The invention relates to a new mammalian S-type lectin, termed galectin-8, and to galectin-8-like proteins, to fragments thereof, to DNA molecules coding therefor and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said proteins. Galectin-8, a widely expressed protein of 35 kDa is shown to be implicated in regulation of cell growth, particularly in inhibition of cell proliferation.

Lectins are involved in a wide variety of cellular functions, many of which are related to their only common feature, the ability to bind carbohydrates specifically and reversibly, and to agglutinate cells reviewed in (1)!. Animal lectins are classified as C-lectins, which are Ca.sup.2+ -dependent and are structurally related to the asialoglycoprotein receptor, and galectins, previously known as S-type lectins, which are thiol-dependent and specifically bind .beta.-galactoside residues. In mammals, four galectin types have been sequenced and characterized, and there is evidence for the existence of other relatives (2,3). All known members of this family lack a signal peptide, are found in the cytosol, and are isolated as soluble proteins. However, there is evidence that some members are externalized by an atypical secretory mechanism.
Galectins require fulfillment of two criteria: affinity for .beta.-galactosides and significant sequence similarity in the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) (4), the relevant amino acids residues of which have been determined by X-ray crystallography (5). Galectin-1 and -2 are homodimers with subunit molecular weight of .apprxeq.14 kDa, that are not subjected to post-translational modifications (6). Galectin-1 is found in the extracellular matrix and has been shown to interact with laminin (7). The function of galectin-1 and -2 is not yet fully understood, although there is evidence that they might be involved in regulation of cell growth (8); cell adhesion (7); cell transformation (9); and embryogenesis (10).
Larger galectins (galectin-3) (previously known as CBP-35, Mac-2, RL-29) do exist ((11) and references therein). These are monomeric 29-35 kDa mosaic proteins, composed of an N-terminal half made of tandem repeats characteristic of the collagen gene superfamily, and a C-terminal half homologous to galectins-1 and -2 (11). Galectin-3 also binds laminin, and is implicated as component of growth regulatory systems; mediator of cell--cell and cell-matrix interactions; modulator of immune response; marker of neoplastic transformation, and indicator for metastatic potential of melanoma cells.
Galectin-4 was cloned from rat intestine (12), and an homologous protein was cloned from nematode (13). Galectin-4 is a monomer with molecular mass of 36 kDa. It contains tandem domains of .apprxeq.140 amino-acids each, homologous to galectin-1 and -2, that are separated by a link region (12). The function of galectin-4 is presently unknown.
Galectins may functionally substitute each other. The absence of any major phenotypic abnormalities in mice carrying a null mutation in the gene encoding galectin-1, suggests that other protein(s), presumably galectin-3, are capable of functionally substituting for galectin-1, at least at early stages of embryogenesis.
It is an object of the present invention to provide the cloning of a cDNA encoding for a novel protein that we term galectin-8. Galectin-8 has the characteristic properties of other galectins (2,3), and it is structurally related (34% identity) to rat galectin-4 (12).

Galectin-8 and galectin-8-like proteins and DNA molecules coding therefor


Methods and systems for providing a flexible protection model in a computer system by decoupling protection from privilege are described. Information describing a relationship between the two or more domains that define types of protection and portions of code is received. The portions of code with the multiple domains that provide fine granularities of protection can be executed in the same privilege level. The relationship is not required to be linear. In addition, the overhead associated with crossing protection domains is relatively low with respect to traditional operating system context switching overhead.

One problem associated with computer systems today is protecting information in a computer system from undesirable access which might be accidental or malicious. For example, it may not be desirable for users to be able to determine how certain code works, the data the code operates on, or the data structures in which the data is stored in. Information, as used herein, includes but is not limited to code, data, and/or the format that the data is stored in (also known as a "data structure"). Furthermore, for purposes of the present application, activities such as accessing, modifying and/or executing information shall be referred to hereinafter as "accessing."
In computer terminology, "privilege" determines what actions code is allowed to perform on information in a computer system. In most operating systems, the actions that code is allowed to perform is determined by what the privilege level the code executes or resides in. For example, usually code executes in one of two privilege levels known as kernel and user. Further, code that resides in the kernel has an unlimited amount of power to perform actions, such as accessing information any where in the computer system. In contrast, code that resides in the user level has a limited amount of power to perform actions. For example, code in the user level can not access directly code or data in the kernel.
In computer terminology, "protection" refers to protecting information in the computer system from various actions being performed on that information. For example, code or data that resides in the kernel are protected from users of the computer system accessing that code or data either unintentionally or with malicious intent. Similarly, the code and data in the kernel are protected from being accessed directly by code in the user level. In contrast, code and data in the user level may be accessed by users either unintentionally or with malicious intent.
Typically, operating systems reside in the kernel and applications reside in the user level. Operating system code has a higher level of protection than user applications have. However, in general there is not a fine granularity of protection for either the operating system or for applications. For example, an application may include a set of modules and/or libraries. Some of these modules and/or libraries may come from a third party and therefore are not highly trusted. It would be desirable to provide protection in a flexible manner for certain modules and/or services in the libraries of the application in a flexible manner from other modules and/or services in the libraries.
In another example, vendor supplied application libraries typically contain critical data that might be corrupted by bad application code such as application code that de-references an un-initialized pointer. In these situations and others, it would be highly desirable to control the access of these modules as well as what these modules access whether unintentional or with malicious intent in order to provide more application robustness.

