A web handling system is described, including a plurality of web handling controllers and a web handling process logic controller networked to form a ring network. A processor of the web handling process logic controller being configured to determine whether a fault exists within the ring network, and responsive to determining that a fault exists within the ring network, to generate and send signals throughout the ring network to switch the configuration of the ring network to at least one linear network.

Pneumatic, photoelectric, and ultrasonic systems have been used for guiding material webs by edge detection or line detection. Photoelectric based systems, for example using optical sensors or infrared sensors, have been used to guide material webs based on features of the material web, such as an edge, an aspect of a material web at a given point on the material, or a printed graphic running longitudinally along the material web. Most sensors detect the web or its features by transmitting a signal and comparing a received signal through open atmosphere in relation to a received signal which has been passed through or interrupted by a web.
C shape sensors are common in web edge detection where the web passes through a gap in the C shape. Sensors are often housed in arms of the C extending at least partially across the web. The sensors may be divided between transmitter and receiver elements. The gap of the C shape sensors extend between the arms and may limit acceptable deviations in the web plane of the traveling web while passing through the C shape sensor. In order to overcome this limitation, C shape sensors may be mounted on or connected to an articulable element, known as a moving sensor guide that allows the C shape sensors to move in response to changes in the width of the material web. In addition, rollers may be employed, such as fixed support bars, close to the C shape sensors enabling better control over the web plane and enabling use of C shape sensors using smaller gaps. A plurality of C shape sensors have been used to guide a single material web, with sensors on either side of the material web, to simultaneously perform edge detection on opposing edges of the material web.
C shape sensors may be used in ultrasonic guiding systems, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,415,881. C shape sensors are also used in photoelectric systems as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,825 that uses infrared sensing devices to perform web edge sensing to guide the material web.
Line sensors may be used which scan graphical patterns on the web, without performing edge detection, for guiding the material web. Line sensors may capture images and guide the material web based on a comparison of the images and the location of the graphical patterns with a stored set point. Line sensors may have a horizontal field of view that spans a portion or the entirety of the material web between opposing edges. However, the line sensors have a field of view in the web direction of travel that is limited to one pixel and encompasses no more than 5-7 microns of the web in the web direction of travel. Other sensors used in web guiding may include laser curtain sensors, ragged edge sensors, fiber optics sensors, raised feature sensors, capacitance or inductance sensors, and mechanical paddle or finger sensors.
Visual inspection systems for providing quality assurance to moving webs of material currently exist. One visual inspection system is sold under the trademark InPrint™ by Fife Corporation, the assignee of the present patent application. This visual inspection system provides quality assurance by allowing direct, live image viewing of a moving web. In particular, this visual inspection system captures images of a moving web at 10 images/second and compares the captured images to a reference image of the web to detect deviations of the captured image from the reference image. When deviations are detected, the visual inspection system sounds an alarm, and/or directs a particular product to an appropriate location to be manually inspected.
Web handling systems include tension control components that are used to control the tension in a web of material. The tension in the web is detected by a load cell bearing sensor on the web of material, and the tension is controlled by a brake or clutch system that can vary the rate of movement of a roller for feeding and/or retrieving of the web of material. The tension control components also include a controller to receive information indicative of the tension in the web of material from the load cell bearing sensor and generate control signals that are transmitted to the brake or clutch system to control the tension in the web. Other tension control components include load cells, load cell-based tension controllers, tension readouts, dancer controllers, magnetic particle clutches and brakes, and permanent magnet brakes and clutches.
In certain applications, web handling systems also include systems for physically modifying or manipulating the web of material. These types of web handling systems include slitting systems used for cutting the web of materials along the web's longitudinal axis, and bowed rolls or spreader rolls used for separating parts of the web of material. Other slitting products include electronic and pneumatic knifeholders, slitter positioning systems, fully automated shear slitting systems, and mechanically linked slitting systems.
In certain applications, web handling systems also include winding products including core shafts, air shafts, expansion shafts, web shafts and core holders, pneumatic brakes, safety chucks, core chucks, shaftless chucks and crushed core restorers.
Various web handling systems can be combined into one or more process line used for guiding, tensioning, slitting, and inspecting one or more webs of material to make predetermined products, such as diapers. These web handling systems have multiple controllers and sensors that are interconnected via a star network topology.


A connector socket uses a small number of connector pin types and prevents short circuits from occurring between external connection ends of the connector pins. A plurality of plug insertion openings are formed in molded block of insulating resin. A plurality of connector pins are disposed with connection ends projecting inside the plug insertion openings. External connection ends at the other end of connector pins are connected to a conductive body of a printed circuit substrate. The connector pins are fitted into pin slots at the back of the plug insertion openings. A portion of the connector pins, oriented along the direction in which the plug insertion openings are arranged, serves as shared connector pins.

The present invention relates to a connector socket for connecting electronic components. In particular, the present invention relates to a connector socket in which a plurality of plug insertion openings are arranged together.
Connector sockets for audio-visual equipment can be formed with a plurality of plug insertion openings so that a plurality of media devices, e.g., a plurality of VCRs, can be connected in parallel.
Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a conventional connector socket comprises a molded block A formed by injection molding an insulating resin. Two plug insertion openings C1, C2 are formed on the surface of molded block A to allow insertion of plugs b1 of connector plugs B1, B2. A shield case D, formed by bending a thin metal plate into a box shape, covers the front surface, the side surfaces, and the upper surface of molded block A to shield the inside of the connector socket from external magnetic fields and electric fields. A plurality of pin slots E are formed in the back of molded block A. A plurality of connector pins F1, F2, F3, F4, are fitted into pin slots E using, for example, a fitting device (not shown). Connector pins F1, F2, F3, F4 are preferably stamped from a thin metal plate.
Connector pins F1, F2, F3, F4 are formed roughly in the shape of an "L". A connection end f1 projects inside the corresponding plug insertion opening C1, C2. An external connection end f2, extending perpendicular from connection end f1, passes through corresponding pin slot E, through the bottom surface of molded block A and through openings in a printed circuit substrate G. External connection ends f2 are soldered to a conductive body g1 of printed circuit substrate G.
A surface shield piece dl of shield case D is formed with two plug windows H1, H2, which correspond to plug insertion openings C1, C2. The side surfaces and the upper surface of molded block A are covered by side shield pieces d2, d3 and top surface shield piece d4, which are bent at right angles from surface shield piece d1.
Thus, with the structure of this conventional connector socket, connector pins F1, F2, F3, F4 must be produced in four different shapes. This increases the expense necessary for producing the dies for connector pins F1, F2, F3, F4 and a large number of steps is involved in insertion using the fitting device. This results in high production costs.
In the connector socket shown in FIG. 5, connector pins F1, F2, F3, F4 having different shapes are used for each of plug insertion openings C1, C2. External connection ends f2 of connector pins F1, F2, F3, F4, which are connected to printed circuit substrate G, are arranged so that they are separated by a very small pitch. This makes it possible for adjacent external connection ends f2 to become short-circuited when a conductive body gI of printed circuit substrate G is being soldered to external connection end f2.


A multipurpose container, particularly for threaded wires for bone surgery operations, comprising: a substantially rectangular base (2), a central body (3), which is removably secured to the said base (2) by securing means (16), suitable for containing a plurality of threaded wire (6), which is shorter in height than the said wires, so that the ends (7) thereof project above in order that they may be selected by an operator, a lid (4) secured to the said body (3), capable of covering the projecting ends (7) of the wires when the lid (4) is placed in the closed position, in which the said body (3) is subdivided into a plurality of separate spaces (9), which are accessible from the upper part (3') of the said body (3), each of which is capable of containing a plurality of threaded wires (6) of the same size and having threaded parts (8) of identical length and diameter.

