. Mass spectrometry of the eluted sample then follows with the retained proteins identified via accurate molecular mass determination. Protein and variant levels are determined via a quantitative method in which the protein/variant signals are normalized to the signal of the IRS and the values compared to a working curve constructed from samples containing known concentrations of the protein or variants.

With the recent first draft completion of the human genome, much attention is now shifting to the field of proteomics, where gene products (proteins), their various variants, interacting partners and the dynamics of their regulation and processing are the emphasis of study. Such studies are essential in understanding, for example, the mechanisms behind genetic/environmentally induced disorders or the influences of drug mediated therapies, as well as potentially becoming the underlying foundation for further clinical and diagnostic analyses. Critical to these studies is the ability to qualitatively determine specific variants of whole proteins (i.e., splice variants, point mutations and posttranslationally modified versions) and the ability to view their quantitative modulation.
Traditionally, distinctly different assays are used in the qualitative analysis of proteins/variants and in monitoring their quantitative modulation. Qualitative analyses generally rely on structurally related techniques such as NMR or X-Ray crystallography, or, oftentimes, are accomplished on the gene level through gene sequencing or various methodologies of single nucleotide polymorphism analyses. Quantitative analyses rely, more so, on functional related properties of the proteinaceous analyte, and include various immunoassays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and radioimmunoassays) or biosensor type instrumentation. As such, there is a lack in any one assay to qualitatively differentiate between different variants of a specific protein while still maintaining quantitative capabilities.
As an example, β-2-microglobulin (β2m) is a low molecular mass protein identified as the light chain of the Class I major histocompatibility complex synthesized in all nucleated cells. Upon activation of the immune system, both B- and T-lymphocytes actively release β2m into circulation where it is later eliminated via glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption. Serum levels of β2m have been measured and nominally correlated to ailments such as AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, myeloma and malignant lymphoma. On the other hand, β2m levels in urine are indicators of glomerular filtration rate and tubular reabsorption. Conventionally, β2m levels are monitored using a variety of immuno-based assays, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, radioimmunoassays and particle-enhanced turbidimetry assays. The quantitative dynamic range (spanning β2m concentrations of ˜0.2-20 mg/L) and the accuracy (1-10%) of the assays are sufficient to cover the normal and elevated levels of β2m in a variety of biological fluids. One drawback of these conventional assays, however, is the inability to differentiate between the wild type and variants of β2m. Such distinction is important when considering that genetic and posttranslational variants of β2m are indicative of ailments distinct from those indicated by the wild type protein. Several separate assays are thus required to discern between these different protein variants, and to date, no such combination of assays has been used in the study of β2m.
Thus, there exists a need for a single assay capable of assessing proteins present in a variety of biological fluids, both qualitatively and quantitatively. New and novel technologies are needed to fulfill these needs. Importantly, these technologies must: 1) be able to selectively retrieve and concentrate specific proteins/biomarkers from biological fluid for subsequent high-performance analyses, 2) be able to quantify targeted proteins, 3) be able to recognize variants of targeted proteins (e.g., splice variants, point mutations and posttranslational modifications) and to elucidate their nature, and 4) be capable of analyzing for, and identifying, ligands interacting with targeted proteins.
Two protein mass spectrometry techniques, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, offer the particular advantage of differentiating between different mass-shifted forms of the same protein. In this manner, a single pan-antibody can be used to retrieve all protein variants from a biological fluid, upon which each variant is detected during mass spectrometry at a unique and characteristic molecular mass. Mass resolution of related species also allows mass-shifted variants of a target protein to be intentionally incorporated into the analysis for use as internal reference standards for quantitative analysis. This step forms the basis of a mass spectrometric immunoassay (MSIA), an assay that can be used for the unambiguous detection and rigorous quantification of polypeptides/proteins retrieved from complex biological systems.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for MSIA devices, methods and kits for the rapid and efficient analysis of specific proteins and variants present in various biological fluids.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mass spectrometric immunoassay analysis of specific proteins and variants present in various biological fluids


