Methods and systems for learning, recognition, classification and analysis of real-world cyclic patterns using a model having n oscillators, with primary frequency ω1, ω2, . . . , ωn. The state of the oscillators is evolved over time using sensor observations, which are also used to determine the sensor characteristics, or the sensor observation functions. Once trained, a set of activity detection filters may be used to classify sensor data as being associated with an activity.

The forms of computing and electronic devices are changing rapidly and so too are means for interfacing with said devices. In the past the mouse and keyboard were the industry standard for input means however advanced technologies allow for novel possibilities. Voice input and gesture input are two newer methods for establishing a human-machine interface (HMI).
It is important to be able to train computing and robotic devices to learn recognize unique gestures and voice commands and responsively execute desired functionality. For example, a voice command for launching a web browser such as "open web browser" could be used instead of or alongside traditional techniques (e.g., a mouse double click of an application icon). Additionally, physical gestures may be used to perform various tasks as well. Furthermore, control of robotic devices such as industrial robots, radio control cars, drones, 3D printers and the like may be gesture based as well.
The general approach used by many prior technologies consists of three steps: (a) Identification of a 'feature vector' for a given (a priori fixed) set of activities; (b) Offline training of a model for this feature vector based on sensor data from a single or multiple users; and (c) Online recognition of the activity based on online computation of features from the sensor data and its comparison against the trained model. The main problems with this approach are as follows:
1. Feature selection: The performance of these algorithms critically depends upon selection of 'good' features. Selecting features from sensor data is not an easy task. The usefulness of any given feature is dependent in a highly nonlinear manner on the activity, on the sensor, on the placement of a sensor on the body and possibly also on the subject [17, 18]. The number of features, however, can quickly grow in size—as many as 600 features are available in MSP [4].
The need to select a small number of 'good' features in an a priori manner is the main reason why existing solutions are limited to pre-programmed activities.
2. Large training data set requirement: For a given set of features, training a good model (e.g., decision tree [25, 5, 2]) requires a large amount of data. In practice, one collects a rich enough data set from multiple users to train these models [26, 9, 20, 8, 12]. This is a costly and time-intensive process. With data from just a single user, the resulting model can be fragile (e.g., sensitive to changes in frequency of the activity). With a large number of users, the model-fit to any particular user may be poor.
3. Accuracy: Once the models have been trained, the classification is typically the easiest step. Popular methods such as template matching using e.g., nearest neighbor classifiers (used by MotionX; cf., [13, 20]) and the decision tree classifier (an industry standard; cf., [25, 5, 2, 11, 8, 22, 27]) can be run very efficiently. Other popular algorithmic approaches include: instance based learning (IBL) approaches [25, 5, 28]; Bayesian networks (BN) [29, 9, 30] and Naive Bayes (NB) classifiers [8, 3, 14, 31]; support vector machines (SVM) [32, 15, 21, 33]; fuzzy If-Then rules [10, 24, 6] and artificial neural networks (ANN) [29, 12, 34].
However, these approaches suffer from the issue of robustness: the conditions for online data and the training data must be closely matched (in terms of number of sensors, window length of data, features, even subjects) for the results to be accurate; cf., [35, 5, 36, 25, 24, 37]. Many classifier approaches such as IBL and ANN can be non-robust and do not provide information on activity counts or duration, etc. [27, 33, 34].
In open literature, probabilistic approaches such as regression methods [7, 9], hidden Markov models (HMM) [38, 14] and multi-graph based techniques [39, 16] have also been considered, but their practical application suffer from the curse of dimensionality, e.g., results reported in [39, 16] lead to a graph size of 16,875 nodes making it computationally prohibitive. A simple four state HMM with five independent sensor measurements requires a total of 50 parameters that need to be learned (a specific example of this appears in [40]). This requires a large amount of training data to learn (identify) the parameters, and the problem is known to be non-convex with multiple local minima for parameters; cf., [41].
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems for learning sensor data patterns for input and control of electronic systems.

