The present invention relates to subterranean fracturing operations, and more particularly to fracturing fluids that includes a fluid loss control additive, and methods of using such fracturing fluids in fracturing subterranean formations. In one embodiment, a fracturing fluid of the present invention includes a viscosifier; and a fluid loss control additive that includes a deformable, degradable material.

The present invention relates to subterranean fracturing operations, and more particularly to fracturing fluids comprising an improved fluid loss control additive, and methods of using such fracturing fluids in fracturing subterranean formations.
Hydrocarbon-producing wells are often stimulated by hydraulic fracturing operations, wherein a viscous fracturing fluid is introduced into a hydrocarbon-producing zone within a subterranean formation at a hydraulic pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture therein. Generally, the fracturing fluid suspends proppant particles that are to be placed in the fractures to prevent the fractures from fully closing (once the hydraulic pressure is released), thereby forming conductive channels within the formation through which hydrocarbons can flow. Once at least one fracture is created and at least a portion of the proppant is substantially in place, the viscosity of the fracturing fluid may be reduced, to be removed from the formation.
In certain circumstances, a portion of the fracturing fluid may be lost during the fracturing operation, e.g., through undesirable leakoff into natural fractures present in the formation. This is problematic because such natural fractures often have higher stresses than fractures created by a fracturing operation. These higher stresses may damage the proppant and cause it to form an impermeable plug in the natural fractures, that may prevent hydrocarbons from flowing through the natural fractures.
Conventionally, operators have attempted to solve this problem by including a fluid loss control additive in the fracturing fluid. Conventional fluid loss control additives generally comprise rigid particles having a spheroid shape. The use of these additives can be problematic, inter alia, because such additives may require particles that have a distinct particle size distribution to achieve efficient fluid loss control. For example, when such additives are used to block the pore throats in the formation, a sufficient portion of relatively large particles will be required to obstruct the majority of the pore throat, and a sufficient portion of relatively small particles will also be required to obstruct the interstices between the large particles. Furthermore, for certain conventional fluid loss control additives, such a desired particle size distribution may be difficult to obtain without incurring the added expense of reprocessing the materials, for example, by cryogenically grinding them to achieve the desired particle size distribution.

Fluid loss control additives for use in fracturing subterranean formations


An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a slot configured to receive at least a portion of an electronic module therein. The housing includes an anti-stubbing shoulder. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a mating contact portion and an anti-stubbing contact portion. At least a portion of the mating contact portion extends within the slot for engagement with the electronic module. Engagement between the anti-stubbing portion of the electrical contact and the anti-stubbing shoulder of the housing moves at least a portion of the mating contact portion of the electrical contact generally away from the slot of the housing.

The subject matter described and/or illustrated herein relates generally to electrical connectors, and, more particularly, to electrical connectors for electronic modules.
Computers and servers may use numerous types of electronic modules, such as processor and memory modules (e.g. Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Extended Data Out Random Access Memory (EDO RAM), and the like). The memory modules are produced in a number of formats such as, for example, Single In-line Memory Modules (SIMM's), the newer Dual In-line Memory Modules (DIMM's), Small Outline DIMM's (SODIMM's), and Fully Buffered DIMM's.
Typically, the electronic modules are installed in a socket mounted on a circuit board. Each electronic module has a mating edge portion that provides an interface generally between two opposite rows of contacts held by a housing of the socket. The socket housings sometimes include a slot that receives the mating edge portion of the electronic module therein. The contacts held by the socket housing include mating contact portions that extend into the slot for engagement with the mating edge portion of the electronic module. The contacts thereby establish an electrical connection between the electronic module and the circuit board. However, engagement between the mating edge portion of the electronic module and the mating contact portions may damage the contacts, such as, but not limited to, if the mating contact portions of the contacts extend too far into the slot. For example, the contacts may bend and/or fracture along the mating contact portion and/or at an intersection between the mating contact portion and an intermediate portion thereof. Sometimes, the mating contact portion of the contacts may be crushed between the mating edge portion of the electronic module and a portion of the socket housing. Damage to the contacts caused by engagement with the electronic module is sometimes referred to as "stubbing" of the contacts.
There is a need for an electrical connector for electronic modules having contacts that are less likely to be damaged via engagement with a mating edge portion of the electronic module.

Electrical connector assembly with anti-stubbing feature


The invention provides compositions and methods for wound healing and scar reduction. The compositions and methods of the invention include at least one EP4 agonist set forth herein. Wounds and or scars that can be treated by the compositions and methods of the invention can arise from events such as surgery, trauma, disease, mechanical injury, burn, radiation, poisoning, and the like.

Prostanoid EP4 receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor that mediates the actions of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and is characterized by the longest intracellular C terminus loop when compared to other prostanoid receptors. Mainly, EP4 receptors couple to Gs and mediate elevations in cAMP concentration, although they do participate in other pathways as well. There are some redundancies in function between EP2 and EP4 receptors. For example, both receptors induce PGE2-mediated RANKL through cAMP. However, EP2 is involved in cumulus expansion in ovulation and fertilization, whereas EP4 regulates closure of the ductus arteriosus. Expression of EP4 receptors is controlled by various physiological and pathophysiological processes as these receptors participate in ovulation and fertilization, induce bone formation, protect against inflammatory bowel disease, facilitate Langerhans cell migration and maturation and mediate joint inflammation in a model of collagen-induced arthritis, among others
Skin blemishes such as flesh wounds, scars and wrinkles can occur on any area of the body. Scarring may occur in all parts of adult body, following local or systemic traumas such as mechanical injury, surgery, burn, radiation and poisoning, and represents a failure of homeostatic processes to restore normal structure at the wound sites. Wrinkles occur for a variety of reasons and are a common sign of aging. Both scars and signs of aging can typically considered undesirable.
Accordingly, an agent that safely and effectively treats or prevents such skin blemishes is highly desirable.


A quick connect/disconnect pipe coupling comprising a female receptacle member, a locking collar adapted to be slidably engaged over one end of the female receptacle member, and a male plug member adapted to be inserted into the collar engaged female receptacle member to form a tight connection therebetween. The collar includes radial locking flanges for engaging cooperating annular ridges on the plug and receptacle members, respectively. Slidable movement of the collar toward the receptacle member disengages the locking flange on the collar from the annular ridge on the male plug member thereby enabling a quick disconnect of the female receptacle member and collar from the male plug member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pipe couplings, and more particularly, to a quick connect/disconnect pipe coupling especially adapted to form a fluid tight connection between sections of PVC pipe.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Quick connect/disconnect fluid couplings for pipe sections are generally well known. Illustrative of this are the pipe couplings disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,982,761; 5,028,080; and 5,005,876. Each of these prior art couplings comprises a relatively complicated locking device or assembly resulting in higher than necessary manufacturing cost and difficulty of use. There exists a continuing need for a simpler, more economical quick connect/disconnect coupling which is particularly adapted to connect sections of widely used molded or extruded plastic pipe such as that commonly employed to convey water to and through swimming pools and swimming pool water treatment/filtration systems. The cost of such pipe is relatively modest and therefore the cost of pipe couplings used therewith must accordingly be low in cost. Conventional swimming pool PVC pipe couplings generally comprise male or female threaded fittings, and while such couplings are relatively low in cost, they are not capable of being quickly connected and/or disconnected. Moreover, they are difficult to use without employing a wrench or other tool.
The foregoing disadvantages are overcome by the unique quick connect/disconnect pipe coupling of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.


