A continuously rotating electric motor includes a rotor provided with permanent magnets and a stator formed by two coils in which, when the rotor is rotating, two induced voltage signals (UB1 and UB2) are respectively generated, which signals have an electric phase shift φ where 5°≤φ≤90°, preferably 30°<φ<65°. The control device includes a circuit for detecting intersection times (TC) at which values of the two induced voltage signals are substantially equal. The control device is arranged to generate electric driving pulses to rotate the rotor, which are respectively initiated at initiation times determined by respective intersection times, and such that the electric driving pulses can be applied to the two coils arranged in series. Preferably, the control device is arranged such that the initiation times of the electric driving pulses occur directly after detections of corresponding intersection times.

In the horological field, electric motors used in electromechanical watches are generally stepping motors. These motors have a magnetic stator which defines rest positions for the rotor provided with a permanent magnet. During driving pulses, the flux generated by one or more coils, wound around one or more respective magnetic cores of the stator, allows the rotor to be driven in steps. The supply voltage required to generate these driving pulses generally lies in the range 1.2 to 1.5 Volts. An analysis of the induced voltage in either coil after each driving pulse allows it to be determined whether the step has been correctly performed. If this is not the case, a correcting pulse is provided. In a stepping motor, since the rotor is at a standstill in a determined angular position, no particular issues hinder synchronisation between the angular position of the rotor and the successive initiations of the driving pulses.
Horological stepping motors have passed the test of time, are reliable and can have lower consumption levels in particular thanks to hashing of the signal forming each driving pulse, which technique is referred to as 'PWM—Pulse Width Modulation'. However, stepping motors tend to generate noise when turning through steps, which can be inconvenient for a user, especially at night. Moreover, this stepped turning of the hands, in particular of the seconds hand, is a distinctive sign of electromechanical watches, which visible sign is not always advantageous in the eyes of the consumer. In order to overcome these issues, a watch movement can incorporate a continuously rotating electric motor of small dimensions of the type having a rotor provided with permanent magnets.
Patent document EP 0887913 A2 describes a method for controlling a continuously rotating micromotor intended for a horological application. This motor comprises a stator formed by flat coils and a rotor provided with permanent magnets. The rotor comprises a first pair of magnets, of opposite polarities and arranged at the ends of a first oblong flange located beneath the coils of the stator, and a second pair of magnets, also of opposite polarities, arranged at the ends of a second oblong flange facing the first pair of magnets. The rotor thus defines a magnetic circuit for the flux of the four magnets passing through the coils when the rotor is rotating, such that an induced voltage is generated in these coils. The aforementioned document proposes two embodiments for the stator. In a first embodiment, shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the aforementioned document, the stator comprises three flat coils arranged in a general plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotor. These three coils are offset by 120°. Since the rotor has a single pair of magnets of opposite polarities per flange, the magnetic period/pole pitch of the rotor is equal to 360°. The three coils are constantly arranged in series, such that the signal of the total induced voltage at the two output terminals of the electric circuit formed by the three coils has a sinusoidal shape with a period of 120°. In order to maintain the rotation of the rotor, the control method provides for applying driving voltage pulses to the coils in series, which pulses have a given duration of less than one quarter of a period of the induced voltage signal, and for initiating each driving voltage pulse after a fixed time interval t1 after the total induced voltage signal passes through zero. The time interval t1 is chosen such that, for a nominal rotational speed of the rotor, the driving voltage pulses occur in the areas of maximum voltage but slightly in advance. In FIG. 4 of the aforementioned document, these pulses can be seen to begin before the apexes of the total induced voltage signal and substantially end at the maximum value of this signal. As shown in the aforementioned document with reference to FIG. 5, this choice allows a certain level of self-regulation to be obtained as regards the rotational speed of the rotor.
The first embodiment of the patent document EP 0887913 A2 is faced with issues concerning efficiency and robustness in the event of impacts or sudden movements. If, during an impact, the rotor undergoes sudden acceleration, the driving voltage pulse occurs after passing through the maximum value of the induced voltage, such that the energy supplied is thus greater than that intended for rotation at a constant nominal speed. This situation results in the rotor accelerating even more during a certain number of periods of the total induced voltage signal until it gradually begins to be slowed down. This causes instability. Moreover, during arm movements of a user of a watch not related to impacts, the rotor undergoes small variations in rotational speed. The method provided further causes instabilities in such a case, since the driving voltage pulses occur at different moments in time relative to the times at which the induced voltage signal has a maximum absolute value, i.e. in the form of an absolute value, which causes the quantity of energy supplied to the rotor during each driving pulse to vary. Although there is a certain degree of self-regulation when the rotational speed is slowing down, this does not apply when this speed is increasing; instead the opposite occurs.
As regards the configuration of the motor in the first embodiment, it should be noted that the three coils occupy almost the whole space around the shaft of the rotor in the general plane thereof, such that no mechanical coupling can occur in this plane between the rotor and a wheel of a gear train driven by this rotor. Such a configuration thus requires a mechanical coupling in a plane that is higher or lower than the part of the rotor formed by the two flanges and the permanent magnets (it should be noted that the magnets must be located in the vicinity of the coils in order to ensure good coupling between the magnets and the coils). This creates issues regarding the overall dimensions since it requires a relatively tall construction, wherein the rotor is offset in terms of height relative to the wheel which meshes with the output pinion for the mechanical torque supplied by the electric motor, which pinion must be situated on the shaft of the rotor above/below the aforementioned rotor part.
In the second embodiment proposed in the patent document EP 0887913 A2, an identical rotor is provided, alongside a stator formed by only two flat coils that are diametrically opposite relative to the rotational axis of the rotor. In such a case, it is understood that the two coils must each have a winding direction of the electric wire that is opposite that of the other so as to procure a non-zero induced voltage at the terminals of the two coils which are constantly arranged in series. The control method described hereinabove has the same drawbacks in this case. It is in particular noted that, although one coil has been removed, the problem concerning the overall dimensions remains the same. A wheel can hardly be arranged in the general plane of the two coils, which could be coupled with a pinion of the shaft provided in this general plane. If looking to nonetheless produce such an assembly, the wheel must have a small diameter such that the reduction ratio between the rotor and this wheel of the driven gear train is low, which is generally a drawback since an additional wheel will be necessary. This second embodiment creates another problem in that the arrangement of the two coils with an electric phase shift equal to zero no longer allows the direction of rotation of the rotor to be determined without adding an additional sensor for this purpose, which is proposed in the final paragraph of the description of the document in question.
The electric motor disclosed in the patent document EP 0887913 A2 presents another problem. The arrangement provided for does not allow the electric motor to be effectively started, i.e. the rotor to be brought into rotation, without the arrangement of an additional magnetic element external to the motor. More specifically, in order to allow the motor to be started, a magnet for positioning the rotor at rest (not driven) is added to the periphery of the rotor. This magnet thus constantly interacts with the magnets of the rotor and not only when the latter is at rest. This causes disturbance as regards the continuous rotation of the rotor at a speed that is sought to be as stable as possible.

