A small and high-speed polarization analysis device and ellipsometer having no driving section are provided by overlapping one polarizer array rendered by arranging a plurality of polarizer regions of mutually different optical axis directions in the form of stripes and one wavelength plate array rendered by arranging a plurality of wavelength plate regions of fixed retardation and mutually different optical axis directions in the form of stripes so that the respective stripes of the plurality of polarizer regions and of the plurality of wavelength plate regions intersect one another and by disposing a light-receiving element array so that the intensities of light that has passed through the matrix-like intersection parts can be individually measured. As a method of analyzing a two-dimensional intensity distribution pattern that is observed by the light-receiving element array of the polarization analysis device, either one of (or both of) the algorithms of a method that determines incident polarized waves by mathematically fitting pattern shapes or performing database matching or a method that performs a Fourier transform on pattern shapes and determines incident polarized waves from the frequency components is (are) used. Furthermore, if necessary, more accurate polarization analysis is also possible by adopting a signal processing method that removes signals from light-receiving element regions that receive unnecessary scattered light and diffracted light.

Representative methods for analyzing the film quality and film thickness of a thin film include ellipsometry, which is a known old procedure. Ellipsometry is a procedure that inputs light in a specified polarization state to a thin-film sample and determines the film thickness and the refractive index of a sample and so forth by measuring the ratio ρ between the reflectance Rp of a component (p polarized wave) whose electric field is parallel to the incident face and the reflectance Rs of a component (s polarized wave) whose electric field is perpendicular to the incident face, in the light that is reflected by the sample. Here, ρ is generally a complex number and can be expressed as ρ=Rp/Rs=tan(ψ)×exp(jΔ). ψ and Δ are parameters that express the polarization state of the light (reflected light) to be measured and are known as ellipsometry angles. ρ is a value determined by the optical constant (n) and thickness (d) of the thin-film sample and, therefore, if the polarization state (ψ, Δ) of the reflected light can be determined by using an ellipsometer, the optical constant and film thickness of the sample can conversely be calculated.
As methods for determining ψ and Δ by performing polarization analysis of the reflected light from the sample by means of an ellipsometer, the quenching method and the rotating analyzer method and so forth that appear in documents in the Applied Physics Handbook (Applied Physics Society compilation, 1990, Maruzen, pages 20 to 22) have been used. The quenching method determines ψ and Δ by receiving the reflected light (generally elliptically polarized light) from the sample by means of an optical receiver after the light has passed through the ¼ wavelength plate and then the polarizer and then reading the rotation angle at which the optical intensity is minimum by independently rotating the ¼ wavelength plate and polarizer. However, because this method searches for the minimum value by means of two variables, there is the disadvantage that it takes a relatively long time even when performing only one measurement. One rotating analyzer method is a method that performs polarization analysis by using only the analyzer without using the ¼ wavelength plate. The rotating analyzer method measures the variation in the photoreception intensity when the polarizer is rotated once and, if the photoreception intensity is obtained as a function of the angle, ψ and Δ can be determined through calculation. However, there is the inconvenience that there is then no distinction of the phase difference from Δ (2π−Δ), that is, no distinction regarding whether this is a clockwise elliptically polarized light wave or a counterclockwise elliptically polarized light wave. Because it is necessary to perform measurement two or more times for the measurement of one point by inserting and removing the ¼ wavelength plate and so forth in order to avoid this problem, measurement is complicated and necessitates a great deal of time, which makes this method barely any different from the earlier quenching method.
Due to the marked progress of semiconductor technology in recent years, in the progress of various devices toward increased performance and miniaturization, the accuracy required of thin-film processes such as CVD and sputtering has become extremely strict and, for example, a film that is a few nanometers thick is also required to be made with an accuracy of 0.1 nm. Currently, in order to implement such highly accurate film deposition (or film-deposition devices), there is a great need for highly accurate film-thickness/film quality monitors that make it possible to perform inline measurement of the film thickness and film quality of the sample in the process. Ellipsometry is capable of accurately measuring the film thickness and film quality of thin films and is therefore said to be suited to such film-deposition monitor systems. However, conventional ellipsometry adopts complex measurement methods such as those mentioned earlier and, therefore, such devices are generally large-scale and highly expensive devices with a low measurement speed. Hence, the introduction of such devices into a process apparatus has proved difficult.
For a driverless polarization analysis device, a procedure for analyzing polarized wave states by measuring the optical intensity of four different polarized components by causing the light beam being measured to pass through respective polarizers or a wavelength plate and a polarizer after being divided into four has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H5-113371). Such a polarization measurement device is suited to simple and high-speed polarization analysis and the measurement principle has been well known for a long time as introduced in documents such as monocrystalline optics (Applied Physics Society Optics Conference, 1990, published by Morikita, pages 139 to 140). Therefore, in order to implement such a polarization analysis device, a large number of optical elements such as a beam splitter, polarizing beam splitter, ¼ wavelength plate, polarizer, and light-receiving element are required, and miniaturization of the device is difficult. Further, because it is very difficult to assemble the respective parts accurately, the measurement accuracy is poor and, therefore, an ellipsometer that necessitates highly accurate measurement of the thickness and optical constant of the thin film is not suitable.
As mentioned earlier, a procedure for analyzing the polarization state of incident light highly accurately by using a highly accurate and small-scale driverless polarization analysis device suited to ellipsometry has not yet been proposed.

Driverless ellipsometer and ellipsometry


A multi-functional combinatorial game apparatus, which includes a base provided with a protruding seat and a recess on the top thereof, and a groove is provided inside the recess. When two adjacent bases are combined together, the inserting groove on the bottom portion of the upper layer base inserts onto the protruding seat or the recess of the lower layer base, thereby enabling a tactile path to be created having undulating ups and downs. In addition, soybeans, sand, small stones, and other tactile objects can be placed inside the grooves on the bases to provide children with different tactile feelings when they are walking and treading on the path.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-functional combinatorial game apparatus, and more particularly to a multi-functional combinatorial game apparatus having the ability to provide a variety of combinatorial arrangements, and which uses the features of a protruding seat and grooves on the top of a base to construct game apparatuses such as tactile paths, and the like, to improve educational game amusement when teaching or playing games.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
An ordinary conventional game apparatus is a monotonous and crude assembly, the majority of which are produced in geometrical shaped structures such as squares, triangles, or circles. For this reason, the structures only have the capability to be combined in simple arrangements, and the assembled arrangement of shapes from combining the structures are limited. Hence, variability is relatively low, and does not provide for rich creativity. Moreover, such game apparatuses of the prior art do not inspire the intellect of primary school children, and the children often easily become bored playing with such games. Thus, such game apparatuses will be eliminated from the market after a period of time, and, as a result, production manufacturers that develop and design such apparatus are constantly plagued by these problems.

Multi-functional combinatorial game apparatus


A lens barrel with a lock arranged to avoid loosening the lock and defocusing the lens barrel when vibrated during focusing and zooming. The lens barrel includes a fixed cylinder, an adjustment ring, lock screws and a lock ring, lock screws and a lock ring. The adjustment ring is slidably attached to the fixed cylinder so as to rectify locations of optical components along the optical axis. The lock screws in screw holes extend at one end of the fixed cylinder in parallel with the optical axis, and each lock screw has a part that serves as a turning force transmitting segment and moves along the optical axis at the end of the fixed cylinder. The lock ring is slidably attached to the end of the fixed cylinder and has an inner surface that is mated with the force transmitting segment to let the lock screws rotate to secure the adjustment ring to the fixed barrel.

In the prior art lens barrel with a lock mechanism where the lens barrel includes several groups of lenses, an embodiment of the same has a feature that is a lens frame capable of fixedly holding at least one of the opposed endmost groups of lenses with fixing means applying force along the optical axis of the lens barrel while leaving the group of lenses adjustable in planes orthogonal to the optical axis (see Patent Document 1 listed below).
This arrangement has, as shown in FIG. 9, a lens frame 512 located at the endmost portion relative to the whole lens barrel when a group of lens 511 held in the lens holder 512 are used to adjust optics in the manner of parallel and eccentric adjustment. Hence, adjusting components can be set up in some simple way, and additionally, in practice, the operator is able to continually watch the lens frame 512 for more accurate parallel and eccentric adjustment of the optics through the lens frame 512.
Furthermore, a junction of the lens frame 512 with the focusing fixed lens barrel 514 is secured by fastening elements 517, with elastic elements 516 intervening therebetween, in a plurality of positions of bores in the orthogonal plane to the optical axis of the fixed barrel 514. In this way, the fastening elements 517 temporarily fitting those parts on each other cause the elastic element 516 to develop a constant load in the directions along the optical axis, and this obviates the effect of the gravity applied to the lens frame 512 to attain an accurate adjustment with an arbitrary amount of rectification.
After completing the adjustment, the fastening elements 517 are perpetually tightened till they keep themselves fixed in positions where resilience of the elastic element 516 no longer affects them, and thus, the lens frame 512 can be rigidly fixed relative to the focusing fixed lens barrel 514.
Another embodiment of the prior art lens barrel with a lock mechanism is that which eliminates a restriction on a rotation angle of a focusing ring but restricts a displacement of the focusing lens and associated elements for a unit rotation angle of the focusing ring to not so large an amount and which facilitates the focusing and is, after the focusing, capable of screwing lock screws down without causing defocus (e.g., see Patent Document 2).
A lens barrel 610 includes, as shown in FIG. 10, a fixed barrel 612, a focusing ring 614, and a focusing lens frame 616. A first cam groove 630 is defined inside the focusing ring 614. A first linear stud 632 is fixed to the focusing lens frame 616. A first longitudinal groove 634 is defined in the fixed barrel 612. A lock plate fastening pin (not shown) is used to fix a lock plate 670 to the focusing ring 614. When a lock screw 662 is screwed down, a tip 662b of the screw stalk forces the lock plate 670 to move till the lock plate 670 comes in contact with the outer surface of the fixed barrel 612.