A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer clamped between a first and second substrates. The method includes the steps of: forming a pixel electrode pattern on the first substrate; painting a resist film on the pixel electrode pattern; exposing and developing the resist film and forming a resist pattern having a shape on the pixel electrode pattern in which multiple branches extend outwardly from both sides of a main stem connecting among the multiple braches; and conducting an ashing process and a thermosetting process for the resist pattern. Liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer orient approximately in vertical to a surface of the liquid crystal layer in a non-driving state, and the liquid crystal molecules orient approximately in parallel to the surface of the liquid crystal layer in a driving state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to liquid crystal display devices, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device applying a vertical orientation mode.
The liquid crystal display device has been widely used for various portable information processing apparatuses, especially, for laptop computers and cellular phones, as a display device that is minimized and requires lower power consumption. Recently, a performance of the liquid crystal display has been dramatically improved to be faster. Thus, recent technology of the liquid crystal display achieving a faster response speed and a clearer contrast is realized to replace a CRT display device of a desktop computer or a workstation computer.
However, such a conventional liquid crystal display is needed to improve the response speed and the contrast in order to be especially applied to a flat display device of a desktop computer. Also, it is required to realize a wider angle of visibility to recognize information displayed on the conventional liquid crystal display device as much as a direct view angle to a front of the conventional liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as a practical liquid crystal device, a TN-type liquid crystal display device that is normally in white mode has been widely used. In the TN-type liquid crystal display device, an orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules is changed depending on an applied voltage signal. A transmission light is controlled to turn ON or OFF by the change of the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules.
However, in the TN-type liquid crystal display device, a ratio of contrast is limited because of an operation principle. Thus, it is difficult to realize the wider view angle that is required for the display device of the desktop computer.
On the contrary, the inventor of the present invention has already proposed a liquid crystal display device are that liquid molecule in a liquid layer is oriented to an approximate vertical direction in advance before a driving voltage is applied, so called a vertical orientation liquid crystal display device.
A principle of a vertical orientation liquid crystal display device 10 that is proposed by the inventor of the present invention, called an MVA type, will now be described. FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a non-driving state in that the driving voltage is not applied to the liquid crystal display device 10 and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a driving state in that the driving voltage is applied to the liquid crystal display device 10.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a liquid crystal layer 12 is clamped between glass substrates 11A and 11B. The glass substrates 11A and 11B form a liquid panel with the liquid crystal layer 12. Molecule orientation films (not shown) are formed on the glass substrates 11A and 11B. By effects of the molecule orientation film, in the state in which the driving voltage is not applied, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 12 are oriented in the approximate vertical direction to the liquid crystal layer 12. In the non-driving state in FIG. 1A, because a deflection angle of a deflection plate is not substantially changed, in a case in which a polarizer and an analyzer are provided on a top and a bottom surfaces in a crossed Nicol state, an incident light beam, which transmits through the polarizer and enters the liquid crystal layer 12, is interrupted by the analyzer.
On the other hand, in the driving state in FIG. 1B, the liquid molecules are tilted by influence of the applied electric field. Then, the deflection direction of the deflection plate is changed. As a result, the incident light beam, which transmits through the polarizer and enters the liquid crystal layer 12, transmits through the analyzer.
Moreover, in the liquid crystal display device 10 in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, during the transmission from the non-driving state to the driving state, in order to suppress a tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules and improve the response speed, extended projecting patterns 13A and 13B are alternately formed on the glass substrates 11A and 11B in parallel.
By forming the projection patterns 13A and 13B, the response speed of the liquid crystal display device 10 is improved and simultaneously a plurality of domains are formed in different directions of tilting the liquid crystal molecule in the liquid crystal layer 12. As a result, the view angle of the liquid crystal display device 10 is greatly improved.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules in vicinities of the projection patterns 13A and 13B in the driving state in FIG. 1B.
Referring to FIG. 2, the liquid crystal molecules are tilted in the driving state and an angle difference is about 180° between orientation directions of the projections 13A and 13B. That is, the projections 13A and 13B are twisted. In FIG. 2, a polarizer absorbent axis P and an analyzer absorbent axis A are shown.
In liquid crystal display device 10 having the vertical orientation, while the tilted liquid crystal molecules are twisted up to 180°, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules at one edge of the projection 13A or 13B always corresponds to a direction of the polarizer absorption axis P and the orientation at another edge of the projection 13A or 13B always corresponds to a direction of the analyzer absorption axis A. When such the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules occurs, two dark lines shown in FIG. 2 appear along both edges of the projection 13A or 13B. The two dark lines deteriorate transmittance of a liquid crystal panel and then also, the contrast of liquid crystal display device 10 is deteriorated.
In addition, in the liquid crystal display device 10 shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, a tilt direction is controlled in the vicinities of the projections 13A and 13B but the tilt direction is not controlled in regions other than the vicinities. As a result, when a state of the liquid crystal display device 10 transits from the non-driving state in FIG. 1A to the driving state in FIG. 1B, the liquid crystal molecules start to be tilted in a given direction at the vicinities of the projections 13A and 13B and then tilt of the liquid crystal molecules at the vicinities propagate the liquid crystal molecules in the regions other than the vicinities. Finally, all liquid crystal molecules are tilted in the given direction. However, the response speed of such tilt propagation takes time. Thus, it is desired to improve the response speed. Especially, when a half tone is displayed by the tilt propagation, the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules located far from the projection patterns 13A and 13B is not defined since an electric field applied to the liquid crystal molecules is weak. Consequently, the response speed tends to delay.
Also, in the conventional liquid crystal display device 10 shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the projection patterns 13A and 13B are required to be at least 1.2 μm height. However, when the projection patterns having a 1.2 μm height are formed by resist, a retardation of the liquid crystal layer 12 is decreased at the projection patterns 13A and 13B. Also, the decrease of the retardation degrades transmittance of the liquid crystal layer 12.

Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same


A radiofrequency plasma spark plug configured to equip a combustion chamber including: an annular shell with a main axis; a central electrode made of a conductive material, extending along the main axis and including an inner portion arranged inside the annular shell and an outer portion arranged outside the annular shell; an annular electrically insulating part extending at least about the inner portion of the central electrode so as to be interposed between the shell and the electrode, the insulating part only covering part of the outer portion of the central electrode. The insulating part includes an annular flange concealing the entire circular terminal surface of the shell relative to the uncovered part of the electrode.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to radiofrequency plasma spark plugs.
More specifically, the invention relates to a spark plug, known as a radiofrequency plasma spark plug, intended to equip a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and comprising:                an annular shell of main axis D formed in a first conducting material and having first and second ends and an end circular surface with a main axis of symmetry D located at the first end of the shell;        a central electrode formed in a second conducting material extending along the main axis D and comprising an internal portion positioned inside said annular shell and an external portion positioned on the outside of said annular shell, nearer to the first end of the shell than to the second;        an electrically insulating component of annular shape extending at least around the internal portion of the central electrode such as to be inserted between the shell and the electrode, this insulating component covering only part of the external portion of the central electrode such that the uncovered part of the external portion is in contact with a gaseous mixture surrounding the spark plug.
II. Description of Related Art
Ignition in gasoline internal combustion engines, which consists in initiating combustion of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of said engine, is relatively well controlled in current engines.
However, in order to comply with emissions standards, motor manufacturers have developed controlled-ignition engines capable of running on lean air-fuel mixtures, that is to say mixtures which contain an excess of air with respect to the amount of fuel injected.
Igniting a fuel-lean mixture is, however, difficult to control. As a result, and in order to improve the probability of successful ignition, it is necessary to have more fuel-rich mixtures around the spark plug at the instant the spark is produced.
Still with a view to increasing the probability that the spark plug will ignite the mixture, novel spark plugs with surface sparks have been developed in order to produce larger sparks to cope with the problem of the spatio-temporal meeting between the fuel mixture and the spark. Thus, a larger volume of mixture is ignited, and the probability of initiating combustion is therefore very greatly improved.
Such spark plugs are described in particular in patent applications FR97-14799, FR99-09473 and FR00-13821. Such spark plugs generate large-sized sparks from small potential differences.
Surface spark plugs have a dielectric (insulating component) separating the electrodes (one electrode being the annular shell and the other electrode being the central electrode) in the region where the distance between them is the smallest; the sparks formed between the electrodes are thus guided onto the surface of the dielectric. These spark plugs magnify the inter-electrode field at the surface of the dielectric. In order to do that, the elementary capacitors formed by the dielectric and an underlying electrode are progressively charged. The spark plugs generate a spark which travels along the surface of the insulator in the regions where the electric field in the air/gaseous mixture is the strongest.


A transistor is formed by forming a ridge including a first ridge portion and a second ridge portion in a semiconductor substrate, the ridge extending along a first direction, forming a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a drain extension region and a gate electrode adjacent to the channel region, in the ridge, doping the channel region with dopants of a first conductivity type, and doping the source region and the drain region with dopants of a second conductivity type. Forming the drain extension region includes forming a core portion doped with the first conductivity type in the second ridge portion, and forming the drain extension region further includes forming a cover portion doped with the second conductivity type, the cover portion being formed so as to be adjacent to at least one or two sidewalls of the second ridge portion.