Continuously rotating electric motor having a permanent magnet rotor

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd


The invention provides a rubber composition that can enhance fuel economy, wet-grip performance, abrasion resistance, and handling stability in a balanced manner, and a pneumatic tire using this composition. The invention relates to a rubber composition containing a rubber component, silica (1) having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of not more than 100 m2/g, and silica (2) having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of at least 180 m2/g, wherein the rubber component contains, based on 100% by mass of the rubber component, at least 5% by mass of a conjugated diene polymer containing a constituent unit based on a conjugated diene and a constituent unit represented by formula (I) below, at least one terminal of the polymer being modified with a specific compound; and a total amount of silica (1) and silica (2) is 30-150 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component,

The demands on automobiles for better fuel economy have been increasing in recent years as concern with environmental issues has been rising. Good fuel economy is also being required of the rubber compositions used for automotive tires. For example, rubber compositions containing a conjugated diene polymer (e.g., polybutadiene, butadiene-styrene copolymer) and a filler (e.g., carbon black, silica) are used for the rubber compositions for automotive tires.
For enhancing fuel economy, a method is known which includes reducing the amount of a filler to suppress heat build-up of rubber compositions. However, the reduction in the amount of a filler decreases the hardness of the rubber compositions, which may deteriorate the handling stability, and also may deteriorate the abrasion resistance and wet-grip performance. Thus, a method is demanded which enhances the fuel economy, wet-grip performance, abrasion resistance, and handling stability in a balanced manner.
Patent Literature 1 teaches that fuel economy can be enhanced by mixing a diene rubber which is modified by an organic silicon compound containing an amino group and an alkoxy group. Patent Literature 2 teaches that wet-grip performance can be improved by using both of anhydrous silica and hydrous silica. However, those techniques need to be improved in terms of enhancing fuel economy, wet-grip performance, abrasion resistance, and handling stability in a balanced manner.