A method for identification of one or more launched objects obscured by debris objects within a debris field comprises: directing one or more sensor pulses at the debris field to obtain a plurality of sensor images; identifying objects within the debris field based on the sensor images; determining acceleration characteristics for each of the identified objects within the debris field based on the sensor images; identifying objects exhibiting free fall acceleration characteristics as debris objects; and identifying objects exhibiting centripetal acceleration characteristics as the one or more launched objects.

Present radar for Ballistic Missile Defense signal processing and data representation is capable of producing a picture of debris (small fragments of irregular shape and mass) as a dense field of closely spaced objects. However it is difficult to separate the lethal object (e.g. a ballistic missile) from the field of debris. Debris encompasses certain types of objects in a ballistic missile threat complex, whether intentional or unintentional in origin, that complicate discrimination of the lethal object by presenting a field of closely-spaced fragments that are physically small and non-symmetric in shape and radar pattern, and execute non-simple rotational motion. Examples of debris are the fragments of spent fuel released during solid rocket termination, and the bi-products of intentional fragmentation (explosion) of a final stage booster tank.
A number of methods have been used to remove debris indications. A common method is to form a track on the debris as well as on the objects of interest. Then discrimination of the debris from the lethal object is performed by identifying the object(s) of interest based on long-term behavioral characteristics, such as by using a Bayes network. This method uses an enormous amount of radar resources to track the debris and the object(s) of interest. Another method used is to filter the debris and the object based on their radar cross-section (RCS). However, in challenging cases, the RCS of the threatening object may be smaller than many or most of the detected debris fragments, rendering bulk filtering based on RCS ineffective.
Also, because existing techniques may require tracking of the debris or otherwise require long processing times to discriminate the debris from the object(s) of interest, the distribution of deployment velocities for the debris fragments may be such that they continue to complicate the radar scene throughout the exoatmospheric phase of flight, before finally being stripped away during the endoatmospheric re-entry phase. Accordingly, it is desirable to screen out early in the engagement a potentially large numbers of debris objects, with few missed detections of the lethal object (low leakage), in order to concentrate focus of attention and expend radar resources on potentially threatening principal objects. The need to accomplish this screening is particularly critical in the case of a future tactical sea-based radar operating against short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats in the naval theatre. If debris generated in the exoatmosphere is not handled early, the terminal re-entry phase becomes the one opportunity to perform discrimination, and this may be too late.
Thus, a rapid and accurate method and system to distinguish debris from objects of interest is needed.


An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an image forming unit, a density sensor, a gradation characteristic data generator, and a gradation corrector. The density sensor includes a low-pass filter to remove a high-frequency component of an output of the image density sensor. The gradation characteristic data generator forms a gradation correction pattern on the image carrier. The gradation correction pattern is a continuous gradation pattern including first and second patterns. The gradation characteristic data generator continuously detects image density of the continuous gradation pattern and background areas adjacent to the continuous gradation pattern to generate the gradation characteristic data. The gradation characteristic data generator forms a compensation pattern on the image carrier next to and continuous with a leading end of the first pattern in an image carrier rotational direction, to compensate for a response delay of the output of the density sensor due to the low-pass filter.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, or a copier.
2. Background Art
Various types of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are known, including copiers, printers, facsimile machines, or multifunction machines having two or more of copying, printing, scanning, facsimile, plotter, and other capabilities. Such image forming apparatuses usually form an image on a recording medium according to image data. Specifically, in such image forming apparatuses, for example, a charger uniformly charges a surface of a photoconductor serving as an image carrier. An optical writer irradiates the surface of the photoconductor thus charged with a light beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor according to the image data. A development device supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image thus formed to render the electrostatic latent image visible as a toner image. The toner image is then transferred onto a recording medium directly, or indirectly via an intermediate transfer belt. Finally, a fixing device applies heat and pressure to the recording medium carrying the toner image to fix the toner image onto the recording medium. Thus, the image is formed on the recording medium.
To stabilize image density of a multi-gradation image formed on a recording medium, such image forming apparatuses typically generate gradation characteristic data using a gradation correction pattern having known gradation levels to correct gradation of image data of a gradation image to be outputted.
For example, a gradation correction pattern having patches for each of a plurality of input gradation levels may be formed on the intermediate transfer belt serving as an image carrier. A density sensor detects image density of each patch. According to the detected density of the gradation correction pattern, gradation characteristic data is generated that shows a relation between the image density and the gradation levels in a gradation range of the multi-gradation image. The gradation is then corrected upon formation of the multi-gradation image using the gradation characteristic data.


Configurations are described for maintaining a continuity and quality of wireless signal connection between a mobile device and systems accessible through the internet. In particular, configurations are disclosed to address the challenge of a mobile device that moves through a physical environment wherein the best wireless connectivity performance is achieved by switching between available connection sources and constantly evaluating a primary connection with other available connections that may be switched in to become a new primary connection. The mobile device may be self-propelled or carried by some other mobilizing means.

There are many types of mobile computing systems designed to be connected to other systems via wireless communication. For example, relative basic systems such as that marketed under the tradename iPod Touch® by Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif., are designed to browse the internet through Wi-Fi,® (Wi-Fi Alliance® of Austin, Tex.), connectivity as they are carried about by a user. On the more complex side, various mobile computing systems are available that incorporate not only Wi-Fi type connectivity, but also wireless mobile network connectivity, such as via a cellmodem. The presently available systems are not particularly good at maintaining connectivity, as the users of cellphones, cellmodems, and Wi-Fi-connected systems have experienced when moving about with the systems, such as by moving in a car or even walking about from one location in a building to another location in the same building. Typically what happens is that the connectivity becomes interrupted or dropped, and the user finds himself trying to regain connectivity, generally by redialing or using software utilities to attempt reconnection. Indeed, notwithstanding the millions of mobile communication and computing devices, such as laptops and iPhone Touch® devices, sold in the U.S. and other countries, there remains a lack of solutions for connectivity robustness, and almost any consumer of technologies can point to the numerous times he or she has dropped a signal at an inconvenient moment, only to have to try to regain connectivity manually. There is a need for systems and methods configured to automatically assist with seeking out, testing, utilizing, and upgrading wireless connectivity in real or near-real time at a frequency high enough to make the overall connectivity scenario relatively robust.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for wireless connectivity continuity and quality


A new uplink control channel capability is introduced to enable a mobile terminal to simultaneously report multiple packet receipt status bits and channel-condition bits. In an example embodiment implemented in a mobile terminal the mobile terminal (first determines that channel-state information and hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits corresponding to a plurality of downlink subframes or a plurality of downlink carriers, or both, are scheduled for transmission in an uplink subframe. The mobile terminal then determines whether the number of the hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits is less than or equal to a threshold number. If so, the mobile terminal transmits both the channel-state information and the hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits in physical control channel resources of the first uplink subframe, on a single carrier. In some embodiments, the number of the hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK bits considered in the previously summarized technique represents a number of ACK/NACK bits after ACK/NACK bundling.

