An example of an information processing system executes an application including a plurality of games using characters to each of which at least one of a plurality of skills influencing progress of a game is added. In a first game that is one of the plurality of games, a possessed character that is a character possessed by a user is used. The information processing system adds at least one skill that satisfies a condition for being designated by the user, among the plurality of skills, to the possessed character on the basis of designation by the user. In a second game different from the first game among the plurality of games, a use character prepared to be used in the second game is used. The information processing system adds at least one skill among the plurality of skills to the use character in accordance with progress of the second game.

Conventionally, addition of a skill to a character used in a game is performed under a certain condition.
In the above game, since a certain condition needs to be satisfied in order to add a skill to a character, it is also considered that a user cannot easily add a skill to a character in some cases. When the user cannot easily add a skill, it is also considered that the user may no longer use the function of adding a skill to a character. Thus, there is room for improvement in causing the user to use the function of adding a skill.
Therefore, the present application discloses a storage medium having an information processing program stored therein, an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method which can make it easier for a user to use a function of adding a skill to a character.
(1) An example of a storage medium described in the present specification is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an information processing program for causing one or more processors of an information processing apparatus to execute an application. The application includes a plurality of games using characters to each of which at least one of a plurality of skills influencing progress of a game is added. The information processing program causing the one or more processors to execute: executing a first game that is one of the plurality of games and uses a possessed character that is a character possessed by a user; adding at least one skill among the plurality of skills to the possessed character on the basis of designation by the user, wherein said at least one skill satisfies a condition for being designated by the user; executing a second game that is different from the first game among the plurality of games and uses a use character prepared to be used in the second game; and adding at least one skill among the plurality of skills to the use character in accordance with progress of the second game.
According to the configuration of the above (1), since the user can add a skill to the use character different from the possessed character by advancing the second game, it is made easier for the user to use a function of adding a skill to a character.
(2) The information processing program may further cause the one or more processors to execute setting a character corresponding to the use character, to be the possessed character, when a giving condition for giving the character to the user is satisfied in the application.
(3) The one or more processors may execute a first game using the possessed character that is a character possessed by the user, among the characters. The one or more processors may execute a second game using the use character prepared to be used in the second game, among the characters.
According to the configuration of the above (2) or (3), motivation to use, in a normal game, the possessed character corresponding to the use character in the skill trial game can be given to the user, and motivation to play the normal game can be given to the user.
(4) When the same skill is added to each of the possessed character and the use character that correspond to each other, the skill may have the same influence on the progress of the second game in which the use character is used, as on progress of the first game in which the possessed character is used.
According to the configuration of the above (4), from the use character to which a skill is added in the second game, the user can easily infer the ability of the possessed character to which the skill is added in the first game. Accordingly, stronger motivation to play the first game can be given to the user.
(5) The one or more processors may add at least one skill selected from among the plurality of skills according to a predetermined rule, to the use character.
According to the configuration of the above (5), the user can add a skill to the use character according to the predetermined rule.
(6) The one or more processors may add a skill designated by the user among skills selected from among the plurality of skills by random selection, to the use character.
According to the configuration of the above (6), since skills to be added to the use character are selected on the basis of the random selection, the user can try various skills. Accordingly, the entertainment characteristics regarding addition of a skill can be improved.
(7) The one or more processors may add a skill to the use character each time a progress condition regarding the progress of the second game is satisfied.
According to the configuration of the above (7), since a skill is repeatedly added to the use character by repeatedly playing the second game, motivation to use the function of adding a skill can be given to the user each time the user plays the second game.
(8) When the progress condition is satisfied, the one or more processors may add a skill to the use character that satisfies a character condition regarding the second game, among a plurality of the use characters used for satisfying the progress condition.
According to the configuration of the above (8), since the user plays the second game such that a use character to which the user desires to add a skill can satisfy the character condition, the strategic characteristics of the second game can be improved, and the entertainment characteristics of the second game can be improved.
(9) The one or more processors may limit a number of times the user plays the second game per unit period.
According to the configuration of the above (9), indefinitely adding a skill to the use character by indefinitely repeating the game can be inhibited, thereby improving the strategic characteristics of the second game.
(10) The plurality of skills may be classified into a plurality of groups. A predetermined number of skills may be allowed to be added to one use character per group.
According to the configuration of the above (10), a plurality of skills can be added to the use character, so that the entertainment characteristics of the second game can be improved.
(11) When newly adding, to the use character to which the predetermined number of skills in the same group have been added, a skill in the group, the one or more processors may delete one of the already added skills and adds the new skill to the use character.
According to the configuration of the above (11), when adding a new skill to the use character, the user does not have to delete a skill already added to the use character, so that user's operations in the second game can be simplified.
(12) The one or more processors may add a skill to the possessed character on a condition that an in-application asset possessed by the user in the application is consumed. The one or more processors may add a skill to the use character without consuming the in-application asset as a condition.
According to the configuration of the above (12), by making it easier to add a skill to the use character than to add a skill to the possessed character, motivation to play the second game can be given to the user.
(13) At least one skill may be associated with each possessed character. When adding, to a certain possessed character, a skill that is not associated with the possessed character, the one or more processors may add the skill to the possessed character on a condition that the in-application asset is consumed. The one or more processors may permit both a skill that is associated with the use character and a skill that is not associated with the use character, to be added to the use character without consuming the in-application asset.
According to the configuration of the above (13), variations in combinations of the use character in the second game and a skill to be added to the use character can be increased.
(14) The one or more processors may present both a skill that is associated with the use character and a skill that is not associated with the use character, as candidates, and may add a skill designated by the user among the candidates, to the use character.
According to the configuration of the above (14), since the user can designate a skill to be added to the use character, the convenience of the user regarding addition of a skill can be improved.
(15) At least one skill among the plurality of skills may be associated with the in-application asset. When adding, to a certain character, a skill that is not associated with the character, the one or more processors may add a skill associated with the in-application asset possessed by the user in the application, to the character at least on a condition that the in-application asset is consumed.
According to the configuration of the above (15), the strategic characteristics regarding addition of a skill to the possessed character can be improved, and the entertainment characteristics of the game can be improved.
(16) The one or more processors may give the in-application asset and/or a type of an asset that is different from the in-application asset and convertible into the in-application asset, to the user in accordance with the progress of the second game.
According to the configuration of the above (16), stronger motivation to play the second game can be given to the user.
(17) A skill use condition that is satisfied by advancing the first game may be set for skills added to the possessed character. The information processing program may further cause the one or more processors to execute setting a skill for which the skill use condition is satisfied, among the skills added to the possessed character, to be in a state where the skill is used by the possessed character to which the skill is added. The one or more processors may set a skill added to the use character to be in a state where the skill is used by the possessed character, regardless of whether or not the skill use condition is satisfied.
According to the configuration of the above (17), by making it easier to make a skill usable for the use character to make a skill usable for the possessed character, motivation to play the second game can be given to the user.
The present specification discloses an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, or a server each including the entirety or a part of the means configured to execute the processes in the above (1) to (17). Moreover, the present specification discloses an information processing method to be executed in the configurations of the above (1) to (17).
According to the storage medium, the information processing system, the information processing apparatus, and the information processing method, it can be made easier for the user to use the function of adding a skill to a character.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiment will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method


A non-electrical intermetallic thermal sensor with trigger temperatures in a range of 360° F. to about 430° F., comprising, a hermetically sealed housing including at least one layer of electronegative metal disposed in the housing, wherein the electronegative metal comprises tin (Sn), and at least one layer of active lithium/magnesium alloy disposed in the housing, wherein each layer(s) of active lithium/magnesium alloy is disposed in abutting interface with each layer(s) of electronegative metal. The intermetallic thermal sensors of the present invention further include at least one diffusion barrier means for inhibiting the diffusion of the active lithium/magnesium alloy layer into the electronegative layer.