In a method for repairing a drainage pipe, a resin pipe can be placed in an existing drainage pipe connected between connection bodies such as manholes while being buried in the ground, without causing an elongation. The method involves supplying a corrugated resin pipe 5, which is made by forming, spirally or in a ring shape, ridge portions 5c of a hard resin on the outer wall of a soft resin pipe 5d, 5e in which a reinforcement material 5f that restricts an elongation in the pipe axis direction has been embedded, into the existing drainage pipe through the upper opening of either of the connection bodies; inserting the head of the corrugated resin pipe 5 thus supplied from a drainage pipe opening connected to either of the connection bodies; pulling the corrugated resin pipe 5 thus inserted into the drainage pipe from the other side of the connection body; and laying the corrugated resin pipe 5 over the entire length of the drainage pipe.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for repairing drainage pipes such as an obsolete sewer pipe.
2. Background Art
If a sewer pipe buried in the ground for a long time becomes obsolete to cause its load resistance or waterproofness to be degraded, then there will exist a problem in that a road may sink or a flow-down ability of the pipe may become insufficient.
As a method to solve such a problem, there has been proposed and performed a drainage pipe repairing method in which a resin pipe is placed in an obsolete sewer pipe by utilizing the sewer pipe as a supporting body to produce a new sewer pipe.
Among the various existing methods of repairing the above-mentioned drainage pipe, for example, there is a pipe manufacturing method in which a band-shaped rigid PVC material is supplied in a manhole, and then inserted into an existing pipe while being formed into a pipe shape at the inlet portion of the existing pipe by a pipe manufacturing machine.
Further, there is also known a so-called sheath pipe technique in which instead of the band-shaped rigid PVC material, a short pipe that is shorter in length and smaller in pipe diameter than those of the existing pipe is carried in from a manhole, and then inserted into the existing pipe while being successively connected.
However, the above-mentioned pipe manufacturing technique requires a work facility dedicated for the pipe manufacturing machine and the like, and also skilled workers to perform the technique. On the other hand, the above-mentioned sheath pipe technique requires no pipe manufacturing machine, but the sheath pipe has been manufactured as a pipe, so that the pipe is not easily handled within a narrow manhole.
Moreover, both the techniques require a connecting operation to form a pipe shell within an existing pipe, so that there also exists a problem in that substantial working time must be spent to improve the sealing of the connection portions.
Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-38581 discloses a method as a recent technique capable of simply forming a pipe shell within an existing pipe without requiring a dedicated work facility. In this technique, as shown in FIG. 9, a flexible resin pipe 50 is supplied from a rotating drum 51, inserted through a manhole 52 from one side of an existing pipe 53 by utilizing the flexibility of the resin pipe 50, and then taken up from the other side of the existing pipe 53 by means of a winch 54.
Further, in the figure, reference numeral 55 designates a cap mounted onto a head of the resin pipe 50, and reference numeral 56 designates a wire connected to the cap 55.
However, although the technique described in the above-mentioned Patent Publication uses the resin pipe 50 that is integrally made by forming, spirally or in a ring shape, corrugated portions having convex portions and concave portions (the convex portions are independent from each other) in the pipe axis direction thereof, or the resin pipe 50 that is integrally formed by making the surface thereof flat without convex portions and concave portions, priority is given to the flexibility over the tensile strength by taking the workability into account, so that there exists a problem in that when the resin pipe 50 is pulled roughly by the winch 54, an elongation of the pipe that exceeds the original length of the resin pipe may occur and cause the load resistance to be degraded.
Also, when an attempt is made to construct the resin pipe 50 inserted into a lengthy existing pipe as seamless pipe, there exists another problem in that the resin pipe 50 also becomes lengthy and thus the rotating drum 51 for winding up the lengthy resin pipe 50 becomes larger in size.
The present invention is made to consider problems in a conventional drainage pipe repairing method as described above; a first object of the invention is to provide a drainage pipe repairing method in which a resin pipe can be pulled in an existing drainage pipe without developing an elongation, and a second object thereof is to provide a drainage pipe repairing method in which a resin pipe inserted into an existing pipe can achieve a compact design.