This invention relates to a multipurpose container which is particularly suitable for containing "threaded wires" and corresponding washers, of different sizes and characteristics, of the type used in orthopaedic surgery.
As is known from German patent application No. P 4309707, threaded wires are an improvement on the Kirschner wires used in orthopaedic surgery to secure bone fragments to the main bone or to reconstruct broken small bones. The threaded wires are not completely smooth (like the Kirschner wires), but their ends which penetrate the bone are threaded with a thread diameter which is less than the diameter of the remaining cylindrical shank of the wire, so as to form a step at the point where the threaded part joins the smooth part. This step serves to apply a compression force against the bone fragment towards the part of the bone from which the said fragment has become detached, when the threaded wire is screwed up. In some cases the thrust surface provided by this step is not sufficient, or the pressure exerted locally on the fragment is too high and might damage it. In these circumstances the use of special washers is provided for, the threaded part is threaded through them and they come up against the said step they enlarge the area on the said fragment supporting the threaded wire.
Threaded wires of different diameter and different wire diameters are used according to the characteristics and size of the bone fragments and the bones from which the fragments have become detached, for example wires with a diameter of .phi. 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm or 3.0 mm, with corresponding thread diameters .phi. 1.2 mm, 1.6 mm or 2.2 mm, and different lengths of the threaded part, for example 7 mm, 9 mm, 11 mm, 13 mm, 15 mm, 17 mm, 19 mm and 21 mm for wires with threads of diameter .phi. 1.2; 11 mm, 13 mm, 15 mm, 17 mm, 19 mm, 21 mm, 23 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm and 45 mm for wires with threads of .phi. 1.6; and 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm, 45 mm, 50 mm and 55 mm for wires with threads of .phi. 2.2.
Containers for bone bolts or bolts which separate bolts or bolts of different diameters and lengths are known, but these containers have the following disadvantage. If bolts or bolts of a different size than that for the specified position in the container are placed in it in error, the surgeon or the personnel responsible for passing tools to the surgeon may be misled and therefore use a bolt/screw which is slightly different from that required, or, if the differences are clearly visible, be forced to put the incorrect bolt/screw back in the container and take another, in the hope that the second will be the desired one. In the special case of threaded wires, in addition to having different diameters, they also have a wide range of lengths of the threaded portion which often differ from each other by only one or two millimeters. Obviously it would be very useful for the surgeon or the personnel responsible for passing tools to the surgeon to check the size of the threaded wire immediately and thus to be sure of the size of threaded wire which they have in their hands.
GB-A-O-692 103 discloses a multipurpose container with a substantially rectangular base, a central body removably secured to said base and a lid, whereby the body is subdivided into a plurality of separate spaces. This container is suitable for containing a plurality of threaded wires so that the ends thereof project above the body and its lid is capable of covering the projecting ends of the threaded wires.

Multipurpose container in particular for threaded wires for operations in orthopaedic surgery


An engine of a snow blower is arranged with a crankshaft along a front to rear direction of the snow blower, and an output shaft, with an outer circumferential portion on which a drive pulley is fixed, is provided in a front end portion of the crankshaft. Further, an intermediate shaft with a rear end circumference on which a driven pulley is fixed and with a front end circumference, on which an impeller drive pulley is fixed, is arranged to extend toward a front direction higher than the output shaft. An impeller drive shaft with a rear end circumference on which an impeller driven pulley is fixed is arranged to extend toward the front direction more downward than the intermediate shaft. A first transmission belt is meshed with the drive pulley and the driven pulley, and a second transmission belt is meshed with the impeller drive pulley and the impeller driven pulley. Using this arrangement, it is possible to provide a snow blower with a low center of gravity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a snow blower provided with a rotational force transmission mechanism arranged to transmit a rotational force of a crankshaft to an impeller drive shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is a snow blower having an engine that rotates an auger in a spiral fashion thereby removing snow from a snow covered surface (see JP-B-2896700, for example). An impeller auger drive system is arranged in a lower direction on a front portion of an output shaft of the engine in the snow blower. A front upper pulley and a front lower pulley are provided in a front portion of the output shaft and in a rear portion of the impeller drive shaft, respectively, and a front side belt is meshed with the front upper pulley and the front lower pulley. As a result, when the engine operates, a drive force thereof is transmitted to the auger drive system via the output shaft, the front side belt, and the impeller drive shaft.
However, according to the snow blower described above, an engine having a large weight is arranged on an upper portion of the snow blower, and the drive force of the engine is transmitted from the output shaft to the impeller drive shaft located in a lower portion of the snow blower. Therefore, the snow blower has a high center of gravity.

Yamaha Motor Power Products Kabushiki Kaisha


An off-axis ink delivery system for an ink-jet hard copy apparatus includes a multifunctional ink pump and flow switch device. A semipermanent, negative pressure, pen and printhead has a fluidic coupling to a static, refillable or replaceable, off-axis, ink reservoir via the ink pump and flow switch device.. The pen's mechanism for creating the negative pressure operational condition is used to pull ink from the reservoir when the ink pump and flow switch device is in an "open" position. Negative pressure reset, nozzle priming, pen air purging functions are also provided by the same ink pump and flow switch device. A system for each color ink is employed in the hard copy apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ink-jet technology and, more specifically, to an off axis ink delivery system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The art of ink-jet technology is relatively well developed. Commercial products such as computer printers, graphics plotters, and facsimile machines employ ink-jet technology for producing hard copy. The basics of this technology are disclosed, for example, in various articles in the Hewlett-Packard Journal, Vol. 36, No. 5 (May 1985), Vol. 39, No. 4 (August 1988), Vol. 39, No. 5 (October 1988), Vol. 43, No. 4 (August 1992), Vol. 43, No. 6 (December 1992) and Vol. 45, No. 1 (February 1994) editions, incorporated herein by reference. Ink-jet devices are also described by W. J. Lloyd and H. T. Taub in Output Hardcopy sic! Devices, chapter 13 (Ed. R. C. Durbeck and S. Sherr, Academic Press, San Diego, 1988).
Basically, it is known in thermal ink-jet printing to provide a printhead having an orifice plate in combination with heating elements. Thermal excitation of ink is used to eject droplets through tiny nozzles, or orifices, onto a print media. Dot matrix manipulation of the droplets provides alphanumeric character and graphics printing capabilities. Other ink-jetting mechanisms, such as by the use of piezoelectric transducers or wave propagation as ink droplet generators, are also well developed in the art.
The ink-jet pen itself may have a self-contained reservoir for storing ink and providing appropriate amounts of ink to the printhead during a printing cycle. These self-contained pens are also referred to in the art as print cartridges.
If a reusable pen rather than a print cartridge is employed in the hard copy apparatus, ink is generally supplied from a remote, off-axis (or off-board), ink reservoir to a relatively permanent pen body and printhead mechanism. Early ink-jet printers used off-axis reservoirs as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,007 ((Winfield) assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference). Moreover, it has been found that for some hard copy applications, such as large format plotting of engineering drawings and the like, there is a requirement for the use of much larger volumes of ink than can be contained within a reasonably sized, replaceable, print cartridge. Therefore, improved, relatively large, off-pen ink reservoir systems have also been developed more recently. As examples, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,389 (Chan) which shows a multicolor off-board ink supply system; U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,963 (Balazar) which demonstrates an ink delivery system for an ink-jet printer using a low pressure recirculating pumping system; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,998 (Allen) which teaches an ink-jet pen which is refillable at a service station (each assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference).
While both print cartridges and ink-jet pens provide a reliable and efficient means of "jetting" droplets of ink from the printhead onto the print medium, the printheads generally require a mechanism to prevent the free flow of ink through the orifices when the printhead is not activated. Without such control, ink may leak, or "drool," onto the printing surface or into the printer mechanism. Such leaking ink may also build up and cake on the printhead itself, impairing proper operation. Complex pen service stations are often provided as part of the hard copy apparatus where printheads can be wiped or activated to "spit" away excess ink (known as priming). An exemplary service station is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,717 ((Harmon et al.) assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference).
To alleviate this problem, many ink-jet printers supply ink from the reservoir to the printhead at a slight under pressure, lower than the ambient atmospheric pressure at the printhead (also referred to in the art as "back-pressure " or "negative pressure" operation). To be effective, pen back-pressure must be maintained consistently and predictably within a desired operating range. That is, the pen back-pressure must be large enough to prevent the unwanted free flow of ink through the orifices when the pen is not in use, yet at the same time small enough so that the printhead, when activated, can overcome the back-pressure and eject ink droplets in a consistent and predictable manner. This back-pressure will be affected by changes in either or both the ambient atmospheric and the pen's internal pressure conditions. Likewise, temperature variations may cause the ink and air within the ink-jet pen to contract or expand, also affecting the back-pressure. In addition to such operational variations, shipping print cartridges by air cargo often subjects them to extreme temperature and atmospheric pressure excursions. Therefore, these factors must be accounted for and a mechanism incorporated into an ink-jet pen to maintain the back-pressure within the predetermined, desirable operating range.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,295 ((Baker et al.) assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference) shows a print cartridge employing an ink saturated foam where the capillary effect of the foam maintains the requisite back-pressure.
In order to increase print cartridge ink capacity, free-ink reservoirs have also been developed. In its basic aspect, a free-ink print cartridge apparatus includes a flexible bag that is spring loaded such that a predetermined design back-pressure is constantly provided during depletion of ink from the reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,062 (Low et al.), entitled "Ink Reservoir With Essentially Constant Negative Back Pressure" (assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,119 (Fong), entitled "Variable Rate Spring Ink Pressure Regulator for a Thermal Ink Jet Printer" (assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference) teach particular mechanisms for dealing with back-pressure regulation in free-ink print cartridges. U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/065,957 (Seccombe et al.) and 08/331,453 (Pawlowski Jr. et al.)(both assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference), disclose further inventions related to the spring bag concepts as employed in print cartridges.
In the quest for providing hard copy apparatus with the capability of higher print resolution (for example, 1200 dot per inch, near-photograph quality graphics) and for providing large format print graphics users with a reliable source of a greater volumes of ink than can be provided in reasonably sized, disposable print cartridges, there is a need for a system which employs a refillable, off-axis ink reservoir that is compatible with a relatively permanent pen and printhead that operates using the back-pressure concept.