As a result of several well-known tragic accidents and considerable experience with ordinance items exposed to a range of thermal stimuli, it has been found necessary to pursue technologies offering more satisfactory solutions to reducing or mitigating reaction response levels of munitions subjected to fast cook-off (FCO) and slow cook-off (SCO) threat stimuli. To be in compliance with Insensitive Munitions (IM) requirements, munitions are not permitted to exhibit a reaction response more violent than a burning or deflagration reaction when subjected to a FCO or SCO thermal environment. Likewise, new rocket/missile propulsion systems are required to meet insensitive munitions requirements in prevailing applicable standards. Currently, few unmodified propulsion systems meet the presently applicable FCO requirements and far fewer meet present SCO requirements. However, it has been demonstrated that solid propellant rocket motors properly equipped with the embodiments described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,537 (hereinafter referred to a the '537 patent) are able to pass SCO requirements.
The effectiveness of cook-off hazard mitigation systems that cut and/or otherwise vent a rocket motor case prior to ignition of the propellant mass by the endangering thermal stimulus has been demonstrated. In full-scale cook-off tests, dramatic reduction in the reaction violence of the motors has been obtained by implementing the active mitigation case venting approach. Nevertheless, cook-off hazard mitigation for rocket motors is a difficult engineering problem, and the technology is still immature, especially in the areas of slow cook-off mitigation and broad-spectrum cookoff mitigation which includes FCO, SCO, and all heating rates in between. New missile systems currently in the initial stages of construction and development are required to meet the insensitive munitions requirements before acceptance for use. Many will not be able to do so without advances in cook-off hazard mitigation technology.
At the present, one of the key problems in the development of a satisfactory case venting cook-off mitigation system is the lack of fully suitable thermal sensor technologies. Mechanical sensors which utilize passive sensor technology such as bimetal, memory metal, and/or wax motor actuators to sense and initiate a mitigation system have been built and tested, but are bulky and expensive. In addition, these constructs typically require an out of line device somewhere in the system. Electrically powered thermal sensors, active or passive, generally are not considered capable of meeting construct requirements for this application because of one or more of the following reasons: (1) the need for a reliable long-term power source, (2) the need for maintenance, (3) the possibility of system failure or an electrical short resulting in accidental triggering, (4) the difficultly of fool proofing and hardening the system so that it cannot be triggered by aero heating, electromagnetic pulse inputs, or any other stimuli except valid thermal threats, and (5) difficulty assuring electronic component reliability at elevated temperatures in a cook-off environment. For these reasons, virtually all current cook-off hazard mitigation systems are constructed around rather primitive thermal sensors, which utilize a pyrotechnic charge as the sensing element.
Pyrotechnic sensors typically respond reliably only to heating rates at the upper end of the heating rate continuum. Thus, current pyrotechnic based cook-off mitigation systems are unable to sense, respond to, or mitigate hazards presented by intermediate or slow cook-off. As a rule, pyrotechnics also lack precise, reproducible behavior, and their use raises safety issues regarding the mitigation system itself. Virtually all pyrotechnic-based mitigation systems require the implementation of a safe/arming subsystem, which impacts complexity, reliability, and cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,429 issued on Apr. 9, 1991, to Pracchia, et al. teaches an externally heated thermal battery (hereinafter referred to as the '429 patent). This is a lithium battery with an electrolyte, which is solid at normal ambient conditions. When the battery is heated by a sufficiently strong external heat source, such as a fire, the battery is heated until the electrolyte melts. As long as the electrolyte is solid, the battery is a rather inert device, as it cannot deliver an electrical current. Once the electrolyte melts, the electrolyte becomes conductive and the device gains the capability of delivering electrical energy. This electrical energy can then be used to fire a squib or detonator or some other initiator. In other words, the electrical energy is used to initiate an explosive or pyrotechnic train to mitigate an ordnance hazard.
The lithium intermetallic thermal sensors of the present invention are not batteries and do not at any time function as a cell or battery. The thermal batteries of the '429 patent utilize an electrolyte and have or utilize an electrode (anode or cathode). The thermal batteries deliver electrical energy and are used to electrically initiate a pyrotechnic or explosive train. The thermal batteries utilize electrochemical reactions which begin at a pre-selected temperature, as opposed to using intermetallic alloying reactions which trigger (bootstrap) at a pre-selected temperature. The thermal batteries function when its electrolyte melts as opposed to triggering when the lithium alloy melts. The thermal batteries deliver an electrical output and not a thermal output.
A significant problem with thermal batteries is that even though the thermal batteries are inert until a specified temperature, they are ultimately used to electrically fire a squib or detonator which contains sensitive primary explosives/energetics. Ordnance safety practices require electrically initiated squibs or detonators to be out-of-line until it is fired. In a cookoff environment (especially SCO) squib/detonator reliability becomes a major technical challenge. Some squibs/detonators will themselves cookoff prematurely or they gradually "dud" at elevated temperatures. Another issue was the time required for the battery electrolyte to melt and for the battery to come up to full power. Due to resultant complexity, cost, and reliability issues it was found to be difficult to implement thermal battery powered mitigation devices in a field-able system. These obstacles are not insurmountable, but they kept thermal type batteries from being utilized in insensitive munitions and prompted the search for another technology.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,537 issued on Nov. 14, 1995 to Diede et al., teaches intermetallic thermal sensors based upon eutectic or near eutectic lithium alloys in conjunction with a 63/37 tin/lead alloy, and is hereby incorporated by reference. These thermal sensors were constructed to trigger at several specific temperatures depending upon the composition (melting point) of the lithium alloy. Sensors with trigger temperatures of 270, 292, 305, 315, 332, and 353° F. were developed, tested, and successfully demonstrated. These sensors were developed to be incorporated into a specific weapon system to broaden the cook-off hazard mitigation capabilities of a previously constructed FCO thermally initiated venting system. Lithium intermetallic thermal sensors were incorporated into the thermally initiated FCO venting system to sense slow cook-off heating rates. No effort was made at that time to sense or mitigate thermal hazards presented by heating rates between FCO and SCO. Upon sensor activation by the SCO threat, the lithium intermetallic thermal sensor delivered a burst of thermal energy which successfully initiated an explosive case cutter, thus achieving case venting and an acceptable reaction level at the precise trigger temperature selected. This was accomplished without the use of sensitive electrically initiated squibs/detonators, and enabled the use of an insensitive in-line explosive system. In a FCO environment, the system employed a pyrotechnic sensor which was activated by direct flame impingement while the intermetallic thermal sensor remained insulated from the FCO environment. Mitigation system designers felt that the 270-353° F. trigger temperature of the lithium intermetallic thermal sensors was too low (in light of possible aero heat/jet exhaust exposure) to put these sensors near the exterior of the rocket motor so that a single intermetallic SCO sensor could respond to both FCO and SCO.
The Navy will not consider any thermal sensor in which there is even a remote chance of a failure mode resulting in the inadvertent triggering of a thermal hazard mitigation system. Conventional electric, electronic, or mechanical sensors were effectively ruled out as not reliable enough or do not trigger precisely enough to meet Navy requirements. Pyrotechnic sensors have applications limited to FCO applications. However, the lithium sensors of the above patent are unique in that they inherently cannot be triggered until the melting point of the lithium alloy is reached. Thus the trigger temperature is a very precise and reproducible value.