Carrier aggregation is one of the new features recently developed by the members of the 3rd-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for so-called Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, and is standardized as part of LTE Release 10, which is also known as LTE-Advanced. An earlier version of the LTE standards, LTE Release 8, supports bandwidths up to 20 MHz. In LTE-Advanced, bandwidths up to 100 MHz are supported. The very high data rates contemplated for LTE-Advanced will require an expansion of the transmission bandwidth. In order to maintain backward compatibility with LTE Release 8 mobile terminals, the available spectrum is divided into Release 8-compatible chunks called component carriers. Carrier aggregation enables bandwidth expansion beyond the limits of LTE Release 8 systems by allowing mobile terminals to transmit data over multiple component carriers, which together can cover up to 100 MHz of spectrum. Importantly, the carrier aggregation approach ensures compatibility with earlier Release 8 mobile terminals, while also ensuring efficient use of a wide carrier by making it possible for legacy mobile terminals to be scheduled in all parts of the wideband LTE-Advanced carrier.
The number of aggregated component carriers, as well as the bandwidth of the individual component carrier, may be different for uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmissions. A carrier configuration is referred to as "symmetric" when the number of component carriers in each of the downlink and the uplink are the same. In an asymmetric configuration, on the other hand, the numbers of component carriers differ between the downlink and uplink. The number of component carriers configured for a geographic cell area may be different from the number of component carriers seen by a given mobile terminal. A mobile terminal, for example, may support more downlink component carriers than uplink component carriers, even though the same number of uplink and downlink component carriers may be offered by the network in a particular area.
LTE systems can operate in either Frequency-Division Duplex (FDD) mode or Time-Division Duplex (TDD) mode. In FDD mode, downlink and uplink transmissions take place in different, sufficiently separated, frequency bands. In TDD mode, on the other hand, downlink and uplink transmission take place in different, non-overlapping time slots. Thus, TDD can operate in unpaired spectrum, whereas FDD requires paired spectrum. TDD mode also allows for different asymmetries in terms of the amount of resources allocated for uplink and downlink transmission, respectively, by means of different downlink/uplink configurations. These differing configurations permit the shared frequency resources to be allocated to downlink and uplink use in differing proportions. Accordingly, uplink and downlink resources can be allocated asymmetrically for a given TDD carrier.
One consideration for carrier aggregation is how to transmit control signaling from the mobile terminal on the uplink to the wireless network. Uplink control signaling may include acknowledgement (ACK) and negative-acknowledgement (NACK) signaling for hybrid automatic repeat request (Hybrid ARQ, or HARQ) protocols, channel state information (CSI) and channel quality information (CQI) reporting for downlink scheduling, and scheduling requests (SRs) indicating that the mobile terminal needs uplink resources for uplink data transmissions. In the carrier aggregation context, one solution would be to transmit the uplink control information on multiple uplink component carriers associated with different downlink component carriers. However, this option is likely to result in higher mobile terminal power consumption and a dependency on specific mobile terminal capabilities. Accordingly, improved techniques are needed for managing the transmission of uplink control-channel information in systems that employ carrier aggregation.

Simultaneous reporting of ACK/NACK and channel-state information using PUCCH format 3 resources


A gas spring (7) comprises a cylinder main body (20); a rod member (21) slidable to cylinder main body; a gas filled chamber (23) filled with compressed gas and urging the rod member in a first direction; a rod inserting hole (32) inserting the rod member (21); an annular collar (24) slidable on the rod member at a position apart from the rod inserting hole in the second direction opposite to the first direction; an annular groove (24a) on the annular collar which is open toward the second direction; and a lock ring (26) engaging with an annular ring mounting groove (25) on the rod member (21). In assembling, the lock ring (26) is moved in the first direction together with the rod member, to thus engage with the annular groove (24a) on the annular collar, so that the annular collar for stopping the rod member and the lock ring is stopped by an end wall of the cylinder main body.

A conventional gas spring for use in various machines is provided with a cylinder main body, a rod member slidably fitted to the cylinder main body, a gas filled chamber inside of the cylinder main body and filled with compressed gas (i.e. nitrogen gas). Compressed gas (pressure is about 7 to 10 MPa), is filled in the gas filled chamber. The rod member is driven to advance by the compressed gas. Here, the gas spring is provided with various mechanisms for restricting the advancing operation of the rod member in such a manner that the rod member cannot advance in excess of a predetermined stroke.
For example, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a gas spring as shown in FIG. 10. The gas spring 100 comprises a cylinder main body 101; a rod member 102 with a cylindrical piston penetrating the cylinder main body 101; a gas filled chamber 103, which is formed between the cylinder main body 101 and the rod member 102 and urges the rod member 102 upward with pressure of compressed gas filled inside; a plurality of pin members 104 disposed symmetrically with each other around an axial center of the rod member 102; and slots 105 which receive pin members 104, so as to restrict the moving range of the rod member 102 with respect to the cylinder main body 101. When the rod member 102 advances upward by a predetermined stroke, each pin member 104 fits to the upper end of the slot 105, thereby restricting the movement of the rod member 102.
In the above-described gas spring, after filling of the compressed gas into the gas filled chamber 103, the rod member 102 is pressed down with respect to the cylinder main body 101, to thus turn the gas filled chamber 103 into a sealed state. Thereafter, it is necessary to securely screw the pin members 104 to a screw hole formed at the rod member 102 in order to restrict the movement of the rod member 102. As a result, the man-hour of a gas filling work is increased. Moreover, there is a possibility that the structure of the gas spring becomes complicated.
An object of the present invention is to constitute a gas spring such that a rod member can be restricted at an upper limit position at the same time when compressed gas is filled into a gas filled chamber, and to simplify a mechanism for restricting the advancing motion of the rod member.


A printing method etc. capable of suppressing degradation in image quality of border sections between regions respectively printed by a plurality of nozzle rows that eject ink droplets is achieved. The printing method includes a step of setting, when at least two print heads that move in a movement direction intersecting a carrying direction and that include a plurality of nozzle rows each including a plurality of nozzles arranged in the carrying direction are moved in the movement direction, one ejecting method, of among a plurality of ejecting methods in which the nozzles for actually ejecting ink droplets are appropriately changed between an upstream-side nozzle and a downstream-side nozzle, for each of a plurality of aligned nozzle sections that are arranged such that the downstream-side nozzle of one print head and the upstream-side nozzle of the other print head, of the nozzle rows provided in different print heads, are aligned in the movement direction; and a step of ejecting ink droplets from the aligned nozzle sections according to the one ejecting method that has been set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to printing methods, computer-readable media, and printing apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, printing apparatuses that print using print heads, which are provided with a plurality of nozzle rows that eject ink droplets of a plurality of colors color by color and that are arranged in the carrying direction of the print paper, have been considered. In such printing apparatuses, the print heads are configured by assembling a plurality of nozzle rows ejecting ink droplets of the same color.
When printing is performed using such a print head, there may be cases in which adjacent regions are respectively printed by different nozzle rows disposed in the carrying direction; however, there is a possibility that the image quality at the border between regions that are printed by different nozzle rows may deteriorate because of the difference in the characteristics of the nozzle rows. Thus, a number of methods for ejecting ink droplets have been considered for suppressing deterioration in image quality, by arranging the different nozzle rows that are arranged in the carrying direction such that a predetermined number of nozzles in each nozzle row are aligned in the head movement direction and by printing by alternately ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles of the different nozzle rows that are aligned in the movement direction.
However, in the foregoing printing method, it is a precondition that the predetermined number of nozzles in each of the two nozzle rows that respectively print the adjacent regions are arranged such that they are aligned in the head movement direction. Thus, in cases in which the attachment position of the nozzle rows is shifted or if they are attached in a tilted manner due to an attachment error, for example, then there is a possibility that the number of nozzles that are arranged so as to be aligned in the head movement direction in the two nozzle rows may deviate from the predetermined number. In such a case, it may not be possible to suppress deterioration of image quality at the border of adjacent regions with the foregoing ink-droplet-ejecting method. Thus, there is an issue that it is not possible to suppress deterioration of the image quality of the entire printed image.

Printing method, computer-readable medium, and printing apparatus


A coaxial cable connector including an electrically insulative base having at least one open chamber, and at least one jack respectively mounted in the at least one open chamber of the base and adapted to receive a respective coaxial cable, each jack including a metal cylindrical casing having a rear half mounted inside the base and a front half disposed outside the base, an insulative sleeve coaxially mounted inside the cylindrical casing, a signal terminal coaxially mounted inside the insulative sleeve and prohibited from contacting the cylindrical casing, and a grounding terminal mounted within the cylindrical casing outside the insulative sleeve and disposed in contact with the cylindrical casing.

The present invention relates to coaxial cable connectors, and more particularly to such a coaxial cable connector adapted for connecting a printed circuit board to a network cable system.
A regular coaxial cable connector 90, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a base 92, a stepped, cylindrical metal casing 91 mounted in the base 92, an insulative sleeve 93 coaxially mounted within the metal casing 91, a signal terminal 94 coaxially mounted within the insulative sleeve 93, and a grounding terminal 95 mounted in the rear end of the metal casing 91. The base 92 has mounting rods 922 adapted for securing to a printed circuit board, a threaded coupling portion 921 raised from one side and adapted for fastening to for example a panel of a network board. In order to fit the design of the threaded coupling portion 921 of the base 92, the metal casing 91 has a certain length made in three steps. This design greatly increases the dimensions of the coaxial cable connector and its manufacturing cost.

4th Floor, No. 8, Alley 8, Lane Ssu-Wei, Chung Cheng Rd.