MOS power transistors or MOS power devices, which are commonly employed in automotive and industrial electronics, should have a low switch-on resistance (Ron), when being switched on. In a switch-off state, they should have a high breakdown voltage characteristic and withstand high source-drain voltages. Further, attempts are being made to reduce the capacitances, in particular, the gate-drain capacitance between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device


A recording apparatus is provided with a housing for blocking off external light, a supporting base placed in the housing, and a plurality of heating elements, which are arranged on the supporting base in a direction of width of recording paper, for performing the color development of recording paper. The recording apparatus is further provided with a light emitting device, which is placed on the supporting base in such a way as to extent in a direction of width of recording paper, for coming near to recording paper and for fixing an image thereon, and a paper feeding mechanism, which is placed in the housing, for conveying recording paper onto the heating elements and the light emitting device. Thus, the recording apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, the reliability of the recording apparatus can be enhanced. Consequently, the maintenance of the recording apparatus can easily be maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a recording apparatus for printing, for example, a lottery ticket, a bar code label, other kinds of tickets or the like, and more particularly to a recording apparatus which uses thermosensitive (namely, heat-sensitive or thermographic) paper of the optical-fixing type, on which color-development is performed by heat and further, an image is optically fixed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, thermal recording apparatuses using thermosensitive paper as recording paper have come into wide use as a simplified output device for use in a facsimile system or the like owing to the simplicity thereof. Such a recording apparatus has a structure, wherein thermosensitive paper is conveyed onto a plurality of heating elements that are placed and spread in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the thermosensitive paper is conveyed, and wherein arbitrary ones of the heating elements placed therein are selected and energized simultaneously with the conveyance of the thermosensitive paper, and the color recording of an image is then performed by utilizing heat produced by the energized ones of the heating elements.
Such conventional recording apparatuses, however, have drawbacks in that after the recording is once accomplished, an uncolored part may be colored by heat originated from sunlight or may be chemically colored owing to the depositing of alcohol or the like thereon, namely, in that a recorded image may be tampered or deteriorated and cannot be well preserved. The thermosensitive paper used in such conventional recording apparatuses are, therefore, unsuited to recording media which are required to have high reliability and are used for a lottery ticket, a bar code label, other kinds of tickets or the like.
Meanwhile, for the purpose of solving the problems of preventing the color-redevelopment (or re-coloring) of thermosensitive paper and improving the preservability thereof, thermosensitive paper of the optical fixing type has been proposed by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., and has been developed into a product that has already been on the market. This thermosensitive paper has been announced or described in detail in a reference material for a seminar held on May 31, 1995, by Technology Information Association, which is entitled "Thermo-Autochrome Full Color Recording Technology".
There are two kinds of methods for recording an image on this thermosensitive paper of the optical fixing type. A first method is to first selectively perform the color-development of the thermosensitive paper by heat and thereafter perform the optical fixing of colored and uncolored parts thereof by utilizing ultraviolet light. A second method is to first perform the color-development of the thermosensitive paper by selectively emitting light and thereafter perform the fixing and color-development thereof by heat. The fact, however, is that these methods have encountered various problems as will be described hereinbelow, and thus do not come into wide use.
FIGS. 60 and 61 are sectional diagrams for illustrating a conventional recording apparatus that employs this first method. As shown in these figures, a thermal head 1 is provided in a housing (not shown) of the recording apparatus. Further, a plurality of heating elements 2 are provided on the thermal head 1 in such a way as to be arranged in a line. Furthermore, recording paper, which is thermosensitive paper of the optical fixing type, is placed on the heating elements 2. The heating elements 2 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the thermosensitive paper is conveyed.
Furthermore, a circuit component configuration portion 6, in which circuit components for driving the heating elements 2 are placed, is provided on the thermal head 1. Further, a platen roller 4 for conveying recording paper is placed by being supported by the housing (not shown) in such a manner as to be opposed to the heating elements 2. The platen roller 4 is operative to feed the recording paper 5 to the left as viewed in FIG. 60. Moreover, a lamp 3 is disposed in front of the thermal head 1 in the direction of conveyance of the recording paper 5 in parallel with the heating elements 2. The lamp 3 constitutes a light emitting means for fixing an image on the recording paper.
In the conventional recording apparatus having such a configuration, the recording paper 5 is fed by the platen roller 4 on the thermal head 1. Further, only parts, on which the recording of image data is performed by selectively driving arbitrary heating elements 2, of the recording paper 5 are colored by heat. Subsequently, when the recording paper 5 passes through the vicinity of the lamp 3, an image is fixed on the recording paper 5 by light emitted from the lamp 3.
The lamp 3 is driven at a high voltage of several hundreds volts and generates heat at a high temperature. Therefore, when the recording paper 5 approaches the lamp 3, the color-redevelopment occurs owing to the temperature of the lamp 3 before the optical fixing of an image is performed on the recording paper 5. In this case, the recording of the image is impossible. Thus, in the conventional recording apparatus, a predetermined spacing L between the lamp 3 and the recording paper 5 should be left or allowed so as to prevent the recording paper 5 from being colored owing to heat radiated from the lamp 3.
Further, FIG. 62 is a top view of the conventional recording apparatus that is in a state in which the platen roller 4 is removed therefrom. This figure illustrates the placement of the thermal head 1 and the lamp 3 in the recording apparatus. As illustrated in this figure, the lamp 3 has a width that is considerably wide in comparison with the width of the arrangement array or line of the heating elements 2 of the thermal head 1 and with the width of the recording paper 5. This is owing to the electrode structure of the lamp 3. Namely, the drive electrode terminals thereof are drawn from both edges of the lamp 3, respectively. Thus, the lamp 3 has a same structure as of a fluorescent lamp using an ordinary alternating-current power source.
FIG. 63 is a graph for illustrating the distribution of quantity of light (or the luminous energy distribution) of the lamp 3 of the conventional recording apparatus. As is seen from this figure, the quantity of light is low at each of the electrode portions of the lamp 3 and does not come up to the fixing quantity of light (namely, the quantity of light required for fixing or fixation). Therefore, if the apparatus is established in such a manner that the fixing quantity of light is obtained throughout the width of the recording paper 5, the lamp 3 should have a length longer than the width of the recording paper 5. Incidentally, in the case of the recording paper, whose width is equal to that of an A4 page, the width of the lamp 3 should be equal to that of an A3 page or so.
FIG. 64 is a diagram for illustrating operations of opening and closing the cover of another example of the conventional recording apparatus. Further, FIG. 65 is a diagram for illustrating the placement of components in this recording apparatus. As shown in these figures, a housing 120 of the recording apparatus consists of a chassis 122 and an open/close cover 121 attached to the chassis 122. The cover 121 is opened when changing the recording paper 5 enclosed in the housing 120, and when replacing a recording head 123.
In the housing 120, the recording paper 5 wound like a roll is enclosed and the thermal head 1 for recording an image on the recording paper 5 is placed. Further, the conveying platen roller 4 is placed in such a manner as to face the thermal head 1. The thermal head 1 is pushed by a spring 128 to the conveying platen roller 4.
Furthermore, an optical detection sensor 126 for detecting the recording paper 5, and another optical detection sensor 127 for detecting the opened and closed states of the cover 121 are placed in the housing 120.
In the case of the conventional recording apparatus having such a configuration, because of the necessity of the predetermined spacing L between the lamp 3 and the recording paper 5, the thermal head 1 and the lamp 3 are supported by different members (not shown), respectively. Further, the presence of the spacing L between the thermal head 1 and the lamp 3 sometimes causes the recording paper 5 to jam therebetween.
Meanwhile, for the purpose of realizing a mechanism by which a paperjam is hard to occur, there has been contrived a method of increasing the spacing L between the lamp 3 and the recording paper 5, as illustrated in FIG. 66. However, when increasing the spacing L, the lamp 3 goes away from the recording paper 5 this time. Thus, there is caused another problem that the quantity of light required to achieve the fixing cannot be obtained.
Additionally, when increasing the quantity of light emitted from the light source by raising a source voltage for driving the lamp 3, significant degradation in quantity of light due to the use of the lamp 3 is caused. Consequently, this results in occurrence of still another problem that the life of the lamp 3 is reduced.
This is owing to the electrode structure of the lamp 3, namely, to the fact that the drive electrode terminals are drawn from both edges of the lamp 3, respectively, and that the lamp 3 has a same structure as of a fluorescent lamp using an ordinary alternating-current power source.
Moreover, as above described, in the case of the conventional recording apparatus, the length of the lamp 3 should be larger than the width of the recording paper 5. This method, thus, has faced the problem that a reduction in size of the recording apparatus cannot be achieved.
Furthermore, an optical detection sensor 126 for detecting the recording paper 5, and another optical detection sensor 127 for detecting the opened and closed states of the cover 121 are placed in the housing 120. Thus, the number of components provided in the housing 120 is large. Further, the structure of the apparatus is complex.
Meanwhile, even when a recording operation is failure owing to a failure or defect of the heating elements 2, a sustain on the recording paper, oblique feeding of the recording paper, a break of the recording paper and so forth, there are no effective detecting means and thus no reliability of the recording cannot be obtained. The conventional recording apparatus, therefore, has a drawback in that record information output cards (or tickets), to which a record of money information concerning a lottery ticket, a bar code or other kinds of tickets is outputted, cannot be used because of the fact that there is no reliability of the record.
Furthermore, when failures or malfunctions of the heating elements 2 and the lamp 3 occur, such components provided in the recording apparatus cannot easily be replaced. Further, it is difficult for persons other than engineers (for example, a seller of lottery tickets and a station employee) to replace such a component. Thus, the conventional recording apparatus has a defect in that the maintenance thereof is difficult.
The present invention is accomplished to solve the problems (namely, eliminate the drawbacks) of the prior art.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which can be miniaturized and can enhance the reliability thereof and can easily achieve the maintenance thereof.