A plastic cover element (10) for a driver airbag module having a side wall (22) extending from a lower end (22a) to an upper end (22b), enclosing an interior space. The upper end (22b) is covered by an overlap (30) which extends in a radial direction across the side wall (22) and in an axial direction back toward the lower end (22a) of the side wall (22), forming a screen section (32) extending generally parallel to the side wall. The outside surface of the overlap has at least one groove (40) to receive the sewn edge of a casing. An axial section (44) of the groove (40) extends into the lower end area of the screen section (32) and in the area of this axial section (44) and at least one reinforcing rib extends parallel to it between the screen section (32) and the side wall (22).

Driver airbag modules housed in the hub area of a vehicle steering wheel generally have a cover element of plastic. Usually this cover element has two functional sections, namely a side wall extending from a lower to an upper end in a radial direction (in relation to the steering column) which encloses an interior space to receive an airbag, and a covering which covers the upper end of the side wall. In many embodiments of such cover elements the covering overlaps the side wall in a radial direction. In the process a section of this overlap can extend in an axial direction toward the lower end of the side wall. As a rule, this section too is visible to the driver and can be found, for example, at the "6 o'clock" or "12 o'clock" position. In the following such a section is designated as a screen section. Such a driver airbag module is known, for example, from DE 197 30 340 A1.
As already mentioned, such a cover element is made of plastic and there is frequently the wish, especially in high-priced vehicles, to provide the part of the cover element which is visible and accessible to the driver with a casing, in particular of leather. Such a casing may consist of several blanks which are initially sewn together before the then completely sewn casing is positioned on the cover element and is glued to it. In order that the casing lie flat on the cover element, it may feature, at least one groove in which a connection area of the casing configured as a stitch comes to rest. A driver airbag module of this type is shown in DE 10 2009 030 151 B3.
In order to be able to meet the high visual and haptic demands on such a coverable cover element—especially when covered with leather—and also for functional reasons, the cover element advantageously consists of a soft plastic.

Cover element composed of plastic for a driver's airbag module and cover consisting of such a cover element and a casing arranged on the latter


When stacking stackable items in layers on pallets, intermediate layers of paper/cardboard/film are often used for preventing loss of the items during transport. Even though the intermediate layers ensure to a large extent that items do not fall off the pallet, it cannot be entirely prevented that some of the stacked items fall off because the stacked items slid on the intermediate layers. Special intermediate layers are known, having a surface coated with non-skid coating which highly counteracts the unwanted sliding of the items in the layers stacked on a pallet. However, the laying of intermediate layers with non-skid surfaces constitutes a problem as the individual pieces of non-skid coated intermediate layer will adhere to each other. Thus, there is provided a method and a sheet dispenser where pieces of intermediate layers are successively dispensed, and where these layers are coated with a non-skid coating during dispensing.

The present invention concerns a method for dispensing an intermediate layer of cardboard/paper/film from a web rolled up in a supply, preferably for laying between layers of stackable items on pallets, where the free end of the rolled up supply is moved by feeding means across a table that includes a mechanical cutter unit which is cutting an intermediate layer from the web with a length suitable for an actual pallet size, and from which table the cut intermediate layer is ready for further handling for interposing and laying between the layers of stackable items on a relevant pallet.
The invention also concerns a machine for performing the method.
The invention also concerns use of the machine according to the invention for dispensing intermediate layers in connection with loading pallets or the like with stackable items.