A process for producing a (meth)acrylate derivative including reacting a compound of formula (1) (wherein R.sup.1 is H or CH.sub.3 ; A is C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene; and p is 1 to 10) with a chloro-dioxaphosphorus compound of formula (2) (wherein q is 0 or 1) in the presence of a secondary amine of formula (3) (wherein R.sup.2 and R.sub.3 are each C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkyl, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.9 aryl, arylalkyl, etc.) to produce a (meth)acrylate derivative of formula (4) and further reacting the same with a tertiary amine of formula (5) (wherein R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl etc.) to provide a (meth)acrylate derivative of formula (6). ##STR1##

Phospholipids are known to be a component of a biomembrane. Phosphatidylcholine, one of phospholipids, is a glycerin ester of a long chain alkylcarboxylic acid having a phosphorylcholine group in polar part thereof.
Recently, some attempts have been made to synthesize a phospholipid-like compound having the phosphorylcholine group. For example, there is known a method for producing the objective phosphorylcholine derivative by reacting 2-chloro-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorane (sometimes referred to hereinbelow as "COP") with a compound having a hydroxyl group in the presence of a tertiary amine such as triethylamine, which acts as hydrogen chloride catcher, to produce 2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorane derivative; and then reacting the resulting derivative with trimethylamine (Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr., p667-671, 1974, C. R. Acad. Sc. Paris, t.283 Serie C, p229-231, 1976, Zh. Org. Khim. 16(1), p31-33, 1980, C. R. Acad. Sc. Paris, t.275 Serie C, p1125-1127, (1972)).
There is also known a 2-((meth)acryloyloxy)alkyl-2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl phosphate (sometimes referred to hereinbelow as "(M)APC") having the phosphorylcholine group and a (meth)acryloyl group introduced thereto as a polymerizable group. Methods for producing this "(M)APC" and 2-(2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxyaphosphoryl)alkyl (meth)acrylate, an intermediate product of this "(M)APC" (sometimes referred to hereinbelow as "OP(M)A"), have also been proposed.
For example, it is known that the intermediate product "OPMA" may be produced by reacting 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with "COP" in the presence of a tertiary amine, and removing the by-product, that is, hydrochloride of the tertiary amine. It is also known that "MAPC" may be produced by reacting the obtained "OPMA" with a tertiary amine such as trimethylamine (JP-B-2-49316, and WO95/14702 specification). However, in these production methods, it is difficult to sufficiently remove the by-product due to the tertiary amine, which has been used as the hydrogen chloride catcher. In addition, the reaction liquid and the objective "(M)APC" tend to be colored in pale yellow or dark brown. Further, the reaction rate is not sufficiently fast.
Then, it has been proposed to perform reaction under reduced pressure in the absence of a tertiary amine (JP-A-8-239394). However, in this method, hydrogen chloride gas is generated as a result of the reaction under the reduced pressure. It takes a long time to remove the gas. Further the reaction results in low reaction ratio.
It has also been proposed to produce "(M)APC" by reacting 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with "COP" using specific acetonitrile in the presence of triethylamine, and then opening the ring by reaction with trimethylamine, and optionally re-crystallizing the product from dry acetonitrile (JP-A-9-505578). However, the coloring of the reaction liquid and the product also occurs in this method. Thus, for producing, e.g., a contact lens by polymerizing the obtained "(M)APC", it is required to perform the step of removing the coloring substance from "(M)APC", such as absorption by activated charcoal, re-crystallization or column chromatography, and the production step cannot therefore be simplified.

Process for producing (meth)acrylate derivatives


A device for testing a tire that has a tread and extending sidewalls includes an apparatus for receiving and rotating a tire and at least one measurement device operatively placed to measure at least one of the sidewalls as the tire is rotated wherein the measurement device is radially moveable with respect to the sidewall in defined increments so as to obtain a measurement profile for each radial position. A controller is connected to the measurement device and receives each measurement profile, wherein the controller classifies the measurement profile into slope classifications, and wherein the controller monitors the slope classifications for defective patterns and, if detected, monitors a second measurement profile for another defective pattern. If another defective pattern is detected in the second measurement profile in the same radial region, the controller generates an indication that the tire is defective.

Tire uniformity machines and their use and function in the production and testing of vehicle tires are well-known in the art. One of the more important tests in this regard is the detection of so-called bulges, or depressions on the tire sidewalls. Bulges and depressions are indicative of tire construction faults which can affect the safety of the end user. The primary difficulty in the detection of such fault features lies in the fact that the areas under test include intentional sculptural features, such as raised relief-type letters, and acceptable process-related surface irregularities such as pin vents or mold flash that obscure the faults. The acceptable surface features are of such a size that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish them from a bulge or depression. As a result, simple threshold value decisions on the basis of measured form data does not lead to the clear distinction between fault features and acceptable surface features.
It will be appreciated that the manufacturer of the vehicle tire may find faults in the inner construction of the tire which significantly affect the mechanical properties and thus the reliability of the tire. Construction faults show up as bulges or depressions on the exterior tire surface. An open splice in one of the construction plies, for example, is visible as a bulge. Such tires must be removed to ensure the safety of the end user. The construction faults are most likely to be found on the sidewalls and thus are superimposed on the sidewall surfaces of the tire. Accordingly, the lateral and vertical dimensions of such a bulge or depression are comparable with the lettering or other acceptable surface features which are also present. Although various methods have been developed to detect these bulges and depressions, they have been found to be lacking.
One particular attempt to address this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,789 which employs the use of a laser fan beam that is diffusely reflected by the tire sidewall and recorded by a camera having an image sensor. By utilizing a sophisticated set of optics, the diffusely reflected radiation is quantified and from the known geometry of the measurement arrangement together with position of the projected line of the sensor surface, the form of the illuminated surface is then calculated in a manner known in the art. In particular, the system disclosed in the '789 patent employs a low pass filter applied to the structures and irregularities. This filter has the effect of suppressing the height of structures which have edges which appear as high frequency characteristics. This surface is then normalized to a quasi-planar state by subtracting the torus form of the tire. This is necessitated by the processing algorithm which works in a planar geometry. Next, all values representing height that exceed a certain threshold value are considered to contribute to an area if that area is big enough, it is then considered to be a bulge and the tire is marked as defective. Depressions can be similarly detected except for the fact that the threshold value is a negative value. Although the foregoing method is somewhat effective it is believed that it has certain drawbacks. In particular, in view of the minimal difference between the size of bulges ranging about 0.012 inches in size, and the lettering of the tire ranging about 0.040 inches in size, it is still quite difficult to distinguish between the two and correctly designate a tire as having a bulge or depression in certain instances. Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved measurement of structural defects and for processing the measured information in a manner that more reliably designates the detection of bulges and depressions in tire sidewalls.

System for testing tire sidewall irregularities and related methods


The invention discloses an improved process for the preparation of aryl polycarbonates. The process involves reacting aryl carbonate and dihydric phenol in the melt phase with a catalyst belonging to the class of quaternary ammonium bioxyanions having the general formula: ##STR1## Wherein `X` represents a carboxylate or a phenolate group or a mixture thereof and `R` represents alkyl or aryl.

This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of aryl polycarbonates. The present invention particularly relates to the use of bioxyanion type catalysts in transesterification polymerization of diarylcarbonates and dihydric phenol for the production of polyarylcarbonates with improved color and higher thermal stability.
These polyarylcarbonates are the commercial engineering plastics produced by the industry for replacing glass and metals in several areas. Polyarylcarbonate is processed by molding, extrusion and film-forming techniques for conversion of it to different types of useful products.
In the prior art similar compounds have been reported to act as catalysts in `group transfer` addition polymerization of acrylic monomers. In this context reference may be made to the following literature.
(1) O. W. Webster, W. R. Hertler, D. Y. Sogah, W. B. Farnham and T. V. Rajan Babu, J.Am.Chem.Soc., 1983, 105, 5706. PA0 (2) I. B. Dicker, G. M. Cohen, W. B. Farnham, W. R. Hertler, E. D. Lagann and D. Y. Sogah, Polymer Preprints 1987, 29, 106.
Industry produces polyarylcarbonates by interfacial and transesterification process. In the former, phosgene is condensed with bisphenol-A at an interface of methylene chloride/aqueous sodium hydroxide, under ambient conditions in the presence of catalysts either amine or its salts. The molecular weight of the polymer is controlled by the addition of monohydroxy aromatic compounds. Transesterification consists of melt condensation of diarylcarbonate and dihydric phenol at elevated temperatures in the presence of either basic or acidic catalysts. The molecular weight is regulated by the removal of a byproduct, phenol which is expedited by the application of heat and vacuum treatments. Basic catalysts such as alcoholates, phenolates and carboxylates of alkali metals are cited as useful catalysts for transesterifications. Reference may be made to British Patent 1,110,736 on the transesterification process.
There are inherent limitations in both the processes. The isolation of interfacial product, polyarylcarbonate from the reaction mixture, needs washings for the removal of byproduct and catalyst, recovery of solvent for recirculation and densification of product prior to fabrications. The transesterification reaction obviates these drawbacks associated with the interfacial process. But the high melt viscosity of the prepolymer causes problems in its further transesterifications towards the synthesis of high molecular weight polymer. By utilising specialised equipment designed to generate high surface for overcoming high melt viscosity limitations for condensations, the polymer of desired molecular weight is achieved by appropriate heat and vacuum treatments. Most of the alkaline metal based catalyst used in the prior art for transesterifications induce discoloration of the products, due to the high temperatures involved. Also the catalysts contain metals which are left as residues in the polymer.
The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved process for the preparation of polycarbonates using quaternary ammonium bioxyanions as metal free catalysts for the melt transesterification-polycondensation of diarylcarbonates and dihydric phenols.

Preparation of polycarbonates with bioxyanion catalyst

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


A method of forming a high germanium concentration, low defect density silicon germanium film and its associated structures is described, comprising forming a dielectric layer on a substrate, patterning the dielectric layer to form a silicon region and at least one dielectric region, and forming a low defect silicon germanium layer on at least one dielectric region.