The following sensors in the '537 patent is hereinafter described in this section. Prior art FIGS. 1-4 depict structural embodiments of the intermetallic thermal sensors having trigger temperatures in the range of 270° F.-353° F. However, embodiments of thermal sensors of the present invention later described can also utilize the structures shown in FIGS. 1-4. In FIG. 1, the intermetallic thermal sensor 10 is shown comprising the housing 14 having an integral closed end and an opposite end having an extension 18 extending either from a continuous neck 16 of the housing 14 as depicted in FIG. 2 or from the end wall 15 depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the liner 37 in the thermal well 38 has a portion external to the housing 14 that constitutes the housing extension 18.
The sensor in FIG. 2 shows the housing 14 with a continuous neck 16 and integral extension 18. A lid 17 is press-fit into the end of the housing 14 opposite the extension 18. Excess material is trimmed so that the lid surfaces are flush. The housing is then fixtured in an aluminum block that serves as a heat sink while the seam 15 is electron-beam welded. The housing 14 and lid 17 are fabricated from suitable steels including, but not limited to alloy 17-4PH, H900/950 condition. Within the housing 14 and abutting the surface of the lid 17 therein is the first wafer 21A of electronegative metal or alloy. Progressing toward the housing extension 18, the next layer is one of active (lithium/lithium alloy) metal 23A. Another wafer 21B of electronegative metal followed by another of active metal 23B, and so on through alternating wafers 21C, and 21D of electronegative (tin/lead alloy) metal separated by layers 23C, and 23D of active metal until within the portion of the housing 14 in the neck 16 the stacking (sandwiching) of the alternating wafers 21 and layers 23 is concluded in this sensor with a wafer 21E.
The wafers or layers of active metal (lithium or lithium alloy) sandwiched in intimate contact with wafers of an electronegative metal or alloy form a stable system until the melting point of one or both metals (or alloys) is reached. In almost all cases the system is stable (unreactive) until the lithium or lithium alloy begins to melt. The electronegative metal or alloy are chosen so that it is still solid when the active metal melts. If a sensor was formulated so that the electronegative metal melts before the active metal, a runaway intermetallic reaction typically will not occur until the active metal also begins to melt, but the system is inherently unstable. This is an undesirable situation and is to be avoided. When the melting point of the lithium metal or lithium alloy has been reached, a spontaneous and vigorous, but gasless exothermic intermetallic reaction occurs which provides the energy to initiate the action of the mitigation system. For example, 7Li+2Sn→Li7Sn2 liberates approx 300 cal/g and 7Li+2Pb→Li7Pb2 liberates approx 165 cal/g. The resultant adiabatic reaction temperatures for these two reactions are approx 1900° F. and 1600° F. respectively. The reaction 2Li+Se→Li2Se liberates approx 910 cal/g and is very energetic.
In current sensor constructs, it is the melting temperature of the active metal that initiates the intermetallic reaction and triggers the sensor; therefore, the desired trigger temperature of the sensor is obtained by selecting a lithium alloy with the desired melting temperature. For example, in one application to mitigate the slow cook-off reaction of a particular rocket motor, a trigger temperature of approximately 330° F. is required. In another similar application a trigger temperature of 292° F. is required. Referring to FIG. 2, the composition of the active layers of metal pellets 23 which are of lithium metal determines the trigger temperature of the sensor.
Table 1 below gives several compositions and the resultant trigger temperatures of the sensor.
TABLE 1Resultant Trigger TemperaturesMeltingLi AlloyTemp ° F.Trigger Temp. of Sensor. ° F.Pure Lithium354-358354 ± 2degrees70% Lithium328-330331 + 2degrees30% Zinc−2degreesEutectic67% Lithium290-292292 + 2degrees33% Calcium−2degreesEutectic
Binary and tertiary alloys of lithium and the following metals enable the formulation of a wide variety of eutectic and single-phase alloys with very precise melting temperatures. The possible alloying constituents are: calcium, strontium, barium, zinc, aluminum, gallium, silver, platinum, palladium, and gold. Pure lithium or lithium alloys used in a sensor in the manner shown in FIG. 2, provide a wide variety of specific predetermined sensor trigger temperatures within the range of 270° F.-360° F. Li/Zn/Ag and Li/Zn/Ga/Ag alloys used as the active metal layers can be formulated to obtain trigger temperatures of 305° F., 310° F., 315° F. and 320° F.
The electronegative alloy chosen for the sensor shown in FIG. 2 is a eutectic alloy of 63% tin and 37% lead which melts at 361° F. This alloy was chosen in the '537 patent because it provides a sharper trigger response than any other electronegative metals/alloys tested in an extensive test matrix. The tin/lead alloy worked equally well with pure lithium as well as lithium/zinc and lithium/calcium alloys.
The reactions of most elemental electronegative metals with lithium and lithium alloys were evaluated. Many binary and tertiary electronegative alloys (most were tin based) were also tested and evaluated. The metals considered were: tin, lead, bismuth, indium, cadmium, antimony, thallium, zinc, and the semi-metals selenium and tellurium. The conclusion was that selenium (which does not form usable alloys) yielded the most impressive heat release but did not trigger in a reproducible manner when pressed in direct contact with the lithium alloy. Furthermore, selenium when used by itself liberates small, but significant and undesirable amounts of vapor during the reaction, and selenium is brittle and cannot be fabricated into wafers. The electronegative alloy that yielded the best overall performance in the packaging arrangement shown in FIG. 2 was the eutectic tin/lead alloy.
The number and thickness of the individual wafers was empirically determined by measuring the peak temperature obtained from sensors fabricated with different wafer dimensions. When many thin wafers are used, the reaction rate is higher, but there is more surface area for diffusion during slow heating rates and fabrication/assembly costs are higher. Increasing the thickness of the wafers and correspondingly reducing the number of wafers did not affect sensor performance significantly until the number of lithium wafers was less than 4. In the embodiment in FIG. 2 the wafers or layers of lithium metal/alloy were 0.358 inch in diameter and approximately 0.10 inch thick. The tin/lead alloy wafers were also 0.358 in diameter, but were 0.035 inches thick, except for wafer 21E which was 0.018 inches thick.
The electronegative alloy wafer 21E in contact with the metallic selenium pellet 25 is made thinner than the others so that unreacted lithium would be available near the selenium pellet. The idea is that the intermetallic reaction will heat the mass of the sensor and deliver hot unreacted lithium to the selenium pellet at the right time to ensure rapid and full energy release between the lithium and selenium. The lithium/selenium reaction was chosen because it is the only candidate reaction capable of reliably igniting a thermite charge 24.