A boat coverable by a flexible cover has a hull, a deck, and a tower movably connected to the deck. The tower has a central structure. The tower is movable between a first position and a second position. The deck is coverable by the flexible cover when the tower is in the second position such that the flexible cover is associated with at least a portion of the central structure. The portion of the central structure is movable to a third position vertically intermediate positions of the central structure in the first and second positions of the tower to tension the cover. A boat having a flexible cover connected to the central structure of the tower and a method of a method of installing a flexible cover on a boat are also disclosed.

Many boats, such as sport boats, have at least a portion of the deck which is opened. This means that the opened portions of the deck are not protected from rain by a cabin having a roof for example. For this reason, many boat owners use a flexible cover to cover the opened portions of the deck when their boats are docked or placed in storage to prevent rain water from pooling inside the opened deck portions and to prevent the deck from becoming dirty.
The flexible covers are typically made of canvas that is treated to be impermeable to water. To install the flexible cover, a person installing the cover, while being inside the boat, first connects the flexible cover to one side of the deck. The cover is then extended over the opened portions of the deck, and the person installing the cover, who is now outside the boat, finally connects the flexible cover to the other side of the deck.
Since the cover is flexible, it is likely to sag in some places, which results in rain water pooling in these places on the cover. In order to minimize the size and number of places where water can pool on the flexible cover, removable poles are sometimes used to tension the cover. However, because they are made to tension the flexible cover, these poles make it more difficult to connect the flexible cover to the second side of the deck. The use of such poles also complicates the installation of the cover and may prove cumbersome to some people. Also, these poles may require the addition of hardware on the floor of the deck to hold the poles, and people walking on the deck may hit their feet on this hardware.
Also, some boats are provided with towers. The towers may be used, for example, to provide a top for making shade on the deck, to provide a platform on which a person can stand, or to provide a structure to tow a water skier or wakeboarder. A tower may also provide more than one of these functions. However, these towers complicate the installation of a flexible cover, since the cover needs to go around the legs of the tower in order to properly prevent the entry of rain water on the deck.
Therefore, there is a need for a boat coverable by a flexible cover that reduces the likelihood of rain water from pooling on the flexible cover.
There is also a need for a boat having a tower that can relatively easily be covered by a flexible cover.


A method and apparatus for controlling the level of relative humidity within a corrosion test apparatus is disclosed. The corrosion test apparatus includes a testing chamber, an atomizer which fogs the testing chamber with de-ionized water, a sensor which senses a relative humidity level within the testing chamber, a humidifying valve coupled to the atomizer which regulates a supply of pressurized air to the atomizer, and a controller coupled to the sensor and to the humidifying valve. The controller includes a heating control loop mechanism which generates an output signal proportional to a differential between a relative humidity set point and the relative humidity level. The humidifying valve regulates the supply of operating medium to the atomizer based on the output signal. The atomizer regulates the amount of operating liquid fogged into the test chamber based on the supply of operating medium received from the humidifying valve. The corrosion test apparatus also includes a dehumidifying valve which regulates a supply of ambient air to the testing chamber based on the differential between the relative humidity set point and the relative humidity level, and a passive, low-cost, low maintenance air amplifier coupled to the dehumidifying valve which draws ambient air into the testing chamber.

The present invention relates to the corrosion testing art. It finds particular application in conjunction with accelerated corrosion testing chambers and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention also finds application in conjunction with other types of environmental testing systems and applications which require control or regulation of relative humidity.
Corrosion testing is required of many items which must meet corrosion resistance standards set by various governmental agencies and industrial concerns. The testing of the ability of various products to withstand corrosive influences is frequently conducted by accelerated exposure techniques. The methods utilize a test cabinet into which parts to be tested are placed. A corrosive atmosphere or environment is then introduced into the cabinet at specified levels for specified periods of time. Exposed items are then removed from the cabinet and scrutinized for signs of corrosion, structural breakdown and the like. The corrosion test cabinets must be capable of maintaining rigid standards and capable of repetition under identical conditions.
Present corrosion resistance standards, such as the proposed SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) J2334 standard or the General Motors 9540-P standard, specify that parts or items to be tested must be exposed to a number of different corrosive influences in specified amounts for specified periods of time. In particular, parts to be tested must be exposed to a number of salt spray (fog) cycles, humidity cycles and drying cycles. However, known corrosive testing cabinets do not have the capability to deliver multiple corrosive influences to the parts to be tested within a single testing chamber.
In particular, known corrosive salt spray (fog) testing chambers can not regulate, control or maintain specified levels of relative humidity within a testing chamber during humidity and drying cycles as required by present corrosion resistance standards. Thus, to comply with present corrosion resistance standards, it has been necessary to move the parts to be tested from one corrosion testing cabinet to another when the testing cycle (i.e. the type of corrosive influence) changes.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved corrosion testing chamber which meets the above-stated needs and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous results.

Relative humidity control system for corrosion test chamber


A plunger clamp capable of locking in either a retracted or extended position having a rigid body slidably supporting an elongated plunger. A bifurcated lever is pivotally connected inside the body and to a V shaped link arm, the link arm is pivotally connected to the plunger where the link arm translates the angular motion of the lever to drive the plunger between the retracted and extended positions. Essentially the entire linkage assembly is housed in cavities formed by the body during actuation of the lever.

Plunger clamps have been long known in the industry and act to provide a lever arm connected through a linkage to move a cylindrical plunger. The linkage generally consists of three pivot points all in the same plane as the motion of the plunger. Additionally, the linkage members all have substantially linear designs with longitudinal axes in line with the pivot points when the plunger is in either a push or pull position. An example of this type of device is manufactured by De-Sta-Co company, Model 604.
The design of such devices create problems. First, the mechanical advantage of the typical plunger clamp, that is, the correlation between the force applied to the handle and resulting reaction force to the plunger, is so great that the linkage is routinely over-stressed during normal use causing the linkage to fail.
Second, the linkage design of the typical plunger clamp uses rivets to make pivotal connections, routinely connecting only two members at a time. This type of connection has unbalanced forces resulting in a torquing force on the rivet. Accordingly, if the connected members of the plunger are not machined properly, within low tolerances, the stress on the rivets during normal use is increased to a level resulting in rivet failure.
Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a design of a plunger clamp having a mechanical advantage that does not over-stress the linkage during normal use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a design of a plunger clamp with pivotal connections using full cross pins to lessen torquing forces at the pivotal connections, and thereby, preventing the failure of pivotal connections.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and the advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


In a radio access network, the reverse link rate of an access terminal is controlled and stabilized by determining a number of connections in one or more sectors in which the access terminal has a connection and setting a rate limit based on at least one of the determined number of connections. The number of connections can be determined for each sector in which the access terminal has a connection or for some subset of these sectors. If the number of connections is determined for more than one sector, the radio access network may limit the reverse link rate based on the sector having the greatest number of connections.