High speed infrared photodetectors are becoming increasingly important for optical communication signal processing, infrared imaging and measurement systems. Photodetectors can be used for the detection of optical communication signals, such as those used in the telecommunication industry. A standard wavelength used in the telecommunication industry is 1.3 microns. Pure silicon photodetectors are limited in that they can only detect wavelengths up to about 1 micron. The addition of germanium to a silicon film used to fabricate a photodetector can increase the wavelength that can be detected (i.e., photodetector responsivity). For example, using a silicon-germanium film which incorporates more than 50 percent germanium can increase the photodetector responsivity to 1.3 microns or more. However, adding germanium to the silicon film often results in a strain to the silicon crystal lattice that may causes defects, such as threading dislocations, to be formed in the silicon-germanium film. The proliferation of such defects can result in an increase in the defect concentration, or defect density, in the silicon germanium film, which can impair the performance of a silicon germanium photodetector device.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods of forming a silicon germanium film and structures formed thereby which incorporate greater than 50 percent germanium concentration while exhibiting low defect concentrations. The present invention provides such methods and structures.

Methods of forming a high germanium concentration silicon germanium alloy by epitaxial lateral overgrowth and structures formed thereby


A release schedule for an order having a single addressee address is described. The schedule specifies, for each of two or more shipments making up the order, each of the shipments having a different origin location, a release time at which the shipment is to be released from its origin location. The indicated release times are selected on the basis of typical carrier delivery durations from each of the origin locations to the addressee address, in order to cause all of the shipments of the order to be delivered to the addressee address at the same time. The release schedule may be used to schedule the release of the shipments of the order.

While it is common for customers to purchase goods in person at a physical store and carry those goods home with them, the delivery of purchased goods is also quite common. Such delivery has long been performed in connection with the ordering of products from a paper catalog, and has been increasing driven by the advent and increasing market penetration of web merchants that make products available for selection and purchase via the World Wide Web ("the web"). Like other kinds of mail order merchants, many web merchants operate or otherwise use multiple distribution centers, from which products are shipped to customers, often using a third-party carrier to perform the delivery.
Such web merchants typically use a few conventional approaches to delivering products ordered by a customer. For an order containing a single item, the item is typically shipped in a single container from a distribution center having stock in the item to a delivery address specified by the customer, such as a delivery address at which the customer can receive packages, or a delivery address of a gift recipient to whom the order is a gift from the customer.
For an order containing multiple items all in stock at a single distribution center, these items are collected and sent from the distribution center to the delivery address specified for the order as a single shipment, made up of one or more containers. In these cases, the carrier typically charges the web merchant a single delivery fee for the shipment, sometimes even if the shipment is made up of several containers that are all going from the same origination point to the same destination of the same time. It can often be difficult and/or expensive for a web merchant that makes a wide variety of items available for purchase and permits customers to order any combination of items to ensure that all of a particular combination of items will be available from a single distribution center.
For an order containing multiple items not all in stock at a single distribution center, two alternative conventional approaches can be employed. As a first alternative, a set of two or more distribution centers is selected that collectively have stock in all of the ordered items. Each selected distribution center ships its subset of the ordered items to the order's delivery address as a separate shipment. When the first alternative is used, the carrier who delivers each shipment charges the web merchant a delivery fee for the shipment. The sum of these delivery fees is often larger than would be the single delivery fee for a single shipment from a single distribution center to the customer.
As a second alternative, an originating distribution center that has stock in at least one of the ordered items is selected. Any items not in stock at the originating distribution center are shipped to the originating distribution center from other distributions having stock. After all of these transferred items are received at the originating distribution center, a single shipment is sent from the originating distribution center to the delivery address. When the second alternative is used, the carrier who delivers each shipment charges the web merchant a delivery fee for the shipment. Again, the sum of these delivery fees is often larger than would be the single delivery fee for a single shipment from a single distribution center to the customer.
In view of the foregoing, an approach to efficient shipping items from two or more distribution centers to a customer would have significant utility.

Coordinating the delivery of two or more packages shipped from different source locations


A drive system including a support bar to which the roof part is fastened, wherein the support bar during operation of the drive system is displaced between a closed position of the roof part and an open position of the roof part. For the displacement of the support bar between the closed position and the open position, a front guide carriage, a rear tilting mechanism as well as a control carriage mechanically controlling the guide carriage and the tilting mechanism are provided.

Such a spoiler roof is disclosed in DE 20 2007 001 217 U1. The known roof module has a roof part which is displaceable above a roof contour of the vehicle roof. To this end, two drive systems designed identically to one another are assigned to the openable roof part on its opposing longitudinal sides, said drive systems being movable in a synchronized manner relative to one another. An electrical drive serves for the adjustment of the drive systems. The drive system comprises a rear tilting mechanism as well as a front pivoting mechanism in order to tilt the roof part and to displace the roof part to the rear.
DE 10 2006 037 787 A1 discloses a drive system for an openable vehicle roof comprising a rear tilting mechanism as well as a front guide carriage and a control carriage which are provided for tilting and longitudinally displacing the movable roof part between a closed position and an open position.

Drive system for a movable roof part of a roof module of a motor vehicle

Abstract: The guide carriage and the control carriage are geometrically designed such that the guide carriage and the control carriage are able to be positioned and displaced inside the guide rail overlapping one another in parallel in the transverse direction of the vehicle.


The modular vehicle running board, subject matter of the invention, comprises a profile (10) provided with projections (12) and cavities (14) and (15) for the modular arrangement of assembly components and trims (20), (40) and (41), allowing the arrangement of lighting points (36) and the attachment of a non-slip step (30), in order to optimize the assembly system and allow greater product variability in a single profile/chassis. The result is a modular vehicle running board endowed with new constructive characteristics facilitating manufacture and adaptation in different models.

Vehicle running boards are accessories fitted to the underside of doors to facilitate passenger boarding in vehicles with raised ride heights such as pickup trucks and SUVs.
The vehicle running boards mainly consist of a linear body that allows the attachment of a non-slip step and trim tips arranged at the ends, and the attachment to the vehicle is achieved by means of brackets which are attached to the bottom of the vehicle and the lower portion of the running board. This system may vary according to the make and model of the vehicle.
However, the existing models of running boards on the market have several drawbacks due to the constructive form not allowing the replacement of damaged parts, not allowing greater variability of product adjustments and rendering the manufacturing process difficult due to the need to manufacture a profile for each running board model.
Thus, this holder has developed a new concept of vehicle running boards with a linear profile that has several cavities and slots, allowing the attachment and fitting of trims and components in a modular manner, ensuring greater variability, ease of assembly and optimization in the manufacturing process. In addition, this construction makes it possible to arrange lighting points to facilitate the identification of the running board and the fitting of the non-slip step on the bracket, whereas said step prevents the accumulation of water due to its construction.
In a research carried out with the state of the art, we have identified several documents describing improvements applied to vehicle running boards, of which we can emphasize the following documents;
Document BR1000270-7, by the same holder, describes a vehicle-mounted running board profile which comprises a linear body of adjustable length and provided with cavities for the fitting of non-slip trims and tips at the ends, eliminating the use of attachment means.
Document BR202014000793-3, by the same holder, describes a vehicle running board comprising a structural profile and a trim profile with cutouts for the inclusion of a non-slip element, eliminating the need for attachment means and allowing the trim profile to remain fully pressed against the vehicle without causing damage to the surface.
These documents, from the same holder, describe constructions applied to the profile to assist in the attachment of the components and to allow a better adaptation to the vehicle; however, these documents do not describe a modular system applied to the running board manufacturing and assembly system.
Documents BR10201600494 (Ford Global Technologies), U.S. Pat. No. 9,963,066 (Ford Global Technologies) and CN204736768 (Shanghai Essenway) describe constructions applied to vehicle running boards that present the arrangement of lighting points on the structure, but none of the documents refer to a constructiveness applied to the chassis allowing the modular arrangement of the trim components and the construction of an adaptation of the lighting system developed by this inventor.
Thus, the subject matter of this invention is a vehicle running board with a profile provided with projections and cavities for the modular arrangement of components and assembly trims, allowing the arrangement of lighting points and the attachment of a non-slip step in order to optimize the assembly system and allow for greater product variability in a single profile/chassis. The result is a modular vehicle running board endowed with new constructive characteristics facilitating manufacture and adaptation in different models.