Methods and apparatus for learning sensor data patterns for gesture-based input


A base film of a hard magnetic film containing Co as a structural element has a crystal metal base film such as a Cr film formed on the main surface of a substrate and a reactive base film (mixing layer) formed between the substrate and the crystal metal base film and having a reactive amorphous layer containing a structural element of the substrate and a structural element of the crystal metal base film. A hard magnetic film containing Co as a structural element is formed on the crystal metal base film. With the crystal metal base film such as the Cr film formed on an amorphous layer, a hard magnetic film with a bi-crystal structure can be obtained with high reproducibility. With the hard magnetic film, magnetic characteristics such as coercive force Hc, residual magnetization Mr, saturated magnetization Ms, and square ratio S can be improved without need to use a thick base film. The hard magnetic film containing Co as a structural element is applied to a bias magnetic field applying film of a magnetoresistance effect device and a record layer of a magnetic record medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hard magnetic film structural body, a magnetoresistance effect device thereof, a magnetic head thereof, a magnetic recording/reproducing head thereof, a magnetic record medium thereof, and magnetic storing apparatus thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In magnetic recording apparatuses such as HDDs, record track widths thereof have been decreased so as to increase record densities. To compensate the decrease of the reproduced output due to the decrease of the record track widths, magnetic heads having high sensitive magnetoresistance effect devices (MR devices) have been used. These heads are referred to as MR heads. In particular, MR heads having spin valve films are hopeful successors in the next generation. The spin valve film is composed of a multi-layer magnetic film of which a first ferromagnetic film, a non-magnetic film, a second ferromagnetic film, and an anti-ferromagnetic film layered in the order. The magnetization of the first ferromagnetic film rotates corresponding to a signal magnetic field (hereinafter, the first ferromagnetic film is referred to as a magnetic sensible layer). The magnetization of the second ferromagnetic film is fixed by a bias magnetic field of the anti-ferromagnetic film. Hereinafter, the second ferromagnetic film is referred to a fixed magnetization layer. The spin valve film has a giant magnetoresistance effect (GMR).
In an MR head having a spin valve film, Barkhausen noise due to a magnetic domain wall on the magnetic sensible layer is becoming a practically serious problem to be solved. In other words, when an external magnetic field is applied to a magnetic sensible layer having a variety of magnetic domains rather than a controlled magnetic domain, the magnetic directions of the individual magnetic domains are arranged to one direction at a time. At this point, a noise (Barkhausen noise) takes place in the output waveform. To remove the Barkhausen noise, a so-called abutted junction type MR head of which a hard magnetic film 2 such as a CoPt film is disposed on both sides of a spin valve film 1 as shown in FIG. 36 has been proposed. The magnetic domains of the magnetic sensible layer are controlled by a bias magnetic field (vertical bias) of the hard magnetic films 2 disposed on both sides of the magnetic sensible layer. When a variety of magnetic domains of the magnetic sensible layer are controlled to a single magnetic domain with such a bias magnetic field, the Barkhausen noise can be suppressed.
In the MR head shown in FIG. 36, a pair of electrodes 3 that supply a sense current are formed on the spin valve film 1. The spin valve film 1 is sandwiched by a pair of upper and lower magnetic shield layers 6 and 7 disposed through magnetic gap films 4 and 5, respectively. Thus, a shield type MR head is structured.
In this case, the hard magnetic film 2 preferably has a stably large coercive force Hc so as to stably maintain the magnetic domain control of the magnetic sensible layer for a long time. In addition, the hard magnetic film 2 preferably has a large residual magnetization Mr so as to properly apply a bias magnetic field to various magnetic sensible layers. However, in conventional MR heads, the film thickness of the hard magnetic film cannot be sufficiently increased due to a structural reason. In addition, the crystal structure of the hard magnetic film cannot be sufficiently controlled. Thus, the coercive force Hc and the residual magnetization Mr of the hard magnetic film are insufficient.
Moreover, as the densities of the magnetic recording apparatuses increase, the floating distance of the MR head from the magnetic record medium tends to decrease. In reality, it is predicted that the MR head is used in a low floating state, a pseudo-contacting state, and finally a contacting state. When the distance between the MR head and the record medium decreases, a magnetization reversal tends to take place in a hard magnetic field with a low coercive force. When the magnetization reversal takes place in the hard magnetic film, the magnetization of the magnetic sensible layer becomes unstable, thereby forming magnetic domains. As described above, the magnetic domains formed on the magnetic sensible layers result in the Barkhausen noise.
As countermeasures for increasing the coercive force of a hard magnetic film, the crystal characteristics thereof is improved with a very thick non-magnetic base film with a film thickness of for example 100 nm or more for increasing the effect of the base film (seed layer). The improvement of the crystal characteristics of the hard magnetic film contributes to the increase of the magnetic anisotropy. Thus, the coercive force of the hard magnetic film can be increased. Such countermeasures can be applied to a hard magnetic film as a magnetic record layer of a magnetic record medium.
However, in the abutted junction type MR head, when the magnetic gap narrows for a high density, a bias magnetic field leaks to a magnetic shield layer, thereby decreasing the effective bias magnetic field applied to a magnetic sensible layer. In addition, when a thick non-magnetic base film is used, in the abutted junction type, since the thick non-magnetic base film is disposed between a hard magnetic film and a spin valve film, the bias effect against the magnetic sensible layer decreases.
As countermeasures for improving the coercive force of a hard magnetic film, the film thickness thereof may be increased so as to compensate the bias magnetic field. However, in the magnetic head having a narrow track for high density recording, the increase of film thickness of the hard magnetic film results in the decrease of sensitivity. When a hard magnetic film that is thicker than a spin valve is used, the center portion of the film thickness of the hard magnetic film becomes close to a fixed magnetization layer. Since an anisotropic magnetic field of an anti-ferromagnetic film that fixes the magnetization of the fixed magnetization layer is weak, the magnetization reversal of the fixed magnetization layer tends to take place in the vicinity of the interface between the hard magnetic film and the anti-ferromagnetic film. The magnetization reversal of the fixed magnetization layer results in a noise.
Instead of the above-described abutted junction type, for example as shown in FIG. 37, a bias type of which a spin valve film 1 spreads on a hard magnetic film 3 and thereby a magnetic sensible layer of the spin valve film 1 and the hard magnetic film 2 are exchange-coupling has been proposed. In such a head structure (overlaid structure), after a thick hard magnetic film 2 is etched by for example ion milling process, a spin valve film 1 is formed. Thus, the surface of the lower magnetic gap film 4 that has been etched becomes rough.
When the spin valve film 1 is formed on the lower magnetic gap film 4 that is not flat, magnetic characteristics become unstable such that the anisotropic magnetic field Hk becomes unstable, the coercive force Hc takes place in the direction of difficult axis, and the inter-layer coupling magnetic field Hin between the magnetic sensible layer and the fixed magnetization layer increases. Such an instability of the magnetic characteristics results in the Barkhausen noise. The surface roughness of the lower magnetic gap film 4 also takes place when the surface roughness of the hard magnetic film 2 is transferred by the ion milling process.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 38, even if the coercive force Hc (M point) of the hard magnetic film (in the overlaid structure) is large, when the residual magnetization Mr is low, the total coercive force Hc (L point) of the GMR film (such as a spin valve film) and the hard magnetic film decreases, thereby increasing the occurrence of the Barkhausen noise. In the hard magnetic film of conventional the MR head, the sufficient residual magnetization Mr has not been obtained.
As described above, in the MR head having the spin valve film, it is strongly desired to improve magnetic characteristics such as the coercive force Hc, residual magnetization Mr, saturated magnetization Ms, and square ratio S of the hard magnetic film without need to use a thick non-magnetic base film. As with the MR head having the spin valve film, in an MR head having a magnetoresistance effect film (AMR film) with the anisotropic magnetoresistance effect (AMR), a hard magnetic film is used to apply a horizontal bias. In this AMR head, likewise, it is desired to improve magnetic characteristics such as the coercive force Hc, residual magnetization Mr, saturated magnetization Ms, and square ration S of the hard magnetic film.
Furthermore, a magnetic storing apparatus such as a magnetoresistance effect random access memory (MRAM) having a spin valve film has been studied. In this case, a satisfactory bias magnetic field is required.
On the other hand, in the hard magnetic film as the magnetic record layer of the magnetic record medium, to accomplish a low noise in high density magnetic recording, the value of [Mr·t (residual magnetization Mr×film thickness t)] should be small. However, in the Co type hard magnetic film, when the film thickness thereof is 10 nm or less, good magnetic characteristics cannot be obtained. In reality, the coercive force Hc, the square ratio S, and so forth are degraded. For example, when the film thickness t of the Co type hard magnetic film is decreased so as to decrease the value of (Mr·t), the crystal characteristics are degraded. In this case, the anisotropic magnetic field Hkgrain of the crystal grains degrades, thereby decreasing the coercive force Hc.
To accomplish the above-described low floating state, pseudo-contacting state, and contacting state of the magnetic head, the surface flatness of the magnetic record medium should be improved. To improve the surface flatness of the hard magnetic film as the magnetic record layer, the film thickness of the hard magnetic film including the film thickness of the base film should be decreased. Generally, when the film thickness of the base film is large, the diameters of crystal grains often increase. When the diameters of crystal grains become large as the film thickness increases, the boundary of crystal grains of the film surface becomes rough. Further, even if the boundary of crystal grains does not increase as the film thickness increases, crystal grains become column-like and the surface roughness of the film is large when the film thickness is large. (In any case,) when the film thickness of the base film is large, the diameters of crystal grains become large.
However, as described above, to improve the crystal characteristics of the Co type hard magnetic film, a base film as thick as 100 nm is required. This is because when the thickness of the base film is small, the crystal structure of the Co type hard magnetic film having a hcp structure cannot be satisfactorily controlled. In reality, the axis c of the Co type hard magnetic material cannot be oriented to the surface thereof.
The film thickness of the base film of the Co type hard magnetic film should be decreased so as to accomplish high density recording. As described above, when the film thickness of the base film is large, the diameters of crystal grains of the Co type hard magnetic film become large. Thus, the number of magnetic grains per unit bit decreases, thereby causing the noise to increase. However, when the film thickness of the base film is decreased, the effect thereof is degraded. Thus, the base film cannot provide the Co type hard magnetic film with good hard magnetic characteristics.
Consequently, in the hard magnetic film as a magnetic record layer of a magnetic record medium, even if the film thickness of the hard magnetic film is small, without need to use a thick base film, it is strongly required to improve characteristics such as the coercive force Hc, residual magnetization Mr, saturated magnetization Ms, square ratio S, and so forth.
On the other hand, in the field of the magnetic record mediums, a surface magnetic record medium having a hard magnetic film with a bi-crystal structure has been expected as a low noise medium. The bi-crystal structure represents that sub-grains are present in each main-grain. In a main-grain, the surface components of the axis c of the sub-grains are perpendicular to each other. Since sub-grains function as magnetic grains, a low noise can be accomplished. In addition, a large coercive force can be obtained.
However, in the bi-crystal structure, a good fabrication condition thereof has not been established. It is said that the base film should have a bcc (body-centered cubic) (200) orientation. In the bcc structure, normally a plane (110) is the densest plane. Thus, on a base film that is simply formed, the bi-crystal structure cannot be obtained. Conventionally, the substrate should be heated at a temperature of at least 200° C. when the film is formed. However, even in such a process, the bi-crystal structure cannot be obtained with high reproducibility.