In the sensor depicted in FIG. 2, the deposit of thermite 24 is located within the extension 18 abutting the surface of wafer 21E facing the extension 18. The thermite charge 24 is pressed into the extension 18 of the sensor 10. Thermite is typically a stoichiometric mixture of red iron oxide (Fe2O3) and aluminum powder. In the sensor of FIG. 2 the thermite composition is 67.15% Fe2O3, 23.87% H-15 aluminum powder, 6% V2O5 ultra fine powder, and 2.98% H-3 aluminum powder. The V2O5 was incorporated into the thermite formulation to make the thermite easier to ignite. The thermite is thoroughly mixed and sifted through a screen with a 425 micron hole size. A charge of 0.425 g of thermite was pressed into the sensor tip with a pressure of 4000 psi. Thermite is extremely difficult to "ignite", even with the addition of V2O5, requiring a temperature of >2000° F. for reliable ignition. However, the very energetic lithium/selenium reaction easily initiates the thermitic redox reaction. Once ignited, the reaction Fe2O3+2Al→2Fe+Al2O3 yields molten iron and aluminum oxide at 5200° F. The reaction is unique in that although it is very energetic, it is difficult to initiate, and the reaction yields little gas. The thermite increases the energy density and peak temperature at the tip of the sensor 10 when the sensor triggers. The tremendous burst of thermal energy provided by the thermite enables the sensor to instantly initiate very insensitive explosive train components. This allows an in-line system; an arrangement that is not possible if an electrically initiated squib or detonator is used with a thermal battery. In summary, the peak temperature reached by the intermetallic reaction is not high enough to instantly initiate an insensitive pyrotechnic/explosive train, and is also not sufficient to reliably ignite a thermite charge 24. However, the intermetallic reaction successfully and reliably initiates a selenium/lithium reaction which successfully and reliably initiates the thermite reaction—which in turn is used to thermally initiate the most insensitive pyrotechnic/explosive train of suitable composition. The selenium trigger pellet 25 of mass equal to 45-50 mg is placed between the thermite 24 and the tin/lead wafer 21E because it is incompatible with lithium but is perfectly compatible with both thermite and the tin/lead alloy. It is embedded in the thermite charge and flush with the surface of the thermite. The selenium used must be the grey or metallic allotrope which melts at 217° C.
In FIG. 2, the sensor 10 is 1.2 inches long and 0.375 inch in diameter. It should be further observed that copper-plating 22 is electroplated to each side of wafers 21A, B, C, D, and E, in a copper cyanide/sodium carbonate/Rochelle salt bath at 130° F. to deposit 3-4 mg of copper per wafer to a nominal thickness of 0.0001 inch.
In a 6° F./hr slow cook-off environment, the sensor spends many hours at elevated temperatures near the intended trigger temperature before the lithium alloy actually melts. Due to the fact that the lithium atom is extremely light, lithium diffuses an appreciable depth into the tin alloy wafers at elevated temperatures and forms a layer (crust) of intermetallic reaction products before the lithium alloy actually melts. This process does not necessarily dud the sensor, but slows the triggering speed and reduces the peak temperature. It was found that electroplating the tin/lead wafers with 0.0001 inch of copper significantly reduced the diffusion interaction between the lithium and electronegative metals. When the lithium melts, the copper is dissolved by the molten lithium and the intended intermetallic reaction is free to occur.
In FIG. 3, the housing 14 is structurally similar to the embodiment in FIG. 2. A first washer-shaped wafer of electronegative material 30 abuts the closed end wall 19 inside the housing 14 created by the lid 17. As shown in FIG. 3 the next wafer is a washer-shaped wafer of lithium alloy. 34. This wafer is followed by another washer-shaped wafer of electronegative material. The assembly of alternating washer-shaped wafers of electronegative metal 30 and active metal 34 continues until a sensor 10 of the appropriate size for the particular application is produced. Active metals for use in the sensor 10 are as described above.
The washer-shaped wafers 30 and 34 when stacked or assembled as described result in there being created a thermal well 38 centrally and symmetrically extending along the longitudinal axis 40 of the sensor. A liner 37 typically fabricated from steel is inserted in the well thus created and welded to the housing 14 at the seam weld 46. A compound or material capable of ignition and/or the production of a sudden volume of gas when the sensor triggers, is packed in the liner 37 of the thermal well 38. The ignition/decomposition of the material 38 serves to ignite a cutting charge or drive a piston to actuate a venting device. Materials including boron-potassium nitrate (BKNO3), some other energetic material, or fuse compositions are examples of charges that can be deposited in the well 38.
Operation
The intermetallic cook-off hazard sensor 10 employs the intermetallic alloying reactions which occur between the active metals and the electronegative metals or their respective alloys fabricated in intimate contact with each other inside the sensor housing. The intimate contact is achieved by fabricating the metal reactants as wafers 21A-21E of electronegative metal or alloy wafers alternating with layers of active metal 23A-23D. FIG. 2 depicts a sensor as alternating washer-shaped wafers 34 and 30 of active metal or alloy and electronegative metal or alloy, respectively, FIG. 3 depicts another sensor.
In FIG. 2, when the temperature to which the sensor 10 is subjected reaches the melting point of the active metal 23, a spontaneous and vigorous, but gasless exothermic intermetallic reaction occurs. This reaction is inhibited until the active metal, lithium/lithium alloy in this sensor discussed above, begins to melt or has completely melted. The electronegative metal is electroplated with a 0.0001 inch layer 22 of copper or separated from the active metal by a 0.0001 inch foil of copper to reduce the diffusion of the lithium into the tin alloy wafers, in this case described. Such diffusion would adversely affect sensor 10 performance by reducing triggering speed and peak temperature in an unpredictable manner. When the active metal begins to melt, the copper is dissolved by the molten lithium/lithium alloy. Once the copper coating is compromised, the intermetallic reaction initiates and the exothermic output in turn "ignites" the selenium trigger pellet 25. The pellet 25 reacts vigorously with lithium to produce the heat required to reliably ignite the thermite 24 in the housing extension 18. The energy released is sufficient to heat the tip of the sensor in excess of 1500° F. The resulting thermal output of the sensor is then used to initiate a slow cook-off mitigation systems or other similar application.
In the sensor described above in FIG. 3, washer-shaped wafers or layers of active metal or alloy and electronegative metal or alloy, respectively, are introduced in alternating layers into the sensor housing 14. Other wafer arrangements can also be utilized. Thus, when washer-shaped layers or wafers, for example, of an active metal or active metal alloy are sandwiched in intimate contact with washer-shaped layers or wafers of an electronegative metal or alloy, a stable intermetallic system having an integral thermal well 38 is formed until the melting point of one or both of the metals or alloys is reached. Here again an electroplated layer of copper on the electronegative metal or a copper foil separator between the layers is used as an inhibition to manage diffusion of one reactant into the other to the detriment of sensor 10 performance, as discussed above. When the melting point of the lithium based metal is reached, a vigorous, but gasless, exothermic intermetallic reaction occurs which can then be used to initiate the action of an energetic compound or material deposited in the thermal well 38 and thus trigger the mitigation system to which the sensor 10 is coupled. Examples of particular compounds or materials which are deposited in wells 38 and other applications include BKNO3, various propellants/explosives, pyrotechnics, or any substance that yield gas upon heating. The gas released by ignition or decomposition can be used in conjunction with a piston placed in the liner 37 to move the piston and actuate a detonator. Alternately, the sensor can be used to directly ignite an energetic material train. An intermetallic fuse wire composed of palladium and aluminum or nickel and aluminum may also be initiated by the thermal output of the sensor.
The sensors 10 are inherently inactive until subjected to an external thermal stimulus at a temperature in excess of the precisely predetermined trigger temperature. The sensor is free from premature triggering, does not exhibit undesirable hysteresis effects, and cannot be triggered by shock, electrostatic, EMP, friction, electromagnetic effects, or impact. By adjusting the composition and thus the melting point of the lithium/lithium alloy constituent in the sensor 10, trigger temperatures between 270° F. and 353° F. can be obtained.
When the lithium intermetallic thermal sensors of the above patent were developed, it was believed impossible to achieve trigger temperatures higher than 353° F., the approximate melting temperature of pure lithium. The reason is that the alloying of two metallic elements to form an alloy almost always results in melting point depression. Pure lithium metal yields sensors that trigger at approximately 353° F. The trigger temperature is a few degrees below the actual melting point of lithium due to rapid diffusion of the rather mobile lithium atoms just prior to melting. Thus, 353° F. was seen as the upper practical trigger temperature for lithium intermetallic thermal sensors.
There exists a need in the weapons systems community for an intermetallic thermal sensor having a sensor trigger temperature higher than 353° F.