Providing a flexible protection model in a computer system by decoupling protection from computer privilege level

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Apparatus are disclosed for coating the inside surfaces of hollow objects with a coating material by vapor deposition wherein the objects are removably attached to a rotary fixture which is employed for holding the objects while the coating process is being conducted. The rotary fixture comprises a hollow chamber rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation wherein the chamber can have a plurality of connecting union assemblies which secure the objects and provide communication between the inside surfaces of the objects and the inside space of the hollow chamber. The coating material is introduced from the interior space of the hollow chamber to the interior space of the objects under vacuum conditions.

Coating materials, e.g., polymers, are often used as protective barriers on circuit boards, electrical components, medical devices and the like. Parylene is a generic term often used to describe a class of poly-p-xylylenes which are derived from a dimer of the structure: ##STR1## where X is typically hydrogen or a halogen, e.g., fluorine, and A and B, when present, are halogens, e.g., chlorine. Due to its ability to provide thin films and conform to substrates of varied geometric shapes, parylene is ideally suited for use as a conformal coating.
Typically, parylene is applied by vapor deposition under vacuum conditions wherein the parylene monomer is condensed and polymerized directly on the surface of the object to be coated. Since the parylene monomer is not stable, the parylene dimer, as illustrated above, is used as the starting material.
Typical apparatus for carrying out parylene vapor deposition coating processes comprise a vaporization zone, wherein the parylene dimer is vaporized, a pyrolysis zone, wherein the parylene dimer is pyrolyzed to its monomeric form, a deposition chamber, wherein the objects to be coated are exposed to the parylene monomer, and a vacuum means for maintaining vacuum conditions within the deposition chamber.
Apparatus such as described above have been particularly useful for coating the external surfaces of objects. However, apparatus are also desired for coating the inside surfaces of hollow objects with a coating material, e.g., parylene, by vapor deposition.

Rotary fixture for vapor deposition coating apparatus

Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation


A communications system is described in which a test device monitors operation of a communication device. The test device identifies each communication bearer associated with the communication device; determines a subset comprising at least one communication bearer to be used when performing the test and not comprising at least one other communication bearer; and initiates the test in which each communication bearer in the subset is used and each communication bearer not in said subset is not used.