Magnetoresistance effect device having hard magnetic film structural body


A manual input unit comprising an actuator section movably supported in a frame, a generator section for outputting a voltage corresponding to a movement of the actuator section, and a signal transmission section for transmitting a data signal corresponding to an output-voltage value of the generator section to an external processing unit. The generator section includes a switching means which is closed when the actuator section is in a reference position and is opened when the actuator section is moved apart from the reference position, and a generating means for generating a voltage linearly corresponding to a displacement of the actuator section from the reference position. The signal transmission section defines, on the basis of a voltage generated from the generating means at an instant when the actuator section departs from the reference position to open the switching means, a voltage subsequently generated from the generating means while the switching means is in an opened state as the output-voltage value of the generator section. The signal transmission section then selects data corresponding to the defined output-voltage value in accordance with a predetermined relationship.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to input units for data processors, and more particularly to a manual input unit to enter information into a computer or the like by a hand operation. The present invention may be particularly suitable for use in an amusement computer, e.g., a game machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various operation systems or applications, in which a pointing device with an excellent manual operability is used in addition to a keyboard as an information entering means for a computer or the like, for processing data through an interactive operation by freely shifting a character or a cursor on a display screen, have been developed. Also, in an amusement computer, e.g., a game machine, various manual input units such as a joystick have been used. The manual input unit used for such an amusement application generally requires some properties different from those of conventional manual input units for ordinary computers.
For example, in a known manual input unit for an amusement computer, which is operated by an operator holding the body of the unit with one or both hands, a weight reduction in the unit and an improvement in operability are required. Also, since various ages of operators, ranging from infants to adults, tend to operate the input unit in various ways, it is preferred that the unit includes a stably operative movable part which is hardly affected by variations in operating parameters such as an inclination of the unit body, vibration applied to the unit body or external forces applied to an actuating section of the unit.
In addition, since this type of manual input unit may be used indoors and outdoors, it is required that an output data signal of the unit is immune to an environmental temperature change. Also, it is desired that the input unit has a relatively simple structure which can reduce the manufacturing cost thereof, considering the maintenance or the parts replacement of the input unit when a defect occurs therein. Thus, there are demands for a manual input unit, particularly in the field of amusement computers, which can reduce the manufacturing cost thereof, can be easily handled and can decrease the possibility of a malfunction due to vibration or a temperature change.
FIG. 9 schematically shows a widely used amusement computer system with a manual input unit. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the structure of a conventional manual input unit. FIGS. 11A and 11B show the relationship between an output signal and a displacement of actuator in the conventional manual input unit.
The amusement computer system shown in FIG. 9 includes a computer 1 as a game machine, a display 2 for displaying an image, and an manual input unit 3 for entering information, both the display 2 and the input unit 3 being connected to the computer 1. By operating the manual input unit 3, it is possible to freely set a one-dimensional parameter in a game, such as a beam magnitude of a laser gun or a speed of a car, or freely shift a character or a cursor displayed on the display 2 in a two-dimensional manner.
As shown in FIG. 10, the manual input unit 3, which is one example of the input units used in the above amusement computer system, includes a frame 32 having a grip 31 to be grasped by the operator with one or both hands, a generator section 35 and a signal transmission section 36 both fixedly arranged in the frame 32, and a movable actuator section 45 pivotably supported on the frame 32. The frame 32 is generally molded with a resinous material excellent in mechanical strength and capable of easily reducing a weight of the frame.
The generator section 35 includes a printed circuit board 33 fixed to a predetermined position in frame 32, and two magnetoelectric elements 37, such as Hall elements, spaced from each other and mounted on the printed circuit board 33. The signal transmission section 36 is provided with a printed circuit board 34 fixed at a predetermined position in the frame 32 away from the printed circuit board 33, and a CPU 38 mounted on the printed circuit board 34.
The movable actuator section 45 includes a trigger 41 pivoted to the frame 32 by a pin 42 disposed near the grip 31, and a compression coil spring 43 interposed between the frame 32 and the trigger 41 to bias the trigger 41 toward a start position as illustrated. A permanent magnet 44 is fixed on a side surface of a distal end of the trigger 41 away from the pin 42. The magnet 44 acts as a counterpart element for the magnetoelectric elements 37 of the generator section 35 to make the magnetoelectric elements 37 generate a voltage. When the trigger 41 is at the start position, a stopper 46 formed along the lower edge of the trigger is abutted to the inner wall of the frame 32 to inhibit the further rotation of the trigger. In this state, the trigger partially projects forward through an opening 40 formed near the grip 31.
The operator grasps the grip 31 with one hand in a similar manner to the hand operation for a pistol, and squeezes the trigger 41 by finger pressure on the part of the trigger 41 projecting from the opening 40. Thereby, the trigger 41 rotates about the pin 42 in a clockwise direction as seen in the drawing from the start position. Simultaneously, the permanent magnet 44 fixed to the end of the trigger moves upward along an arcuate path about the pin 42 from a lowermost position as illustrated to an uppermost position (not shown).
The two magnetoelectric elements 37 of the generator section 35 are fixed on the printed circuit board 33, so as to be respectively located near the lowermost and uppermost positions of the permanent magnet 44, and do not come into contact with the permanent magnet 44 irrespective of the position of the magnet 44. When the permanent magnet 44 moves along the arcuate path, an output voltage generated from each magnetoelectric element 37 varies in linear correspondence to a variation of the distance between each magnetoelectric element and the permanent magnet 44. The output voltage from each magnetoelectric element 37 is converted to a digital signal and then is passed to the signal transmission section 36.
In the signal transmission section 36 fixed to the upper portion of the frame 32, when the output-voltage value is entered from the generator section 35 to the CPU 38, the CPU 38 selects or retrieves data corresponding to the voltage value from a number of stored data (e.g., data for beam magnitudes of a laser beam gun), and transmits a data signal to the external computer 1 via a coupling cable 39.
For example, the output voltage from the magnetoelectric element 37 located near the uppermost position of the permanent magnet 44 increases in a generally linear manner in proportion to the increase of a displacement of the trigger 41 from the start position, as shown in a solid line in FIG. 11A (the displacement being shown as a linear stroke converted from an angular distance). In this regard, since the magnetoelectric element 37 such as a Hall element is generally susceptible to an environmental temperature change, the characteristic curve shown by the solid line may be shifted or translated to, e.g., another characteristic curve shown by a dotted line, as an environmental temperature varies. As a result, the voltage generated by the magnetoelectric element 37 when the trigger 41 is e.g., at the start position (i.e., displacement=0), may be shifted to a voltage "b" from an intrinsic voltage "a", due to the environmental temperature change.
In the case that the CPU 38 is programmed so as to transmit data "0" in response to the input voltage "a" and data 256 in response to the input voltage "c", as shown in FIG. 11B, if a voltage "b" is erroneously entered due to the temperature change when the trigger 41 is in the start position, data "d" might be transmitted, which is different from the intrinsic data "0". As a result, the computer 1 may operate in such a manner as to not conform to a command from the manual input unit 3.
To solve such problems, in the manual input unit 3 described above, two magnetoelectric elements 37 are respectively arranged near the lowermost and uppermost positions of the arcuate path of the permanent magnet 44, and connected to each other to output a voltage, in a differential manner, from both elements 37, so that the data can be selected in response to the differential voltage value of two output voltages of both elements 37, while maintaining the relationship shown in FIG. 11B. According to this arrangement, since output voltages of both magnetoelectric elements 37 vary in the same manner as the environmental temperature varies, the variations in the output voltages of both elements are cancelled by adopting the differential value of those output voltages. Thus, it is possible to transmit data which accurately corresponds to the displacement of the trigger 41, without affecting the data selection.
The manual input unit for the amusement computer described above is adapted to transmit data corresponding to the displacement of the movable actuator section by using the magnetoelectric elements and the permanent magnet which cannot come into contact with each other, so that certain advantages are obtained, i.e., a weight reduction of the unit and an improvement in operability can be accomplished, and also the generator section and the signal transmission section are hardly susceptible to vibration and external forces during the operation and thus can be stably operated. In addition, since two magnetoelectric elements are used, it is possible to eliminate the effect of the environment temperature change, and thus to translate a data signal correctly corresponding to the displacement of the movable actuator section so that the external processing unit operates in conformation to a command.
However, this manual input unit still has problems in that, since it is necessary to use two relatively expensive magnetoelectric elements for eliminating the effect of the environmental temperature change, which in turn requires an additional printed circuit board separate from the signal transmission section for mounting the magnetoelectric elements near the lowermost and uppermost positions of the arcuate path of the permanent magnet, the structure of the unit becomes more complicated to increase the production cost thereof.


A washer fluid heater apparatus in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a heat exchanger having a washer fluid inlet to allow washer fluid to enter the heat exchanger and a washer fluid outlet to allow the washer fluid to exit the heat exchanger; and (b) a coolant passage traversing through the heat exchanger having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the coolant inlet and coolant outlet operably coupled to an engine's coolant system to allow passage of engine coolant through the heat exchanger.

Windshield wipers are a standard feature on the majority of motor vehicles in use today, and are used to clear vehicle windows of various types of dirt and debris. For windshield wipers to function properly, they must be supplied with a jet of windshield wiper fluid that helps to dissolve the dirt and debris and carry the material off of the window, assisted by the motion of the windshield wipers. If not cleaned, dirty windshields in motorized vehicles can seriously impair a driver's field of vision. Effective windshield wipers are particularly important in the trucking industry, where large vehicles with heavy loads are operated for extensive periods, creating significant safety and liability issues.
While conventional windshield wiper systems operate effectively under normal conditions, they can become ineffective when confronted with either cold ambient temperatures that cause the wiper fluid to freeze on the vehicle window, or particularly troublesome material such as impacted insects or road grime that are difficult to remove. Application of wiper fluid to a cold windshield can be particularly disastrous, as the sudden formation of a layer of frozen fluid on the windshield can render the windshield completely opaque.
Various devices and methods have been used in the art to provide a spray of heated wiper fluid onto the windows of a vehicle. For example, most vehicles are equipped with a defrost feature that blows hot air inside the vehicle and onto the windshield. This, however, is a relatively inefficient and slow way of heating the windshield. Others have tried to heat windshield wiper fluid using electrical devices, such as heat elements, and in some cases have combined these with other pumps and distribution systems. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,606, which describes a container into which washing fluid from a reservoir is pumped and in which the fluid is electrically heated by an electric element before spraying onto a windshield. U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,668 provides another example, which describes a windshield washing and de-icing system in which a pump transfers washer fluid from a reservoir into a container. Heated engine coolant is passed through a conduit in the reservoir, and an electric resistance wire further heats the fluid whenever the temperature drops below a minimum value.
These systems, and others found in the art, are generally expensive, cumbersome to install, and may require drilling and modifications to the vehicle chassis. Furthermore, they require electrical current, generally from the vehicle's battery, which may decrease the life expectancy of the vehicle's battery and may result in the battery not having sufficient energy to start the car under cold conditions. Use of electrical current is also inefficient, and there is often a significant delay from the time the unit is activated to the point where hot fluid is actually generated. The hot fluid volume generated by these procedures is minimal, and there may be an additional warming delay between each activation.


According to an example, a printing system may include a web layout module to access a set of images and generate a web layout of the set of images, in which the web layout is arranged in columns of same sized images, each column being arranged in sorted order of image size. The module may further add at least one of advertising material, a coupon, and customer information on a space of a column on which images do not extend a width of the web layout. The printing system may also include a print engine to print the set of images and the at least one of the advertising material, coupon, and customer information on a web of substrate in the generated print layout.

In web-based printing production environments the production of different size prints for a single client can lead to complex and inefficient workflows. For example, printing production environments are generally configured such that different physical printers are used to produce prints of different sizes on separate webs of substrate. Each printing system typically has its own associated cutting equipment to separate each individual print from each web.
Collating a client's prints from multiple printers requires manual intervention or complex and expensive mechanical substrate handling systems.