In a radio access network, such as a cellular network, it is often important to ensure that sectors in the network do not become overloaded. One way in which a sector can become overloaded is if many access terminals (e.g., cellular devices) in a sector transmit at high data rates, which increases the transmission power. In a first Evolution Data-Only (1xEV-DO) network, the 1xEV-DO protocol provides mechanisms for measuring sector load (referred to as a "rise-over thermal (ROT)" measurement) and reducing the transmission rates of ATs in the sector by transmitting a bit (referred to as the "reverse activity bit") to ATs in a sector that is becoming overloaded. However, ROT measurement may not always be not available, and, in these cases, a radio access network may fail to detect and mitigate overloading of a sector.


An aligning jig for loose wires, which is equipped with the first and second retaining sections for retaining and temporarily fixing a plurality of loose wires, an arraying section which arrays the plurality of loose wires in an optional loading order in a plurality of arraying grooves arrayed widthwise and holds the loose wires in a predetermined order, at least one arranging section which arranges the plurality of loose wires, arrayed in the arraying section, to a preset specified width, and a fixing section which glues the plurality of loose wires, which have been temporarily fixed by the first and second retaining sections and arranged to the specified width, while maintaining the arranging order, thus fixing the wires to the specified width.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aligning jig for loose wires, which arranges a plurality of loose wires in a prescribed arranging order, and glues and fixes these loose wires in a ribbon shape, while maintaining their prescribed width.
2. Description of Related Art
To perform connection or the like between optical fibers for optical communication or between optical fibers and an optical connector, a fusion splicing device, which fusion-splices a plurality of optical fibers in a batch at a time, is used. When using such a fusion splicing device to fusion-splice loose optical fibers, conventionally, an aligning jig, which aligns the optical fibers into a form of tape to shape them into a ribbon-like tape fiber of a prescribed width, is used to permit easy handling of a plurality of optical fibers.
As such an aligning jig, there is, for example, a jig which has a retaining member for retaining a plurality of loose wires, and an aligning member which is allowed to slide along a slide guide, retains one end of the loose wires by the foregoing retaining member, places and lays the loose wires in a predetermined order into an aligning groove, which is formed in a vertical direction of the foregoing aligning member, aligns the loose wires into a tape form, with no looseness left, between the retaining member and the aligning member by sliding the aligning member along the slide guide, then applies adhesive or the like to these aligned loose wires to form them into a ribbon-like tape fiber.
When shaping a plurality of optical fibers into a tape by using the aforementioned aligning jig, the width of the alinging groove is set slightly greater than the diameter of the optical fiber to provide a play since the optical fibers are laid into the aligning groove formed in the vertical direction. This presents a problem wherein some of the optical fibers are partially dislocated from the aligning direction by that play when the optical fibers are aligned into a tape form, adversely affecting the aligning accuracy. Furthermore, since the aligning groove is formed vertically, if optical fibers are arranged in a wrong order, then all optical fibers above the wrong optical fiber must be removed from the aligning groove and rearranged, resulting in a complicated operation.
Additionally, the jig is disadvantageous in that a plurality of optical fibers are aligned into the form of a tape by sliding the aligning member, causing the optical fibers to produce friction with the aligning groove when the aligning member is slid, consequently scratching the sheaths of the optical fibers, and the jig requires troublesome handling and cannot be easily used unless the operator is skilled in handling.


A system for the water tight sealing of an electrical service cable to a receptacle box wherein a cap having a top with an under sized opening therethrough for the receipt of the cable is molded from a high modulus thermosetting rubber-like material which exhibits a high degree of elastic memory which assures the continual exertion of force upon the cable which creates an effective seal without any accessory equipment or materials.

This invention relates to a device for providing a water tight seal between an electrical service cable as it enters the electrical service box mounted on an exterior surface of a house or other structure.
There is a long felt need to achieve a water tight seal between the electrical service cable and a meter box or other entrance box through which the cable enters the house or other structure and is interiorly connected to various circuits therein through an electrical panel box. In many cases, an adequate rain tight seal is not afforded between the entrance box entering the structure and the service cable and thus water enters the box and travels along the cable and into the interior electrical panel either directly shorting circuits or causing excessive rusting which eventually can cause the same problem. This situation can lead to a loss of power and more seriously to electrically caused fires, in fact, knowledgeable building inspectors attribute a high percentage of electrical fires caused in houses and other structures to this water leakage problem. Obviously, it would be desirable to avoid this problem by forming a water tight seal between the incoming electrical cable and the entrance box, and various attempts along this line have been made.
The most common attempt to solve the problem is to utilize silicone sealer, exterior caulking, duct sealer and many various potting compounds which are applied to the cable and over the mechanical attachment fitting which connects the cable to the entrance box and formed into a mountain or mound shape hoping it will shed water and become water tight. In many cases due to hot and cold temperatures creating expansion and contraction causes the sealing material to separate from the cable or because of ozone or ultraviolet sun light damage to the sealers cause them to dry up and deteriorate, various conditions are set up by which water can enter the interior panels and create dangerous conditions. In addition, the mechanical fitting used to mechanically attach the cable to the entrance box usually includes a rubber gland and compression fitting having a pair of laterally separated wings which receive the cable and which are tightened thereon with the use of screw threads and even though utilized in many instances in an attempt to achieve a weather tight connection between the service cable and the entrance box are not generally recognized as suitable for such purpose due primarily to the wide shape and tolerance variations permitted in the formation of various entrance service cable especially those of higher amperages, e.g., 100 amps and higher. These cables are generally of elongated flattened ovoid shape and often take the form of a figure eight in cross sectional configuration. Such elongated shapes that are subject to numerous size variations present an extremely difficult sealing task much more difficult and of a different scope than providing a seal between circular cable and an entrance box.
Various other attempts have been made to form water tight connective seals between cable members and downstream equipment to which they are attached including the common expedient of inserting a soft rubber insert between two members which are then tightened or providing a soft rubber member which engages a cable or wire but such latter concept as illustratively shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,875 issued Jul. 6, 1993 is limited to cylindrical wires which are relatively easy to form a seal with respect to and even includes the use of a flexible diaphragm through which the wire or cable may extend through such as in the configuration depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,792,415 issued Feb. 12, 1974.
The above indicated attempts whether theoretically or actually in use do not, however, result in the desired water tight fit between the electrical service cable and the box to which it is attached to under actual field conditions. Accordingly, the need remains for a practical, low cost solution for this long standing industry problem.


A telemetry system includes a transmitter unit that measures a first value of a parameter, incorporates the first value in a first data packet and transmits the first data packet, and measures a second value of the parameter, incorporates the second value and the first value in a second data packet and transmits the second data packet. A receiver unit periodically receives a signal and generates a sequence of bits therefrom, determines whether the sequence of bits includes a payload that meets a predetermined standard and, if so, recovers a more recent datum from the payload else enters a data recovery mode. In the data recovery mode, the receiver unit receives a transmission signal and generates a second sequence of bits and determines whether the second sequence of bits contains a payload that meets the predetermined standard and, if so, recovers both a more recent datum and a less recent datum from the payload.