Recording apparatus and recording method


A device is described for mechanically cleaning fluids, especially for [cleaning] the cooling water that enters a heat exchanger, having a pipe segment (12) as housing, a sieve element (20) that essentially covers the cross section of the pipe, and a suction device (20) on influx side (22) that is capable of moving around an axle (18), the purpose of the device being to aspirate the surface area of sieve element (16) and in this manner clean it, wherein, according to the invention, sieve element (16) forms a partially cylindrical casing having a cylindrical axle (56) perpendicular to axle (24) of pipe segment (12), wherein the open part of cylindrical casing (16) is arranged toward influx side (22) (FIGS. 1, 2).

The present invention relates to a device for mechanically cleaning fluids, in particular, for cleaning the cooling water entering a heat exchanger, having a segment of pipe as housing, a sieve element essentially covering the cross-section of the pipe segment, with a suction device, moveable around an axle on the influx side for suctioning off the surface area and in this manner cleaning the sieve element.
This type of device is already known from DE 39 17 520 C2.
The device known from this document is a further development and improvement of a device known from DE 36 40 638 C1; see also the parallel device known from EP 0 268 752 A1, in which the cutting plane of the rotationally symmetrical filter is arranged on a cross sectional plane of the feed pipe, for example, in a wall connection. The jet of the aspirating device is capable of being rotated around the middle axle of the feed pipe by an electrical motor, where the motor is arranged on the drainage side of the sieve element inside the feed pipe. This arrangement inside the feed pipe impedes access from the outside to the drive motor, as well as, access to the mounting/suspension and the seal.
In DE 38 01 015 A1, a wheel-shaped filter element is in the cross-sectional plane of the feed pipe. In order to clean the sieve, it is mounted in such a way that it can be rotated around the axle of the filter housing and an aspirating element extending along a radius of the filter element is arranged on the feed side of the filter element and is connected to the drainage pipe. In this case, the entire sieve has to be rotated, which necessitates an extensive array of sprockets and cogwheels made of highly non-corrosive materials. In addition, particles of dirt can settle on the edges of the teeth of the gears and cause locking. Moreover, the flat sieve plate requires extensive reinforcement. Since the fluid to be cleaned is usually sea-water, very expensive materials have to be utilized.
In this respect, the arrangement mentioned initially, according to DE 39 17 520 C2, already represents an advancement, albeit, one has to accept the disadvantage, that the mesh surface area of the sieve has a geometrically complicated shape and can only be manufactured with very costly technical production methods.
This disadvantage also holds true for DE 36 40 638 C1. In addition, it can be said about this document, that, in this case, the pipe cross section is divided into sectors and the aspirating device has the shape of one of the sectors, wherein the aspirating pipe runs along the middle of the pipe, so that the backwash of the sieve is stronger in the vicinity of the aspirating pipe while in the vicinity of the outer wall that has the larger mesh surface area of the sieve, the aspiration is weaker. In conditions of severe accumulation of detritus, the reduced intensity of the back wash in the vicinity of the outer surface of the pipe wall is insufficient to remove the detritus from the surface of the sieve and carry it away.
Each of the U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,275,958 and 1,977,601 describes an apparatus in which the actual filtering process takes place in a housing, which is cast. The sieve is mounted so that it is accessible by way of a lid and the mesh area of the sieve is cleaned by a rotating suction device. The axle of rotation is encased by a cylindrical sieve element and is perpendicular to the pipe axle of the incoming pipe in its own, complex casing, in which fluid passes through the sieve element from the inside to the outside. The drive motor is located advantageously outside of the feed pipes and can, therefore, be accessed from the outside, together with the seals and the support system.
The objective of the invention is to improve on the device mentioned at the beginning, in such a manner, that manufacturing it is simplified and less expensive and that the manner of operation is not changed for the worse.
This objective is achieved in that the sieve element forms a partially cylindrical casing, wherein the axle of the cylinder is perpendicular to the axle of the pipe segment and the open part of the partially cylindrical casing is arranged toward the influx side.
This arrangement will achieve, for one thing, that similar to the U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,275,958 and 1,977,601 as well as to DE 39 17 520 C2, the document chosen as related art, the drive motor for the suction device, capable of being rotated around an axle, is also located outside of the pipe segment and, therefore, is easier to access and service. In addition, an arrangement of this type does not necessitate a complicated type of housing for the device as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,276,958 or in 1,977,601, nor is a complicated type of sieve necessary, as shown in DE 36 40 638 C1, which can only be manufactured by a very costly technical process.
In contrast to this, the device according to the invention uses a sieve with a symmetrical shape which can be easily manufactured, namely, a (partially) circular shape, if necessary, complemented by straight extensions attached to the partial circle.
In order to accommodate the necessary mesh surface area of the sieve and keep the flow-through resistance small, it is advantageous, if, according to a further development of the invention, the housing is enlarged, so that the pipe segment has a region with a larger diameter than the adjoining sealing pipe, wherein, according to a further development, the pipe segment is composed of two partial pipe segments that are coupled together, these partial pipe segments extending conically in a direction facing each other, wherein, these partial pipe segments are connected with joiner pipes by flanges. According to another alternative, the undivided pipe segment has a larger diameter. In this manner, the necessary mesh surface area of the sieve can be successfully provided for in both of the alternatives. In the embodiment having cone-shaped pipe segments, according to a further development of the invention, a round holding plate with a rectangular opening is arranged between the two sections, the edge of the open end of the partially cylindrical casing being fastened to this holding plate so that this partially cylindrical casing covers the rectangular opening. According to another development of the invention, the partially cylindrical casing is closed by side walls through which the axle of the rotating or oscillating motor of the suction device is placed. According to further developments, these side walls can be constructed either completely closed or also as a sieve.
According to another development of the invention, the rotor of the suction device is connected on one side to a drive motor and on the opposite side to an aspirating pipe, through which the waste water together with the aspirated detritus can be disposed of.
The sieve can be provided with webs, however, according to a further development of the invention it can also be constructed without webs. If sieves with webs are used, then it is advantageous, according to another development of the invention, if the sieves provided with webs form chambers, by way of the webs, with a specific length and width, and if the open end of the suction pipe has the same length and width as these chambers. By way of this adaptation, each chamber created in this manner can be sealed, thus creating a strong reflux and securing the disposal of the detritus.
The webs have the advantage that large pieces of detritus, such as stones, mussels, fish etc, can be deposited on the sieve between the webs without disturbing or hindering the rotating motionxe2x80x94it can also be an oscillating, swinging motionxe2x80x94of the aspiration rotor.
The mesh surface area of a sieve provided with webs can be constructed out of flat sieve plates placed together, thereby forming a polygon. This is advantageous if the sieve cannot be bent into a cylindrical shape by conventional milling. It is also advantageous, when using a sieve with webs having various heights, that the center of the sieve is arranged different from the center of the rotor.
In order to hold together the cross-sectional flow of the aspiration rotor, it may be beneficial to divide it into two aspirating pipes or aspirating channels/conduits. It is advantageous in the embodiment having two rectangular aspiration pipes that these are annealed out of two tins and are welded together with a half-rounded turned edge in the area connecting with the waste water pipe.
This results in a particularly advantageous, finished product.
Equipping the device according to the invention allows two pressure relief plates to be provided without great cost that function as by-pass conduits. This construction enables the rotor to move either in an oscillating or rotating manner.
The cross-section of the sieve element can be a semi-circle with attached, straight extensions that are parallel to each other (U-form). This results in a greater mesh surface area of the sieve and, thus, decreased pressure reduction.
If two or more sieve elements are provided, the result is an increased reliability through redundance. Changing seals and maintenance of the individual sieve elements is possible while the other sieve element remains in operation. In addition, the length of construction is reduced, which facilitates the modernization of conventional cooling water filters, since there is usually little space at one""s disposal.
According to still another development, the holding plates in the region at the end of the cylindrical sieve casing jut into the cross-sectional flow, this results in areas of turbulence TK. The turbulence thus created in the flow causes the unbent part of the sieve to clean itself, for example, the sieve element which is U-shaped in cross-section.
In the embodiment without inner segmental ribs, large volumes of detritus can be moved by the rotor until the suctioning orifice of the rotor is clear and the detritus can be aspirated.
The invention is more clearly described using exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the drawings.

Sieve with suction cleaning and bypass elements


The invention is directed to techniques for estimating a deformation factor of one or more capacitors in an implantable medical devices (IMD), and techniques for reforming such capacitors. An estimate of the ideal charge time is extrapolated from a first measured charge interval associated with charging the capacitor(s) to a first energy level. The actual charge time to associated with charging the capacitor(s) to a second energy level, e.g., the fully charged state, is measured. The deformation factor is calculated as a ratio of the actual charge interval to the second energy level to the ideal charge time. In some cases, the calculated deformation factor is used to adjust the timing of a future scheduled reformation of the capacitor(s).