An improved one-way clutch assembly according to this invention includes a drive member and a driven member each having a generally planar annular surface and assembled for rotation about a common axis with the planar annular surfaces in opposed spaced relation. A coupling system is mounted between the driving and driven members and rotatably fixed for rotation with the drive member. The coupling system includes a plurality of struts or pawls supported one on one end of each of a plurality of elongated, resilient arms for movement between a retracted position within a recess in the drive member and a drive position engaging a shoulder in a pocket in the driven member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to one-way drive mechanisms and more particularly to an improved one-way pawl and ratchet type clutch mechanism of simplified construction and high torque transmitting capability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One-way drive mechanisms, hereinafter generally referred to as clutches, are well known and used in a wide variety of applications ranging from low speed high torque ratchet mechanisms such as those employed in hand tools or wrenches to high speed transmission devices employed in complex drive systems for automobiles, aircraft, or the like where operating speeds ranging up to 20,000 rpm or higher may be encountered.
The known one-way clutches, particularly those employed for relatively high torque transmission, generally have taken the form of a pawl and ratchet drive mechanism, a roller and ramp or ball and ramp drive mechanism, or an overrunning sprag-type drive mechanism. Examples of known clutches employing pawl and ratchet drives may be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,070,978 and 5,449,057, both of which disclose disc, or face plate type pawl and ratchet clutches, and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,437,553 and 4,788,847 in which the pawls move in a radial direction for engagement and/or disengagement. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,240,359 and 3,997,041 disclose known overrunning sprag clutches, and the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,978 also illustrates a typical prior art roller or ball-type clutch as well as known sprag clutches and radial movement pawl and ratchet clutches.
The close tolerance required for the production of the component parts, and the number and size of these component parts, of known one-way clutches employed for high speed, high torque application generally has made these devices relatively expensive to manufacture. Also, the number and size of the component parts has made the automated assembly of the completed devices difficult, or impossible, again adding to the cost of their production. Further, the complex structure of these devices has reduced their reliability and expected service life and can result excessive maintenance cost. While the initial cost of known one-way clutches might be relatively small compared to the overall cost of a complex machine such as an automatic transmission for a vehicle, the time and expense required to remove the transmission for repair has placed a premium on their reliability which can far exceed the initial cost of the clutch per se.
The known high speed pawl and ratchet clutches have generally employed a plurality of individual pawls or struts each located in a separate pocket or recess in either the driving or driven member, and a separate resilient means, typically a spring, also located in the respective pockets continuously urges the pawl into rubbing engagement with the other of the driving or driven member. These devices typically run in a lubricating fluid which tends to dampen movement of the pawls to provide smoother operation, but loss of lubrication or prolonged running with inadequate lubrication can produce erratic operation and damage to the clutch.
The clutch disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,978 attempts to overcome the problems encountered by the free floating pawls by mounting the pawls on a free floating or journaled carrier disc for movement between a driving position engaging recesses in both the driving and driven clutch plates and an overrunning position. Again, a plurality of pawls are required with pivot means mounting the respective pawls for limited movement relative to the carrier disc, and a separate spring member is required for each pawl.
A one-way clutch device suitable for use in low speed, low torque applications such as the automatic winding mechanism of a wrist watch is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,582. This clutch employs a drive disc mounted for free rotation on an arbor in opposed spaced relation to a driven disc fixedly mounted on the arbor. A wedging member journaled for free rotation on the arbor between the driving and driven plates has a plurality of radially extending arms each carrying an elongated arcuate wedging blade integrally formed on its end. The wedging blades have their opposed ends deflected in opposite directions axially of the arbor so as to rub one against each of the opposing faces of the driving and driven members and to be deflected thereby sufficiently to apply a twist or torque to the supporting radial arm. Each of the relatively rotating faces is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced driving recesses or openings into which the free ends of the projecting blades can deflect so that when the driving disc is rotated in one direction, the ends of the wedging blades will be deflected into the openings in the associated discs to interlock the two discs for simultaneous rotation. Conversely, upon relative rotation in the opposite direction, the wedging blades and supporting structure will float free, with the free ends of the wedging blades sliding over the driving openings. This arrangement inherently results in the possibility of substantial "dead motion", or relative rotation between the driving and driven members before the driving disc is locked to and commences to drive the driven disc. Since both ends of the wedging blades have to engage in an opening, the number of engagements is, in effect, doubled thereby inhibiting smooth operation of the device. Further, the offset or bent configuration of the wedging blades inherently results in substantial bending stress applied thereto, and the substantial length and curvature of the wedging blades greatly reduces their column strength so that the device is not well suited either for high speed operation or for the transfer of heavy torque loads.
It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved one-way clutch mechanism which has a minimum number of component parts and which overcomes the drawbacks of the known one-way clutches.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved one-way clutch suitable for the smooth reliable transfer of high torque loads and high speed operation.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a one-way clutch which is economical to manufacture and which is substantially maintenance free in operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a one-way clutch in which the driving pawls or struts are rotatably fixed relation to and continuously urged into engagement with recesses in one of the driving or driven members whereby the free floating action is avoided.