A cassette for a photographic element of the kind used in computed radiography comprises a first cassette portion and a second cassette portion that are telescoped together during assembly to form the cassette. The first portion has a rectangular panel and edge walls extending around three side edges of the panel. The second cassette portion comprises a rectangular panel on which the photographic element is permanently secured. An edge wall is attached to one side edge only of the rectangular panel of the second cassette portion and it extends between the edge walls of the first cassette portion when the two portions are assembled together. A locking mechanism carried by the cassette portions holds them together in assembled relation but is easily released by an actuator for removing the second cassette portion and the photographic element so they can be delivered together to a computed radiography reader.

The invention relates to cassettes for photographic elements and, more particularly, to a cassette for an x-ray phosphor film plate of the kind used in computed radiography.
In computed radiography, a photographic element has an image formed thereon by x-rays, and the element is subsequently provided to a reader where the photographic element is stimulated to emit a radiation pattern that is captured for storage and use. Cassettes of the kind used in computed radiography may comprise a container having upper and lower parts that are hinged together so that they can be opened for insertion of a thin, flexible film sheet comprising the photographic element. The cassette is closed and latched so that the cassette with the element therein can be used with an x-ray apparatus to produce an image on the photographic element. Then the cassette is taken to a reader where the cassette must be opened and the photographic element extracted by suitable feeders, such as suction feeding devices. The photographic element separate from the cassette is transported through the reader where it is stimulated to emit a radiation pattern and subsequently erased before being returned to the cassette for re-use.
While cassettes and photographic elements as described above have generally been satisfactory, the cassettes can be relatively expensive, and the flexible photographic elements require special feeding devices for extracting them from the cassette and returning them to the cassette. Accordingly, it is desirable to minimize the cost of the cassette and to simplify delivery of the photographic element to the reader for processing of the image thereon.

Cassette for x-ray storage phosphor plate


A lubricant for use in processing of a metallic material includes a lubricant base and additives added to the lubricant base. The additives include a sulfuric extreme pressure agent, a rust inhibitive agent and a calcium ingredient. Content of sulfur contained in the sulfuric extreme pressure agent is not less than 0.5 wt % of total weight of the lubricant and not greater than 20 wt % of total weight of the lubricant. Content of the rust inhibitive agent is not less than 0.1 wt % of total weight of the lubricant and not greater than 15 wt % of total weight of the lubricant. Further, content of calcium contained in the calcium ingredient is not less than 0.1 wt % of total weight of the lubricant and not greater than 15 wt % of total weight of the lubricant.

In recent years, there is a need to develop automobiles that have low environmental impact and increased safety. In a world of expanding globalization, car makers have advanced development of light and strong vehicle bodies as well as low emission engines and improved air bags. Automobile lightening has been progressed by reducing thickness of steel components without decreasing their strength. From the mid-1990s, a high tensile strength steel sheet that can be used as a metallic material which contributes to the lightening of an automobile has been a focus of attention.
Generally, strength of a steel sheet is expressed in tensile strength. A steel sheet having tensile strength of 340 N/mm2 or more is referred to as a high tensile strength steel sheet. Conversely, a steel sheet having tensile strength of 280 N/mm2 or less is referred to as a mild steel sheet. Recently, the high tensile strength steel sheet having a tensile strength of 1000 N/mm2 or more has been used to enhance collision safety.
The high tensile strength steel sheet may also be referred to as "high strength steel sheet" or "high tensile material." However, Japanese Industrial Standard generally uses the term "high tensile strength steel sheet" in, for example, JIS G 3134 (which is directed to "processable hot rolled high tensile strength steel sheets and bands for mobile application") and JIS G 3135 (which is directed to "processable cold rolled high tensile strength steel sheets and bands for mobile application"). Therefore, in this description, "high tensile strength steel sheet" will be used hereinafter.
Generally, the high tensile strength steel sheet has increased intensity and increased yield strength. As a result, the high tensile strength steel sheet has reduced ductility, which is caused by the increased intensity. The reduced ductility may cause poor formability. Also, the high yield strength may inherently provide high spring back performance. Such high spring back performance may produce a number of defects in a product that is formed from the high tensile strength steel sheet by press forming. Such defects in the press formed product may include surface distortion, bad shape stability, cracking, reduced accuracy and galling. Thus, in order to reliably press form the high tensile strength steel sheet, there are a number of technical problems to be solved.
Recently, when a metallic material or steel sheet is processed (i.e., press formed), lubricants are generally omitted in order to reduce processing costs. In addition, after the steel sheet is processed, rust inhibitive oils are generally omitted. Therefore, if the steel sheet is press formed without using the lubricants, the steel sheet cannot be suitably press formed because of lack of lubricity, thereby producing cracking and galling in a formed product. Also, such lack of lubricity may increase friction between the steel sheet and forming dies. Such friction may significantly reduce service life of the forming dies.
In order to solve these problems, there is a need to develop lubricants or rust inhibitors that provide excellent lubricity during the press forming of the steel sheet. Up to now some special lubricants have been developed. For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Number 10-279979 teaches a rust inhibitive oil solution for use in the press forming of the steel sheet. This oil solution contains a rust inhibitive agent, ultrabasic calcium sulfonate, a sulfuric extreme pressure agent and potassium borate. However, this oil solution contains a boron compound (potassium borate) that is pertinent to Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR). Therefore, such an oil solution is negative from the viewpoint of environmental preservation. Also, Japanese Patent Publication Number 7-42470 or Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Number 8-311476 teaches a rust inhibitive oil solution having kinetic viscosity of 40 mm2/s or less at 40° C. This oil solution may have excellent rust inhibiting performance and self-removing performance. However, this oil solution has less lubricity. Therefore, such an oil solution is not suitable for processing (press forming) the high tensile strength steel sheet because the high tensile strength steel sheet may be subjected to extremely large stress.
Post-treatment of the press forming may, for example, include the steps of (1) degreasing and washing a formed product in order to remove lubricants, (2) applying the washed product with rust inhibitive oils in order to protect the product from rusting, (3) plating or coating the product, (4) treating the product by heat in order to strengthen the product, and (5) welding the product to another metal component.
In order to weld the high tensile strength steel sheet, a metal active gas (MAG) welding method using gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) as a shielding gas is often used. This welding method is one of many steel welding methods and is referred to as a CO2-MAG welding method. The CO2-MAG welding method is the most widely used arc welding method for welding steel. For example, the CO2-MAG welding method is commonly used in many industries of, for example, pressure containers, bridge frames, constructional steel frames, ships, marine structures, heavy machinery, chemical plants, nuclear plants, motorcycles and automobiles. Generally, the CO2-MAG welding method has advantages of increased welding speed, high welding efficiency and easy handling. Also, this welding method may provide high quality welding portions. Further, this welding method can be applied to metallic materials having a wide variety of thickness without changing a welding wire.
In the CO2-MAG welding method, it is possible to use a pure gas of carbon dioxide and a mixed gas of argon and carbon dioxide as the shielding gas. However, the pure gas of carbon dioxide is a highly oxidized gas. Such an oxidized gas can oxidize and deteriorate a welding product (i.e., a welding composite constituted of a welding wire metal and a matrix steel) produced in the welding portions because the welding portions can be heated to about 1500° C. (i.e., a melting point of the welding wire) or more. The deteriorated welding product may reduce bonding strength of the welding portions. Therefore, when the CO2-MAG welding method is used for welding the high tensile strength steel sheet, the mixed gas of argon and carbon dioxide may generally be used as the shielding gas in order to prevent the welding portions from excessively deteriorating. Preferably, the mixing ratio of argon to carbon dioxide is approximately 80:20.
Further, according to Japanese Industrial Standard, the CO2-MAG welding method is simply referred to as a "MAG welding method" regardless of whether the shielding gas is the carbon dioxide pure gas or the argon-carbon dioxide mixed gas. Therefore, in order to mention the CO2-MAG welding method, the "MAG welding method" will be used here on a nonexclusive basis. That is, herein, the "MAG welding method" will refer to both of the CO2-MAG welding methods in which the carbon dioxide pure gas and the argon-carbon dioxide mixed gas are respectively used as the shielding gas.
In addition, when the high tensile strength steel sheet is welded by the MAG welding method, the MAG welding method is sometimes performed without removing the lubricants from the high tensile strength steel sheet. In such a case, the lubricants may decompose, thereby producing corrosive compounds. The produced corrosive compounds may produce corrosion on the welded product (i.e., weldment). The corrosion thus produced may deteriorate the weldment in quality.
Further, the lubricants must be removed from the press formed and welded product before the product is plated. Therefore, it is essential that the lubricants can be easily removed or washed out from the product.

Lubricants for use in processing of metallic material


The present invention relates to a coated insulated wire having improved heat dissipation properties, insulation properties, flame retardancy, and lightweight properties; and a method of manufacturing the same.