In the present invention, petroleum is separated into hydrocarbon mixtures having different components at an atomizing step and a collecting step. At the atomizing step, the petroleum is ultrasonically vibrated and is discharged and atomized in a state of an atomized fine particle floating in a carrier gas. At this step, the petroleum is separated into a mixed fluid containing the atomized fine particle and the carrier gas and residual petroleum which is not atomized. At the collecting step, the hydrocarbon mixture is separated and collected from the mixed fluid obtained at the collecting step. In the separating method, the petroleum is separated into the residual petroleum and the mixed fluid at the atomizing step, and the mixed fluid is collected at the collecting step so that the petroleum is separated into hydrocarbon mixtures having different components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating petroleum which can efficiently separate a crude oil and refine gasoline or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been developed a method of distilling and refining a crude oil (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. Hei 11-80754). In a method of separating a crude oil described in this publication, a crude oil is subjected to an atmospheric distillation and is thus separated into hydrocarbon mixtures having different components such as a residual oil, a light oil, kerosene, naphtha, an LP gas and a soft gas. In this method, the crude oil is heated to be a vapor, the vapor is liquefied and separated into hydrocarbon mixtures having different components to be refined.
A method of distilling and separating a crude oil requires a thermal energy in a large amount in order to vaporize the crude oil. The reason is that the vaporization heat of the crude oil is very high. Moreover, there is also employed a method of distilling or refining petroleum and separating the petroleum into a specific hydrocarbon mixture. Also in this method, a high thermal energy is required for vaporizing the petroleum into a vapor.
In a distilling process described in the aforementioned publication according to the prior art, a difference in a thermodynamic vapor pressure is utilized and a difference in a vaporization speed into a vapor phase at a certain pressure and temperature is thus used. This technique basically utilizes a vapor-liquid equilibrium relationship among large number of components. More specifically, a difference between the moving speeds of substances under a vapor saturation on the vapor phase side is utilized to obtain a driving force for a separation. As is easily imagined, however, the moving speed of the substance is increased when a difference in a vapor-liquid concentration is increased. From a viewpoint of a vapor-liquid equilibrium, the vapor phase side is filled with the vapor of a target substance. For this reason, originally, a speed at which the target substance can be moved from a liquid phase to the vapor phase is actually suppressed.
In the conventional distilling process, thus, the moving speed of a substance to be taken by an originally natural phenomenon is restricted. For this reason, a energy consumed by the whole apparatus is unnecessarily increased. In addition, the distilling process uses a boiler as a heat source. For such occasions, a very long time is required for warming up a whole huge distilling tower. In order to pursue economy, consequently, an operation is inevitably carried out for a long period of time to reduce the rate of occupation of a start-up time.
Moreover, the boiler is used as the heat source. For this reason, a nitride compound, a sulfur compound, a population substance of a floating granular substance and the like in a heavy oil to be a supplied substance are discharged in a large amount into the air after oxidation, and the discharge of carbon dioxide to be a warming substance becomes a social problem. Thus, the distilling technique for supporting a modern society has a large number of problems.
In order to atomize a solution, moreover, a method utilizing a spray nozzle or a centrifugal force is used in some cases. However, the method is not suitable for a separation process for the following reasons.    (1) A particle size is large;    (2) A higher energy than that in an ultrasonic atomizing method is required for obtaining an atomized fine particle having a small particle size;    (3) In a method of causing compressed air to collide with a liquid to be atomized, a temperature is dropped in an adiabatic expansion when the compressed air is released under an atmospheric pressure by using a compressor or the like. For this reason, a separation phenomenon utilizing an atmospheric heat cannot be expected in an atomizing portion.
The present invention has been developed in order to solve the drawbacks of the conventional methods. An important object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for separating petroleum which can efficiently separate petroleum into hydrocarbon mixtures having different components by a small energy consumption.

Method and apparatus for separating petroleum


An abrasion hand piece for use with an air abrasion system to perform dental procedures. The hand piece is adapted for connection to the air abrasion system by a hose and has a body member which allows tips to be releasably attached thereto. The releasable tip feature allows the body member to be used with a number of different tips, thereby reducing the number of tools that the dentist must have on hand and must sterilize between procedures. The tips have an outer coating which is softer and warmer to the patient when placed in the mouth. The outer coating is color coded so that the orifice size of the tips may be readily identified. An illumination device is attached to the hand piece to allow the dentist to better monitor the procedure and to provide for aiming the hand piece at the desired tooth area. The hand piece with releasable tip feature, when used with an abrasion system having a continuous purge, allows the tip to be removed and used later during the same procedure without creating a crosstalk or backflow situation.