Some features pertain to an integrated device that includes a substrate, several metal layers coupled to the substrate, several dielectric layers coupled to the substrate, and a redistribution portion coupled to one of the metal layers. The redistribution portion includes a first metal redistribution layer, an insulation layer coupled to the first metal redistribution layer, and a second metal redistribution layer coupled to the insulation layer. The first metal redistribution layer, the insulation layer, and the second metal redistribution layer are configured to operate as a capacitor in the integrated device. In some implementations, the capacitor is a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor.

Field
Various features relate to a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor in redistribution layer of an integrated device.
Background
A typical die is manufactured by depositing several metal layers and several dielectric layers on top of a substrate. The die is manufactured by using a wafer level packaging (WLP) process. FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a wafer. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a portion of a wafer 100. The wafer 100 includes several metal and dielectric layers 102, a pad 104, a passivation layer 106, a first insulation layer 108, a first metal layer 110, a second insulation layer 112, and an under bump metallization (UBM) layer 114. FIG. 1 also illustrates a solder ball 116 on the wafer 100. Specifically, the solder ball 116 is coupled to the UBM layer 114. The pad 104, the first metal layer 110 and the UBM layer 114 are a conductive material (e.g., copper). The first insulation layer 108 and the second insulation layer 112 are polyimide layers (PI), Polybenzoxazole (PBO) or other polymer layers used for repassivation.
In some electronic designs, a capacitor may be required. For example a decoupling capacitor may be needed in a power distribution network (PDN) for a die. In a traditional electronic design, the capacitor may be placed outside of the package. For example, the package that includes a die may be coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB). A capacitor may be coupled to the PCB. Thus, the capacitor may be coupled to the package that includes a die through the PCB. One downside of this approach is that the capacitor may be far away from die. In some instance, it may be ideal and/or optimal to have the capacitor as close as possible to the die. For instance, it may be ideal and/or optimal to have the capacitor coupled to the die and/or die package, while at the same time bypassing a PCB. Moreover, adding a capacitor will increase the height of the package, which is not desirable in mobile applications.
Therefore, there is a need for a design that provides a capacitor in an integrated device (e.g., a die, die package).

Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor in redistribution layer (RDL) of an integrated device


In a setting apparatus including a control unit, the control unit is configured to: set, by a user operation, an irradiation condition of a laser beam for a thermally expandable sheet, a surface of the thermally expandable sheet being heated and expanded by being irradiated with the laser beam; and control an output and a scanning speed of the laser beam in accordance with the set irradiation condition, and in the setting, (i) a surface state of the thermally expandable sheet after expansion is selectable from a plurality of mutually different surface states, and (ii) the irradiation condition is set by the user operation according to the surface state selected from among the plurality of surface states.

Techniques for shaping a shaped object are known. For example, JP S64-28660 A and JP 2001-150812 A each disclose a method for forming, as a shaped object, a stereoscopic image that is an image having a three-dimensional shape. Specifically, in the method disclosed in JP S64-28660 A and JP 2001-150812 A, a pattern is formed on the back surface of a thermally expandable sheet with a material having excellent light absorption characteristics, and the formed pattern is heated by being irradiated with light using an irradiation section. Thus, the portion at which the pattern on the thermally expandable sheet has been formed is expanded and protrudes, thereby forming a stereoscopic image.
In order to expand a thermally expandable sheet as described above, there is a method for heating a thermally expandable sheet using a laser beam. Characteristics of a laser beam are suitable for heating a local region on a thermally expandable sheet, but are unsuitable for heating a wide region on a thermally expandable sheet at a time. Thus, in order to expand a thermally expandable sheet using a laser beam, it is desirable to appropriately set irradiation conditions of the laser beam according to a region on the thermally expandable sheet in consideration of the characteristics of the laser beam. Under such circumstances, users desire to easily set irradiation conditions of a laser beam with which a thermally expandable sheet is to be irradiated.
The present invention is to solve the above problem, and to provide a setting apparatus, a shaping system, a setting method, and a computer-readable recording medium that allow a user to easily set irradiation conditions of a laser beam with which a thermally expandable sheet is to be irradiated.

Setting apparatus, shaping system, setting method, and computer-readable recording medium


Methods are provided for forming a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises the steps of forming a high-k dielectric layer overlying the semiconductor substrate, forming a metal-comprising gate layer overlying the high-k dielectric layer, forming a doped silicon-comprising capping layer overlying the metal-comprising gate layer, and depositing a silicon-comprising gate layer overlying the doped silicon-comprising capping layer.