Wireless communications systems enable users of User Equipment (UE) to communicate with other such users via one of a number of base stations and a core network. Typically, the UEs are mobile terminals, such as cellular telephones and the like. In an active or connected state a UE is registered with the network and has a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with a base station so that the network knows to which base station (or cell thereof) the UE belongs and can transmit data to and receive data from the UE. The base station (i.e. the serving cell) provides mobility information and security parameters for the user equipment. The UE also establishes a default Evolved Packet System (EPS) Bearer at an endpoint beyond the base station, typically a gateway, in the Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) network, or core network for short. An EPS Bearer defines a transmission path through the network and assigns an IP address to the UE, at which it can be reached by other communication devices, such as another UE. An EPS Bearer also has a set of data transmission characteristics, such as quality of service, data rate and flow control parameters, which are defined by the subscription associated with the UE and are established by the Mobility Management Entity (MME) upon registration of the UE with the network.
The EPS Bearer is thus managed by the MME, which signals to the UE when it needs to activate, modify, or deactivate a particular EPS Bearer. Thus there are always two connections between the UE and the communication network: one for the user data transmitted using the established EPS bearer (also known as the user plane) and another one for managing the EPS Bearer itself (also known as the control plane).
As part of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) of UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) referred to as E-UTRAN, there are plans to introduce a feature of proximity based (e.g. direct device-to-device (D2D) or locally routed) communication when the UE can communicate user data to another UE that is within the transmission range of (or served by the same base station as that of) the first UE without the need to use LTE core network resources. Such services can be achieved by establishing a special, relaying EPS bearer to be used by the mobile communication devices in direct or locally routed communication instead of their default or other conventional EPS bearers (which might still be used for other types of communications). This direct or locally routed communication would result in better utilization of the available resources, especially on the radio interface, where these are limited. A so-called Proximity-based Services (ProSe) functionality has been specified in the 3GPP TR 22.803 (v 12.1.0) standards document, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
More recently the provision of a relay functionality, in the UE, using the ProSe functionality has been proposed to allow one UE to relay the signalling for another UE to and from the network.
Due to the added complexity represented by the above functionalities and the like, it is important to ensure that each network element operates in conformance with the applicable set of standards (in this case the 3GPP standards). Since proximity based services significantly increase the complexity of the mobile communication devices (and other user equipment), there is a strong desire to test implementation of these (and similar) functionalities by the mobile communication devices before they are released to the market (or whilst they are in use in a communications network). However, the testing of such UE specific functions needs to be supported by the mobile communication device as well.
As known to a person skilled in the art, a so-called System Simulator (SS) entity may be used for testing compliance (and/or performance) of a network element, such as a base station or user equipment. The SS entity does this by simulating the operation of another network element (i.e. that would otherwise communicate with the device to be tested in a 'live' network). In addition to this, the SS entity controls the overall test process, including the operating parameters of a mobile communication device (in case the mobile communication device is being tested), such as activating/deactivating features, and setting an operating mode (e.g. normal mode, test mode, etc.).
The SS entity activates the test mode for the mobile communication device in which the SS entity is able to set up (remotely) one or more communication paths terminating in a so-called loopback function of the mobile communication device (from where the data units originating from the SS entity are forwarded or 'looped-back' to the SS entity). This effectively means that the SS entity is able to monitor communications by the mobile communication device taking place via the looped back communication path(s). Then, by monitoring and analyzing the communication taking place using the communication path(s) terminating in the loopback function, it is possible to determine whether or not the behaviour of the device being tested is in line with what is prescribed in the relevant set of standards (in which case conformance to that set of standards can be certified and/or the product can be released to the market). However, if the behaviour of the device being tested is not in line with the relevant set of standards, it is possible to determine suitable actions (e.g. re-design/re-configuration/ re-calibration of that device) so that conformance to the relevant set of standards can be achieved before using the device in a 'live' communication system.
The relevant mechanisms developed by 3GPP for special conformance testing functions are defined in TS 36.509 (for user equipment in E-UTRA frequency division duplex (FDD) mode and time division duplex (TDD) mode) and in TS 34.109 (for user equipment in UMTS system, for FDD and TDD modes). The contents of both documents are incorporated herein by reference.
In summary, the above specifications describe the functions and their activation/deactivation methods that each LTE/UMTS mobile communication device is required to implement for conformance testing purposes.
The UE test loop function provides access to isolated functions of the mobile communication device via the radio interface without requiring the presence and/or usage of a physical connection (e.g. a hardware interface) between the mobile communication device and the SS entity for conformance testing. However, it will be appreciated that the mobile communication device may also be connected to the SS entity using wired communication means (e.g. a Radio Frequency (RF) cable), for example, to avoid/reduce interference during test and hence increase test reliability.
For E-UTRA, the following loop modes have been defined:                UE test loop mode A        UE test loop mode B        UE test loop mode C
UE test loop mode A provides loopback of data packets (e.g. Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Service Data Units (SDUs)) for bi-directional data radio bearers while the UE is operating in E-UTRA mode. The downlink PDCP SDUs received by the UE on each bi-directional data radio bearer are returned on the same radio bearer regardless of the PDCP SDU contents and the Traffic Flow Template (TFT) of the associated EPS bearer context.
UE test loop mode B provides loopback of PDCP SDUs (E-UTRA and UTRA), Sub Network Dependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP) Protocol Data Units (PDUs) (in GSM/GPRS) and Radio Link Protocol (RLP) PDUs (CDMA2000) for bi-directional EPS bearers while the UE is operated in E-UTRA, UTRA, GSM/GPRS or CDMA2000 modes. UE test loop mode B can not be used when more than one PDN connection is established or more than one primary Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context is active. When operating in E-UTRA, UTRA or GSM/GPRS then the downlink PDCP SDUs or SNDCP PDUs received by the UE on all bi-directional data radio bearers are returned by the UE on the data radio bearer associated with an EPS bearer context with a TFT matching the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/User Datagram Protocol (UDP)/Internet Protocol (IP) information within the PDCP SDU or SNDCP SDU. When operating in CDMA2000 modes, the downlink RLP PDUs received by the UE on all bi-directional data radio bearers are returned by the UE on the data radio bearer with the smallest identity, regardless of the RLP PDU content and the TFT of the associated EPS bearer context.
UE test loop mode C provides counting of successfully received Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast (MBMS) Packets on a given MBMS traffic channel (MTCH) while the UE is operating in Evolved MBMS (E-MBMS)/E-UTRA mode.


An integrated circuit device may include an equalization transistor having first and second current carrying terminals electrically coupled to first and second signal lines, respectively, and a gate terminal responsive to an enable signal. A first body voltage control circuit may also be provided. This control circuit includes a first transistor having a first current carrying terminal electrically connected to the first signal line, a second current carrying terminal electrically connected to a body terminal of the equalization transistor and a gate terminal electrically connected to the second signal line. This first body voltage control circuit may operate to boost a voltage of the body terminal during an equalization time interval and thereby inhibit threshold voltage increases in the equalization transistor, which may limit operating speed of the integrated circuit device. The first body voltage control circuit may also include a second transistor having a first current carrying terminal electrically connected to the second signal line, a second current carrying terminal electrically connected to the body terminal of the equalization transistor and a gate terminal electrically connected to the first signal line.