This invention relates to a data recovery scheme for use in a telemetric measurement system, and particularly for use in a telemetric thermometer system.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/017,098 filed Dec. 12, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,776), the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, discloses a telemetric thermometer system that comprises a transmitter unit and a receiver unit. The transmitter unit includes a sensor device for sensing temperature and a radio transmitter that creates and transmits packets having temperature values encoded therein. The receiver unit includes a radio receiver for receiving packets transmitted by the transmitter unit and recovering the temperature values that are encoded in the packets. The transmitter unit and the receiver unit include respective clock oscillators and internal dividers for generating a common clock frequency that is the same for both units, so that time measured by clock cycles of the receiver unit passes at the same rate as time measured by clock cycles of the transmitter unit.
The transmitter unit and the receiver unit each divide future time into operating intervals of fifteen seconds and divide each operating interval into an active interval and guard interval. Each active interval is further divided into 256 transmission slots of about 47 milliseconds.
The transmitter unit and receiver unit include respective functionally-identical pseudo-random number generators (PNGs). When the transmitter unit is first manufactured, it is placed in a "sleep" mode in which its PNG is inactive. When the transmitter unit is brought into service, it is activated by the receiver unit. Both PNGs commence operation at the same time and are seeded with the same value. Accordingly, the two PNGs operate in synchronism even though they are not connected together. For each operating interval, the PNG of the transmitter unit calculates a number in the range 1–256 and the PNG of the receiver unit calculates the same number. The number calculated by the two PNGs is used to select one of the 256 transmission slots in the operating interval. The transmitter unit transmits a packet during the transmission slot and does not otherwise transmit packets. The receiver unit is in an active state for the duration of the transmission slot, and in the active state the radio receiver is on. If the radio receiver receives a valid transmission packet, it provides an output signal from which the temperature value encoded in the transmission packet can be recovered. Otherwise, the receiver unit is in an idle state, in which the radio receiver is off.
In a proposed implementation of the thermometer described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/017,098, it is possible that the receiver unit will be unable to recover a temperature value for every transmission by the transmitter unit, for example due to failure of a cyclic redundancy check or noise. The receiver unit of the telemetry system may serve several transmitter units. It is possible that two transmitter units will select the same transmission slot, in which case collision of the transmissions by the respective radio transmitters may prevent the receiver from receiving a valid packet. It is desirable that loss of data should be avoided or minimized.

Data recovery scheme in thermometer system


The overrunning bi-directional clutch assembly has two coaxial slipper rings and use one actuator to simultaneously uncouple the slipper rings and lock the clutch. Also, the actuator uses a pair of cam surfaces, and corresponding cam following surfaces to actively control freewheel and lock mode of the clutch. A tab cutout arrangement indexes the two slipper rings.

Overrunning bi-directional clutches are known, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,409,001; 7,004,875; and 7,037,200. Such clutches are mounted between two coaxial shafts and are used to transfer power between the two shafts. The clutch is fixed to a first shaft and selectively engages the second shaft so as to transfer power between the two shafts. Typically, the first shaft is the power input shaft and typically, the first shaft is the inner shaft. The output shaft or second shaft can be a geared wheel.
Overrunning bi-directional clutches comprise a fixed ring, a slipper ring, cylindrical rollers which are housed between the two rings and may have an actuator. The fixed ring and the slipper ring are coaxial cylindrical rings with opposing faces. Each of the opposing faces has concave bearing surfaces which define pockets. Each pocket houses a roller.
The slipper ring has an axial groove or slit that extends both radially and axially through the ring. The slit allows the slipper ring to move radially under force and the memory inherent in the material from which the slipper ring is made allows the ring to return to a rest position once the force is withdrawn. The fixed ring is mounted onto the first shaft while the slipper ring is spaced in close proximity to the second shafts such that when the slipper ring moves radially, it engages the second shaft, thereby transferring power between the two shafts. Once the force is removed from the slipper ring, it returns to its rest position and no longer engages the second shaft.
The actuator is used to maintain the clutch in the freewheel mode and to move the clutch to the lock mode. Typically, the actuator has a radially moveable pin which is mounted to the fixed ring and retractable from the slipper ring. When the actuator pin engages both rings the two rings are coupled and the clutch is in the freewheel mode. In the freewheel mode, the opposing concave bearing surfaces are aligned with each other and the rollers rest in the bottom of each of the opposing concave surfaces. When the actuator pin is withdrawn from the slipper ring, the two rings move relative to one another and the rollers move out of the bottom of the opposing concave surfaces and rise up along diagonally opposing surfaces of the pocket so as to force the slipper ring to move radially and to engage the second shaft, thereby transferring power between the two shafts locking the clutch and placing the clutch in lock mode.
One of the limitations of overrunning bi-direction clutches is the amount of torque that can be transferred between the two shafts. Conventionally, in order to increase the amount of torque that the clutch can handle, the diameter of the rings is increased. The problem with increasing the diameter of the ring is that the volume needed for handling such clutches also increases. In certain applications, increase of diameter of the ring is not an option.
Another problem associated with overrunning bi-directional clutches is the vitality of the spring used to effect the lock mode of the clutch. The actuator has a spring which withdraws the actuator pin from the slipper ring to uncouple the two rings and effect the lock mode. The actuator also has a cam to move the actuator pin back into engagement of the slipper ring so as to couple the two rings and effect the freewheel mode. The spring can become worn and does not provide for direct control of the movement to lock mode.

Overrunning bi-directional clutch assembly


The present invention is directed to a crimp die used to deform a ferrule onto a cable. The crimp die operates within multiple tool platforms. The crimp die includes a male die, a female die, and removable tab adapters. The male and female dies each have a mounting portion and an inner crimping surface to deform the ferrule onto the cable. When required by the tool platform, the tab adapters are removably affixed to the male and female dies to secure the dies to the tool.

Crimp dies are used to install ferrules onto stranded cables. Crimp dies also prepare the cables and ferrule to fit into a lug. Typically a crimp die is chosen based on the ferrule, cables, and the installation or crimping tool. As a result, a number of crimp dies are manufactured for various crimping tools. Maintaining a plurality of crimp dies for various crimping tools is costly. Thus, it is desirable to provide one set of crimp dies that operate within multiple tool platforms.


A method for fabricating a window ball grid array (WBGA) semiconductor package is provided. A substrate is prepared having a through opening and ball pads on a lower surface thereof. A chip is mounted over the opening of the substrate via an adhesive, with gaps not applied with the adhesive left between the chip and substrate. The chip is electrically connected to the substrate via bonding wires through the opening. A spacer is attached to the lower surface of the substrate and has a through hole and a recessed portion around the through hole. During molding, the spacer is clamped between the substrate and a mold, and the recessed portion is located between the ball pads and the opening, such that a resin material for forming an encapsulation body encapsulates the chip and flows through the gaps to encapsulate the bonding wires. The recessed portion holds resin flash therein.