In recent years, various digital electronic devices (e.g., smartphones or tablet PCs) have become necessities in our daily lives, and there has recently been a trend called device convergence in which different devices having various functions are integrated into a single device.
In such high-density integration technology, heat, as a major cause of lifespan shortening, performance deterioration, occurrence of failure, etc. of electronic devices, is inevitably generated, and thus the necessity of heat dissipation technology that may effectively dissipate heat to the outside is increasing. Since future electronic devices are expected to be more compact and multifunctional, the necessity and importance of heat management technology is predicted to gradually increase.
Although the development of electronic devices is fundamentally based on high-density integration of semiconductors, heat, as a major cause of performance deterioration, shortening of lifespan, and occurrence of failure in the electronic devices, is inevitably generated as a consequence of the high-density integration technology, and thus heat dissipation technology has drawn attention as a way of effectively dissipating heat to the outside.
Therefore, it is expected that future electronic devices will become lighter, thinner, more compact, smaller, and more multifunctional, and thus the necessity and importance of heat dissipation technology and development of materials will increase.
In particular, with the improvement of performance of vehicles, various automotive parts are being replaced with electronic parts, and the problem of heat generation is gradually increasing due to miniaturization, ultra-thinning, and high densification of the electronic parts such that the demand for heat dissipation materials tends to increase in various fields of automobiles.
Due to low fuel efficiency of vehicles and high demand for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the supply of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles is progressing rapidly. High-priority challengeable tasks need to be completed to overcome mileage limitations caused by battery performance and price, and to construct charging infrastructure; however, technically, the perception that electric vehicles are no longer future vehicles is becoming widespread.
Electric vehicles use electricity as power, and power sources mainly include batteries, inverters, and motors. Since the motor is in charge of energy regeneration when driving or decelerating a vehicle, both miniaturization and high power output are required in terms of driving maneuverability and fuel efficiency.
Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles that use a 12 V battery, electric vehicles are designed to be supplied with a battery voltage of about 100 V to about 400 V, and up to a high voltage of 650 V, with a booster circuit installed in some vehicles.
Driving energy needs to be increased to raise the output of an electric motor. When current is increased, the diameter of copper wire needs to be increased. In contrast, by increasing voltage, high output may be obtained while inhibiting an increase in body size, and the motor may be driven by a battery voltage of about 100 V to 400 V in electric vehicles, and up to a high voltage of 650 V, with a booster circuit installed in some vehicles.
Thus, a high-voltage wiring harness system of electric vehicles providing such a high voltage, which is a high-voltage and high-current harness system providing battery power to an electric motor as a main power source, includes a high-voltage electromagnetic shielding wire and a connector.
A motor, a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, generates thermal energy during an energy conversion process. The thermal energy generated thereby acts as a main factor in degrading electrical or mechanical performance. In particular, high-voltage cables that supply electrical energy to the motor need to be developed to provide stable performance in various driving and environmental conditions, and there is a need to manage thermal energy by using an appropriate heat dissipation system when power loss occurs.
Heat dissipation materials have been widely used not only in electronic devices but also in vehicles and LEDs. In the case of vehicles, following the global trend of using electronic parts in vehicle bodies, the demand for electronic devices and power consumption in the vehicle bodies are rapidly increasing. In contrast, the electronic parts used therein are required to be lighter, smaller, and more reliable in function. Due to the high-density integration and the increase in power consumption of electronic devices for vehicles, development of high-performance parts using a high-heat dissipation material is in progress based on the convergence of information technology and automotive technology.
Composite materials in which a highly thermally conductive filler and a polymer material are compounded have been widely used as heat dissipation materials in the current industrial fields. Although such composite materials have advantages of excellent thermal conductivity and high processability, the processability and intrinsic physical properties of the polymer material may deteriorate due to addition of a large amount of the inorganic filler to obtain high thermal conductivity.
In addition, the polymer material generally has a thermal conductivity of about 0.2 W/mK because most lattice vibration mode vibrations (phonons) are scattered without propagating due to various defects existing in the polymer material. Therefore, in order to prepare a composite polymer material having high thermal conductivity, a polymer chain composed of strong covalent bonds should be continuously connected in an unbroken line through the heat conduction path. It has been reported that a thermal conductivity of about 100 W/mK, equivalent to that of a metal, may be obtained when these conditions are satisfied.
Although a number of composite materials of thermally conductive polymers have been developed to overcome the issues described above, fundamental limitations such as considerably low thermal conductivity and high manufacturing costs still remain when compared with inorganic fillers.

Composition for coating insulated wire comprising heat dissipation silicone elastomer compound having light shielding layer

KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY


An acceleration command calculator calculates an acceleration command “as” based on an output torque Tmb of the spindle motor applied when the rotational speed is less than or equal to a base rotational speed and an inertia Jm+Jl of the overall spindle. A switching speed calculator calculates a control mode switching speed Vs based on the acceleration command “as”. A control mode switching switch switches from a speed control mode to a position control mode when the motor speed Vm becomes less than or equal to the control mode switching speed Vs, to stop the spindle at a desired rotational position. The control mode switching speed Vs may be a value calculated using the following equation: Vs=60×(amax×0.5)1/2, where a maximum acceleration that can be achieved at this time is represented by a max.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a positioning device for causing a spindle of a machine tool to stop at a desired position.
2. Related Art
With regard to positioning techniques for positioning and stopping a rotating spindle motor, it is desired that positioning be performed quickly and without overshoot. For such techniques, various attempts have heretofore been made.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a typical spindle positioning device. A spindle 15 is driven to rotate by a spindle motor 11 via a transmission mechanism 12 to 14 including a gear and a belt. A speed detector 10 detects a speed of the spindle motor 11, and outputs a speed detection value Vm [min−1]. A subtractor 6 uses the speed detection value Vm as a speed feedback value, and outputs a deviation Vd [min−1] from a speed command Vc [min−1], and, based on the deviation Vd, a speed controller 7 calculates and outputs a torque command Tc [Nm]. Based on the speed detection value Vm, a magnetic flux density command calculator 8 outputs a magnetic flux density command φc. A current controller 9 controls a current of the spindle motor 11 based on the torque command Tc and the magnetic flux density command φc.
When the speed detection value Vm becomes less than or equal to a motor base rotational speed Vb, an acceleration command calculator 32 calculates an acceleration "a" from a speed detection value Vm (T1) which is detected after a certain period of time T1 [s], using the following equation (1), and outputs it to a position command calculator 2 as an acceleration command "as". During the period of time T1, the speed command Vc is zero (Vc=0), which is equivalent to a state in which the speed is reduced at a maximum torque. As such, Ka in equation (1) is set to a coefficient of 1 or less to provide an acceleration command at which torque saturation does not occur during positioning deceleration.
                    a        =                                            2                            π                        60                    ×                                    Vb              -                              Vm                                                  (                                      T                                                                                1                                    )                                                                    T                                                                                1                                ×          Ka                                    (        1        )
A comparator 31 outputs, as a spindle motor speed state Sv, HIGH level when the speed detection value Vm is greater than or equal to the spindle motor base rotational speed Vb, and LOW level when the speed detection value Vm is less than the base rotational speed. The acceleration command calculator 32 outputs a control mode switching command Sc at HIGH level so that the control mode is set to speed control during the time when the spindle motor speed state Sv is at HIGH level, or until the calculation of equation (1) is completed. On the other hand, the acceleration command calculator 32 outputs the control mode switching command Sc at LOW level so that the control mode is set to position control when the spindle motor speed state Sv is at LOW level, and after the calculation of equation (1) has been completed. Further, the acceleration command calculator 32 outputs to the position command calculator 2 a control mode switching speed Vs at which the control mode is switched from the speed control to the position control. The control mode switching speed Vs takes any value less than Vb−Vm (T1). A control mode switching switch 5 outputs the speed command Vc output from a host control device 1 when the control mode switching command Sc is at HIGH level, and outputs the speed command Vc output from a position control proportional gain 4 when the control mode switching command Sc is at LOW level. In other words, the spindle positioning device operates in the speed control mode when the motor speed Vm is greater than or equal to the motor base rotational speed Vb, or until the acceleration command calculator 32 completes the calculation of the acceleration command "as", and switches the control mode after the calculation of the acceleration command "as" has been completed, to operate at the control mode switching speed Vs in the position control mode. Based on the acceleration command "as" (acceleration "a") and the control mode switching speed Vs, and a position command Pc [rad] for a position located within one rotation of the spindle, which is output from the host control device 1, the position command calculator 2 calculates an integer n which satisfies the following inequality (2), and at which the left side takes its minimum.
                                          2                        π            ×            n                    +          Pc                ≧                                            (                                                2                                    π                  ×                  Vs                                60                            )                        2                    ×                      1                          2                            a                                                          (        2        )
Based on the integer n calculated using inequality (2), a position α for causing the spindle to stop at a position located within one rotation of the spindle is calculated using the following equation (3).
                    α        =                              2                        π            ×            n                    +          Pc          -                                                    (                                                      2                                        π                    ×                    Vs                                    60                                )                            2                        ×                          1                              2                                a                                                                        (        3        )
Based on the acceleration command "as", the control mode switching speed Vs, and the position α calculated using equation (3), a position command deviation ΔPc is calculated to provide a speed command as shown in FIG. 2, and is output. A position detector 16 detects the position of the spindle 15, and outputs a position detection value Pd. A subtractor 3 uses the position detection value Pd as a position feedback value, and calculates a deviation from the position command deviation ΔPc. By multiplying the output from the subtractor 3 by the proportional gain, Kp, 4, the speed command Vc is calculated and output. Based on the speed command Vc, the spindle motor is controlled to be positioned and stopped. Because the spindle is decelerated based on the acceleration command "as" calculated using equation (1), and is positioned and stopped, positioning can be performed without torque saturation, without overshoot, and quickly.
As shown in FIG. 2, in order to position and stop the spindle at a predetermined position, stop control is performed in which a period during which the spindle is controlled to achieve a constant speed and a period during which the speed is reduced at a predetermined acceleration "a" are combined. The acceleration "a" is the maximum acceleration that can be achieved by the motor during braking in which the rotational speed is less than or equal to a base rotational speed. In the following description, control performed in a period in which the speed is constant is referred to as "constant speed control", control performed in a period in which the speed is reduced at the acceleration "a" is referred to as "maximum braking acceleration control", and control in which the above-described constant speed control and maximum braking acceleration control are sequentially performed to position and stop the spindle is referred to as "stop control".
The amount of rotation of the spindle from a certain rotational speed (for example, Vs) through deceleration at a certain acceleration until the spindle stops is uniquely determined. Conversely, when the rotational position at which the spindle is caused to stop is determined, the rotational position from which deceleration is started is uniquely determined. When the rotational position of the spindle at a certain point in time is not a position determined from a stop position, the spindle is rotated until the spindle reaches this position while the speed of the spindle is being maintained, and after that, deceleration is performed. By setting the acceleration during deceleration to the maximum possible acceleration, the spindle can be stopped in a short time.
In the related art shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to position and stop a rotating spindle without overshoot, and quickly. However, the acceleration command "as" is calculated only when the rotational speed is less than or equal to the spindle motor base rotational speed, and a certain amount of time is necessary to perform the calculation. As such, because a time T1 to measure an acceleration and a time to calculate the acceleration command "as" are required, the spindle is decelerated during those times, and the spindle speed may become lower than the optimum switching speed for achieving positioning in the shortest time. Therefore, there is a problem in that positioning cannot be performed in the shortest time.