A semiconductor memory device typically has multiple internal signal lines for storing data in memory cells and outputting the data. Among the signal lines, a pair of data input and output lines is at the same voltage in a precharged state and at a complementary voltage during writing and reading operation. In writing and reading successive data, the data is written or output depending on a burst length. In order to write or read subsequent data, the data input and output line pair should be equalized and precharged to the same voltage.
FIG. 1 illustrates an equalizing and precharging circuit for a typical semiconductor device. Referring to FIG. 1, an equalizing and precharging circuit 100 is composed of a first data line IO, a second data line /IO, a first equalizing transistor N1 connected between the data lines for equalizing the data lines in response to an enable signal EN, and second and third precharging transistors N2 and N3 for precharging the data lines to a certain voltage in response to the enable signal EN. The first, second and third transistors have body terminals connected to a ground voltage.
Operation of the equalizing and precharging circuit 100 of FIG. 1 will be described. In a precharged state of the semiconductor device, the enable signal EN becomes active. Accordingly, the equalizing transistor N1 and the precharging transistors N2 and N3 are turned on, precharging the data lines IO and /IO to a certain voltage, i.e., an internal power supply voltage IVC. In the writing and reading operation, the enable signal EN becomes inactive. This turns the equalizing transistor N1 and the precharging transistors N2 and N3 off, enabling a writing driver and a data sense amplifier (not shown) to supply a complementary voltage to each data line IO and /IO. In order to write and read subsequent data depending on a burst length, the data lines should be again equalized and precharged to the internal power supply voltage IVC.
In the equalizing and precharging circuit 100 as shown in FIG. 1, a voltage on the data line acting as a source of the precharging transistor N2 or N3 increases with the equalizing and precharging operation, thereby reducing Vgs of the precharging transistors. In addition, a threshold voltage Vth of the precharging transistors increases with an increasing source voltage due to a body effect (Vth∝√{square root over (Vbs)}) since the body regions of the precharging transistors N2 and N3 are fixed at the ground voltage. This threshold voltage increase degrades driving capability of the precharging transistors and the precharge speed of the data lines to the internal power supply voltage. Similarly, since Vgs of the equalizing transistor N1 decreases with an increasing voltage on the data line acting as the source and the body of the equalizing transistor N1 is fixed at the ground voltage, the threshold voltage Vth increases due to the body effect. This degrades the driving capability of the equalizing transistor and the equalizing speed of the data lines.
The above-described equalizing and precharging operation degrade the equalizing and precharging speed of the data input and output lines, such that the equalizing and precharging speed of the data input and output lines limits the operation frequency of a semiconductor device requiring high-speed writing and reading operations.

Integrated circuit devices having precharge and equalization circuits therein and methods of operating same