A one-piece, single-use disposable device for transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) of prostate tissue to alleviate BPH is disclosed. The device may include a flexible catheter tip including a rigid core and a flexible tip. The device may also include a single use lockout to help ensure that the device is used to perform only one ablation procedure on a single patient. The device may further include a simplified needle deployment mechanism and/or an automatic needle retraction mechanism.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common medical problems experienced by men over 50 years old. Urinary tract obstruction due to prostatic hyperplasia has been recognized since the earliest days of medicine. Hyperplastic enlargement of the prostate gland often leads to compression of the urethra, resulting in obstruction of the urinary tract and the subsequent development of symptoms including frequent urination, urgency, decrease in urinary flow, nocturia, pain, discomfort, and dribbling.
One surgical procedure for treating BPH is transurethral needle ablation (TUNA). The TUNA technique involves transurethral delivery of an electrically conductive needle to the prostate site. The needle penetrates the prostate in a direction generally perpendicular to the urethral wall, and delivers electrical current to ablate prostate tissue. The electrical current heats tissue surrounding the needle tip to destroy prostate cells, and thereby create a lesion within the prostate gland. The destroyed cells may be absorbed by the body, infiltrated with scar tissue or become non-functional.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,309 to Lundquist et al. discloses an example of a transurethral ablation device that includes a disposable needle assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,756 to McGaffigan et al. describes another transurethral ablation needle device having a reusable handle and a replaceable cartridge assembly. Table 1 below lists documents that disclose devices for transurethral ablation of prostate tissue.
TABLE 1Patent NumberInventorsTitle5,807,309Lundquist et al.Transurethral Needle Ablation Deviceand Method for the Treatment of theProstate5,964,756McGaffigan et al.Transurethral Needle Ablation Devicewith Replaceable Stylet Cartridge
All documents listed in Table 1 above are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their respective entireties. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate readily upon reading the Summary of the Invention, Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments and Claims set forth below, many of the devices and methods disclosed in the patents of Table 1 may be modified advantageously by using the techniques of the present invention.

Transurethral needle ablation system with automatic needle retraction


Electronic equipment may include structured fabric. Structured fabric may be used as a protective case or cosmetic cover for an electronic device, may be used to form a band that holds an electronic device against a user's body, or may be used to cover one or more openings in an electronic device. Structured fabrics may be soft and pliable while maintaining the ability to hold a given shape without added support. Structured fabric may be formed by laminating fabric such as warp-knit fabric with a stiffener such as polymer film. Structured fabrics may include openings through which signals such as optical or audio signals pass. To maintain the geometry and shape of the openings in the structured fabric without covering the openings, the stiffener and adhesive that are attached to the fabric may be cut to form a pattern of openings that align with the openings in the fabric.

This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices having structured fabric.
Electronic devices can be formed from fabric or can have portions that are formed from or covered with fabric. The fabric-based electronic device may be worn or held by a user. In some situations, the fabric may be used to hold an electronic device against a user's wrist, arm, or other part of the body. In other situations, a fabric can form a housing component, case, or protective cover for an electronic device.
Because of its softness and lack of rigidity, fabric is typically regarded as unsuitable for use as a structural component in an electronic device. Rigid structures such as meshes and protective cases are typically formed using metal or plastic. Plastic cases and metal meshes may be satisfactory in certain situations, but some users may desire a different look and feel.
It would be desirable to be able to address these concerns by providing improved techniques for incorporating structure and rigidity into fabric for an electronic device.

Structured fabrics for electronic devices


A thermosetting resin composition which forms a cured coating is provided. This resin composition is capable of providing the supporting substrate with scratch resistance, crack resistance, smudge proof property, removability of oil-base felted markers by wiping, and antistatic property. Also provided is an article having a coating formed from such composition. More specifically, the photocurable resin composition comprises (1) a siloxane compound containing a photoreactive group produced by hydrolyzing and condensing a system comprising (a) photoreactive group-containing hydrolyzable silane represented by formula (i) or (ii), with the proviso that, when one hydrolyzable silane is used, the silane comprises a trifunctional silane, and when two or more silanes are used, at least 70% by mole comprise a trifunctional silane, (b) a dimethylsiloxane containing a hydrolyzable group at opposite ends represented by formula (iii), and (c) a fluorine-containing hydrolyzable silane represented by formula (iv) in the presence of a basic catalyst by using water at an amount in excess of the amount required for hydrolyzing and condensing all hydrolyzable groups; (3) (CF3(CF2)mSO2)2NLi (wherein m is 0 to 7); and (4) a radical photopolymerization initiator. The article has a coating formed from this composition.

Synthetic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate resin, polycarbonate resin, polystyrene resin, cyclic polyolefin resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, and triacetyl cellulose resin have advantageous properties including light weight, high transparency, and high workability, and therefore, these synthetic resins are recently finding wide applications in the field of optical disks such as CD and DVD, display windows such as liquid crystal and EL panels, and various functional films.
When such products are used, various types of smudges and fingerprints deposit on the surface of such resin, and since such smudge and fingerprint deposition is not preferable, the surface of an optical information medium is often subjected to an adequate surface treatment to thereby improve the smudge proof property, reduce fingerprint deposition, and improve removal of the fingerprints. For example, attempts have been made to provide a variety of water and oil repellent treatments on the surface of an optical information medium.
In order to improve scratch resistance of such surface, a transparent scratch resistant hard coating was commonly formed on the surface of the medium on the side of the incidence of the write and/or read beam. Such hard coating has been formed by coating a siloxane compound having a basket structure produced by hydrolyzing and condensing a compound having two or more photoreactive groups such as (meth)acryloyl group in one molecule or an alkoxysilane having a photoreactive group such as (meth)acryloyl group in the presence of a basic catalyst (JP-A 2002-363414 and JP-A 2004-143449: Patent Documents 1 and 2), or by coating a composition containing a reaction product of an alkoxysilane having a photoreactive group and a colloidal silica on the surface of the medium, and then curing the coating by irradiation of an active energy beam such as UV. This type of hard coating which has been formed principally for the purpose of improving the scratch resistance, however, had been inferior in the crack resistance, and smudge proof property for smudges such as fingerprints and removability of oil-base felted markers by wiping could not have been expected from such coating.
In view of such situation, a siloxane compound having a basket structure produced by hydrolyzing and condensing an alkoxysilane having a polymerizable functional group and an alkoxysilane having a perfluoroalkyl group in the presence of a basic catalyst was proposed (JP-B 3603133 and JP-B 3572989: Patent Documents 3 and 4). A coating formed by curing a composition containing such compound exhibits a larger contact angle with oleic acid indicating an improvement in the smudge proof property. However, removability of the oil-base felted marker by wiping was still insufficient, and this coating exhibited a drastic loss of the abrasion resistance.
In order to improve antistatic property, addition of various antistatic agents have also been attempted. Despite proposals of adding of a reaction product of polyether-modified silicone and lithium perchlorate (JP-A 5-320626: Patent Document 5), adding of a reaction product of polyfunctional acryl and lithium perchlorate (JP-B 3673590: Patent Document 6), and adding of a mixture of polyfunctional acrylate and (CF3SO2)2NLi (JP-A 9-278831 and JP-A 2001-288325: Patent Documents 7 and 8), the coating produced in these attempts had insufficient scratch resistance.
In view of such situation, addition of a mixture of a silane hydrolysate and (CF3SO2)2NLi (JP-A 2005-146110 and JP-A 2006-70120: Patent Documents 9 and 10) was proposed in order to improve the scratch resistance. The coating produced in these attempts, however, had insufficient smudge proof properties including the resistance to oil-base felted markers.

Photocurable resin composition and article having a coating formed by curing such composition


A method for network traffic characterization is provided. Flow data records are acquired associated with a security alert signature. Unidimensional traffic clusters are generated based on the acquired data. A Bloom filter is populated with the acquired flow data records. Clusters of interest are identified from the generated unidimensional traffic clusters. The identified clusters of interest are compressed into a compressed set. A determination is made whether a multidimensional processing of the acquired flow data needs to be performed based on a priority associated with the alert signature. A multidimensional lattice corresponding to the unidimensional traffic clusters is generated. The multidimensional lattice is traversed and for each multidimensional node under consideration a determination is made if the Bloom filter contains flow records matching the multidimensional node under consideration. A determination is made if the unidimensional node corresponding to the multidimentional node is included in the compressed set of unidimensional nodes.

As computer networks such as the Internet continue to grow in size and complexity, the challenge of effectively provisioning, managing and securing networks has become linked to a deep understanding of their traffic. Indeed, recent spates of cyber-attacks and the frequent emergence of applications affecting Internet traffic dynamics demonstrate the importance of identifying and profiling significant communication patterns within network traffic data. Nevertheless, because of the vast quantities of data and the wide diversity of traffic on large networks, developing a comprehensive understanding of the collected data remains a daunting and unfulfilled task. Most of the prior work in this area has focused on specific aspects of traffic or applied metrics that are deemed interesting a priori to identify significant network events of interest. For example, several known systems focus on techniques for identifying port scans or for analyzing worm and other exploit activities on the Internet. Further, signature-based intrusion detection systems look for well-known signatures or patterns in network traffic, while several anomaly detection systems have been developed using data mining techniques.
At the enterprise, service provider, and public network scale, network management systems are used to monitor networks. These systems can exist as stand-alone, dedicated systems or be embedded in network communications devices such as routers and switches. One specific example is NetFlow technology offered by Cisco Systems. Other tools include special-purpose systems, such as firewalls and other network security devices that are typically used to manage the communications at boundaries between the networks.
However, there are currently insufficient techniques in the art directed towards generating general profiles of traffic in terms of behaviors, i.e., communication patterns of end-hosts and services. The need for such profiles has become increasingly imperative and urgent in light of wide spread cyber-attacks and the frequent emergence of disruptive applications that can rapidly alter the dynamics of network traffic and bring down valuable Internet services. Accordingly, improved systems and methods that can identify significant communication patterns from vast quantities of traffic data are desirable.