The majority of present day integrated circuits (ICs) are implemented by using a plurality of interconnected field effect transistors (FETs), also called metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs or MOS transistors). The ICs are usually formed using both P-channel and N-channel FETs in which case the IC is referred to as a complementary MOS or CMOS IC. There is a continuing trend to incorporate more circuitry having greater complexity on a single IC chip. To continue this trend, the size of each individual device in the circuit and the spacing between device elements, or the pitch, is reduced for each new technology generation.
As critical dimensions shrink, device components such as the gate length and the thickness of gate insulator layers are scaled down in substantial proportion with each generation. For the 65 nm technology generation, conventional gate insulator materials such as, for example, thermally grown silicon dioxide (SiO2) or deposited silicon oxynitride (SiON), when used alone, begin to exhibit excessive leakage current and thus provide only marginally sufficient electrical isolation between the gate electrode and the underlying channel of a transistor. Therefore, alternative materials having dielectric constants greater than about 7 (referred to herein as high-k dielectrics) have been considered for use with advanced devices including advanced CMOS devices. Gate insulators made from high-k dielectrics can be made thicker than those made with SiO2 or SiON without sacrificing capacitance, and thus offer the benefit of a significant reduction in leakage current. Candidate materials include transitional metal oxides, silicates, and oxynitrides such as hafnium oxides, hafnium silicates, and hafnium oxynitrides.
However, combining high-k dielectric insulators with traditional polycrystalline silicon gate electrodes often results in transistors having a higher than optimal threshold voltage (Vt), and channel mobility and drive current that are undesirably low for advanced devices including those of the 45 nm generation. Investigators have proposed that the resulting high Vt is related to defects at the high-k/polycrystalline silicon interface. Further, it has been proposed that the reduction in channel mobility is primarily the result of surface phonon scattering in high-k dielectric materials. To overcome this incompatibility, gate electrode layers fabricated from such metals as titanium nitride (TiN) have been inserted between high-k insulators and polycrystalline silicon electrodes in the gate stacks of high performance transistors. Such metal gates are effective in mitigating phonon scattering caused by high-k dielectrics in the channel region resulting in improved drive current. Metal gates thereby overcome the problems associated with high-k dielectrics used as gate insulators and thus enable further scalability to smaller critical dimensions by utilizing the inherently superior insulation these materials provide.
The effort to optimize the performance of polycrystalline silicon/metal composite gate electrode devices has led to an investigation into the composition and associated work function of the metallic component of such gate electrodes. For example, it has been demonstrated that using a metal gate having an optimized composition and work function can result in a transistor that operates at or near a desired Vt. Further, when metal layers are added to polycrystalline silicon electrodes, device performance characteristics such as channel drive current are improved because of the low resistance of such gates when operating in a direct current (DC) mode. However, when operating in an alternating current (AC) mode, the AC gate impedance of such devices has been shown to be unacceptably high. It has been proposed that high gate impedance may be the result of defects within the gate electrode at the metal/polycrystalline silicon interface. High AC gate impedance can adversely affect device performance by degrading the switching speed, and thus the frequency at which a transistor device may be operated.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide semiconductor devices having doped silicon-comprising capping layers interposed between metal and polycrystalline silicon layers of a composite gate electrode to reduce the AC impedance of such gates. Further it is also desirable to provide methods for fabricating such semiconductor devices. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Metal oxide semiconductor devices having doped silicon-compromising capping layers and methods for fabricating the same


The present invention is directed to a method of imparting moisture resistance to epoxies. Moisture resistant epoxy compositions are formed from epoxies and alkenylsuccinic anhydride (ASA) such as tripropenylsuccinic anhydride (TSA). The epoxy compositions, following cure, show surprisingly improved moisture resistance and retention of properties when exposed to warm, humid environments.

In the electrical industry it is often necessary to insulate specific electrical components prior to assembly. Heat curable epoxy compositions which are liquid at room temperature have been employed in the art as impregnating and insulating compounds for electrical components such as electrical coils. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,052,650 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,715. The epoxy compositions of U.S. Pat. No. 3,052,650 are formed of an epoxy resin, a polycarboxylic acid anhydride, and a tertiary amine catalyst.
Although the epoxy compositions of the art have proven useful to impregnate and encapsulate electrical components, the compositions of the art tend to suffer loss of physical and electrical properties due to water absorption when exposed to moisture containing environments. The resin compositions of the art also tend to require lengthy curing times and to volatilize during the curing process.
A need therefore exists for epoxy compositions which show improved retention of properties when exposed to moisture containing environments and which avoid the deficiencies of the resins of the prior art.