The invention prevents the deterioration of the read/write performance of a hard disk drive due to the interference between an inertial latching mechanism and an actuator when a head slider holding a magnetic head is located at a read/write position. A latching arm 22 provided with a projection 23 and included in an inertial latching mechanism 20, and a part 161 of a coil holding arm 16a included in an actuator are formed in shapes such that the latching arm 22 provided with the projection 23 does not interfere with the coil holding arm 16a having the part 161 when a head slider mounted on the actuator is located at a read/write position on a magnetic disk.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a disk drive and, more particularly, to a disk drive provided with a latching mechanism for latching an actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recent hard disk drive employs a head slider moving mechanism for moving a head slider supporting a magnetic head to prevent the head slider from sticking to the surface of a magnetic disk and to improve the reliability thereof in withstanding shocks applied thereto. The head slider moving mechanism holds an actuator on a part called a ramp disposed near the circumference of the magnetic disk to keep the head slider apart from the surface of the magnetic disk while the hard disk drive is not in operation.
FIG. 16 shows, by way of example, a hard disk drive 1 provided with a head slider moving mechanism. The hard disk drive 1 shown in FIG. 16 has a disk pack (case) 3 including a base 2 having the shape of a bottomed box, and a cover, not shown, for covering an open upper side of the base 2. A predetermined number of magnetic disks 4 are mounted in layers on a spindle motor, not shown, of in-hub construction so as to be rotatable. The spindle motor is disposed on the side of the base. The magnetic disks 4 are rotated at a predetermined rotating speed by the spindle motor.
An actuator 10 is disposed in the disk pack 3. FIG. 17 is a top view of the magnetic disk 4 and the actuator 10. Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the actuator 10 has a head support arm 12 supported by the middle part thereof on a pivot (shaft) 11 for rotation relative to the base 2. A head slider 14 holding a magnetic head 13 for reading recorded data from the magnetic disk 4 and writing data to the magnetic disk 4 is attached to a front end part of the head support arm 12. A voice coil 15 is held on a back end part of the head support arm 12. The voce coil 15 is disposed between a coil holding arms 16a and 16b that extend in a V-shape from a part around the pivot 11 of the head support arm 12 so as to diverge from each other.
A stator 17 is disposed on the base 2. The stator 17 creates a magnetic field in a space between the voice coil 15 held on the back end part of the actuator 10, and the stator 17. Thus, the voice coil 15 and the stator 17 constitute a voice coil motor (VCM) for turning the actuator 10. The VCM drives the actuator 10 for turning on the pivot 11 to move the magnetic head 13 attached to the front end part of the actuator 10 substantially along a radius of the magnetic disk 4 for a seek operation so that the magnetic head 13 can be located opposite to a desired track on the magnetic disk 4.
A ramp 18 is held on the base 2 to hold the head slider 14 holding the magnetic head 13 apart from the magnetic disk 4 while the hard disk drive 1 is not in operation.
An inertial latching mechanism 20 is attached to the base 2. The inertial latching mechanism 20 latches the actuator 10 when an intense shock is applied to the hard disk drive 1 by an inertial force resulting from the shock acting on the hard disk drive 1. FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of the inertial latching mechanism 20 and the associated parts. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the inertial latching mechanism 20 has a latching arm 22 having a middle part supported by a pivot (shaft) 21 on the base 2 (FIG. 16). The latching arm 22 is able to turn on the pivot 21. A projection 23 projects from the front end of the latching arm 22 into the base 2, i.e., into the paper as viewed in FIG. 18. A pin 24 is attached to a back end part of the latching arm 22 so as to extend away from the bottom of the base 2, i.e., out of the paper as viewed in FIG. 18. An inertial arm, not shown, is disposed near the pin 24. The inertial arm is turned by an external shock so as to push the pin 24.
When the hard disk drive 1 is not operating for reading data from or writing data to the magnetic disk 4, the VCM drives the actuator 10 to set the head slider 14 on the ramp 18. If a relatively small shock is applied to the hard disk drive 1 in this state, the ramp 18 restrains the head slider from movement so that the head slider 14 may not move toward the magnetic disk 4. If a relatively large shock is applied to the hard disk drive 1, the inertial arm, not shown, pushes the pin 24 to turn the latching arm 22 in the direction of the arrow α. Consequently, the projection 23 is engaged with inner side, near the extremity of the coil holding arm 16a, of a part 161 to latch the actuator 10. The inertial latching mechanism 20 thus restrains the movement of the head slider 14 so that the head slider 14 may not move toward the magnetic disk 4.
In FIGS. 17 and 18, the actuator 10 holding the head slider 14 is restrained from movement by the inertial latching mechanism 20. In the normal state, the latching arm 22 of the inertial latching mechanism 20 is pulled in the direction of the arrow β by a spring, not shown, to keep the projection 23 disengaged from the coil holding arm 16a.

Inertial latching mechanism for disk drive actuator

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands BV


A structure to provide air flow an mixture in an HVAC unit utilizing a separate piece air deflector located within the lower housing of the HVAC unit and ribs to direct airflow, the separate piece air deflector configured to cause air deflection and airflow towards the distribution area of the unit.

The present invention relates to the field of directing ventilating air and airflow control in a ventilating, heating or air conditioning system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a structure and method to provide air flow diversion via a detached air deflector within the HVAC housing.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to airflow control in heating and air conditioning units, particularly for automotive purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In automotive ventilating systems and in ventilating systems in general, air needs to be directed within the HVAC unit to provide for the correct air volumes and temperatures to desired areas prior to its flow through respective air passageways. The air can be directed via outlet means such as doors, and, specifically, blend doors, so the air proceeds to the desired area under selected design conditions. For example, a design may provide for heated or cooled air so that air flows past, through, over, or by an evaporator and/or a heater core prior to reaching a distribution area or zone at a certain temperature, and finally being distributed to the appropriate areas of the cockpit, passenger compartment or other area of the vehicle.
Ventilating, heating and air conditioning systems in modern vehicles strive to provide a total interior climate control. Such systems maintain a desired temperature by delivering an appropriate mix of ambient, cooled and heated air to the vehicle interior. Such systems conventionally include an air duct, which is selectively connected to the external air or to the interior of the vehicle cabin, a fan for causing the air to flow, and an evaporator unit and a heater unit within the respective ducts for cooling or heat the air. The cold air output from the evaporator unit may be supplied directly to various outlets within the vehicle cabin or some of the cold air may be passed through a heating heat exchanger (heater core) whose heated air output is mixed with the cold air to provide temperature control of the air output to the cabin. Diversion of the cold and/or hot air through the HVAC unit can be controlled by a series of so-called "blend doors".
In the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,263, issued Nov. 23, 1999, Schwarz, an air flow mixer structure for a vehicle air conditioning system having a first conduit for a first air flow, a second conduit for a second air flow, an opening between said first and second conduits for merging said first and second air flows in a merging region and a common air channel for said merged air flows wherein the mixer structure is disposed in the first conduit for controlling the first air flow, the mixer structure having an air inlet region and an air outlet region opening into said merging region, the mixer structure comprising plural air passages disposed between said inlet region and said outlet region for dividing an air flow at said inlet region into plural air flows at plural said openings into said merging region is described.
In the past, many HVAC systems have been devised wherein multiple blend doors as well as mode doors, were needed to ensure that heated and/or cooled air to different areas of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Either HVAC systems could have one or two piece molded housings with features for diverting air molded into or as part of the walls of the housing, or multiple doors and levers and links to control the blending functions. A large housing space was thus needed in such systems.
In the prior art, a number of designs are known, with or without deflectors molded into the housing. In order to mold a deflector directly into the housing, however, a much greater space is required within the vehicle itself in order to carry the HVAC. Where space constraints exist, there is a need to provide for a moldable housing with features of a larger unit, for example there is still a need for some sort of air diverting or deflecting device, but one that can function in a smaller packaging area for the overall HVAC housing. The present invention, by providing for a separate, and, preferably, individually molded deflector piece or part that can be subsequently located or placed within the HVAC housing instead of being molded therewith, provides for a highly functioning air conditioning system that fits in a relatively smaller space than that of the prior art.