A window ball grid array (WBGA) package utilizes a substrate having a through opening where electrically-connecting bonding wires are received so as to reduce the package size. FIGS. 2A–2F show the procedural steps of a fabrication method of the WBGA semiconductor package. As shown in FIG. 2A (cross-sectional view) and FIG. 2B (top view), once the substrate 10 having the through opening 102 is prepared, at least one semiconductor chip 11 is mounted on an upper surface 100 of the substrate 10 and over the opening 102 by means of an adhesive 12. The adhesive 12 is usually applied along two relatively longer sides of the opening 102, with gaps G along two relatively shorter sides of the opening 102 formed between the chip 11 and the substrate 10 and not applied with the adhesive 12. A plurality of bonding wires 13 are formed through the opening 102 to electrically connect the chip 11 to a lower surface 101 of the substrate 10.
As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the substrate 10 with the chip 11 and the bonding wires 13 is placed and clamped between an upper mold 17 and a lower mold 18 of an encapsulation mold, wherein the chip 11 is received in an upwardly recessed cavity 170 of the upper mold 17, and the bonding wires 13 are received in a downwardly recessed cavity 180 of the lower mold 18. A first molding process is performed to inject a conventional resin material (such as epoxy resin) into the downwardly recessed cavity 180 of the lower mold 18 to form a lower encapsulation body 15 for filling the opening 102 and encapsulating the bonding wires 13; however, the gaps G between the chip 11 and the substrate 10 usually can not be completely filled by the resin material.
Then as shown in FIG. 2E, a second molding process is performed to inject the resin material into the upwardly recessed cavity 170 of the upper mold 17 to form an upper encapsulation body 14 for encapsulating the chip 11.
After the first and second molding processes are complete, the upper and lower molds 17, 18 are removed from the substrate 10, such that area on the lower surface 101 of the substrate 10 not covered by the lower encapsulation bodies 15, such as ball pads 103, can be exposed outside. Finally as shown FIG. 2F, a plurality of solder balls 16 are bonded to the exposed ball pads 103 on the lower surface 101 of the substrate 10, and the WBGA semiconductor package is fabricated.
However, the above package fabrication method leads to significant drawbacks. First, the downwardly recessed cavity of the lower mold needs to be sized in accordance with the size of the substrate opening to allow the lower encapsulation body to completely cover the opening but not occupy area or ball pads on the lower surface of the substrate. Therefore, when using substrates having openings of different sizes, new lower molds having correspondingly-dimensioned downwardly recessed cavities are required, making the fabrication cost undesirably increased. Moreover, two-stage encapsulation is required, including the first molding process and the second molding process. This two-stage encapsulation process not only complicates the fabrication performance but also leads to a resin-flash problem. During the first encapsulation process for forming the lower encapsulation body, area on the lower surface of the substrate around the opening and underneath the chip usually lacks firm support from the upper mold and is not strongly clamped by the encapsulation mold, such that the resin material injected into the downwardly recessed cavity of the lower mold may easily leak or flash through the interface between the lower mold and the substrate to unintended area the lower surface of the substrate. If the ball pads are contaminated by the resin flash, they can not be well bonded to solder balls, thereby degrading reliability of the semiconductor package. Besides, since the gaps between the chip and the substrate are usually not completely filled by the resin material, voids in the gaps undesirably cause popcorn effect and damage the package structure.
In order to solve the above problems, another fabrication method of a WBGA package is proposed in a U.S. patent application filed on Sep. 24, 2003 by the present applicant. As shown in FIG. 3, after the above substrate 10 is formed with the chip 11 and bonding wires 13, a spacer 19 is attached to the lower surface 101 of the substrate 10. A through hole 190 is formed through the spacer 19 corresponding to the opening 102 of the substrate 10 and accommodates wire loops of the bonding wires 13. A single molding process is performed. The substrate 10 and the spacer 19 are clamped between the upper mold 17 and a lower mold 18′ having a flat top surface 181 in contact with the spacer 19. The resin material is injected into the upwardly recessed cavity 170 for encapsulating the chip 11 and also flows through the gaps (not shown) between the chip 11 and the substrate 10 to the opening 102 and the through hole 190 so as to encapsulate the bonding wires 13 and fill the opening 102, through hole 190 and gaps (not shown). The molds 17, 18′ and the spacer 19 are removed from the substrate 10 after molding, such that the chip 11 and bonding wires 13 are encapsulated by an integral encapsulation body 1.
The above fabrication method beneficially utilizes the spacer. The spacer is cost-effective to fabricate and can be formed with variously-sized through hole in accordance with the substrate opening without significantly increasing the fabrication cost. The gaps between the chip and the substrate are completely filled with the resin material, thereby not producing voids or popcorn effect. The chip and bonding wires are encapsulated by an integral encapsulation body formed by a single molding process, not complicating the fabrication performance. And the spacer clamped between the substrate and the lower mold supports area the lower surface of the substrate conventionally lacking firm support from the upper mold and thus helps eliminate the above resin flash through the interface between the lower mold and the substrate. However, the resin flash may still possibly or accidentally occur through the interface between the spacer and the substrate and contaminates unintended area such as ball pads on the lower surface of the substrate.
Therefore, the problem to be solved herein is to provide a fabrication method of WBGA semiconductor package to effectively solve the resin-flash problem.

Method for fabricating window ball grid array semiconductor package


For providing a digital representation of an optical scene, radiometric values of N.times.N points representing a real two-dimensional optical scene are measured in the form of N.times.N respective electric signals x(i,j). N.times.N masks Mnm(i,j) respectively associated with the N.times.N electric signals x(i,j) are generated. For each couple (n,m), the N.times.N electric signals x(i,j) are weighted by the corresponding N.times.N masks Mnm(i,j) and the weighted electric signals are added to obtain N.times.N coefficients of the Walsh-Hadamard transform representing the optical scene.

The present invention relates to a method of providing a representation of an optical scene by the Welsh-Hadamard transform, and to an image sensor implementing the method. Recently, computer networks and multimedia technology have been developing rapidly. Data compression has thus become an important topic. In particular, numerous encoding methods have appeared in the field of image compressions. Of the methods used, encoding sytems using orthogonal transforms make it possible, for given image quality, to obtain compression ratios that are better than those obtained by methods of the linear prediction type. In addition, orthogonal transform encoding systems are much less sensitive to errors, e.g. transmission errors, than are prediction systems.
Although very many transforms have been studied, only a few are actually used at present: the Karhunen-Loeve transform which theoretically provides the best results, but which remains difficult to implement; the discrete cosine transform (DCT) which constitutes a good approximation to the Karhunen-Loeve transform and is specified in certain standards, and which is easier to implement; and the Walsh-Hadamard transform which is well suited to digital computation.
Like the Fourier transform, the Walsh-Hadamard transform consists in resolving the signal in question into a set of base vectors that are orthogonal. The Walsh-Hadamard transform can also be applied to multi-dimensional signals. Unlike the Fourier transform, it resolves the signal in question into a set of vectors that are not sinusoidal.

Method of providing a representation of an optical scene by the Walsh-Hadamard transform, and an image sensor implementing the method


The present invention relates to the ability of PLUNC proteins, such as SPLUNC1 and SPLUNC2, to bind to sodium channels and inhibit activation of the sodium channels. The invention further relates to methods for regulating of sodium absorption and fluid volume and treating disorders responsive to modulating sodium absorption by modulating the binding of PLUNC proteins to sodium channels.

Epithelial mucosal surfaces are lined with fluids whose volume and composition are precisely controlled. In the airways, a thin film of airway surface liquid helps protect mammalian airways from infection by acting as a lubricant for efficient mucus clearance (Chmiel et al., Respir. Res. 4:8 (2003); Knowles et al., J. Clin. Invest. 109:571 (2002)). This layer moves cephalad during mucus clearance and excess liquid that accumulates as two airways converge is eliminated by Na+-ed airway surface liquid absorption with Na+ passing through the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) (Knowles et al., J. Clin. Invest. 109:571 (2002)). How ENaC activity is sensed and controlled by the airways is poorly understood. However, there is evidence that reporter molecules in the airway surface liquid can serve as volume sensing signals whose dilution or concentration can alter specific cell surface receptors which control ion transport rates to either absorb or secrete airway surface liquid as needed (Chambers et al., Respir. Physiol. Neurobiol. 159:256 (2007)). ENaC must be cleaved by intracellular furin-type proteases and/or extracellular channel activating proteases (CAPs) such as prostasin to be active and to conduct Na+ (Planes et al., Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. 78:23 (2007); Rossier, Proc. Am. Thorac. Soc. 1:4 (2004); Vallet et al., Nature 389:607 (1997); Chraibi et al, J. Gen. Physiol. 111:127 (1998)). ENaC can also be cleaved and activated by exogenous serine proteases such as trypsin, an action that is attenuated by the protease inhibitor aprotinin (Vallet et al., Nature 389:607 (1997)). When human bronchial epithelial cultures are mounted in Ussing chambers where native airway surface liquid is washed away, ENaC is predominantly active, suggesting that cell attached proteases are predominant (Bridges et al., Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 281:L16 (2001); Donaldson et al., J. Biol. Chem. 277:8338 (2002)). In contrast, under thin film conditions, where native airway surface liquid is present, ENaC activity is reduced, suggesting that airway surface liquid contains soluble proteases inhibitors (Myerburg et al., J. Biol. Chem. 281:27942 (2006); Tarran et al., J. Gen. Physiol. 127:591 (2006)).
The Palate Lung and Nasal epithelial Clone (PLUNC) family are secreted proteins that are subdivided into short (SPLUNCs) and long (LPLUNCs) members which contain either one or two domains respectively (Bingle et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1493:363 (2000); Weston et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:13698 (1999)). The original PLUNC gene which is now called SPLUNC1 comprises up to 10% of total protein in the airway surface liquid and can readily be detected in both nasal lavage and tracheal secretions (Bingle, C. D., and Craven, C. J. (2002) PLUNC: a novel family of candidate host defense proteins expressed in the upper airways and nasopharynx Hum Mol Genet. 11, 937; Campos, M. A., et al. (2004) Purification and characterization of PLUNC from human tracheobronchial secretions Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 30, 184; Lindahl, M., Stahlbom, B., and Tagesson, C. (2001) Identification of a new potential airway irritation marker, palate lung nasal epithelial clone protein, in human nasal lavage fluid with two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight Electrophoresis 22, 1795). SPLUNC1 is expressed in both submucosal glands, the superficial epithelia and in neutrophils and in theory, is present in the correct regions of the lung to be a volume sensing molecule since it can be secreted onto the mucosal surface of the superficial epithelial where ENaC is expressed (Bartlett et al., J. Leukoc. Biol. 83:1201 (2008); Bingle et al., J. Pathol. 205:491 (2005)).
The present invention addresses previous shortcomings in the art by disclosing the regulation of sodium channels by PLUNC proteins and the manipulation of this pathway to regulate sodium absorption and fluid volume and treat disorders responsive to modulating sodium absorption.