A circuit arrangement for starting an internal combustion engine by means of a sliding-gear starter (10) is proposed, by means of which the starting process is interrupted after a predetermined first time period in case of a meshing blockage and is repeated at the end of a further predetermined time period. The circuit arrangement is provided with a voltage detector for detecting a meshing blockage (blind switching of the starter), which senses the voltage drop at the storage battery (15) caused by the activation current of the starter motor when meshing. In the case of a missing voltage drop, the starter (10) is switched off via a switching element (20) of the start repeat device (18), and after a further time period of a timer circuit of the start repeat device (18) it is switched on again (FIG. 1).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement and a method for starting internal combustion engines by means of a starting repeat in case of a blockage of the meshing drive.
2. Prior Art
It is known in connection with drive units in vehicles or with stationary installations and the like, wherein starting operations cannot be clearly noticed, to provide starting devices which are equipped with a so-called start blocking relay and/or a start repeat relay (Kraftfahrtechnisches Taschenbuch [Technical Motor Vehicle Handbook], Bosch, 18th ed., page 373). The start blocking relay protects the starter, the pinion and the engine ring gear against overloads. It automatically turns off the starter device once the engine is running on its own. It dependably prevents the actuation of the starter device while the a engine is running. The start repeat relay protects the engagement relay of the starter against overloads in vehicles in which the start-up of the engine cannot be noticed, for example in connection with rear engines or engines under the floorboards, with stationary installations with remote control and with engines which are started indirectly, for example when a defined oil pressure or a defined pressure has been reached. The start repeat relay does not act in case of normal meshing of the starter pinion with the ring gear of the internal combustion engine. However, if in connection with so-called blind switching the pinion does not find the tooth gap of the ring gear, no contact with the main current is made in spite of the switched-on meshing relay. So that during extended actuation of the starter switch the meshing coil of the meshing relay is not overloaded and burned, the start repeat relay automatically interrupts the starting process and activates it again later. In known circuits this takes place with the aid of a delayed opening relay until the pinion has meshed with the ring gear and the main current contact has been made. However, a start repeat relay of this kind can only be used with types of starters whose main current coil has an additional output terminal (terminal 48) for a connecting line to a timer circuit capacitor in the start repeat relay. Refitting with the known start repeat relay of starters without this terminal is not possible.
Because this additional connecting terminal makes the starter device more expensive and makes the application more difficult, for the purpose of a start repeat the present invention attempts to detect blind switching of sliding-gear starters without the additional terminal by means of a novel circuit arrangement and a novel method.

Circuit arrangement and method for start repeat of internal combustion engines


An image forming apparatus, with an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet, and a position restricting unit being in contact with a surface of the sheet on a side of said image forming apparatus and keeping distance between the sheet and said image forming device constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for recording image information on a record material (sheet) or the recording apparatus thereof, in particular, to a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording system for spraying ink corresponding to a signal.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, image forming apparatus (recording apparatuses) for use as printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and so forth drive an energy generating member for a record head corresponding to image information received so as to record a dot pattern image on a record material such as a piece of paper or a plastic sheet.
However, in addition to such an ink jet recording system, wire-dot systems, thermal systems, laser beam systems, and so forth are known. Next, with reference to FIG. 23, an ink jet recording system will be described. A record head 351 discharges ink on a record paper sheet P corresponding to image information so as to record the image on the record paper sheet P. The record head 351 is disposed on a carriage 352. The carriage 352 is connected to a lead screw 353. The lead screw 353 is rotated by a drive source (not shown) so as to reciprocate the carriage 352 along a guide shaft 354 (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). While the carriage 352 is moved, the record head 351 is driven so as to discharge ink on the record paper sheet P.
A conveying means conveys the record paper sheet P to the record head 351. The conveying means has a conveying roller 355 and a pinch roller 356. The conveying roller 355 is disposed on the rear side of the record paper sheet P. The pinch roller 356 pinches the record paper sheet P along with the conveying roller 355. Thus, the record paper sheet P pinched by the conveying roller 355 and the pinch roller 356 is conveyed to a support table (platen) disposed at a record position. The conveying roller 355 is disposed on a drive side (drive force is received and thereby rotated). The surface of the conveying roller 355 is coated with a high frictional material (for example, rubber). In addition, the pinch roller 356 is disposed on a follower side (rotated by the conveying roller 355). The pinch roller 356 is for example a metal roller. Both ends of a rotating shaft of the pinch roller 356 are tensioned by a pair of leaf springs 357. Thus, the pinch roller 356 presses the conveying roller 355.
The distance between the record head 351 and the front surface of the record paper sheet P is given by: EQU .delta.=.delta..sub.0 -t
where .delta. is the distance (record head distance) between the record head 351 and the front surface of the record sheet P; and .delta..sub.0 is the distance between the record head 351 and the support table. Thus, the ink spray distance varies corresponding to t. Consequently, the position of the record head 351 or conveying roller 355 should be adjusted corresponding to the sheet thickness t.

Image forming apparatus with means for maintaining constant distance between recording head and recording sheet


Inhibitors of HBV replication of formula (I) including stereochemically isomeric forms, and salts, hydrates, solvates thereof, wherein R1-R5, B and Z have the meaning as defined herein. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing said compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use, alone or in combination with other HBV inhibitors, in HBV therapy.

The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped, partially double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus of the Hepadnavirus family (Hepadnaviridae). Its genome contains 4 overlapping reading frames: the precore/core gene; the polymerase gene; the L, M, and S genes, which encode for the 3 envelope proteins; and the X gene.
Upon infection, the partially double-stranded DNA genome (the relaxed circular DNA; rcDNA) is converted to a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the nucleus of the host cell and the viral mRNAs are transcribed. Once encapsidated, the pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), which also codes for core protein and Pol, serves as the template for reverse transcription, which regenerates the partially dsDNA genome (rcDNA) in the nucleocapsid.
HBV has caused epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa, and it is endemic in China.
HBV has infected approximately 2 billion people worldwide of which approximately 350 million people have developed chronic infections. The virus causes the disease hepatitis B and chronic infection is correlated with a strongly increased risk for the development cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Transmission of hepatitis B virus results from exposure to infectious blood or body fluids, while viral DNA has been detected in the saliva, tears, and urine of chronic carriers with high titer DNA in serum.
An effective and well-tolerated vaccine exists, but direct treatment options are currently limited to interferon and the following antivirals; tenofovir, lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir and telbivudine. Interferon is expensive and frequently not well tolerated, and nucleosides have been shown to select for resistant mutants.
Drug screens have identified heteroaryldihydropyrimidines (HAPs) as a class of HBV inhibitors in tissue culture and animal models, effective at nanomolar concentrations (Weber et al., Antiviral Res. 54: 69-78). Further research has shown that HAPs target Cp (Deres et al., Science 299: 893-896), causing the inappropriate assembly of capsid at higher drug concentrations.
A number of patents and patent applications disclose compounds with HBV inhibitory activity, in particular dihydropyrimidine derivatives, including WO00/058302, WO01/68642 and WO2010/069147.
Amongst the problems which HBV direct antivirals may encounter are toxicity, mutagenicity, lack of selectivity, poor efficacy, poor bioavailability, racemisation of chiral centers and difficulty of synthesis.
There is a need for HBV inhibitors that may overcome at least one of these disadvantages.