A color picture image formation device includes a plurality of photosensitive body drums and a plurality of image formation sections each consisting of a charge unit, an exposure unit and a plurality of developing units for developing toner picture images of various colors and an intermediate transfer body for holding the toner powder images of required number of colors, which transfers the toner picture images to the recording paper and fixes them thereon by a fixing unit after all the toner picture images have been formed on the intermediate transfer body. A transfer voltage is applied by the intermediate transfer body for every developing unit. The intermediate transfer body is a drum formed as a multiple layer structure including a metallic tube, an insulation layer, a metallic conductive electrode which is split into a plurality of sections, and a voltage application layer on the surface of the metallic tube. A transfer roller transfers the toner-picture images onto the recording paper. A voltage application brush which comes into contact with the sections of the metallic conductive electrode applies voltage to the intermediate transfer body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color picture image formation device for developing the latent images formed on a photosensitive body drum in sequence by use of the color toners different in colors, transferring each of said developed toner images once onto a picture image retaining medium and transferring them on a recording paper after all the toner picture images have been formed on the picture image retaining medium.
A color printer, a color facsimile, a color copier, etc. can be enumerated as this type of unit.
As known, an electrophotography recording unit covers a picture image formation process and a recording paper transfer process, and the picture image formation process further consists of an electrostatic latent image formation process, an electrostatic latent image development process, a transfer process and a fixing process.
In the electrostatic latent image formation process, the electrostatic latent image is formed by optically projecting a picture image on a photosensitive body drum or a photosensitive body belt or by providing electric charge on a dielectric drum.
In the electrostatic latent image development process, the electrostatic latent image is developed by electrostatically adhering the toner as a recording medium onto the electrostatic latent image which has been formed in that manner. The toner which has been used in the development is transferred to the recording paper in the transfer process, then the transferred toner is fixed onto the recording paper in the fixing process.
In such a color recording device as expressing many colors with use of color toners, this invention relates to a color recording device which has a plurality of photosensitive body drums, forms the color toner picture images on said drums, then transfers these color toner picture images sequentially onto the intermediate transfer body, and after all the color picture images have been formed on said intermediate transfer body, they are transferred at a time onto the recording paper for the formation of picture image thereon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The system of color recording device covers the system for transferring the toners sequentially to the intermediate transfer body from a single photosensitive body drum and the system for developing the respective color toners on a plurality of photosensitive body drums and for transferring the toners sequentially on the intermediate transfer body. The present invention relates to the color picture image formation device of latter construction. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show prior art color picture image formation devices of the foregoing type.
The prior art color picture image formation device shown in FIG. 1 comprises an image formation module for respective colors, which has image formation sections 1 and 2 each constituted of a precharge device 1c (not shown in the developing section 2), a write section 1d (not shown in the developing section 2), a toner developing section 1e (not shown in the developing section 2), a discharge device 1f (not shown in the developing section 2) and a cleaner 1g (not shown in the developing section 2).
An intermediate transfer body 3 has any of the constructions suitable of being turned or being tensed via a roller (not shown in the figure) for its running, and respective write transfer sections 1b and 2b consist of transfer devices 1a and 2a for transferring a toner image to said intermediate transfer body 3 and also the respective photosensitive drum sections opposite to the intermediate transfer section 3. Numeral 4 denotes a paper side unit for transferring and fixing the toner image on the paper 100 from the intermediate transfer body 3.
In this type of structure, the respective image formation modules 1 and 2 compensate the phase only by a phase differential portion determined by a circumferential speed and the difference between the distance from write sections 1d (2d is not shown in the figure) on respective photosensitive drums for synthetic overlapping to the write transfer sections 1b and 2b and the distance from the write transfer sections 1b and 2b on the respective intermediate transfer bodies 3 to the output transfer section 4a. A color picture image is formed by writing the data for respective colors to be overlapped on the respective write sections 1d (2d is not shown in the figure), developing the image with use of the respective color toners, transferring the image onto the intermediate transfer body 3 and synthesizing the image on this intermediate transfer body 3.
The intermediate transfer body 3 of the device shown in FIG. 1, is a body that is structured by laying out on a drum an endless hoop material made of dielectric sheet describe in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 61-13263. And, as mentioned above, this device has any of the suitable constructions either for turning said intermediate transfer body 3 itself or for tensing it via a roller (not shown in the figure) for its running.
The color picture image recording device shown in FIG. 2 is equipped with process units P1, P2, P3 and P4 having 4 pieces of photosensitive body drums 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d, respectively, positioned as their centers and an intermediate transfer body drum 12. The process unit P1 includes a charge device 8a, a latent image formation unit 9a, a developing device 10a and a cleaner 11a which are installed around the photosensitive body drum 7a. The other process units P2 through P4 have similar constructions, wherein numerals 8b, 8c and 8d denote the charge devices, 9b, 9c and 9d the latent image formation units, 10b, 10c and 10d the developing devices and 11b, 11c and 11d the cleaners. The developing agents of respectively different colors are contained in the developing devices 10a through 10d of the respective process units. 3 original colors, Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan), necessary for color recording, are used respectively in the developing devices 10a, 10b and 10c, while the BK (black) is used, for compensating the black, in the developing device 10d.
The recording by the device shown in FIG. 2 is carried out as per the following procedures.
Simultaneously with the recording paper being unrolled on the carrier road in recording the image, the latent images corresponding to the signals of various colors are formed sequentially on the respective photosensitive body drums 7a through 7d. The latent image is formed by charging the surfaces of respective photosensitive body drums 7a through 7d uniformly by use of the corresponding charge devices 8a through 8d and by forming the image by the latent image formation devices 9a through 9d. The latent images are developed by the developing devices 10a through 10d into the formation of toner images of Y, M, C and BK (black) colors. The toner picture images on these photosensitive body drums 7a through 7d are transferred and overlapped sequentially onto the intermediate transfer body drum 12 for the formation of a toner picture image. After the toner picture image has been formed on the intermediate transfer body 12, said image is transferred on to the recording paper 100 by the transfer device 12 and then fixed thereon.
The intermediate transfer body 12 of the device shown in FIG. 2, as described in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 63-311273 proposes and is a metallic support body drum around which a low resistance rubber is rolled up, wherein, as it is stated in the above disclosure be transferred nicely by impressing a constant voltage to the metallic support body drum which becomes the base material of this intermediate transfer body and by sequentially changing the voltage applied to the respective picture image processes P1, P2, P3 and P4.
Because the drum body shown in FIG. 1 adopts such a construction as either arranging on the drum an endless hoop material made of dielectric sheet for its turning, or tensing it via a roller for its running, the intermediate transfer body drum has a problem in its strength in addition to the deterioration in an output resulting from the generation of thermal shrinkage, deformation, etc. of a dielectric film. Moreover it is difficult to uniformly maintain, over a long period of time, the contact width and contact pressure in the contact section between the intermediate transfer body drum and the photosensitive drum because the dielectric film alone is used.
Further the device shown in FIG. 2 is not practical because the potentials of the pre-charge device, development bias and photosensitive body drum as the locations for readjusting the conditions require a very fine adjustment although the potentials of respective picture image processes in the intermediate transfer bodies are adjusted in each process.