Air abrasion systems are generally known which deliver a mixture of abrasive material and pressurized gas to perform tooth reduction procedures. Tooth reduction is commonly performed to remove tooth decay and may involve cutting, excavating, or etching of the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth. Procedures using air abrasion systems are similar to sand-blasting operations in that particles of abrasive material are propelled at an elevated velocity toward the tooth area so that the particles cut the tooth.
Air abrasion systems are commonly attached by a hose to an abrasion hand piece which directs the gas-abrasive material mixture toward the target area inside the patient's mouth. The abrasive hand pieces typically have a nozzle orifice at one end thereof which directs the mixture. The dentist holds the hand piece and aims the nozzle orifice at the desired location so that the affected tooth structure is reduced.
Unfortunately, conventional abrasion hand pieces cause discomfort to the patient. Previous hand pieces typically have a metal tip which is inserted inside the mouth during dental procedures. The metal tip has a hard outer surface which the patient may accidentally bite and which uncomfortably rests inside the patient's mouth. Furthermore, the backside of the tip is often used to retract the cheek, lips, and tongue of the patient. When used in this manner, the metal tip creates a localized point of pressure at the area of contact with the mouth which is uncomfortable to the patient.
A further problem with conventional abrasion hand pieces is that they make it difficult to determine which hand piece is intended for use during a particular dental procedure. The appearance of conventional abrasion hand pieces are similar so that hand pieces having nozzles disposed at similar angles appear to be identical, even though they may have nozzle orifices sized for different dental procedures. As a result, conventional abrasion hand pieces make it difficult to select the appropriate hand piece for a particular procedure from a group of hand pieces.
Conventional abrasion hand pieces are also overly difficult to maneuver. The dentist must frequently reposition the tip of the abrasion hand piece during a dental procedure. To redirect the tip, the dentist must typically move the entire hand piece by, for example, rolling or repositioning the hand piece in his or her hand. Furthermore, conventional abrasion hand pieces are typically connected to a hose which tends to restrict or limit such repositioning, making it awkward to redirect the tip.
Conventional abrasion hand pieces are further awkward to hold. Abrasion hand pieces typically have an outer surface similar to that of a pen. The abrasion hand piece is typically held between the thumb and forefinger, with a rear portion of the hand piece resting near the base of the thumb at a specific contact point. Accordingly, conventional hand pieces are easily dropped, especially if the hand piece slips from between the thumb and forefinger.
Conventional abrasion hand pieces, when used with conventional abrasion systems, have a problem of build-up of residual abrasive material inside the hand piece. When convention abrasion systems finish delivering a blast of abrasive material, some material remains in the hand piece. This is detrimental because subsequent blasts of abrasive material are resisted by the residual material, thereby lowering the velocity of the subsequent blasts to create puffs of abrasive material which are dispersed outside the patient's mouth. As a result, when a hand piece is used with a conventional system, the hand piece may contain residual abrasive material and therefore must be replaced or cleaned before subsequent use.

Abrasion hand piece for use with abrasion system


A hand tool includes a handle made of a first material and at least one driving head connected to an end of the handle and the at least one driving head is made by a second material. A protection layer is coated onto the driving head and the handle. The first material can be Chrome-Vanadium alloy and the second material can be medium carbon steel.

A conventional hand tool is shown in FIG. 8 and generally includes an elongate handle 5 and two driving ends 6 and 7 which are an open end and a box end respectively. The driving end 6 has a clamp opening 60 and the box end has a polygonal hole 70 so as to engage a workpiece such as a nut, a bolt or the like. The conventional hand tool generally is made integrally by the same material which generally is alloy. The alloy is hard enough so that the hand tool does not deform when applying a torque to the workpieces. However, the alloy is expensive and the handle does not contact the workpieces so that the handle is not necessarily to be made by the expensive alloy. If the hand tool is made by less harder material such as medium carbon steel, some workpieces are harder than the driving ends 6 and 7 and the driving ends of the hand tool will be worn out quickly.
The present invention intends to provide a hand tool that is made by two different materials wherein the driving ends are made by harder material and the handle is made by less harder material so that the manufacturing cost is reduced while the function of the handle tool is maintained.

Hand tool with a handle made by different material


A circuit for generation of a reference voltage for an electronic system, which circuit comprises at least one digital buffer (U21, U31, U32, U41, U51), a low pass filter (R21, C21; R31, C31; R41, C41; R51, C51) and an operational amplifier (OA21, OA31, OA41, OA51)), which circuit is adapted to revive an input in the form of a bandgap reference voltage into the digital buffer, which digital buffer is adapted to receive a digital input from a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal, which digital buffer is adapted to generate an output signal adapted to be fed to the low pass filter, which output signal after filtration is adapted to be fed to a positive input terminal of the operational amplifier, which operational amplifier comprises a feedback circuit, which feedback circuit comprises at least one capacitor (C22, C32, C44, C54) adapted to be connected from an output terminal of the operational amplifier towards a negative input terminal of the operational amplifier so as to form an integrator, wherein the feedback circuit further comprises at least one chopped signal path (R22, S21; R33, R34, S32; R33, R35, C35, S31), which chopped signal is adapted to be modulated by the output signal of the digital buffer.