Patients who have experienced ventricular fibrillation or who meet a risk profile for ventricular fibrillation are likely candidates for receiving an implantable medical device. An implantable medical device detects an episode of ventricular fibrillation, for example, and delivers one or more electrical shocks to the patient to stop the fibrillation and allow the heart to reestablish a normal sinus rhythm. In general, implantable medical devices deliver a shock at a first energy level upon detecting fibrillation and, if the fibrillation is not stopped, deliver additional shocks at increasing energy levels until the fibrillation is stopped or the programmed progression of shocks has been exhausted. For each shock, one or more defibrillation capacitors are charged to the desired energy level and then discharged to deliver the shock to the patient.
Implantable defibrillators often form part of implantable pacemakers. Implantable pacemaker-cardioverter-defibrillators (PCDs), for example, provide pacing, cardioversion and defibrillation functionality within a fully integrated implantable medical device (IMD). Implantable defibrillators can also form part of other types of IMDs.
One concern with implantable medical devices involves deformation of the defibrillation capacitors. Again, in order to deliver defibrillation shocks, one or more defibrillation capacitors are charged to a specific energy level and then discharged to deliver the energy to the patient as a defibrillation shock. Capacitor deformation, however, affects the ability to charge the defibrillation capacitors, and also affects the ability of the capacitor to effectively store charge. For example, capacitor deformation generally lengthens the amount of time that it takes to charge the capacitors and may reduce the ability of the capacitors to store the charge.
Capacitor reformation techniques have been developed to address the issue of capacitor deformation of defibrillation capacitors. In order to reform the defibrillation capacitors following extended periods of inactivity, a reformation process typically involves fully charging the defibrillation capacitors to repair the capacitors. Conventionally, reformation processes are programmed to occur within the implantable defibrillator at defined intervals, e.g., every three months or so. The reformation process repairs the defibrillation capacitors by rebuilding oxide layers, or the like. Accordingly, following reformation, the defibrillation capacitors should be capable of receiving charge more quickly, ensuring that defibrillation shocks can be delivered in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, however, each reformation process generally shortens the useful life of the defibrillation capacitors.

Reformation techniques for capacitors of implantable medical devices


An animal trap of the type having a base, back wall and side walls made of metal mesh and a roof or lid made of metal sheet. A vertically sliding door is provided at the front of the trap which is held in an upper open position by a trigger mechanism until the trigger mechanism is released by an animal stepping on a bait pan inside the trap. The trap is provided with door slides snap-fitted on the opposite side walls at the front of the trap which improves the rigidity of the trap and the effectiveness of door operation. The slides are extrusions in metal or plastic, each having a first channel which snaps onto the respective side wall and a second perpendicular channel forming a guideway receiving one edge of the door. The roof is formed with inverted U-shaped flanges along its side edges defining a downwardly opening channel adapted to fit over the upper edges of the side walls of the trap housing with inwardly and upwardly extending resilient clip elements pressed into the channel so that the roof can be snap fit over the upper edges of the side walls with the free ends of the clip elements lockingly engaged under horizontal wires of the mesh side walls. The bait pan is supported by a pivot mounting which is spaced inwardly from the side walls of the trap housing and upwardly from the bottom to protect the same against damage causing distortion of the housing.

This invention relates to a cage trap for small animals, the trap being of the kind having a vertically sliding door at least at one end, an internal bait pan and a trigger mechanism connected between the bait pan and the door.
Traps of the above kind are known and are operated by raising the door, in slides, to an open position, setting the door in the open position by means of the trigger mechanism and baiting the bait pan. When an animal is lured into the trap by the bait and steps on the bait pan, the trigger mechanism is sprung allowing the door to drop closed under gravity and trap the animal.
Difficulties which may be encountered in the design and construction of such traps may include, for example, obtaining sufficient rigidity consistent with simplicity, lightness of weight and ease of manufacture, particularly in the slide structure in smaller size traps, to enable the door and trigger mechanism to operate reliably. Current door slides tend to be difficult to work with and assemble and do not always provide repeatability and reliability of door closure.
Although the materials are a significant expense in the production of cage traps, labor costs in manufacturing the parts and assembling the product are important considerations. Products of this nature comprise a multiplicity of individual elements, many of which are quite small, making automated production difficult.
Simplification of the manufacturing process results in improved productivity as well as more effective and dependable operation of the final product.
Cage traps of this type are often subjected to rough handling in use, sometimes resulting in distortion of the elements in a manner that affects the reliability of operation of some of the functional parts. A critical element of a cage trap, the trigger mechanism, which operates to release the door when a target animal contacts the bait pan, may be adversely affected with currently available structures.


A phase change memory device and a method of forming the same are provided. The phase change memory device includes a conducting electrode in a dielectric layer, a bottom electrode over the conducting electrode, a phase change layer over the bottom electrode, and a top electrode over the phase change layer. The phase change memory device may further include a heat sink layer between the phase change layer and the top electrode. The resistivities of the bottom electrode and the top electrode are preferably greater than the resistivity of the phase change material in the crystalline state.

Phase change technology is promising for next generation memory devices. It uses chalcogenide semiconductors for storing states and digital information. The chalcogenide semiconductors, also called phase change materials, have a crystalline state and an amorphous state. In the crystalline state, the phase change materials have low resistivity; while in the amorphous state, they have high resistivity. The resistivity ratios of the phase change material in the amorphous and crystalline states are typically greater than 1000, and thus the phase change memory devices are unlikely to have errors for reading states. The chalcogenide semiconductors are stable at a certain temperature range in both crystalline and amorphous states and can be switched back and forth between the two states by electric pulses. Because of the large resistivity ratio of the crystalline and amorphous states of the phase change material, the resistivities of intermediate states between crystalline and amorphous can also show good enough resolution for multilevel recording. The multilevel recording is another advantage of phase change memory.
Typically, a phase change memory device is formed by placing a phase change material between two electrodes. Write operations, also called programming operations, which apply electric pulses to the memory device, and read operations, which measure the resistance of the phase change memory, are performed through the two electrodes. FIG. 1 illustrates required temperatures for typical programming operations. The temperatures are illustrated as a function of time. A set operation that crystallizes the phase change material is illustrated as line 4. The set pulse needs to heat up the phase change material to a temperature higher than a crystallization temperature Tx, but below a melting temperature Tm, for a time t2 longer than the required crystalline time, for the crystallization to take place. A reset operation that turns the phase change material into an amorphous state is illustrated by line 2. The reset pulse needs to heat up the phase change material to a temperature higher than the melting temperature Tm. The temperature is then quickly dropped below the crystallization temperature Tx during a time period t1, which must be short enough to avoid the crystallization from occurring.
One of the significant challenges that the phase change memory devices face is to reduce the programming current. A commonly used technique for reducing the programming current is to reduce the contact area of the electrical conducting path through the memory device. FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional phase change memory device having reduced contact area. A trench 10 is formed in an insulator 12. A conductive interfacial layer 14 is formed covering the trench 10 and insulator 12. Spacers 16 are formed in trench 10. Phase change material is then deposited into the remainder of the trench to form a phase change layer 18. Since the contact area 17 between the phase change material layer 18 and the interfacial layer is reduced by the spacers 16, the effective resistance is increased and the required programming current is reduced.
Another challenge is to improve the reset speed, which involves quickly dissipating the heat. Typically, the reset speed depends mainly on the intrinsic property of the phase change materials.
FIG. 3 illustrates a prior art phase change memory device having an edge contact. Phase change material layer 26 has a contact region 24 with the edge of a conductive line 20. Since it is easy to form a thin conductive line 20, the contact region 24 can have an area as small 0.004 μm2. Therefore, the required current density is significantly reduced.
The prior art solutions suffer some drawbacks, however. The memory device of the prior art may have an undesirable high current density at an interface area, causing alloying of a phase change material and its neighboring material. It is harder to control programming current density in a manageable range when the contact area is very small, hence the control is inaccurate. Inaccurately controlled current density may cause instability of state change in the reset operation. Therefore, there is a need for alternative solutions.

Phase change memory devices with reduced programming current

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A method and apparatus for interfacing dynamic hardware power managed blocks and software power managed blocks is disclosed. In one embodiment, and integrated circuit (IC) may include a number of power manageable functional units. The functional units maybe power managed through hardware, software, or both. Each of the functional units may be coupled to at least one other functional unit through a direct communications link. A link state machine may monitor each of the communications links between functional units, and may broadcast indications of link availability to the functional units coupled to the link. Responsive to a software request to shut down a given link, or a hardware initiated shutdown of one of the functional units coupled to the link, the link state machine may broadcast and indication that the link is unavailable.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure is directed to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to power management in integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, power management has become an increasingly important factor in the design of integrated circuits (ICs), in part due to increasing levels of integration on a single IC die. The advent of the mobile/portable electronic devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets, etc.) has further driven the demand for more power efficient ICs in order to preserve the battery life of such devices.
Responsive to the demand for more efficient power management on ICs, numerous schemes have been developed. In many ICs, various functional units implemented thereon may be clock gated or power gated. Clock gating may be defined as inhibiting a clock signal from being provided to a functional unit when that unit is idle. Similarly, power gating may be defined as inhibiting power from being provided to a functional unit when it is idle.
In some ICs, various types of hardware may be implemented to manage the power of the various functional blocks thereof. Such hardware may determine when a particular functional unit is idle, and may perform clock gating and/or power gating on that unit responsive thereto. Power management hardware may also resume providing power and/or a clock signal to a functional unit (i.e. 'wake up' the functional unit) in order that it may resume operation.
Software power management is another type of power management that may be implemented. Software instructions executing on an IC configured for processing instructions may determine when various functional units are idle. Responsive to determining that a functional unit is idle, instructions may be executed to cause power gating and/or clock gating. Requests for access or service by the functional unit may be detected by the software, and may be used as a queue to wake up an idle functional unit.