Color picture image formation device for developing latent image formed on a photosensitive body


Provided are embodiments of a pressure-compensated load transfer device that includes a plate having a first shaft vertically installed on one side and a second shaft vertically installed on the other side to be coaxial with the first shaft. Also included is a first bellows having an opening in one side to surround the first shaft, with the other side thereof being fixed to the one side of the plate. Further included is a plurality of second bellows each having an opening in one end, with the other end thereof being attached to the other side of the plate. A housing is also included, and the housing includes a high-pressure working hole communicating with the opening of the first bellows and a high-pressure channel coplanar with the high-pressure working hole and communicating with the openings of the second bellows. The plate is back-and-forth movably received in the housing.

To transfer motion between spaces having different levels of pressure, motion from a low-pressure side to a high-pressure side may be provided by applying a force equal to or greater than a force able to overcome the difference between the different levels of pressure. However, when the pressure of the high-pressure side is excessively higher than the pressure of the low-pressure side, the capacity of a shaker or an actuator generating motion may be exceeded and no motion may be provided.
Accordingly, a pressure-compensated load transfer device using a flexible beam designed to have a high load transfer ratio is demanded.

Pressure-compensated load transfer device


A filter retaining system formed from multiple filter retaining frames is disclosed. Each of the frames is formed from either a female type extrusion or a combination of male and female type extrusions. Specifically, each frame has either a tongue or a groove which is engageable into a corresponding groove or tongue of an adjacent frame. The tongue and groove engagement provides added rigidity to the retaining system, as well as preventing air from bypassing the filters retained within each frame.