High trigger temperature lithium intermetallic thermal sensors

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board including embedded capacitors, composed of a polymer condenser laminate including a plurality of polymer condenser layers, each of which has a polymer sheet and a conductor pattern formed on the polymer sheet, and a via hole for interlayer connection therethrough, and a circuit layer formed on either surface or both surfaces of the polymer condenser laminate and having a circuit pattern and a via hole for interlayer connection therethrough. The printed circuit board manufactured by the method of the current invention has higher capacitance density per unit area than conventional embedded capacitor printed circuit boards, whereby capacitors having various capacitance values, such as multilayered ceramic capacitors having high capacitance, can be embedded in the printed circuit board, instead of being mounted thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a printed circuit board (PCB) in which a condenser laminate or a capacitor is embedded. More specifically, the present invention relates to a PCB including embedded polymer condenser laminates, which is capable of manifesting higher capacitance density per unit area than conventional PCBs including embedded capacitors, so that capacitors having various capacitance values, for example, multilayered ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) having high capacitance, can be embedded in the PCB, instead of being mounted on the PCB; and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, capacitors store energy in the form of an electric field. When a DC voltage source is applied to a capacitor, the capacitor is charged but the current flow stops. On the other hand, if an AC voltage source is connected to a capacitor, the current flows through the capacitor depending on the frequency of the applied AC signal and the value of the capacitor while the capacitor is charged and discharged.
Thus, the capacitor having the above properties acts as a passive component essential for use in a variety of purposes, for example, coupling and decoupling, filters, impedance matching, charge pumps and demodulation in electric and electronic circuits, such as digital circuits, analog circuits and high frequency circuits. Further, the capacitors, which are manufactured in various forms, such as chips or discs, have been used in the state of being mounted on PCBs.
However, miniaturization and complication of the electronic devices lead to reducing the areas for mounting the passive components on the PCB. Also, while frequencies become higher in accordance with high speed electronic devices, parasitic impedance is generated by the conductor, solder, etc., between the passive component and the IC, thus causing several problems. To solve the problems, various attempts have been made to embed the capacitor in the PCB, mainly led by the manufacturers of PCBs and electric and electronic components.
Although discrete chip resistors or discrete chip capacitors have long since been mounted on PCBs, PCBs including embedded passive components such as resistors or capacitors have only been recently developed.
In techniques of manufacturing PCBs including embedded passive components, passive components such as resistors or capacitors are provided in PCBs using novel materials and processes, to substitute for conventional chip resistors and chip capacitors. That is, the PCB including embedded passive components means that the passive component, for example, capacitor, is embedded in the inner layer of the PCB. Regardless of the size of the PCB itself, if the capacitor as the passive component is incorporated in the PCB, this is called an 'embedded capacitor'. Such a substrate is referred to as an embedded capacitor PCB. The major characteristic of the embedded capacitor PCB is that the capacitor is intrinsically provided in the PCB without the need to mount the capacitor on the PCB.
FIGS. 1a to 1e show a conventional process of manufacturing a PCB including embedded polymer film type capacitors, in which a polymer capacitor paste is applied on a substrate and then hot dried (or cured), to realize the PCB including the embedded polymer film type capacitor.
In a first step, a copper foil layer of an inner layer 41 of the PCB comprising a FR-4 reinforced base sheet 42 is coated with a dry film, followed by being exposed and developed. Then, the copper foil layer is etched to form anodic copper foils 44a and 44b, cathodic copper foils 43a and 43b, and spaces therebetween (FIG. 1a).
In a second step, capacitor pastes 45a and 45b composed of a polymer that contains ceramic powder having a high dielectric constant are applied on the cathodic copper foils 43a and 43b by a screen printing process, and then dried or cured (FIG. 1b). Herein, the screen printing is performed by applying a media such as ink on a stencil screen using a squeeze, thereby transferring a pattern to a substrate.
At this step, the spaces between the anodic copper foils 44a and 44b and the cathodic copper foils 43a and 43b are covered with the capacitor pastes 45a and 45b.
In a third step, a conductive paste including silver or copper is formed into anodes 46a and 46b using a screen printing process, and dried or cured (FIG. 1c).
In a fourth step, the capacitor layer subjected to first to third steps of the inner layer 41 of the PCB is inserted between insulating layers 47a and 47b, followed by being laminated (FIG. 1d).
In a fifth step, a through hole and laser blind via holes 49a and 49b are formed through the laminate, whereby the capacitor present in the inner layer of the PCB is connected to positive terminals 51a and 51b and negative terminals 50a and 50b of IC chips 52a and 52b mounted outside the PCB, thus acting as an embedded capacitor (FIG. 1e).
Likewise, there are disclosed methods of manufacturing the embedded discrete type capacitor by coating the PCB with a ceramic filled photosensitive resin, which have been patented by Motorola Co. Ltd., USA. The above method comprises applying the photosensitive resin containing ceramic powder on the substrate, laminating copper foil on the resin layer to form upper electrodes and lower electrodes, forming a circuit pattern, and then etching the photosensitive resin, to realize the discrete capacitor.
Further, there are proposed methods of fabricating the embedded capacitor by separately including a dielectric layer having capacitance properties in the inner layer of the PCB, so as to be used instead of a decoupling capacitor mounted on the PCB, which have been patented by Sanmina Co. Ltd., USA. In this method, the dielectric layer comprising power electrodes and ground electrodes is incorporated in the inner layer of the PCB, to obtain a power distributed decoupling capacitor.
Various processes are under study to achieve the above techniques, in which methods of embodying each process vary.
In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,069 granted to Howard et al. discloses a capacitor laminate for use in capacitive printed circuit boards and methods of manufacture, in which the concept of 'borrowed capacitor' is used, to manufacture the PCB comprising the laminated capacitor as a structurally rigid assembly formed of sheets of conductive material and an intermediate sheet of dielectric material, which is in operative connection with a large number of devices.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,641 granted to Sisler et al. discloses a method of making a multilayer printed circuit board to eliminate the need for the by-pass capacitor by providing one or more fully cured power-ground plane sandwich components which are laminated together with other partially cured component layers of the board and circuit pattern-formed components.
In the embedded capacitor PCBs according to the conventional techniques, the chip type capacitor is embedded in the portion of the PCB, or the singular sheet type dielectric layer is inserted between the layers constituting the PCB.
However, the embedded capacitor PCBs manufactured by the above techniques have capacitance density of 0.5 to 3 nF per inch, which is an insufficient value to completely embed the capacitor in the PCB. Moreover, limitations are imposed on reduction of the mounting area of the passive component.
Therefore, there are required novel techniques of embedding high density capacitors, such as MLCCs, which are mounted on the PCB but not embedded therein at present, in the PCBs, by realizing higher capacitance density per unit area than conventional embedded capacitor PCBs.

Method of manufacturing printed circuit board including embedded capacitors


A battery charge control apparatus for a vehicle, where the vehicle is provided with a prime mover driven by using fuel stored in the vehicle, power generation means for converting energy generated by the prime mover using the fuel into electrical energy, and a secondary battery that stores the electrical energy generated by the power generation means. The apparatus includes temperature detection means for detecting a temperature of the battery, and battery-charge limiting means for limiting storing of the electrical energy generated by the power generation means into the battery when the temperature of the battery detected by the temperature detection means is low. This leads to enhancement of fuel usage efficiency of the engine.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a battery charge control apparatus for a vehicle, where the vehicle is provided with a prime mover driven by using fuel stored in the vehicle, power generation means for converting energy generated by the prime mover using the fuel into electrical energy, and a secondary battery that stores the electrical energy.
2. Related Art
A known battery charge control apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-166639, is adapted to set a power for charging a secondary battery as a function of a maximum power that allows a cost of fuel consumption per unit electrical power to be kept equal to or smaller than a target cost. In general, when a power requirement of a drive wheel is small, an operating point of an engine is shifted to a higher load by increasing a power output of a generator of the vehicle, which leads to enhancement of fuel usage efficiency of the engine. The apparatus as disclosed above is thus operative to increase the power output of the generator to charge the secondary battery when the power requirement of the drive wheel is small.
Meanwhile, when an amount of battery charging power is increased, a battery charging current becomes larger, which will probably lead to an increase in charging loss due to the presence of internal resistance of the battery. According to findings of a study of the inventors of the present application, since the internal resistance of the secondary battery becomes larger as the temperature of the secondary battery decreases in a winter season or the like, the charging loss becomes larger, which leads to a danger that a decrease in fuel utilization efficiency may exceed a benefit of reducing of the fuel consumption in low cost power generation.
In consideration of the foregoing, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a battery charge control apparatus for a vehicle, where the vehicle is provided with a prime mover driven by using fuel stored in the vehicle, power generation means for converting energy generated by the prime mover using the fuel into electrical energy, and a secondary battery that stores the electrical energy.


The present invention provides a banding composition for hard capsules using hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) as a base comprising (1) low viscosity HPMC; (2) a component selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, 1-propanol, acetone and/or ethyl acetate; (3) a surfactant; and (4) water; and a method for banding hard capsules using hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose as a base by using the banding composition described.

The capsules to which the present method relates are well known and have been in broad use for many years. Such capsules are generally prepared from an edible natural substance such as gelatine or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and are telescopically joined so that they have a partial overlap of the cap-side wall with the body-side wall. Generally, such capsules are utilized in the pharmaceutical and food industries to hold edible and pharmaceutically active materials such as medicines, vitamin preparations and other edibles both solid and liquid.
One of the main targets when preparing capsules comprised of a body and cap is to avoid the propensity for leakage of the formulation through the gap between the cap and body of the capsule. In general, leakage can be minimized by product formulation and eliminated by sealing the two capsule parts together by sealing the junction between the cap and body by using a sealing liquid and/or by coating said junction with a layered solid material often termed banding.
While banding is successful against attempts at physical separation of the cap and body of the capsule, it is susceptible to disruption in the same way that the unmodified shell capsule components are.
Therefore, in the respective field of the art various attempts have been made to seal the cap and the body of the capsule directly to each other by means of a so-called "sealing fluid".
Prior art for capsule-sealing or banding is contained in the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,513 discloses a sealing fluid comprising a dispersion of an air-drying hydrophilic, film-forming polymer in an organic solvent. The application of the sealing fluid is by dipping the capsules.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,924,920 discloses a three-components mixture containing a polyhydric alcohol, a monohydric alcohol and water. This composition is used to seal capsules by a swelling technique. The process is designed to avoid solvent penetrating the overlap between capsule body and cap.
FR-A-2 118 883 discloses the use of a mixture of alcohol and water in an enteric coating process.
EP-A-0 152 517 discloses the use of thermal energy in conjunction with a mixture of alcohol and water to provide a seal between the cap and capsule body, wherein the fluid is positioned by capillary forces between the cap and the capsule body and subsequently heated in situ.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,902 discloses a method for sealing a gelatine capsule having a body and a cap comprising the steps of contacting the juncture of the cap and the body edge with a sealing fluid containing an alcohol-water solution maintained at a temperature of from 40 to 100° C. to form a liquid seal and continuous surfaced capsule; and applying a gelatine band to gird the capsule in the area of the liquid seal.
However, all the methods for banding hard capsules by using solutions suffer from several drawbacks. Thus, often capsule shells loose their strength when they are wetted by the water contained in the sealing solution leading to shell deformation, leaking and shell shrinkage at the sealing/banding area.
Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose capsules are now well accepted as a non-animal alternative to the gelatine capsule. Its use is now very similar to the gelatine capsule; there are needs for tamper resistance as well as to tighten the capsules when filled with liquid formulas.
Furthermore, in general hard capsules using hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose as a base are treated on the external surface during their production with a gliding enhance agent to assure a good functioning performance on the high-speed filling equipment. Due to the presence of this agent, the sealing/banding edge often is irregular.