Interfacing dynamic hardware power managed blocks and software power managed blocks


Methods, devices, and systems related to a computing device for displaying an AR responsive to an input are described. An input can include, but is not limited to, a timestamp, weather data, event data, a rating, a user preference, a user input, or a location. In an example, a method can include receiving an input at an AR platform of a computing device from a processing resource of the computing device, receiving an image at the AR platform from a camera of the computing device, comparing the image to a number of AR images included on the AR platform, determining at the AR platform that the image is an AR image of the number of AR images, receiving at a user interface an AR associated with the AR image from the AR platform, and displaying the AR on the user interface in response to receiving the AR.

A computing device can be, for example, a personal laptop computer, a desktop computer, a smart phone, a tablet, a wrist-worn device, a digital camera, and/or redundant combinations thereof, among other types of computing devices. In some examples, a computing device can display an augmented reality (AR) and/or perform artificial intelligence (AI) operations.
AR can overlay virtual objects on a real-world (e.g., natural) environment. For example, AR can add a 3D hologram to reality. In some examples, AR can be an interactive experience of a real-world environment where real-world objects are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information. The AR can mask a portion of the real-world environment and/or add to the real-world environment such that it is perceived as an immersive aspect of the real-world environment. Accordingly, AR can alter a person's perception of a real-world environment. A head-up display, a headset, a smart glass, smart contacts, a light field display, a laser, and/or several sources of light can be used to create AR.
In some examples, a computing device can include an AI accelerator. An AI accelerator can include components configured to enable the computing device to perform AI operations. In some examples, AI operations may include machine learning or neural network operations, which may include training operations or inference operations, or both.

Displaying augmented reality responsive to an input


A doorstop includes a base secured to a floor; the base containing a buffer in relation to the direction of a door panel; a magnetic member being inserted into the center of the buffer; an elastic member being disposed to the inner end of the magnetic member; the elastic member enabling the buffer to engage in reciprocal compression; and when the door is opened, a door panel contacts the doorstop; impact applied by the door panel being absorbed and offset by a coil disposed to the inner end of the buffer; and the door panel being attracted to the magnetic member to prevent possible bouncing back by the door panel.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a doorstop, and more particularly, to a base containing a buffer with a built-in elastic member to offset impact from closing the door and a magnetic member to prevent the door from bouncing back when slammed.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A doorstop is usually provided to keep a door in position after it is opened so to facilitate the access. Doorstops generally available in the market include two types, insertion and attachment. The insertion type has an insertion member secured at a pre-determined location on the back of the door while a clamping member is disposed at the doorstop so that when the door is opened, the insertion member enters and is confined by the clamping member to secure the door. A magnet is disposed to the attachment type of the doorstop, and a locating member that can be attracted by the magnetic doorstop is disposed on the back of the door or the locating member may be omitted when the door is made of a material that can be attracted to the magnetic doorstop so to hold the door in its open status.
However, either the insertion or the attachment type of the doorstop does not provide buffer efficacy. When someone slams the door, the door is vulnerable to be damaged, the door fails to be caught by the doorstop, and the door may bounce back due to counterforce to cause safety concerns while creating noise at uncomfortable level.
To solve these problems, an improved structure of doorstop with buffer function by providing an elastic member in a base of the doorstop was introduced. When someone slams the door, the elastic member absorbs partial impact from the door to prevent the door from bouncing back.
However, the impact from the door may be partially absorbed, the door remains pivoting since it is not necessarily secured in position by the doorstop. The access and safety justify further improvement.


In a tire 2, a body 24 and side ends 26 are formed by side grooves 22 being formed in edge PT portions of a tread 4. A ratio of a width BW of a belt 12 to a width TW of the body 24 is 0.95-1.00. A width GW of each side groove 22 is greater than or equal to 2.0 mm. A width RW of each side end 26 is greater than or equal to 2.0 mm. A ratio of a depth D1 of each side groove 22 to a depth D of each main groove 30a is 0.6-1.0. A ratio of a distance H from a vertex PP of each side end 26 to the tread surface 28 relative to the depth D is greater than or equal to 0.4.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heavy duty pneumatic tires.
2. Description of the Related Art
A tread of a tire includes a tread surface. The tread surface can contact with a road surface. The tread is formed of a crosslinked rubber.
In a heavy duty pneumatic tire mounted to a truck, a bus, and the like, a plurality of grooves are typically formed, in a tread, so as to extend in the circumferential direction, so that a plurality of ribs are formed. Among these ribs, ribs formed in outermost portions in the axial direction are referred to as shoulder ribs, and there is a problem that uneven wear is likely to occur in the shoulder ribs. This tendency is significant particularly in a tire mounted to a steered wheel of a vehicle. Various measures for addressing the uneven wear of a tread are suggested. The exemplary measures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,671, JP2003-341305, JP03-011921 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,671), JP2005-028947 (US2005/0006016), JP03-253408, and JP2006-527686 (US2006/0090826).
The thickness of the shoulder rib may be gradually reduced from the inner side toward the outer side in the axial direction due to wear. The wear that causes such a state is referred to as shoulder wear. In order to address the shoulder wear, a review has been made such that a shape in which a tire contacts with the ground is adjusted by adjustment of a length over which the shoulder rib contacts with the ground.
In a tread having shoulder ribs that contact with the ground over a great length, load is concentrated on end portions located in outermost portions of the shoulder ribs in the axial direction, and an abnormally high ground contact pressure may be applied to the end portions. When the shoulder ribs are released from the ground contacting state due to rotation of the tire, the end portions slide on a road surface. In this case, the ends of the shoulder ribs rub, so that a stepped portion may be formed in the end portion. The wear that causes generation of the stepped portion in the end portion of the shoulder rib is referred to as step wear.
Through the review of a shape in which a tire contacts with the ground, generation of the shoulder wear has been restrained. However, another problem of the step wear arises anew. Consequently, generation of uneven wear has not been sufficiently restrained.
An object of the present invention is to make available a heavy duty pneumatic tire that restrains generation of uneven wear.