Performance enhancements for finding top traffic patterns


A button assisting tool having a bifurcated pronged section set at an angle to an intermediate section and joined thereto by a joinder section which establishes the angle; and a shank attached to the opposite end of the intermediate section and set at an angle opposite in direction of the angle of the bifurcated section.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,291,563 shows a shoe and glove buttoner having a pair of flared prongs for engaging a button, and a straight shank, there being a curve where the prongs join the shank to dispose the ends of the prongs at an angle to the shank.
U.S. Pat. No. 687,135 shows a collar buttoning device which has a spoon shaped end having a notch and wedge portion adjacent the spoon shaped end, and also having a shank. This device is used by inserting it through the button hole from the inside so that the flat shank easily enters the button hole and then the wedge portion spreads the button hole.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,306,790 shows a shoe buttoner having a shoe horn at one end, so that that transverse curve of the shoe horn provides stiffness. The shank is bent longitudinally near the lower portion to provide a curve portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 339,055 shows a boot buttoner with a bifurcated end which is bent slightly toward the shank.
German Patent 14,902 shows a boot buttoner in which a bifurcated end is disposed at an angle to a shank.
U.S. Pat. No. 178,778 shows a button hook with a bifurcated end which is bent away from the shank.


A body member and flange members are butted together at a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion. The first and second abutment portions are held by first and second backing jigs, respectively. The first backing jig has a circumscribing recessed section corresponding to an inner circumferential surface of the first abutment portion. Further, the first backing jig has a circumscribing opening communicated with the bottom of the recessed section. On the other hand, the second backing jig has a circumscribing recessed section corresponding to an inner circumferential surface of the second abutment portion. Further, the second backing jig has a circumscribing opening communicated with the bottom of the recessed section. First and second buffer members are attached to the recessed sections, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for friction stir welding for joining an abutment portion by moving a rotating probe relatively along the abutment portion while pressing the probe against one surface of the abutment portion at which an end of a first plate member and an end of a second plate member are butted together.
2. Description of the Related Art
The friction stir welding (hereinafter referred to as "FSW" as well) is known, in which two workpieces are joined in solid phase by utilizing the frictional heat which is generated when a rotating probe is inserted into the workpieces. When FSW is carried out, the joined portion of the workpiece can maintain a strength which is about 80% of that of the base material, and it is also possible to prevent crystals from becoming coarse.
If the welding is performed by means of the conventional spot welding or the conventional electron beam welding by using an aluminum material as the workpiece, for example, some excessive heat is applied to the aluminum material. Therefore, the strength may be decreased due to deterioration of the material and/or change of crystals into coarse microstructure.
In contrast, the joining by FSW is performed at about 500° C., the material is prevented from the deterioration which would be otherwise caused by the heat, even when a metal material such as the aluminum material having a relatively low melting point (about 600° to 660° C. in the case of the aluminum material) is used. Therefore, FSW is also applicable to other materials such as magnesium, titanium, and polymer as well as the aluminum material.
As an example of the application of FSW to the aluminum material, an aluminum frame of a large member such as an electric train may be exemplified. In the case of such a large member, the joining strength is important, and hence the thickness of the aluminum material is usually not less than 5 mm. On the other hand, if light weight is desired as well as the improvement of strength in the case of gas turbine engine members or the like, it is difficult to increase the thickness of each component. For this reason, for example, a thin plate aluminum material of about 1.2 mm thickness is used to construct an outer frame of the gas turbine engine.
However, when an abutment portion, at which both ends of thin plate-shaped aluminum materials are butted together, is joined by means of FSW to form a cylindrical member having a relatively large diameter, it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory circularity or roundness because the aluminum material is thin.
Further, when an abutment portion, at which ends of two cylindrical members are butted together, is joined by FSW, the circumferential lengths of the respective ends may not be the same. If the cylindrical members are joined in this state by FSW, then the difference in phase appears at the final position of the joined portion, and for example, the shape is deformed in a wavy form, resulting in wrinkles or corrugations.
Furthermore, when the aluminum material is thin plate, unjoined portion tends to appear when the abutment portion is joined by FSW. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, when a rotating probe P is inserted into an abutment portion T where aluminum materials W1, W2 are butted together, an unjoined portion U may appear at the abutment portion T due to shortage of friction stir caused by the failure of arrival of the probe tip Pa.
Moreover, the circumferential speed of the probe P is slowed down as the position approaches the probe tip Pa. The area S, which is subjected to the friction stir, is restricted or reduced in the vicinity of the probe tip Pa due to the decrease in circumferential speed. As a result, the frictional heat is insufficient, and the unjoined portion U appears. Because the unjoined portion U may be a fracture origin, structural reliability is deteriorated.
Additionally, the pressing force of 1 t to 2 t is applied to the thin plate aluminum materials W1, W2 during the joining by FSW. Therefore, some irregularity may appear at the joined portion as a result of FSW, if the aluminum materials W1, W2 are not retained reliably.
In view of the above, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-226759 describes a method of joining aluminum members as shown in FIG. 18, for example. A backing member 3 of the same material as that of hollow tubes (plate members) 1a, 1b is arranged at the inside of an abutment portion 2 of the hollow tubes 1a, 1b made of aluminum. A predetermined interstice or clearance C is formed between the backing member 3 and the inner surface of the abutment portion 2.
In this arrangement, a probe tip 4a of a probe 4 is inserted into the abutment portion 2 and the backing member 3 while rotating the probe 4 at a high speed, and the probe 4 is moved along the abutment portion 2. Accordingly, the entire circumference of the circumscribing abutment portion 2 is welded by the friction stir welding.
In the case of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-226759, the backing member 3 is provided as a reinforcing member of the hollow tubes 1a, 1b, and the reinforcing member is joined to the inner surfaces of the hollow tubes 1a, 1b. However, the hollow tubes 1a, 1b, to which the backing member 3 is joined as described above, cannot be used, as an outer frame of a gas turbine engine, for example. Therefore, it is necessary to exfoliate the backing member 3 from the inner surfaces of the hollow tubes 1a, 1bafter joining the hollow tubes 1a, 1b. In particular, when the thickness of the hollow member 1a, 1b is small, strain or distortion appears due to the exfoliation treatment of the backing member 3. Further, the backing member 3 may be broken during the exfoliation, and cannot be used repeatedly if broken. Therefore, it is not economical.
Another method is described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-225780 as a method of producing an abutment joint. In this production method, as shown in FIG. 20, end surfaces of joining members 1a, 1b made of aluminum are butted together to provide an abutment portion 2. A backing member 3 made of aluminum is arranged on the abutment portion 2. A recess 3a, which has a circular arc-shaped cross section, is formed on a surface of the backing member 3.
In this arrangement, a rotor 4 and a probe 5 are rotated, and the probe 5 is inserted into the abutment portion 2 of the joining members 1a, 1b. Accordingly, the abutment portion 2 of the joining members 1a, 1b is deformed to protrude on the back surface along the recess 3a of the backing member 3. When the probe 5 is moved along the abutment portion 2 with the probe 5 inserted into the abutment portion 2, the abutment portion 2 is subjected to the friction stir welding over the entire length of the abutment portion 2. Subsequently, a deformed portion 6, which is deformed to protrude toward the recess 3a of the backing member 3, is cut off by using, for example, a milling machine to obtain a flat surface.
However, in the case of the technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-225780, it is necessary to insert the probe 5 to the back surface of the abutment portion 2, in order that the abutment portion 2 is deformed on the back surface side to protrude toward the recess 3a of the backing member 3. For this reason, especially when each of the joining members 1a, 1b has a small thickness, breakage may occur in the joining members 1a, 1b.
Further, it is necessary to exfoliate the backing member 3 from the back surface of the abutment portion 2 after the joining process. Therefore, when the joining members 1a, 1b are thin as described above, residual strain appears as a result of the exfoliation treatment of the backing member 3.
Also in this case, the backing member 3 may be broken during exfoliation, and cannot be used repeatedly if broken. Therefore, it is not economical.

Method of and apparatus for friction stir welding


Exercise equipment, particularly a linear movable structure and associated selectable elastic resistance bands with or without guide track members are designed to allow low-impact exercises for one or two persons at the same time while permitting either or both participants to remain stationary when utilizing the equipment.