4,4-disubstituted-1,4-dihydropyrimidines and the use thereof as medicaments for the treatment of hepatitis B


A key structure includes a keycap, a scissors-type connecting element, a first knocking part, a resilience element and a second knocking part. The scissors-type connecting element is coupled to a bottom surface of the keycap. The scissors-type connecting element includes an inner frame and an outer frame. The first knocking part is disposed within a space surrounded by the inner frame. The resilience element is located under the first knocking part. The second knocking part is coupled to the bottom surface of the keycap and faces the first knocking part. While the keycap is pressed down, the second knocking part knocks on the first knocking part, and the first knocking part is moved downwardly. When the keycap is not pressed down, the first knocking part is moved upwardly and returned to an original position in response to an elastic force of the resilience element.

Generally, the common peripheral input device of a computer system includes for example a mouse device, a keyboard device, or the like. Via the keyboard device, characters or symbols can be inputted into the computer system directly. As a consequence, most users pay much attention to the keyboard devices.
When the key structure of a mechanical keyboard is clicked, a click sound is generated. However, some existing keyboard devices (e.g., a slim keyboard of a notebook computer) cannot generate the click sound. When the consumer purchases a keyboard device, the sound performance of the keyboard device is usually an important factor that is taken into consideration.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a keyboard device capable of generating a sound like a clicked mechanical keyboard.


The new cultivar is a variety of a shrub-like rose plant having a flat bushy growth habit. The long stem flowers are large, have an interesting coloration, and a pleasant fragrance. The plant exhibits good hardiness and resistance to most diseases.

Rosa l.
xe2x80x98Tanabamarxe2x80x99.
The present invention includes a new and distinct cultivar of Rosa l. known by the varietal name xe2x80x98Tanabamarxe2x80x99.
The new plant was discovered in 1992 by the breeder in Ueterson, Germany in a controlled breeding program. The female parent (Breeder Ref. No. RT 8349) is an unpatented bi-colored yellow floribunda F1 numbered variety from the breeder""s private collection which is maintained proprietary by the assignee. The male parent (Breeder Ref. No. RT 8342) is unpatented and also a numbered variety from this collection and is a red groundcover. The plant was discovered by the breeder on the Tanotax plantation in Ueterson, Germany. The plant can be propagated asexually on Rosa canina rootstock by cuttings and has been so asexually reproduced in Uetersen, Germany.
The variety is distinguishable by its large flowers, its fragrance and coloration, its shrub like appearance, and its resistance to diseases. Continued observations from the vegetative cuttings in Uetersen, Germany have confirmed that the distinguishing features of this new cultivar come true, remain stable, and are retained through successive propagations.

Rose plant named xe2x80x98Tanabamarxe2x80x99


A jig for used in performing a finish processing of a cylinder bore 3 comprises a jig body 10 that comes close to and disengages from a cylinder head mounting surface 2, bolt member 16 that forms a tapered bore portion 20 by a internal surface 21 of a plurality of blot pieces 18 having a threaded portion 19 engageable to a female threaded portion 8 of a head bolt hole 7 and that expands the diameter thereof by a wedge action receiving through the tapered bore portion 20, a tapered shaft member 17 having a tapered surface portion 22 inserted into the tapered bore portion 20 so as to add the wedge action to it, and a piston member 24 having a pressing surface 23 contacting a given surface portion on the cylinder head mounting surface 2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a jig and a method for processing a cylinder block for used in finish processing for a cylinder bore in the cylinder block.
2. Related Art
For example, in a cylinder block making up of an engine installed on an automobile or the like, aperture portions requiring a predetermined roundness are formed. As these aperture portions, for example, a cylinder bore, which slidably incorporates a piston connected to a crankshaft of the engine via a con rod or the like, and a bearing hole, which supports a journal portion of the crankshaft and so on. In other words, a finish processing (a perfect circle processing) such as honing process is performed, for the aperture portions such as the cylinder bore and the bearing hole, so as to acquire the predetermined roundness.
Meanwhile, the roundness of the aperture portion such as the cylinder bore is affected by bolt fastening accompanying the assembly of components on the process of assembling the engine or the like. In other words, the cylinder block or the like is distorted (deformed) due to a tightening force of the bolt fastening (a fastening axial force), and the roundness of the aperture portion such as the cylinder bore is deteriorated, by assembling the components into the cylinder block by the bolt fastening.
Consequently, conventionally, the finish processing is performed in the state that the distortion (the deformation) caused by assembling the components into the cylinder block or the like is reproduced (simulated) for the aperture portion such as the cylinder bore (see, for example, JP 2004-243514 and JP 2002-120107).
JP 2004-243514 shows a dummy head processing, as a representative example of method for performing the finish processing in the state that the distortion accompanying the assembly of the components into the cylinder block is preliminary added to the aperture portion such as the cylinder bore. In the dummy head processing, so-called a dummy head is used. The dummy head is a jig for processing different from the cylinder head incorporated as an actual product, and is assembled into the cylinder block using the fastening means such as the bolt (the head bolt) as with the cylinder head. In other words, the distortion caused by assembling the cylinder head into the cylinder block is added to the aperture portion such as the cylinder bore, by assembling the dummy head into the cylinder block. In the circumstances, the finish processing is performed in the aperture portion such as the cylinder bore. Accordingly, the effect of the actual assembly of the cylinder head on the roundness of the aperture portion such as the cylinder bore (the deterioration of the roundness) is reduced.
The above-mentioned dummy head processing includes the following problems. The dummy head processing is based on the concept of performing the finish processing for the aperture portion such as the cylinder bore, in the state that the assembly completed condition as an engine assembly is reproduced, by assembling the dummy head into the cylinder block with the bolt fastening. For this reason, the preparation for a considerable number of dummy heads considering a production cycle time, the equipments for assembling/removing the dummy head or the like are required. Therefore, the preparation for a considerable number of dummy heads and additional spaces as well as the additional equipments and process for assembling/removing the dummy head, for processing the cylinder block with the dummy head processing are required, compared to the processing of the cylinder block in a normal processing without the dummy head processing, thereby increasing the production cost.
Meanwhile, JP 2002-120107 discloses a technology of the roundness processing for the bearing hole (the journal bearing hole) supporting the crankshaft. For example, as shown in the specification, the bearing hole is formed by means of assembling a lower case to the cylinder block by the bolt fastening.
JP 2002-120107 discloses a technology for performing the roundness processing of the bearing hole, in the state that the deformation equivalent to one caused by the bolt fastening or the like is added, by adding a prescribed load using a pressing pin, instead of the bolt fastening, so as to form the bearing hole. The technology is aimed at improving the production efficiency by getting rid of the bolt fastening process and the bolt demolition process, in the roundness processing for the bearing hole.
The technology disclosed in JP 2002-120107 is used in the processing for the bearing hole, but has a possibility of application to the processing for the cylinder bore. In this case, specifically, the deformation is added to the cylinder bore, by adding the predetermined load to the cylinder head mounting surface by the pressing pin, instead of assembling the dummy head into the cylinder block by the bolt fastening. Accordingly, the dummy head is not needed, whereby the problems on the dummy head processing caused by using the dummy head as described above are solved.
However, the deformation of the cylinder bore caused by assembling the cylinder head (the dummy head) into the cylinder block is caused not only by the pressing on the cylinder head mounting surface but also by the action of the fastening axial force by the bolt fastening (the tensile force by the bolt). For this reason, the deformation of the cylinder bore caused by assembling the cylinder head become difficult to be fully reproduced, by using the technology disclosed in JP 2002-120107.
In this respect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a jig and a method for processing the cylinder block, which is capable of using existing equipments for preliminary adding the cylinder bore to the predetermined deformation and which is capable of improving the production efficiency, without increase in the space, the equipment, the process or the like leading to the increase of the production cost, in the finish processing for the cylinder bore in the cylinder block.

Jig and method for processing cylinder block


Compositions involving I.kappa.B (i.e., inhibitor of Nuclear Factor-.kappa.B or NF-.kappa.B) and methods of using the same are described that have applications for the identification of prophylactics or therapeutics for the treatment of diseases resulting from altered gene expression, including genes that encode cytokines or related molecules.