A method of processing signal for a thermal type flow sensor having a temperature dependence resistance employing platinum and the like and a holding member made of alumina for holding it so as to compensate for response delay when fluid flow is changed, in which, when the fluid flow is maintained in a stationary state, the so-called equilibrium state, by steps of setting in advance the relation between a flow related value which changes according to flow change and a first operational value showing the temperature characteristic of the holding member which changes according to flow so as to make the flow related value as a parameter, calculating the first operational value from the flow related value when flow is detected in accordance with the predetermined relation, comparing the calculated first operational value with the second operational value which is set in relation with the first operational value, correcting the second operational value so that it approximates the first operational value according to the compared result, calculating a compensating factor by a predetermined operational formula with the calculated first operational value and the corrected second operational value, and compensating the compensating factor by multiplying it by the detected flow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of processing a signal from a thermal type flow sensor for detecting fluid flow, and more particularly, to a method of processing the signal to improve response characteristic when the flow is changed.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, for a thermal type flow sensor, there has been well known a thermal type air flow sensor for detecting intake air flow in an internal combustion engine, and for a typical example of that type, there is well known a hot wire type air flow sensor which controls an electric current to be sent to a platinum wire so as to fix the temperature of the platinum wire in an air intake passage and which receives an air flow signal in accordance with the value of the electric current. In addition, for a more inexpensive hot wire type air flow sensor, a thermal type air flow sensor, in which platinum is deposited on an alumina substance or film as a replacement for the platinum wire, has been eliciting considerable interest.
In those thermal type air flow sensors, since air flow is measured by detecting the electric current sent to a temperature dependent resistance and controlled to fix the temperature of the resistance, when air flow to be measured is changed by the resistance of the temperature dependent resistance and by the thermal conduction and heat reserve of the resistance's holding member, it is well known that output response is so delayed as to produce error in its detection characteristic. For example, in a hot wire type air flow sensor in which a platinum wire is nearly stretched in an air intake passage, there is a comparatively little effect caused by the holding member; however, both in a hot wire type air flow sensor in which a platinum wire is coiled up around a ceramic bobbin and also in the thermal type air flow sensor in which platinum is deposited on an alumina substrate or film as described above, there is considerably great effect of the above-noted heat conduction and heat reserve upon the ceramics or the film which are holding member.
FIG. 1 illustrates this type of thermal type air flow sensor, in which reference numeral 11 designates a housing in the form of a pipe through which air flows, the direction of flowing air being shown by the arrow. Reference character R.sub.H designating the temperature dependent resistance for detecting air flow, is formed by printing or depositing platinum in a meander form onto an alumina substrate 14 as shown in FIG. 2, is then trimmed, and is arranged in the air passage with other resistances R.sub.K and R.sub.M. Resistances R.sub.H, R.sub.M, R.sub.K, R.sub.1, and R.sub.2 are arranged in a well-known bridge circuit to form a resistance value detecting unit, and those resistances form a closed loop with a differential amplifier 12 so that R.sub.H can be controlled to have a fixed temperature or fixed resistance value. Consequently, the electric current sent to R.sub.H is determined according to the air flow and an output voltage 13 can be obtained according to the product of the value of the electric current and the resistance value of R.sub.M.
Next will be described below the response delay which occurs in such a thermal type air flow sensor 1 when air flow is changed. FIG. 3 is an illustration of the response in the thermal type air flow sensor when air flow is changed gradually, and the response characteristic is shown substantially equal to the line having a bending point shown as A. In the figure, the ordinate designates the elapsed time after the change of air flow in the staircase, and the abscissa designates the change rate of air flow. Time lag to the point A is caused mainly by the delay of the thermal response of the platinum resistance R.sub.H and the response of the circuit, and the deviation of the value at the point A from a desired value and the time until the value is converged from the point A to the desired value are mainly caused by heat conduction and heat reserve of the alumina substrate 14 which is a holding member for the platinum resistance R.sub.H. FIG. 4 is an illustration to show the above-mentioned operation, showing temperature distribution of the alumina substrate 14 with the horizontal axis designating distance which is based upon the position of the platinum resistance R.sub.H to the alumina substrate 14. The temperature around the platinum resistance R.sub.H is controlled to be fixed in a temperature high enough compared with the air temperature by the aforementioned circuit. Then, heat being generated in the platinum resistance R.sub.H is emitted into the air, while the heat is transmitted and reserved into the alumina substrate 14 from the platinum resistance R.sub.H. In order to compensate for this heat loss, the closed loop controls the electric current to the platinum resistance R.sub.H. Then, the output of the thermal type air flow sensor 1 to a predetermined air flow results in including the heat conduction and heat reserve to the alumina substrate 14, however, there can be obtained a characteristic under a state that heat of the alumina substrate 14 is in equilibrium, that is, an accurate flow characteristic under a stationary state. On the other hand, where air flow is changed, such thermal equilibrium as aforementioned can not be obtained here, then, error in the flow characteristic will be generated. In FIG. 4, a line l1 designates the temperature distribution when there is small air flow, so there is a line l2 when there is large air flow. In the figure, the line l2 is shown in the position below the line l1 because the cooling effect of the alumina substrate 14 depends on flowing air flow. When air flow is gradually changed from small to large, the temperature distribution is finally to be the line l2, however, at an initial stage, the air flow is corresponding to the line l2 but has the temperature distribution of the line l1, and a supply current to the platinum resistance R.sub.H, that is, output of the thermal type air flow sensor 1 becomes smaller than the substantial output thereof. To be concrete, when any change in air flow is occurs, there is generated initial flow error corresponding to the difference between the temperature distribution corresponding to the air flow before the change and the temperature distribution corresponding to the air flow after the change, and the time error until the temperature distribution becomes stationary to the air flow after the change will be maintained while gradually decreasing. The degree of the initial flow error and time error, in such a thermal type air flow sensor 1 as shown in FIG. 1, depends greatly on heat conduction and heat reserve of the alumina substrate 14 which is a holding member. And even in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine which is manufactured in consideration of the acreage of platinum resistance R.sub.H and the thickness of the alumina substrate 14 and the like so as to have responsiveness and durability to be practically usable, there is still the maximum 30 percent of the initial flow error and about 500 msec of the time error continuing, and it is substantially difficult to permit this response delay in controlling fuel of the internal combustion engine.
In order to improve such disadvantage as described above, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-134919, for example, a method of improving the response characteristic to the air flow change in the thermal type air flow sensor by devising its constitution is well known. The thermal type air flow sensor of prior art as described above, however, has problems in that its constitution is too complicated to be easily manufactured and its costs are prohibitive.

Method of processing a signal from a thermal type flow sensor


A folding portable terminal which can be changed into a desired shape depending on applications of functions such as a telephone, a digital camera, and the like. A folding portable terminal (1) comprises a case (10) with a display section (11) and a case (20) with an operating section (21), and the cases are foldably linked through a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism comprises a first hinge section (12) formed by providing a first rotation axis at substantially the center of the case (10) that can be rotated about the first rotation axis in the folding or opening direction relative to the case (20); a second hinge section (24) formed by providing a second rotation axis at substantially the upper end part of the case (20) so as to be parallel to the first rotation axis, the case (20) being rotated in the folding or opening direction relative to the case (10); and means (13a) for linking both ends of the first rotation axis and both ends of the second rotation axis. The hinge mechanism enables the display section (11) and the operating section (21) to be folded without being faced each other, and a user can operate the operating section (21) or view the display section (11) in the folded state.

Currently, folding portable terminals with various configurations are widely used. A typical folding portable terminal can be closed such that a display section and an operating section are hidden inside when not used and is opened and used when making phone calls or utilizing e-mail. In this case, since the display section is hidden when closed, many folding portable terminals are equipped with a sub-display section such that incoming call information or a time of day can be checked in the closed state. To use a videophone function in a folding portable terminal, many folding portable terminals are equipped with sub-cameras within case in addition to main cameras for shooting pictures or videos provided on the outside of the case. To eliminate the use of the sub-display section, some folding portable terminals are introduced which can be closed with the main display section faced outward.
However, with regard to the folding portable terminals provided with the sub-display sections, the reduction of the terminal size is prevented by the addition of the sub-display section, and costs are also increased. If the videophone function is utilized with this folding portable terminal, since a sub-camera must be provided on the inside of a case in addition to a main camera for photographing provided on the outside of the case, the reduction of the terminal size is prevented and costs are increased as well. In the case of a configuration with a main camera only, a rotation mechanism must be provided on the main camera such that the main camera faces outward or inward, and costs are increased as well. If the portable terminal is used as a television, a display screen must be made horizontal and this is unnatural for a style of watching television in the case of a normal folding portable terminal.
With regard to the folding portable terminals which can be closed with the main display section faced outward to eliminate the use of the sub-display section, since the operating section is folded inside, the portable terminal cannot be operated in the closed state. For example, a phone call cannot be made with the portable terminal closed, and the folding portable terminal must be opened to make a phone call or must be provided with a phone call button that can be operated in the closed state.
The following patent document 1 and patent document 2 disclose folding portable terminals that can be closed with both the display section and the operating section faced outward since a display section case provided with the display section can be opened 360 degrees relative to an operating section case provided with the operating section.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-171324
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-198849


A display control device is provided which includes characteristic value-calculating unit for calculating a characteristic value based on an input image signal, a conversion characteristic-calculating unit for determining a conversion characteristic from the characteristic value, and a signal-converting unit for converting the input image signals in accordance with the determined conversion characteristic. The conversion characteristic has a low level region segment, which is close to the origin of axes respectively representing the input image signal and an output image signal of the display control device, a high level region segment, which is close to a full scale point, and a middle level region segment, which is positioned between the low level region and high level region, and the slope in the middle level region is set so as to be larger than both of the slopes of the low level region and the high level region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns an image display control device operable to provide improved feeling contrast for input image signals, and a display device utilizing the image display control device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of the information society, occasions in which users view images that are displayed on display devices are increasing. However, the display capabilities of recent display devices have not necessarily reached an adequate level, and therefore, measures are necessary for improving the apparent view-amenity better than the cases where input image signals are input as they are into a display device.
In regard to this, a reference 1 ("Gradation Conversion by a Sigmoid Function in a Digital Camera System," Watanabe et al., Japan Hardcopy 2000 Collected Papers B-27, The Imaging Society of Japan) proposes a method of using a sigmoid function to make black (low level) blacker, make white (high level) whiter, and to expand feeling contrast to the middle level, thereby giving vividness and solidity to the image.
The sigmoid function is a nonlinear function, such as the following:y={a^(1−r)}*{x^r} (0<=x<=a)y=1−{(1−a)^(1−r)}*{(1−x)^r} (a<x<=1)
Here, the parameter "a" is the mode of the luminance histogram of input image signals and the parameter "r" is a constant.
However, the prior art described in the reference 1 has the following problems.
(Problem 1) Since the sigmoid function is nonlinear, it cannot be realized by a simple operational circuit. It is therefore not practical in realizing the function by hardware.
(Problem 2) In the reference 1, the mode of a histogram is used as a parameter of the sigmoid function. However, in a case where pictures change in a continuous manner, this parameter tends to change greatly for every frame of picture and a flicker occurs in the displayed image after conversion.
Also, in general, the Y signal of Yuv color space is used as brightness. This Y signal may thus be used in a contrast improving process.
However, the Y signal capacity of the Yuv color space is greater than the brightness component capacity of RGB color space. Therefore, when a process of increasing the Y signal is performed without special consideration and then an inverse mapping from the Yuv color space to the RGB color space is performed, a result that exceeds the brightness component capacity of the RGB color space, that is, a result that cannot be displayed, actually may be obtained. Consequently, color clipping may occur.
For example, when a signal of R=0%, G=0%, and B=80% in the RGB color space is mapped to the Yuv color space, the brightness is determined as luminance Y=24%. Further, if a process of doubling the brightness (which is allowed in the Yuv color space) is performed, the result is that luminance Y=48% is obtained.
However, when the color after the process in the Yuv color space is inversely mapped to the RGB color space, the result of B>100%, which cannot be displayed, is obtained, thus causing color clipping.