Fixed reference voltage circuitry based on bandgap voltage together with temperature compensation is widespread commercially available in the form of serial and shunt voltage regulators, and offers an initial accuracy typically down to 0.025% and a temperature drift of 2 ppm/C.
Often, reference voltages different from the standardized voltages are needed and in some cases even a stabilized, variable reference voltage is required. Typically, a stabilized reference voltage is obtained by resistor division as in FIG. 1, which can create an output voltage higher than the bandgap reference voltage. To ensure high initial accuracy and temperature drift corresponding to the bandgap reference specifications, the resistors (R2 and R3 in FIG. 1) shall be of very high precision with respect to the initial resistor value and have a very low temperature drift. Resistors of high precision and low temperature drift are very costly and typically cause the circuit to be economically non-viable.
US2014247023A1 discloses a technique to reduce the influence of resistor precision and temperature drift by adding an additional bandgap reference.
The present invention discloses a technique to obtain a reference voltage whose precision and drift are independent of the resistors in the circuit and which is without limits relative to the bandgap voltage, i.e., it can be above or below the bandgap voltage.

Zero drift, limitless and adjustable reference voltage generation


A replacement oil pump plate for attachment to an original equipment manufacture oil pump within a transfer case for elimination of mechanical wear by replacing the abrasive aluminum tabs formed on the oil pump with low-friction plastic tabs is disclosed. The present plastic tab design redistributes the surface-to-surface contact between the magnesium transfer case and the aluminum pump tabs away from the original wear points so that any necessary weld repairs to the transfer case will not be disturbed. The present replacement pump plate is provided in a kit format including a pump plate, machine screws, plastic tabs, and installation instructions. The present invention also describes a method of installing the pump plate kit on the original equipment manufacture oil pump subassembly.

The present invention relates to automotive four-wheel drive systems and, more particularly, to an oil pump anti-wear plate for the repair of transfer cases utilized in four-wheel drive vehicles of various manufacturers.
Presently there are many types of four-wheel drive systems. For purposes of this application the term "four-wheel-drive system" will be understood to define an automotive drive system for providing power to all four wheels on a part-time basis (i.e. four-wheel-drive can be switched ON and OFF manually).
The transfer case assembly or so-called transfer case 100 (FIG. 1) in such a part-time, four-wheel-drive system functions to lock the front-axle driveshaft to the rear-axle driveshaft so that all four wheels are forced to turn at the same speed. In the four-wheel-drive operating mode the vehicle is provided with substantially increased torque at the wheels to handle steep terrain and low-traction situations.
Currently many original equipment manufacturers utilize NEW VENTURE GEAR series 136, 236, 246, 261 or 263 transfer cases (hereinafter "the subject transfer cases") in their four-wheel drive vehicles. Such transfer cases are commercially available from New Venture Gear Manufacturing GmbH, Roitzsch, Germany. In the subject transfer cases 100 an oil pump 120 is typically installed within a magnesium housing 125 (FIG. 2) that is utilized for weight reduction. The transfer case 100 is attached to the aft end of the transmission. The output shaft of the transmission (not shown) engages a mating internal spline 130 within the oil pump 120, which generates hydraulic pressure to a clutch pack in the transfer case 100 to initiate four-wheel-drive operation.
In the construction of the subject transfer cases, internal pockets 140 are formed on the interior surface of the magnesium housing 125 (FIG. 2), which are designed to receive integral anti-rotation lugs 155 formed on the aluminum oil pump 120 to secure it in position. Because a small amount of movement of the oil pump 120 is necessary to keep the pump centered on the transmission output shaft, a concentrated area of surface-to-surface contact occurs as at 145 and results in mechanical fretting between the lugs 155 and the magnesium housing 125 eventually causing the lugs to wear through the softer magnesium housing and resulting in oil leakage from the transfer case 100.
Thus, the present oil pump anti-wear plate and method of use has been developed to resolve this problem and other shortcomings of the prior art.

Oil pump anti-wear plate for transfer case and method of use