Method for banding hard capsules using hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) as a base


A dry product dosage dispenser has a container with a cavity between top and bottom ends, a cap on the top end, and an internal partition extending between the top and bottom ends of the body, forming two sub-cavities within the body. The internal partition forms a diverging funnel-like structure giving each sub-cavity a wide upper opening on one end and a narrow lower opening on the opposite end to help product freely flow from one end to the other. Product passes from one sub-cavity to the other through an opening in the internal partition. The dispenser is flipped from its upright position to dispense the product passed through the opening. An adjustable volume compartment can be used at the second end of the container to enlarge the volume of the dispenser and provide variable dosages. The internal partition may be removable or separate for use as an insert.

Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to dispensers of dry goods and, more particularly, the dosage dispensing of dry food or solid products, including edible dry substances or solids used in the preparation of foods or drinks.
Description of Related Art
Current food packaging products are aimed at providing consumers with ease of use, for example, with opening sealed packaging and/or re-sealing food products therein for future use or consumption. When dispensing of products in predetermined or measured quantities (i.e, a dose) is desirable, often additional valves, springs, latches, conveying tools, turnkeys or other somewhat complex mechanisms are added within or onto the packaging. Such packaging extras can be very costly to produce and/or ship. Traditionally, more cost effective efforts for dosage dispensing include the introduction of measuring cups, caps, or spoons within or onto the packaging. More recently, advances have been made in the area of liquid dispensing packaging in measured amounts such as with liquid detergent. However, in the area of dry goods, including edible solids, there remains a need for a convenient, cost-effective packaging or device that saves both time and effort for a consumer when dispensing specific predetermined desirable amounts. In addition, there is a need for packaging that would also provide for variable adjustable dosing amounts depending on the changing needs or preferences of one or more consumers.

Dry product dosage dispenser and method for producing same


The invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide capable of producing a triterpenoid hydrocarbon. The invention also relates to the encoded polypeptide, a vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule, a recombinant non-human organism comprising the nucleic acid molecule, and to methods of producing a triterpenoid hydrocarbon or an intermediate of biofuel using the nucleic acid molecule, polypeptide or recombinant organism.

Fossil fuel is widely recognised as an unsustainable source of petroleum because of depleting supplies and the net contribution of these fuels to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Renewable, carbon neutral fuels are necessary for environmental and economic sustainability. Biofuel derived from oil crops is a potential renewable and carbon neutral alternative to petroleum fuels. Currently, biofuels are produced mainly from soybeans, canola oil, animal fat, palm oil, corn oil and waste cooking oil.
Biofuel from the above sources cannot realistically satisfy even a small fraction of the existing demand for fuels. While researchers are seeking alternative feedstock for biofuel, algae have emerged as one of the most promising sources for biofuel production for three main reasons: (1) the yields of oil from algae are orders of magnitude higher than those for traditional oilseeds; (2) algae can grow in places away from the farmlands and forests, thus minimising the damages caused to ecosystems and food chain systems; and (3) algae can be grown in sewers utilising sewage and next to power-plant smokestacks where they digest pollutants and produce oil.
Algae are phototrophic cell factories, capable of deriving energy from sunlight and carbon from carbon dioxide. Algae convert carbon dioxide to potential biofuels, foods, feeds and high-value bioactives. Algae can provide several different types of renewable biofuels and valuable by-products such as antibiotics.
Not all algae are satisfactory for producing biofuel because of their low oil content or slow growth. Some species of the genus Botryococcus are characterised by an ability to produce high levels of hydrocarbons. For example, Botryococcus braunii is a unique colonial green alga that synthesises and accumulates an unusually high level of hydrocarbons up to 76% dry weight. This alga is a potentially good renewable source of useful lipids, hydrocarbons, polysaccharides, and other specialty chemicals.
The hydrocarbons produced by Botryococcus include (1) n-alkadienes and trienes (Race A), (2) triterpenoid botryococcenes and methylated squalenes (Race B), or (3) a tetraterpenoid, lycopadiene (Race L). Triterpenoid hydrocarbons can be used as feedstock for hydrocracking in an oil refinery to produce octane (gasoline, petrol), kerosene, and diesel, for example. Botryococcenes are preferred over alkadienes and alkatrienes for hydrocracking because botryococcenes will likely be transformed into a biofuel with a higher octane rating. It follows that use of algal lipids or hydrocarbons can greatly reduce the environmental impact associated with using coal and petroleum.
However, the production of photosynthetic fuel oils from B. braunii is not competitive with petroleum derived fuels. One major reason for this is the relatively slow growth rate of B. braunii. Furthermore, the gene(s) that causes the algae to produce botryococcene has not been identified or isolated in the art.
Disclosed in the prior art, however, is a squalene synthase (SEQ ID NO: 10) and an alleged botryococcene synthase (SEQ ID NO: 42), each derived from the Race B B. braunii Berkeley (Showa) strain. The alleged botryococcene synthase was not shown to produce botryococcene by molecular identification of botryococcene. Furthermore, the supporting data are consistent with the alleged botryococcene synthase having squalene synthase activity rather than botryococcene synthase activity as alleged.
Therefore, a need exists for synthetic or recombinant tools to facilitate triterpenoid hydrocarbon, particularly botryococcene, production.


The image forming apparatus includes an exposure head. The exposure head includes an organic EL element array and a rod lens array, and forms an image on a photosensitive drum by irradiating light emitted from each organic EL element on the photoreceptor via each rod lens. In the exposure head, light emitting from the organic EL element is controlled by a controller. The controller generates a filter coefficient for correcting a spot shape based on the difference between the spot shape of the light spot on the photosensitive drum and the target spot shape on the photosensitive drum. It is noted that the difference is generated by the deviation between the distance from the organic EL element to the photosensitive drum, and the correct focus position.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus using an electro photography process, such as a copy machine, a multifunction peripheral, etc.
Description of the Related Art
In some image forming apparatuses of an electro photography type, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface of a photosensitive drum by exposing a rotating photosensitive drum with an elongated exposure head (exposure device) having a plurality of light emitting elements. A solid light emitting element, such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element or an organic electroluminescence (Electro-Luminescence) element, may be used as a light emitting element. An exposure head includes a plurality of light emitting elements (hereinafter referred to as "light emitting element array") arranged in a direction of an axis of rotation of a photosensitive drum, and a rod lens array for performing image formation of light from each light emitting element on a photosensitive drum. The exposure head irradiates light on the rotating photosensitive drum. Therefore, on the photosensitive drum, a light spot is formed with its scanning direction being identical to a circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum.
The length of the light emitting element array is defined according to a length of an image formation area of the photosensitive drum in a direction of an axis of rotation. An interval between light emitting elements is defined according to a resolution of the image forming apparatus. For example, when the resolution of the image forming apparatus is 1200 [dpi (dot per inch)], since the pixel interval between the image formed is 21.1 [μm] (rounded to 1 decimal place), the interval between the light emitting element is also set to 21.1 [μm]. The length of the light emitting element array should be longer than that of printing width in the direction of the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum. The number of light emitting elements is defined by printing width and resolution. For example, when the printing width in the direction of the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum is 297 [mm], and when the resolution of image forming apparatus is 1200 [dpi], about 14,000 light emitting elements, which is identical to the number of pixels, are arranged in a light emitting element array.
In the image forming apparatus using such an exposure head, as compared to an image forming apparatus of a laser scan type in which a deviation scan with a polygon mirror of a laser beam is performed, since the number of parts used is decreased, it is easy to manufacture the image forming apparatus in a smaller size with more reduced cost. Further, by precisely determining a focal length to the surface of the photosensitive drum to be irradiated, it is possible to decrease the diameter of a light spot formed by exposure of the photosensitive drum. By decreasing the diameter of the light spot, a resolution of an image forming apparatus can be increased, and image sharpness can be increased.
In an exposure head using a rod lens array a focus error may occur on the irradiation surface due to an assembly error of an exposure head, etc. If a focus error occurs, light via each rod lens does not form an image at a point on a surface to be irradiated. In this case, the defective image occurs since the light spot is not formed in the correct shape. In the present disclosure, a light spot which is not formed in the correct shape is referred to "failed spot". Since the spatial relationship between an emitting element and the rod lens array differs for each light emitting element, when a focus error occurs, an exposure distribution of a failed spot in a scanning direction and that in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction differ from each other. In order to prevent the defective image by modification due to deformation of a light spot, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-046137 describes an apparatus in which a shape of a light spot is measured and a peak light volume of a light emitting element is adjusted based on the measured result.
In an image forming apparatus which performs a multiple gradation control, when a light spot is deformed to be a failed spot, a concentration variation amount in a low concentration area of an image and that in a high concentration area of the image may differ from each other. For example, since a light spot is large in a low concentration area, there are many isolated dots in the low concentration area, thus the color of the image becomes pale because of the sparseness of the dots. In the high concentration area, since the image tends to be high-density, white color areas are narrowed, thus the color of the image becomes deep. As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-046137, since the method of adjusting the peak light volume of a light emitting element cannot adjust concentration for each gradation level, it is not possible to adjust the concentration for all gradation levels. Therefore, an image forming apparatus which prevents the image deterioration resulting from deformation of a shape of a light spot is desired.