The requirements for clean air have forced engineers and building owners to improve the quality of air filtration devices used in office buildings and sophisticated "zero" tolerance clean rooms. In many buildings, air filtration devices comprise a series of filters placed upstream of the HVAC system. The filters are used to remove the contaminants in the air flowing through the HVAC system.
Typically, the filters are placed within a filter bank assembly having frames for holding each respective filter. The frames are fastened together to form an array of frames that retain the needed filters. Each frame is sized slightly larger than the filter placed therein, and is formed with a sealing flange which extends around the inner circumference of the frame. When a filter is inserted into a respective frame, the sealing flange abuts the filter. A gasket or other type of sealing device may be placed between the filter and the sealing flange in order to provide a better seal.
The filter is retained within a respective frame with a spring clip or other type of retention device. The spring clip tensions the filter against the sealing flange of the frame. If a pre-filter is used, then a second spring clip is used to mount the pre-filter to the filter and the frame.
Numerous problems develop with the type of filter retaining assembly described above. Specifically, air can leak downstream in the gaps between individual frame members and also between the filter and the frame. The spring clips that are used to fasten the filters to the frame can become unfastened to the frame when the filter is not in place and can become lost. Furthermore, the spring clips cannot hold the pre-filter in place when air is not flowing.
Another problem occurs when multiple frames are stacked together to form an array of filters. The array of frames will flex due to their lack of rigidity. The flexure of the frames will cause gaps between the frames and the filters, and adjacent frames thereby leaking contaminants into the airstream.
The present invention addresses the above-mentioned deficiencies in air filter retaining systems by providing a plurality of frames that prevent air leakage. Specifically, the air filter restraining system of the present invention provides a plurality of interlocking frames connected together to retain multiple filter elements. The frames interlock and seal together to prevent contaminants entering the downstream flow. Furthermore, the frames can be strengthened with a vertical member to provide better rigidity than the prior art systems. The frames of the present invention also include a better method of sealing the filter to the frame.


A rotating anticathode X-ray generating apparatus which is configured such that an X-ray is generated by an irradiation of an electron beam emitted from a cathode includes a rotating anticathode with an electron beam irradiating portion to generate the X-ray through the irradiation of the electron beam so that a direction of the electron beam is set equal to a direction of a centrifugal force caused by a rotation of the rotating anticathode; and a film for covering at least the electron beam irradiating portion so as to prevent an evaporation of a material making the rotating anticathode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotating anticathode X-ray generating apparatus and an X-ray generating method for generating an X-ray with ultrahigh brightness.
2. Description of the Related Art
In X-ray diffraction measurement, it may be required to irradiate an X-ray with as high intensity as possible onto a sample. In this case, a conventional rotating anticathode type X-ray generating apparatus would be employed for the X-ray diffraction measurement.
The rotating anticathode X-ray generating apparatus is configured such that an electron beam is irradiated onto the outer surface of the columnar anticathode (target) in which a cooling medium is flowed while the anticathode is rotated at high speed. In comparison with a stationary target X-ray generating apparatus, the rotating anticathode X-ray generating apparatus can exhibit extreme cooling efficiency because the irradiating position of the electron beam on the anticathode changes with time. Therefore, in the rotating anticathode X-ray generating apparatus, the electron beams can be irradiated onto the anticathode in large electric current, thereby generating an X-ray with high intensity (brightness).
By the way, the intensity of the resultant X-ray generated is in proportion to the electric power (current voltage) to be applied between the cathode and the anticathode. On the other hand, since the brightness of the X-ray can be represented by (electric power)/(area of electron beams on target), the maximum value in output of the X-ray depends largely on the area of the electron beam on the target. For example, the output intensity of the X-ray can be enhanced only to 1.2 kW at a maximum in the conventional laboratory rotating Cu anticathode type X-ray generating apparatus when the electron beam is irradiated onto the target at a spot size of 0.1×1 mm, and also only to 3.5 kW at a maximum in an ultrahigh brightness rotating anticathode type X-ray generating apparatus.
In this point of view, such a technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-172135 as irradiating the electron beam onto the inner surface of the cylindrical portion which is rotated around the center axis of the rotating anticathode X-ray generating apparatus and heating the electron beam irradiating portion beyond the melting point of the material making the cylindrical portion, thereby generating the high bright X-ray. In this case, since the electron beam irradiating portion is heated beyond the melting point of the material of the cylindrical portion, the electron beam irradiating portion is at least partially melted. However, since the electron beam irradiating portion is held on the cylindrical portion by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotating anticathode, the melted portion of the electron beam irradiating portion can not be splashed.
In the conventional technique, however, since the electron beam irradiating portion is at least partially melted through the heating beyond the melting point of the material of the cylindrical portion, the area around the electron beam irradiating portion is heated to a relatively high temperature so that the vapor pressure of the area becomes high. As a result, the rotating anticathode (cylindrical portion) is consumed remarkably so that the utilization efficiency of the rotating anticathode may be deteriorated.    [Patent Application No. 1]    Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-172135

Rotating anticathode X-ray generating apparatus and X-ray generating method