Display control device and display device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A powershift transmission includes a plurality of hydraulically operated clutch packs which are selectively engaged and disengaged to enable various gear ratios. A control circuit for such a transmission includes a system pressure source, a fluid reservoir, a control gallery, a plurality of control valves and a plurality of latching valves. Each control valve and each latching valve is connected with a corresponding one of the clutch packs, and is communicated with each other, with the system pressure source, with the reservoir and with the control gallery. The control valves, latching valves and the control gallery cooperate to prevent pressurization of any one of the clutch packs before all the clutch packs are filled with hydraulic fluid. The control valves and the latching valves also cooperate to maintain disengaged clutch packs at reservoir pressure, and to maintain engaged clutch packs at system pressure.

The invention relates to an electro-hydraulic control circuit for an electronically controlled powershift transmission.
Microprocessor-based electronic controllers for powershift transmissions make possible features which are not otherwise practical. However, it is difficult to achieve quality shifts with an electronically controlled transmission. Because coordination of multiple elements is difficult, electronically controlled powershift transmissions have required substantial, time consuming and expensive fine tuning in order to achieve satisfactory overall shift quality. This is because the microprocessor or hydraulic valving which controls the transmission does not receive sufficient information (feedback) about what is actually going on inside the transmission.
In an electronic microprocessor-based control system for a powershift transmission, the microprocessor generates time-based electrical signals with extreme accuracy and repeatability, but the hydraulically operated transmission components respond directly only to hydraulic pressures generated by valves which are controlled by the electronics. The electrical signals are adjusted to generate, after some series of events, the correct pressure outputs for one shift condition, but any change in temperature, air/oil mixtures, seal drag, valve gain, engine speed, or dozens of other variables will modify the hydraulic pressures which are generated, perhaps resulting in a rough shift. Control systems are available wherein the electronic controller is supplied with electronic signals corresponding to such variables. However, such systems have not been able to provide quality shifts under all circumstances. Using electronic feedback for parameters, such as clutch piston position, actual pressure on the piston, actual force on clutch discs, to solve this problem is impractical because of cost and complexity. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a control system which achieves satisfactory shifts and which does not require extensive electronic variable sensing and which does not require electronic sensing of such feedback parameters.

Control circuit for a powershift transmission


A liquid ejecting apparatus capable of supplying liquid stably and continuously through a liquid supplying tube which performs a following deformation in accordance with a movement of a carriage embedded with a liquid ejecting head, while achieving compactness of a main body of the apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head capable of ejecting ink onto a sheet; a carriage capable of reciprocating inside a main body case in a state of being embedded with the liquid ejecting head and an adaptor capable of supplying ink to the liquid ejecting head; and an ink supplying tube which performs a following deformation in the main body case in accordance with the reciprocation of the carriage in a state of being led out to be able to supply ink from an ink tank at an upstream side, disposed outside a movement range of the carriage, to the adaptor at a downstream side.

In the related art, as a type of a liquid ejecting apparatus which ejects liquid toward a target, an ink jet printer is widely known. As such a printer, there is a so-called on-carry type printer in which a plurality of ink cartridges which accommodate ink, and a liquid ejecting head which ejects ink supplied from each ink cartridge onto a sheet are installed on a carriage which can perform reciprocating movement.
On the other hand, in recent years, a printer which can perform mass printing by being provided with an ink tank with a large capacity at the outside of a main body of the printer, and continuously providing ink to a liquid ejecting head in the main body of the printer through an ink supplying tube from the ink tank, not supplying ink from an ink cartridge which is installed on such a carriage has been developed (for example, PTL 1).


Fibrous composite comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and a silica-containing moiety having one of the structures: (SiO)3Si—(CH2)n—NR1R2) or (SiO)3Si—(CH2)n—NCO; where n is from 1 to 6, and R1 and R2 are each independently H, CH3, or C2H5.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the strongest materials ever discovered, having a tensile strength of up to 100 GPa. In order to use CNTs in practical applications, for example to weave into a cloth, it is necessary to assemble individual CNTs into macroscopic fibers. Interestingly, however, the tensile strength of CNT fibers is much lower than that of individual CNTs (e.g., less than 3.3 GPa). There exists a need, therefore, to produce CNT fibers which have increased tensile strength, and thus a wider range of practical applications.
CNT/silica composites have been extensively investigated, as silica provides stability in harsh environments, such as high temperature and strongly acidic or basic conditions, and ease of fabrication. CNT/silica composites have been produced which have a variety of morphologies, including films synthesized by solution casting, powders produced under hot pressure, xerogels produced by sol-gel technique, and nanocomposite films or powders resulting from covalent bonding between CNTs and silica. One of the main challenges for these materials is the random dispersion of CNTs in the resulting composites, which leads to much reduced mechanical strength and electrical properties. For example, CNT/silica composites with up to 30 vol. % of CNTs produced under hot pressure exhibit a tensile strength of only 85 MPa (two orders of magnitude smaller than CNT fibers). Therefore, despite the advantages of chemical stability provided by silica, it has not been apparent that silica can be used in combination with CNTs to increase mechanical strength.

Fibrous composites comprising carbon nanotubes and silica


One aspect of the invention relates to customized thin-film composite membranes comprising: a porous support; a selective barrier; and one or more polymeric additives dispersed in the porous support in an amount from at least about 1% and about 50% by weight of the porous support. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of fabricating a porous support comprising the steps of: preparing a polymer solution comprising a polymer, a polymeric additive, and a first liquid; contacting a surface with the polymer solution; and evaporating the liquid. Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the thin-film composite membranes disclosed herein in osmotically driven membrane processes.

Osmotically driven membrane processes, such as forward osmosis (FO) and pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO), rely on large osmotic pressure differentials across semi-permeable membranes to generate water flux, while retaining solutes on either side of the semi-permeable membrane.
Polymeric membranes currently used in liquid separations are thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. TFC membranes are typically comprised of a selective barrier, which sits on top of a porous structure called the support layer or porous support. In typical pressure-driven membrane processes, the driving force for water flux is the hydraulic pressure applied across the membrane. The water permeability of the selective barrier is much greater than the barrier's permeability to the solute; hence, the solute is rejected by the membrane. The porous support merely provides mechanical and structural support for the selective layer in pressure driven membrane separation processes, and plays no apparent role in the actual separation process.
Osmotically driven membrane processes make use of the osmotic pressure difference created by a concentrated draw solution to drive water across a selective barrier (e.g., a semi-permeable thin polymeric film). To achieve ideal performance in osmotically driven membrane processes, certain membrane characteristics need to be customized (see International Patent Application No. PCT/US08/005696, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). There exists a need for membranes, which are customized to optimize osmotically driven membrane processes.

High flux thin-film composite forward osmosis and pressure-retarded osmosis membranes


An ATM exchange network system in which a first equipment and a second equipment are connected through a duplex communication line comprising a working line and a protection line. In this system, each of the first equipment and second equipment provides: a bridging unit which bridges the working line and the protection line on the transmission side; a switch for selecting the working line or the protection line on the reception side; a K-byte generating function for generating byte information containing information for realizing the APS; a function of receiving the K byte information from the protection line, analyzing the received information, placing the prescribed information in the K byte and realizing the APS; and a function of changing over the switch. Thus, the reliability with respect to a line failure in the ATM exchange network can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic protection switching (APS) system for an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) exchange network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent advances in exchange network technology have led to use of ATM exchange networks in addition to integrated service digital networks (ISDNs). In an ATM exchange network, all communication information from tens of bits per second to hundreds of megabits per second are divided into fixed length packets or cells each composed of several tens to 128 octets, are transferred onto a transmission line of at least a 150 Mbps speed in a mixed fashion, and are subjected to high speed processing by high speed packet exchange.
From the viewpoint of the supervision and control of a digital network, in the past a large amount of overhead, such as for the transfer of line error detection information and line quality information, and the data communication, etc. was provided. Part of the overhead, for the purpose of preventing the suspension of service due to occurrence of a line failure, was provided with the APS function for automatically switching to a standby line upon the occurrence of a failure. Such an APS function, however, has never been provided in an ATM exchange network.

Automatic protection switching system for ATM exchange network