Image forming apparatus using filters to correct potential distribution on photoreceptor due to spot shape of emitted light


Provided is a toner for electrostatic charge image developing, comprising a core layer which contains a first binder resin and a coloring agent, and a shell layer which contains a second binder resin and covers the core layer, characterized in that the following equation (1) and the following equation (2) are satisfied,2.0×105≦G′(60)≦4.0×106  Equation (1)10≦G′(60)/G′(80)≦40  Equation (2)wherein, in the equation (1) and the equation (2), G′(60) represents a storage elastic modulus (Pa) of the toner for electrostatic charge image developing measured under the conditions of a temperature of 60° C., a vibration frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, and a strain amount of 0.01 to 0.5%, and G′(80) represents a storage elastic modulus (Pa) of the toner for electrostatic charge image developing measured under the conditions of a temperature of 80° C., a vibration frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, and a strain amount of 0.01 to 0.5%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner for electrostatic charge image developing which is suitably used in image formation by electrophotography, as well as a developer for electrostatic charge image developing, and an image forming apparatus, using the toner for electrostatic charge image developing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, when an image is formed in a copying machine or a laser beam printer, electrophotography is generally used. As the developer-used in electrophotography, a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier, and a one-component developer containing a magnetic toner or a non-magnetic toner, are known. The toner used in these developers is usually prepared by a kneading grinding method.
This kneading grinding method is a method of melting and kneading a thermoplastic resin with a pigment, a charge controlling agent, and a releasing agent such as wax, finely-dividing and classifying this melt kneaded material after cooling to obtain desired toner particles. If necessary, inorganic and/or organic fine particles are further added to the surface of toner particles prepared by the kneading grinding method for the purpose of improving flowability and cleanability.
According to an image forming method using electrophotography, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor by an optical means is developed in a developing step, transferred onto a recording medium such as a recording paper in a transferring step, and fixed onto a recording medium such as a recording paper generally by heat and pressure, to obtain an image.
In recent years, the development of electrophotography technique from black and white to full color has progressed rapidly. Color image formation using full color electrophotography generally reproduces all colors using four colors; namely, the three primary colors of yellow, magenta and cyan plus black.
In general full color electrophotography, a manuscript is first color-separated into yellow, magenta, cyan and black, and an electrostatic latent image of each color is formed on a photoconductive layer.
Then, a toner is retained on a recording medium via a developing step and a transferring step. Then, the aforementioned steps are successively performed a plurality of times, and a toner is overlaid on the same recording medium while being positioned.
Then, a full color image is obtained by a one time fixing step. For a color toner used in full color electrophotography, it is required that a multicolor toner is sufficiently mixed at the fixing step. Sufficient mixing improves color reproducibility and transparency of an OHP image, and a full color image having high image quality can be obtained. In order to enhance color mixing property, it is generally desired that a color toner is formed from a low-molecular resin which is sharply melted.
Meanwhile, recently, power consumption saving and higher image quality have also come to be demanded in electrophotography. As one strategy for saving power consumption in electrophotography, fixation at a lower temperature is sought for the purpose of decreasing the amount of energy used when operating a machine.
In order to respond to such a need, new approaches have been adopted on both the toner side and the apparatus side.
As an approach on the toner side, various attempts have been made to lower the fixing temperature of a toner. For example, a method of controlling the viscoelasticity of a toner (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 9-325520, and JP-A No.8-234480), and a toner using a crystalline resin as a binder resin have been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) No. 4-24702). In addition, in recent years, many toners having a core shell structure consisting of a core layer, and a shell layer covering this core layer have been proposed (for example, see JP-A No. 10-123748).
Among them, in particular, a toner having a core shell structure is a most useful technique in that it is easy to realize not only low temperature fixability, but also other properties in a better balance.
Meanwhile, as an approach on the apparatus side, an apparatus having the functions of decreasing the amount of electric power supplied to a fixing machine in a prolonged state when no image is formed (standby time), and maintaining the temperature of a heating means such as a heating roll at a temperature lower than the temperature at fixing (hereinafter, also referred to as "standing time power saving function"), in order to reduce consumed energy during standby, has been adopted.
In an apparatus having such functions, since it is necessary to secure not only power consumption saving but also convenience, it is preferable to adopt as a fixing machine one having a smaller heat capacity. This is because when an apparatus is used in a state where the amount of power supplied to a heating means of a fixing machine has decreased, and the temperature of the heating means is lower than the temperature necessary for fixing, the temperature of the heating means is instantly elevated to the temperature necessary for fixing at the same time as the electric power is turned on, from the viewpoint of convenience.
In an image forming apparatus having such a standing time power saving function, in the standby state, the temperature of the heating means of the fixing machine is maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature during fixing, in order to suppress the amount of power consumption. For this reason, when one tries to form an image from the standby state, electric power is supplied at once in order to instantly raise the heating means to a temperature at which fixing is possible, and a phenomenon whereby an apparatus is heated to a temperature higher than a prescribed set temperature (over shoot) occurs temporarily. Thereupon, when paper is supplied to the fixing machine for image formation, since heat is absorbed by the paper passed through the fixing machine, the temperature of the fixing machine is lowered from the over shoot state.
In addition, in addition to the aforementioned over shoot immediately after initiation of image formation (hereinafter, also referred to as "initial over shoot"), periodic over shoot also occurs even when an image is continuously formed, since lowering of temperature due to supplied paper and, when the temperature is lower than the prescribed temperature, elevation of temperature due to heating are repeated (hereinafter, referred to as "steady over shoot").
When an image is formed, occurrence of such over shoot cannot be avoided. For this reason, there is a deviation in an actual fixing temperature in each sheet, resulting in both paper which is fixed at a temperature higher than the set temperature and paper which is fixed at a temperature lower than the set temperature. Such remarkable deviation in temperature results in unevenness of image quality. Therefore, a fixing machine built into an image forming apparatus is designed so that temperature deviation during image formation is within a prescribed range, so as not to cause unevenness of image quality.
However, when images are continuously formed from the standby state with an image forming apparatus having a standby time power saving function using a toner having a core shell structure excellent in low temperature fixability, in some cases the tone of a formed image varies from sheet to sheet, and this is particularly pronounced in multiple color images using 2 or 3.

Toner for electrostatic charge image developing, developer for electrostatic charge image developing, and image forming apparatus

Abstract: Also provided is a developer for electrostatic charge image developing comprising the toner and a carrier, and an image forming apparatus using the toner.


A method, apparatus, and program product for designing, implementing, distributing, and deploying computer programs that consist of packaged knowledge components written in modem object oriented programming languages. A meta model defines a model for representing facts, intelligence, and packaging facts and intelligence into readily usable knowledge components implemented in off the shelf object oriented programming languages and tools. In addition, the meta model defines knowledge algebra to assemble and cascade knowledge components into larger and more powerful knowledge components and knowledge oriented software applications. A kernel is provided that links and executes knowledge components and knowledge oriented applications. The kernel dynamically links logical definition of knowledge components and the knowledge application to real implementations.