Cytokines are small molecular weight proteins that have a myriad of biological functions (for background information, see Balkwill, F. R., et al., 1989, Immun. Today, 10:299). For example, cytokines are known to be capable of stimulating their own synthesis, as well as the production of other cytokines from a variety of cell types. They are also associated with disease. A good example is the presence of the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). IL-1 has been demonstrated to have multiple biological activities with the two prominent being fever production and lymphocyte activation. Moreover, both cytokines, alone or in combination, cause a shock state in animals that hemodynamically and hematologically is characteristic of septic shock in man caused by bacterial infection. TNF, in addition, has recently been shown to be involved in initiating the expression of human immunodeficiency virus in human cells that carry latent virus. Folks et al., 1989, PNAS (USA), 86:2365. TNF and IL-1 also play a role in various autoimmune diseases, particularly arthritis. Duff, et al. 1987, International Conference on Tumor Necrosis Factor and Related Cytotoxins, 175:10.
In addition to IL-1 and TNF, another cytokine, IL-6, has recently been shown to be involved in infection, particularly sepsis, as well as in affecting the growth of tumor cells. Hack, et al., 1989, Blood, 74:1704, and Miki et al, 1989, FEB, 250:607. IL-6 is also termed hybridoma growth factor, interferon-beta-2, B-cell stimulatory factor 2, 26 kD protein, and hepatocyte stimulating factor.
Adherence to an appropriate substratum has been shown to be important in transcriptional expression of cytokine mediators of inflammation produced by macrophages or monocytes, and adherence to different matrices has recently been shown to result in preferential gene induction (Sporn, S. A., et al., 1990, J. of Immun., 144:4434-4441; Thorens, B., et al., 1987, Cell, 48:671). For example, within 30 minutes of monocyte adherence to plastic, a complex set of regulatory events is initiated as defined by rapid changes of mRNA levels of several inflammatory mediators and proto-oncogenes (Haskill, S., et al., 1988, J. of Immunol., 140:1690). IL-1.beta.,TNF-.alpha. and c-fos are rapidly elevated, whereas CSF-1 steady state mRNA levels increase by 90 minutes. In contrast, expression of c-fms and lysozyme is rapidly down-regulated These genes are modulated by adherence to different biologically relevant substrates (Eierman, D. F., 1989, J. of Immunol., 14:1970-1970).
Although high steady state mRNA levels of important mediators of inflammation are rapidly induced by adherence, adherence by itself is insufficient to cause efficient translation and secretion of IL-1.beta.,TNF-.alpha., or CSF-1 (Haskill, S., et al., supra). Activation by a second signal, such as bacterial endotoxin, is required for the secretion of all three gene products. Thus, it is clear that signals derived from the act of adherence are likely to play a significant role in the activation and differentiation of monocytes allowing them to respond to infection and to influence the local tissue environment (Sporn, S. A, supra).
Recently, a protein termed NF-.kappa.B has been shown to be a transcriptional activator (Sen, R. and Baltimore, D., 1986, Cell, 4:705-716). This factor has been shown to bind to DNA regulatory regions of certain cytokine genes (Leonardo, M. and Baltimore, D., 1989, Cell, 58:227-229). Various agents cause the induction of nuclear NF-.kappa.B DNA-binding activity (Sen and Baltimore, supra). It is thus thought that NF-.kappa.B is a transcriptional regulator of gene expression for various cytokine genes. It would therefore be desirable to identify molecules that inhibit the effects of NF-.kappa.B since these would be useful to regulate the effects of cytokines in the inflammatory response.
It has recently been shown that NF-.kappa.B is associated with a 36 kD protein termed I.kappa.B (Baeurle, P. and Baltimore, D., 1988, Cell, 51:211-217; Baeurle, P. and Baltimore, D., 1988, Science, 242:540-546). NF-.kappa.B consists of proteins having molecular weights of 50 and 65 kD. I.kappa.B binds to the 65 kD subunit (Baeurle, P. and Baltimore, D., 1989, Genes and Development, 3:1689-1698). Finally, recent experimental evidence shows that phosphorylation of I.kappa.B blocks its inhibitory effect on DNA binding activity of NF-.kappa.B. This is consistent with the observation that protein kinases activate NF-.kappa.B DNA binding activity in vitro (Ghosh, S. and Baltimore, D., 1990, Nature, 344:678-682).
Because of the importance of I.kappa.B in regulating gene expression, it will be appreciated that the purification, cloning, and expression of this molecule will make available assays for identification of regulators of NF-.kappa.B and I.kappa.B that will have significant medical applications.

Inhibitor of NF-.kappa.B transcriptional activator and uses thereof


A system for providing electric power and a method of controlling the same. The system includes a local power source, a non-neutral-bonded connector electrically connected to the local power source, a neutral-bonded connector, and a conductor. The system also includes a first connector that provides an electrical connection between the non-neutral-bonded connector and the neutral-bonded connector in a first configuration of the system, and a second connector that provides an electrical connection between the non-neutral-bonded connector and the conductor in a second configuration of the system.

Generators are used in a variety of different environments. For example, a generator can be used as a secondary or back-up power source for a building (e.g., a residence) or as the primary power source at a construction site. Numerous other situations or uses for a generator are possible.
Bonding the neutral wire of the generator to ground is required in some environments. For example, the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires industrial (also referred to as commercial) generators to be neutral bonded, i.e., electrically connecting the neutral wire of the generator to ground. Also, it is typically required to include a ground-fault-circuit interrupt (GFCI) in the industrial generator for detecting ground-fault current.
A breaker box of a building or residence also typically has the neutral wire bonded to ground. If the industrial generator is connected to such a breaker box, a loop is created with the neutral wire of the industrial generator and the ground wire of the breaker box. This potentially induces a current through the neutral and ground wires, which trips the GFCI of the industrial generator.

Electric power system and method of operating the same


An alkaline secondary battery which is characterized in that it comprises, a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide having a value of 0.8° or more in the half-width of a peak in the (101) plane thereof as measured by X-ray powder diffraction (2θ) using Cu—Kα ray, and 4.0 to 15% by weight of at least one material selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc compounds, and an alkali electrolyte, the ratio of which to theoretical capacity of the positive electrode being 0.7 to 2.0 cm3/Ah, the weight of the at least one material being one calculated as zinc element and based on the weight of the nickel hydroxide.

This invention relates to electrodes, an alkaline secondary battery, and a method for manufacturing an alkaline secondary battery.
As a positive electrode to be employed for an alkaline secondary battery, a sintered type positive electrode has been employed. This sintered type positive electrode has been manufactured by a process wherein nickel particles are attached to a two-dimensional substrate such as a punched steel body or a nickel mesh and then sintered to obtain a porous plate having openings of several tens microns in pore size, which is then impregnated with an aqueous solution of a nickel salt and subjected to an alkaline treatment thereby to turn the nickel salt impregnated in the porous body into nickel hydroxide.
However, the manufacture of the sintered type positive electrode involves complicated procedures for impregnating a nickel salt and an alkaline treatment. In order to impregnate the substrate with a predetermined amount of an active material, the aforementioned procedures are required to be repeated 4 to 10 times. As a result, the manufacturing cost would be increased by such complicated procedures. Moreover, since the sintered type positive electrode to be obtained by the aforementioned procedures is accompanied with a problem that if the porosity thereof exceeds over 80%, it is difficult to assure the mechanical strength thereof, it is impossible to further increase the filling ratio of the active material.
Under the circumstances, it is now studied to manufacture a positive electrode by a different method wherein nickel hydroxide particles are mixed with a conductive material, a binder and water to prepare a paste, which is then filled into a metallic porous body having a three-dimensional structure such as a sponge-like porous metallic body having an average porosity of 95% or more and an average pore diameter of several tens to several hundreds microns, and a metallic fiber mat. The positive electrode manufactured in this manner is called a non-sintered type positive electrode (or a pasted type positive electrode) in contrast to the aforementioned sintered type positive electrode. This a paste type positive electrode is advantageous in that the porosity and average pore size of the metallic porous body are relatively large as compared with those of the aforementioned sintered type positive electrode, so that an active material can be more easily filled into the substrate and the filling ratio of an active material can be increased.
Accordingly, it has been possible with the employment of this paste type positive electrode and improvements on the quality of this paste type positive electrode to further increase the capacity of alkaline secondary battery. By the way, due to an increasing propagation and high performance of potable electric equipments in recent years, it is still demanded to further improve the density of capacity of a secondary battery.
It is imperative in order to meet such a demand to increase the positive electrode or the negative electrode. In the case of a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery, which is one of an alkaline secondary battery, the electrode which regulates the capacity of the battery is generally constituted by a positive electrode. Therefore, it is imperative in order to increase the capacity of battery to increase the ratio of an active material for the positive electrode. By the way, the nickel-hydrogen secondary battery is generally constructed in such a manner that an electrode group comprising a paste type positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide as an active material, a paste type negative electrode containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is housed together with an alkali electrolyte in a case (or vessel). There is a limitation on the volume of the electrode group to be accommodated in the case. Therefore, as a means for increasing the quantity of an active material, it is conceivable to decrease the ratio in capacity between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, i.e. to decrease the capacity of the negative electrode, or to make the thickness of the separator thinner, thereby decreasing the volume of the electrode group. In this case, whichever method it is adopted, some decrease in quantity of alkali electrolyte in relative to a capacity of the positive electrode cannot be avoided. If the quantity of alkali electrolyte in relative to the capacity is decreased, the inner resistance would be increased to lower the operating voltage, thus raising the problems that the discharge capacity is lowered and the utilization of the positive electrode would be lowered.
Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication H/2-30061 discloses a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide particles to which zinc is added. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication H/3-77273 discloses a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide particles whose surfaces are adhered with zinc hydroxide particles. However; it is still difficult to avoid the lowering of the utilization due to an increase in capacity of the battery.

Electrodes, alkaline secondary battery, and method for manufacturing alkaline secondary battery