Many people who could benefit from a low-impact exercise routine are unable to do so due to lack of mobility. Such persons include the elderly, or those who have suffered an injury or some incapacity, or persons recovering from surgery. There is a need for a multipurpose gym apparatus that can be used in a variety of clinical and home settings where the principal user remains stationary, e.g. where the user is seated. Further it will be advantageous to provide a device that can effortlessly be adjusted to accommodate varying levels of exercise intensity.
It is therefore advantageous to provide an exercise or therapy apparatus that can be readily utilized by a stationary person. Such stationary exercises will generally be accomplished while the participant is seated, but the subject apparatus can be readily adapted to benefit a bedridden person as well.
There is provided herein an exercise apparatus and system which will also benefit a person who has lower extremity dependent edema or a person at risk of deep vein thrombosis. It can also be used for strengthening and endurance exercises. Multiple levels of resistance allow patients to build both upper and lower extremity strength, core strength and endurance while safely sitting in their chair.
Among the benefits provided to a stationary participant by the subject apparatus are low impact exercise, stress relief, stretching of legs or arms to improve mobility and range of motion, all while developing strength. Breathing, aerobic and lung improvements are also contemplated as well as increased cardio-vascular activity and endurance.
The subject apparatus can provide a low impact workout operating on upper and lower extremities at the same time if desired. A variety of active and passive Range of Motion exercises can be incorporated into a workout routine with the subject equipment.
Furthermore, the apparatus allows a therapist to easily convey simple instructions to less capable users, generally just push, or pull. Regular rhythmic activity can often benefit dementia patients, serving to increase their interests. For other patients, simple resistance bouncing of the legs may provide proprioceptive benefits whereby the motion and pressure feedback can give positive and useful feedback to one's muscles and joints. For other patients, increased activities may serve to decrease incidence of bedsores.
Use of the subject device also may be seen as motivational. Sensory stimuli from movement and exercise can improve focus and concentration for some patients. Even a sitting patient can fully participate.
The apparatus is particularly suitable for two people to use at once, participating together at the same time in a dual action mode, either helping or just entertaining each other. The device is especially suitable for physical therapists, occupational therapists, fitness professionals and persons that simply want to become more active.
Many users of this device will already be suffering from limited mobility, for any number of reasons. This apparatus allows them to have some physical activity, making them feel better physically by strength and stretch training, and also mentally as they improve physically. Moods will improve and users of this device will feel good and happy.
Some people resent physical therapy and being told what exercises they should do, particularly older people in nursing homes with little control over their daily routines. The subject apparatus provides a variety of different possible exercises, and can be utilized with or without guidance. The user can feel independent by deciding how to use the apparatus, providing a sense of accomplishment and control.
Another advantage to this design is that many people with many different capabilities or limitations can all use the same apparatus. It may be operated by someone who uses one or both hands only, or it may be operated by someone who uses one or both legs only.
Further, the apparatus provides a wide variety of activities and intensities. As the apparatus is manually controlled, it is easy for a user to switch activities or vary the intensity of the activity. This way the user may avoid fatigue, and can rest one part of the body while still exercising another.
The apparatus may serve as a warm-up activity before the user goes on to perform other more strenuous exercises. For most users, though, no overly strenuous exercises need be experienced, and the exercises performed with the subject apparatus will satisfy all their activity needs.
For those requiring assistance, someone else, perhaps a physical therapist, a friend, a volunteer, or loved one can simply place the user's hands or feet on the device, and can move the apparatus back and forth, or move the patient's legs up and down as in marching, thereby facilitating the exercise needed. The helper likewise receives some beneficial exercise while assisting the other person.
The typical intended audience for the subject device and method are relatively inactive, sedentary or less capable people who are not usually able to perform physical activity. Regular use of the subject exercise apparatus can therefore help maintain general physical and functional well being. As such, it may help strengthen some muscles, expand the lungs, protect the joints, improve balance and range of motion, assist in burning calories, thereby contributing to weight loss, lower blood sugar, lower cholesterol count, improve circulation, improve mood, and reduce stress. It may also help improve bowel movements, through muscle and tissue use, and may tend to improve bladder control problems. If desired, the user can achieve the cardiovascular benefits of an aerobic workout, while strengthening muscles in the trunk, arms and legs. Such a workout tends to increase the user's appetite, as well as respiration, focus and concentration.

Exercise apparatus and system for stationary users


In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the solid core is formed mainly of an organosulfur compound-containing base rubber, the intermediate layer is formed mainly of a base resin containing at least 50% by weight of a polyurethane elastomer, the cover is formed mainly of a polyurethane elastomer, and the Shore D hardnesses of the layers are controlled. The golf ball has excellent travel distance and feel as well as improved scuff resistance and durability to repeated impact.

For the purpose of improving the feel and travel distance of golf balls on full shots with different clubs, development of golf balls using various elastomers in the intermediate layer or the cover is currently in progress. Such golf balls are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,098, JP-A 10-108923 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,680.
More particularly, Higuchi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,098, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, describes a three-piece solid golf ball using a polyester thermoplastic elastomer in the intermediate layer and an ionomer resin in the cover. Since the intermediate layer and the cover are made of different materials, a problem arises in the bond therebetween. The ball is somewhat less durable against repeated shots.
JP-A 10-108923 describes a multi-piece solid golf ball using a mixture of a polyurethane thermoplastic resin and an ionomer resin in the intermediate layer. Since the cover is made of an ionomer resin, the ball yet suffers from durability and needs some improvement in rebound.
Dalton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,680 describes a golf ball comprising a hard mantle layer having a Shore D hardness greater than 60 and comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane or a thermoplastic polyester. Due to the hard mantle layer, the ball gives an unpleasant feel when hit with short irons, typically iron No. 9, and needs some improvement in rebound.
These golf balls use relatively soft cover materials as typified by ionomer resins as mentioned above. Upon repeated shots, the balls are likely to be scraped by the abutment of the edge and head of iron clubs against the ball surface. The balls are less resistant to scuffing as well. Upon repeated shots, cracks can occur. These indicate insufficient durability against repeated impact.
On the other hand, one-piece balls having improved durability and two-piece balls having relatively good flight performance are used as practice golf balls. However, the one-piece balls largely differ from balls for normal play in that they are extremely low in rebound and upon full shots with a driver or iron, follow a high-rise trajectory due to excessive spin reception.
The two-piece balls for practice have a cover of a hard ionomer resin. They receive a spin rate which is too low as compared with the quality balls professional and skilled golfers use on the course. The balls are less resistant to scuffing as well. These balls are thus inadequate for professional and skilled golfers to use in practice.
Among the quality balls professional and skilled golfers currently play on the course, multi-piece solid golf balls, typically three-piece solid golf balls using polyurethane elastomer as the cover enjoy widespread use. These balls are excellent in properties including flight, feel and spin, and fairly improved in durability. However, the durability is insufficient as the balls to be repeatedly hit numerous times for practice purposes.
JP-A 2001-54588 discloses a three-piece golf ball using a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer as the cover. The polyurethane elastomer forms a poor bond with the ionomer resin of which the intermediate layer is formed. As a result, a primer must be applied to the intermediate layer after the intermediate layer is formed around the core and before the cover is formed thereon. There is left a room for improvement in productivity.
JP-A 9-215778 describes a two-piece golf ball using a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer as the cover. This two-piece golf ball does not give rise to the poor bond problem as mentioned just above, but receives too much spin on shots with a driver or iron and hence, travels a rather skying trajectory, as compared with the three-piece ball having a high hardness intermediate layer between the cover and the core.


Systems and methods for setting welding parameters are provided. For example, in certain embodiments, a method includes receiving an input relating to a change in a parameter of welding power of a welding system via a welding system interface. The method also includes displaying a graphical representation of an acceptable range of values for the parameter of the welding power on a display device of the welding system interface, wherein the acceptable range of values is based on other parameters of a welding process being performed by the welding system. The method further includes constraining subsequent manual inputs relating to changes in the parameter of the welding power to the acceptable range of values.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for setting welding parameters.
A common metal welding technique employs the heat generated by electrical arcing to transition a work piece to a molten state, to facilitate a welding process. One technique that employs this arcing principle is wire-feed welding. At its essence, wire-feed welding involves routing welding current from a power source into an electrode that is brought into close proximity with the work piece. When close enough, current arcs from the electrode to the work piece, completing a circuit and generating sufficient heat to weld the work piece. Often, the electrode is consumed and becomes part of the weld itself. Thus, new wire electrode is advanced, replacing the consumed electrode and maintaining the welding arc. If the welding device is properly adjusted, the wire-feed advancement and arcing cycle progresses smoothly, providing a good weld.
Traditionally, during a welding operation, an operator selects the level and types of resources provided to the weld location, depending, of course, on the particulars of the weld and the materials being welded. For instance, an operator may select between various kinds and sizes of wire electrode, ranging from the diameter of wire to the material the wire electrode is made of Different kinds of wire electrode, however, perform well at different operational settings of the welding device. That is, different kinds of wire electrodes perform well within different voltage range of values and wire-feed speeds, for instance. For example, a given 0.023 inch mild-steel wire electrode may perform well at 17 volts and with a wire-feed speed of 250 inches per minute, while a 0.035 inch mild steel wire electrode performs well at 19 volts with a wire-feed speed of 230 inches per minute.
Conventionally, welding devices rely on the knowledge and acumen of the operator to select the most appropriate voltage and wire feed settings for the wire electrode being used and weld conditions. Unfortunately, in many cases, the weld operator is a novice to the field, especially in the case of portable welding devices. If the operator does not properly adjust the voltage and wire-feed speed settings, the arcing may not be sufficient to produce a good weld, or any weld at all. Furthermore, in traditional devices, the wire-feed speed control and the voltage control are wholly independent from one another, thus making it difficult for the operator to adjust both parameters while a weld is progressing.