Object Oriented Programming Languages (OOPL) and Relational Database Management Systems (RDMS) are the two major technological components of most of the contemporary computer programs. An OOPL encodes the domain knowledge (the logic layer) and visualization (the presentation layer) of the application. A database persistently stores application data and provides a declarative query language to selectively retrieve application data when needed.
The existence of two distinct technologies (OOPL and RDMS) leads to an impedance mismatch that must be resolved in the interface layer between the logic layer and the database. Layered architectures try to minimize and contain the impact of two distinct technologies on the design, development, and maintenance of applications.
Multiple approaches were proposed to merge the two different paradigms of computing: object oriented and relational database technologies. Primary motivations were: the elimination of the impedance mismatch between the persistence and logic layers, persistent storage and query of complex objects, and a single computing framework
These attempts led to competing proposals and standards. The object oriented community responded with extensions to object oriented technologies while the relational database community proposed extensions to relational databases. Two major proposals are, therefore, object databases and object relational databases
Object databases extend the object oriented paradigm to incorporate the concept of relation. In contrast, object relational databases extend the relational data model by providing support for complex data types. In either case, the goal is to provide a single platform that provides persistence and ad hoc query of complex objects.
The logic layer typically consists of rules. It has been anticipated for decades that rules stored and managed in a rule engine or knowledgebase would revolutionize the software industry. Given the fact that relational data model is firmly founded on logic, one might expect that the (object) relational databases should include rules. Although some proposals require the rules as essential, there is not a consensus on whether they are an essential or required as part of next generation systems.
Expert systems explicitly support rules and a significant number of object oriented concepts. Although expert systems are well known, they are not widely adopted by the mainstream software designers and developers. Common characteristics of expert systems (shells) are: a declarative rule language, a declarative language support for object oriented concepts, a pattern matching algorithm (typically a variant of the RETE algorithm), and host language support, for example Java or C++.
Rule engines have several major drawbacks. First, rule engines contain concepts and syntax that are alien to object oriented programming languages and relational databases. Second, rule engines include a fixed pattern-matching algorithm, which may not perform or scale to complex problems. Third, rule engines need to be integrated into object oriented programming languages and relational databases. Fourth, rule engines lack standards for defining, packaging, sharing, and integrating knowledge from different sources. Finally, rule engines are not extensible or adaptable to the particular needs of an application, i.e., they are a fixed generic solution.
Despite the strong need for isolating the logic layer and contrary to the long anticipation, widespread adaptation of rule engines to object oriented software applications did not materialize.
Intelligent databases, i.e., active and deductive databases, are proposals to extend databases to include the rule and event support. Most commercial databases do not yet include explicit rule support that is capable of representing and executing rules in the database. These proposals do not address the impedance mismatch, which is likely to become even more severe if logic layer is moved to persistence layer. The closest database feature, databases triggers, does not meet the needs of business rules.
What is needed to solve these problems is a single computing environment that seamlessly integrates object oriented programming, rules, and relations of complex objects.


A microfluidic device and method is provided for handheld diagnostics and assays. The device includes a base having outer surface and a channel therethough for receiving fluid therein. The channel has input and output ports communicating with the outer surface. A lid is also provided. The lid has an outer surface, a first well having a port communicating with the outer surface of the lid, and a second well having a port communicating with the outer surface. The lid moveable between a first disengaged position and a second engaged position wherein the first port of the lid is adjacent the input port of the channel and the second port is adjacent the output port of the channel.

The field of microfluidics has matured significantly over the past two decades. Compelling platforms have been produced to address problems in traditional cell biology techniques that were previously too difficult to solve. Limitations of traditional cell biology techniques have been primarily due to onerous labor requirements and limited spatial and temporal control of the cells' microenvironment. Microfluidics has provided significant efficiency gains by reducing reagent and cell requirements that, in turn, has allowed for high-throughput processing and analysis of a large array of experimental conditions. Microfluidic systems also offer significantly greater control of the cells' microenviroment, such as flow rate, extracellular matrix (ECM) properties, and soluble factor signaling (e.g., forming a chemical gradient in diffusion dominant conditions). However, for microfluidics to make further inroads into cell biology, new microfluidic assays must be cheaper, faster, and in qualitative agreement with techniques traditionally used by biologists. It can be appreciated that microfluidics has tremendous potential to contribute to the development of drug therapies to fight cancer, point-of-care diagnostics for HIV in developing countries, and numerous other applications that are critical to the health and well being of individuals worldwide.
While current microfluidic devices provide a significant improvement in the ability to study fundamental aspects of cell biology, the adoption of microfluidic devices in clinical settings has been slow due to the high level of technicality and external equipment required. For example, current microfluidic assay methods require steps such as washing, flushing, pipetting, and transferring of cells and other materials. As such, most conventional microfluidic devices typically incorporate external elements, such as tubing and syringe pumps, to provide the valving and the mixing functionality necessary to enable an entire assay to be performed within a microfluidic system. These external elements diminish the simplicity and advantages of a microfluidic platform for biological assays. Hence, it is highly desirable to provide a handheld, disposable microfluidic device capable of performing assays which does not require any external equipment to operate and which can be adapted to a wide range of situations.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a microfluidic device and a method for performing handheld diagnostics and assays which do not require any external equipment to operate and which can be adapted to a wide range of situations.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a microfluidic device and a method for performing diagnostics and assays, which are handheld and disposable.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a microfluidic device and a method for performing handheld diagnostics and assays which are simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture.
In accordance with the present invention, a microfluidic device is provided for handheld diagnostics and assays. The microfluidic device includes a base having outer surface and a channel therethough for receiving fluid therein. The channel has input and output ports communicating with the outer surface. The microfluidic device also includes a lid having an outer surface, a first well having a port communicating with the outer surface of the lid, and a second well having a port communicating with the outer surface. The lid is moveable between a first disengaged position and a second engaged position wherein the first port of the lid is adjacent the input port of the channel and the second port is adjacent the output port of the channel.
A membrane may extend over the input port of the lid and a piercing element may be operatively connected to the lid. The piercing element is moveable between a first retracted position and a second extended position wherein the piercing element pieces the membrane. The piercing element may include a plunger receivable in the lid and a needle extending from the plunger. The plunger is moveable between a first retracted position and a second extended position wherein the needle pierces the membrane. The needle has a terminal end and is moveable from a first retracted position wherein the terminal end of the needle is received in the first well in the lid and a second extended position wherein the terminal end of the needle projects from the lid in response to the movement of the plunger from the first retracted position and the second extended position.
A fluid absorbent may be received in the second well of the lid to communicate with fluid in the channel of the base with the lid in the engaged position. It is further contemplated for a substance source to be receivable in the first well of the lid. The substance source includes substance for diffusing into fluid in the channel of the base with the lid in the engaged position. The substance source may include a porous media to house the substance.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a microfluidic device is provided for handheld diagnostics and assays. The microfluidic device includes a base having outer surface and a channel therethough for receiving fluid therein. The channel has input and output ports communicating with the outer surface. A lid has an outer surface and is connectable to base. The lid includes a first well having an interior and a port communicating with the outer surface of the lid and a second well having a port communicating with the outer surface. A membrane extends over the port of the first well for isolating the interior thereof. The lid is moveable between a first disconnected position and a second connected position wherein the first port of the lid is adjacent the input port of the channel and the second port is adjacent the output port of the channel.
The membrane may be removable or, alternatively, a piercing element may be operatively connected to the lid. The piercing element is moveable between a first retracted position and a second extended position wherein the piercing element pieces the membrane. The piercing element may include a plunger receivable in the lid and a needle extending from the plunger. The plunger is moveable between a first retracted position and a second extended position wherein the needle pierces the membrane. The needle has a terminal end and is moveable from a first retracted wherein the terminal end of the needle is received in the first well in the lid and a second extended position wherein the terminal end of the needle projects from the lid in response to the movement of the plunger from the first retracted position and the second extended position.
A fluid absorbent may be receivable in the second well of the lid so as to communicate with fluid in the channel of the base with the lid in the connected position. In addition, it is contemplated to provide a substance source in the first well of the lid. The substance source includes substance for diffusing into fluid in the channel of the base with the lid in the connected position. The substance source may include a porous media to house the substance.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for handheld diagnostics and assays. The method includes the steps of providing a channel having an input and an output and positioning a lid having first and second wells adjacent the channel. The first well has a predetermined substance therein. Thereafter, the first well is allowed to communicate with the input of the channel.
A membrane may be provided over the first well. The step of allowing the first well to communicate with the input of the channel may include the additional step of piercing the membrane. It is contemplated to draw the predetermined substance into the channel, e.g., by bringing an absorbent into contact with the output of the channel. The predetermined substance may include particles for diffusing into fluid in the channel and a porous media to house the particles.

Functionalized microfluidic device and method