Regulation of sodium channels by PLUNC proteins

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


A solid-state image pickup device which includes a substrate carrying a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which are two-dimensionally arranged therein the substrate having a plurality of rectangular light-receiving faces each corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element, a flattening layer having a plurality of approximately rectangular concave faces each located to correspond to the light-receiving faces, and a color filter having color layers of plural kinds of colors and buried in the concave faces of the flattening layer, the color filter exhibiting a larger refractive index than that of the flattening layer, wherein the color layers are respectively enabled to function as a convex lens.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a solid-state image pickup device and to a method for manufacturing the same. In particular, this invention relates to a solid-state image pickup device wherein a color filter is utilized also as a lens member and to a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, digital cameras and video cameras utilizing a solid-state image pickup element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (C-MOS) device have been increasingly popularized and, at the same time, the techniques to further miniaturize the solid-state image pickup element by making use of a chip-size package (CSP) system have been developed. The solid-state image pickup element of such a small size is suitable for building into electronic equipment such as mobile telephones where miniaturization, lightness and slimness are desired.
Since the light-receiving face of each of the pixels of solid-state image pickup element is constituted by a rugged surface, it is generally practiced to deposit a transparent flattening layer on the surface of the solid-state image pickup element, thereby flattening the surface of the solid-state image pickup element. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a first flattening layer 13 is deposited at first on the surface of a solid-state image pickup element 11 in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 12 such as CCD are two-dimensionally arranged. Then, a color filter 14 comprising color layers of plural kinds of colors is formed on the first flattening layer 13 and a second flattening layer 15 is formed on the surface of the color filter 14. Furthermore, convex lenses 16 for condensing light are formed on the second flattening layer 14 (see for example, JP-A 2006-41467).
In the manufacture of the solid-state image pickup element constructed in this manner, the first flattening layer 13, color filter 14, second flattening layer 15 and convex lenses 16 are required to be successively formed, raising many problems such as the requirement of a large number of steps, deterioration of yield and increase of manufacturing costs.
There is another problem that since a large number of intervening layers such as the first flattening layer 13, color filter 14 and second flattening layer 15 are interposed between the light-receiving face and convex lens 16 and hence the light-receiving face is fairly spaced away from the convex lens 16, the light-collecting efficiency is degraded and attenuation of light is more likely to occur in the path by which the light reaches the photoelectric conversion element 12.

Solid-state image pickup device with color filter and method of manufacturing the same


This invention relates to 4-substituted isoquinoline compounds and their derivatives and uses thereof for treatment of cancer, for example, acute myeloid leukemia.

In human cells there are over 500 kinases regulating important processes, such as cell cycle regulation, proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Inhibitors of protein kinases have the potential to treat many diseases that are controlled by disregulation of protein kinases. Thus far over twenty kinase inhibitors have been approved by the FDA to treat various diseases.
Ponatinib, an approved FDA drug, is a 7-alkynyl imidazo[1,5-b]pyridazine compound and it is used against CML. Ponatinib, however, has toxic side effects and about 40% of patients on ponatinib developed some form of thrombosis. The FDA temporarily halted the sale of ponatinib in 2014 due to this adverse issue and it is now given as a drug of last resort for CML patients who have ABL (T315I) mutation and have not responded to any other therapy (Gainor, J. F. et al., Ponatinib: Accelerated Disapproval, Oncologist, 20 (8), 847-848 (2015); Talbert, D. R. et al., Toxicol. Sci, 143 (1), 147-155 (2015).
In the efforts to develop kinase inhibitors against several disease-related kinases, it is discovered that 4-substituted isoquinolines are privileged kinases inhibitors. Further, the substitution pattern of these 4-substituted isoquinolines play critical roles in kinase selectivity and hence cancer selectivity. 4-Alkynyl-substituted aminoisoquinolines in particular have shown exceptional activity against various kinases and potently inhibit cancer proliferation. This important discovery has facilitated the tailoring of 4-substituted aminoisoquinoline into compounds that inhibit various cancers. Additionally, the 4-alkynyl-substituted 1- or 3-amino isoquinolines can be tuned for selectivity and toxicity and hence represent a new-generation alkyne-containing kinase inhibitors with desirable drug-like properties.


The disclosure relates to a pixel structure, a method for driving the same, electronic paper, and a display device, where compensation electrodes electrically connected in correspondence with respective pixel electrodes are additionally arranged, and there are overlapping areas between orthographic projections of the compensation electrodes unto a base substrate, and orthographic projections of gate lines onto the base substrate. Furthermore the compensation electrodes corresponding to the n-th row of pixel electrodes are connected with second electrodes of corresponding first switch transistors, and gates and first electrodes of the first switch transistors are connected with the (n−1)-th gate line.

As the digital technologies are advancing, more and more display devices spreading information have stepped into our life, and for example, a liquid crystal display has been widely applied to communication, information, and consumer electronic products, but the liquid crystal display shall be powered constantly to display information, so there is a significant advantage of Electronic Paper (EP) capable of displaying information for a long period of time even after it is powered off, and also the electronic paper in operation consumes less power than the liquid crystal display.
The electronic paper displays information electrophoretically in such a way that charged particles are driven by an electric field created between pixel electrodes and common electrodes to move up and down, and the charged particles in different colors reflect ambient light to provide a number of display schemes including black-white, black-white-red, multi-colors, etc.

Pixel structure of electronic paper, method for driving the same, electronic paper, and display device

Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


A sensing system for sensing data from a data source and driving a pair of output lines in response thereto comprises: a primary sensing device operatively coupled to the data source for sensing and storing said data therein; and a secondary sensing device operatively coupled to the primary sensing device via a pair of input lines and also operatively coupled to the pair of output lines, the secondary sensing device being responsive to a differential voltage generated across the pair of input lines in accordance with said data stored by the primary sensing device and the secondary sensing device having a differential voltage threshold range associated therewith defined by a negative threshold and a positive threshold, whereby the secondary sensing device drives the pair of output lines to a first output condition when the differential voltage across the pair of input lines is within the differential voltage threshold range, to a second output condition when the differential voltage is at least equal to the negative threshold, and to a third output condition when the differential voltage is at least equal to the positive threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sense amplifiers and, more particularly, to secondary sense amplifier devices which include a window discriminator which enables the device to read data without the need for the device to be externally triggered.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electronic memory devices such as Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) devices or Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) devices are utilized in various electronic systems for storing large amounts of digitally encoded information. These devices typically include memory arrays which are utilized to store the digitally encoded information or data. The data is typically retrieved from such memory arrays by a device known as a sensing system.
As shown in FIG. 1, a typical sensing system 10 in a DRAM device very often consists of a primary sense amplifier 12 and a secondary sense amplifier 14. The primary sense amplifier 12 is typically utilized to directly read data from the memory array, while the secondary sense amplifier 14 is typically utilized to read the data from the primary sense amplifier 12. This two part configuration is necessary in order to meet the high density requirements of DRAM devices. This is because DRAM devices contain a much larger number of primary sense amplifiers than secondary sense amplifiers, wherein these primary sense amplifiers are fabricated from transistors having a relatively small size which may be implemented in a high density array. Data is transferred between the sense amplifiers 12,14 through a pair of high capacitance lines respectively known as external bit line true (EBLt) 16 and external bit line complement (EBLc) 18.
During a read cycle, the primary sense amplifier 12 reads data from the memory array (not shown). The data is stored temporarily within the primary sense amplifier 12 by utilizing a latch. In order to transfer this stored data, the external bit lines 16,18 have to be pre-charged to a predetermined positive voltage before being coupled to the latch within the primary sense amplifier 12. The pre-charging is necessary in order to prevent the high capacitance external bit lines 16,18 from overriding the voltages stored within the primary sense amplifier 12. Such an overriding condition is possible because of the relative small size of the transistors utilized in the primary sense amplifier 12.
When the external bit lines 16,18 are then coupled to the latch within the primary sense amplifier 12, the voltage on one of the lines 16,18 drops below the pre-charge level which causes a differential voltage to develop. The respective condition associated with each of the external bit lines dropping below the pre-charge level ,thus providing two possible polarities of the differential voltage present across the external bit lines 16,18, represents the two logic states of the data stored in the primary sense amplifier 12. This differential voltage is then sensed by the secondary sense amplifier 14 in order to appropriately drive the read data lines (RDL). The data is read by another latch included in the secondary sense amplifier 14 which is set to one of the two possible logic states according to the polarity of the differential voltage.
Referring now to FIG. 2, an example of a conventional secondary sense amplifier is shown. The secondary sense amplifier 20 includes a latch 22 which includes a pair of cross-coupled inverters 24, 26. Each inverter 24, 26 includes a p-channel field effect transistor (FET) 24A and 26A and an n-channel FET 24B, 26B. The cross-coupling is accomplished by coupling the output of each inverter to the input of the other inverter. Nodes A and B are respectively formed at the junctions of the cross coupling. Such configuration enables the latch 22 to have two steady states, for instance, node A being a logic high and node B being a logic low, or vice versa. The latch 22 is considered to be in one of the two possible logic states when it is being driven towards either steady state condition. Nodes A and B of the latch 22 are respectively coupled to the external bit lines EBLt and EBLc at terminals 32, 34. As previously discussed, a differential voltage is developed across these external bit lines which subsequently determines the respective states of nodes A and B.
An n-channel FET 28 is coupled to the drains of the n-channel FETs 24B, 26B and is utilized to trigger the latch 22. The triggering transistor 28 is utilized to effectively isolate the latch 22 from the differential voltage developed across the external bit lines EBLt and EBLc for a predetermined amount of time. Such isolation is necessary in order to permit the differential voltage to reach a significant magnitude such that the differential voltage is capable of setting the latch 22 to one of its logic states. The necessary magnitude is typically about 200 millivolts (mV) which takes about 2 nanoseconds (nsec) to develop across the external bit lines which, themselves, each have a capacitance of about 2 picofarads (pF).
However, due to noise and offset considerations, the magnitude required to set the latch 22 is actually higher, for instance, in the range between about 200 to about 500 mV. For the differential voltage across the external bit lines to attain this magnitude, an additional 1 to 2 nsec is typically required. Thus, the triggering transistor 28 is turned on by a set signal about 3 to 4 nsec after the external bit lines are coupled to the primary sense amplifier, wherein about 1 to 2 nsec is a built-in margin to account for any noise or offsets. Accordingly, as is known, this 1 to 2 nsec serves as a safety guard band and also accounts for mismatch in column select line (CSL) drivetime, signal development time, as well as other timing mismatches known to occur in such devices.
Further, two pre-charge transistors 30, 32 are coupled between the inverter nodes A,B and voltage source VDD. These transistors 30, 32 are utilized to pre-charge the external bit lines (in response to the application of signal PC to their respective gate terminals), and thus the inverter nodes A,B, to the supply voltage VDD in order to prevent overriding, as previously discussed. The inverter nodes A,B are pre-charged in order to indicate to the rest of the memory device that the secondary sense amplifier does not contain data and thus enables the latch 22 to be driven to one of its logic states.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a diagram of the operational states of a typical latch, such as latch 22, included in a conventional secondary sense amplifier is shown. The x and y axis respectively represent the voltage levels of the inverter nodes A and B. A meta-stable line 38 represents the semi-stable states of the latch which include the pre-charge state 44, where nodes A and B equal VDD. Due to device irregularities, this meta-stable line may actually be located anywhere between the dashed lines 38A, 38B shown on either side of line 38. The previously discussed two stable states of the latch are designated by reference numerals 40 and 42.
The respective areas C and D between the meta-stable line 38 and the two stable states 40 and 42 represent the two possible logic states of the latch. As previously discussed in regard to FIG. 2, the latch is first driven into its pre-charge state by the PC signal turning on the pre-charge transistors 30, 32. Then, when a sufficient differential voltage is developed across the high capacitive external bit lines, the set signal turns on the triggering transistor 28. This causes the latch 22 to be driven towards one of its stable states 40 or 42, thereby setting the latch to one of its two possible logic states. In DRAM devices (particularly, asynchronous DRAM devices), the set signal is usually developed by an address transition detect (ATD) block.
The need for a conventional secondary sense amplifier, such as secondary sense amplifier 20, to be triggered by an external set signal has a number of disadvantages. First of all, a memory device utilizing such a scheme is larger in size since additional components are required to generate the set signal. Also, the power consumed by such a memory device is considerably higher. This is because the set signal utilized may need to be driven over a long signal line thus requiring the set signal to be a relatively large amplitude signal, which requires a considerable amount of power to generate. Also, such a memory device is inherently slower due to the built-in margin requirements discussed above.

Secondary sense amplifier with window discriminator for self-timed operation


An apparatus and method for electroplating a graphite-epoxy workpiece in-situ. An electroplating assembly includes a rigid base that is retained a fixed distance about the surface region by insulated standoff legs. A flexible vacuum bag is coupled to the graphite-epoxy workpiece with a fluid-tight seal. The vacuum bag surrounds the surface region and encloses the rigid base to form a plating chamber. A supply chamber, containing a plating fluid, is coupled to the plating chamber by a fluid-tight tubing. A storage chamber is coupled to the plating chamber by a fluid-tight tubing. A vacuum source is coupled by tubing to the supply chamber and to the storage chamber. Valves in each tubing permit the selective coupling of the vacuum source and plating chamber to either the supply chamber or the storage chamber. Electroplating is carried out while plating fluid is drawn by the vacuum, from the supply chamber into the plating chamber and into the storage chamber. When the plating fluid is nearly depleted from the supply chamber, the flow direction is reversed, to draw fluid from the storage chamber, into the plating chamber, and into the supply chamber.

Certain aircraft members are often electroplated. Electroplating a copper layer onto a graphite-epoxy composite member provides conductive paths into the fibers, thus creating a spark-free composite assembly. For example, electroplating a copper layer onto fuel tank supports and rotor mounts provides lightning strike protection.
Electroplating of graphite-epoxy composite members presents particular difficulties. A graphite-epoxy composite member is constructed of conductive graphite fibers bonded together by nonconductive epoxy and has a nonconductive epoxy outer layer. Electroplating directly onto a nonconductive material, such as epoxy, is not possible because electric current must flow through the plating fluid and into the surface being plated.
A further problem is that the composite members requiring electroplating have many different shapes. For example, the composite member may be a rib section inside the wing of an aircraft or an outside, aerodynamically shaped surface. Once the member is installed on the aircraft, the surface region to be electroplated may be positioned in any orientation, including vertical and inverted. In-situ electroplating of graphite-epoxy composite members therefor presents considerable difficulties.
A capsulation system for electroplating graphite-epoxy composite members is illustrated in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,981, to Dalland, et al., incorporated herein by reference. In the system of Dalland et al., custom shaped hard capsules are placed over the area to be plated. Plating fluid is placed inside the container and agitated with air bubbles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,016 ('016), to Westerman, commonly owned and incorporated herein by reference, describes an in-situ surface treatment containment apparatus and method. As shown in the '016 patent, a treating chamber is formed from a flexible membrane and treating fluid is drawn into the flexible membrane by a vacuum. Unfortunately, the treating membrane collapses completely against the part and an insulating member thus preventing the space between the cathode and the part from being precisely controlled. Further, an electrically insulating member directly contacts the anode and the surface region, which is undesirable during electroplating.

Apparatus and method for electroplating a workpiece