Imparting moisture resistance to epoxies


A method and system in a data processing system for the efficient response to multiple different types of interrupts. The data processing system includes at least one host and a storage subsystem having storage subsystem devices and at least one storage subsystem controller. The storage subsystem controller operates in multiple different states. Interrupts of multiple different types are generated by sources of real time events and are received by the storage subsystem controller. A selected type of interrupt as a preferred next interrupt to be received by the storage subsystem controller is then determined in response to the determination of the current state of the storage subsystem controller. A particular state associated with the occurrence of the selected type of interrupt is then determined. Reversible processing associated with the particular state is initiated prior to receipt of a next interrupt wherein the selected type of interrupt is efficiently enhanced in priority in response to the current state of the storage subsystem controller.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and system for the efficient response to multiple different types of interrupts in a data processing system and in particular to a method and system for the initiation of reversible processing associated with a particular state of a storage subsystem controller in a data processing system prior to receipt of a next interrupt. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for the determination of a particular state of a storage subsystem controller associated with an occurrence of a selected type of interrupt.
2. Description of the Related Art
Main frame computer systems generally use auxiliary storage subsystem devices for mass storage of data. In auxiliary storage subsystem devices data is recorded by making a physical change to a medium. Examples of physical storage of data on media are: pitting of aluminum by lasers; grooving of a plastic disk by a needle; and forming magnetic domains on a magnetic surface with an electromagnet. A transducer can then be used to sense the physical qualities of the media and to produce an electrical signal which varies in correspondence to the physical qualities of the media. For a data processing system or compact disk player, the electrical signal is decoded to reproduce binary data.
Direct Access Storage Devices (DASD, pronounced "dasdee") are one type of auxiliary storage subsystem device. In a direct access storage device access time to data is independent of the location of the data in the storage device. Presently, disk drive units are the most common type of DASD. A disk drive unit records data on rotatable disks. The write and read transducers are moved radially inward and outward relative to the disk and the disk is rotated to bring any location of the disk and the appropriate transducer into proximity with one another. A DASD may be contrasted to an indirect access storage device, such as tape drives, where accessibility of data is location dependent.
The fact that access time to a location on a disk is more or less random does not mean that it is instantaneous. During a period when a DASD waits for a spinning disk to move to the correct position for a transducer to access a location, a storage subsystem controller for the DASD can perform other functions. An example of a function performed during a waiting period is the downloading of data from a buffer memory to a channel to a host computer. In large, multiple computer data processing systems, such as those serving airline reservation systems, a large number of direct access storage devices serve several computers. The storage subsystem controller is logically positioned between the DASDs and the host computers. The storage subsystem controller handles connection and disconnection between a particular computer and magnetic disk unit for transfer of data.
The IBM 3990 storage controller is an example of a storage subsystem controller used to control connections between magnetic disk units and host computers. The IBM 3990 Model 3 type controller, which is available from IBM Corporation, can handle up to sixteen channels from host computers and up to sixty-four magnetic storage units. Within the storage subsystem controller are two multipath storage directors and four storage paths, two of which are associated with each multipath storage director. Each multipath storage director may be connected to up to eight incoming channels from host computers, for a total of sixteen channels for the storage controller as a whole. Each multipath storage director is connected to two storage paths, thus functioning as an 8.times.2 switch.
Channels are physical links between the storage subsystem controller and the host computers. Usually, a host computer has two or four channels, half being physically connected to the one multipath storage director and the other half being connected to the other multipath storage director. Each storage path is connected to all of the available magnetic disk units. Upon indication that a disk is ready, the controller can secure any one of a plurality of the channels and storage paths back to a host to establish a data path. It is a feature of the IBM 3990 storage controller that an input/output transaction between a host computer and a magnetic disk unit may be broken into two separate connections, which may be handled along distinct channels and storage paths. A request need not be responded to over the same channel on which it was received. This feature increases throughput through the storage subsystem controller, because during the disconnect period the storage subsystem controller handles other tasks, such as a connection for another computer with another DASD.
In known data processing systems, storage subsystem controllers are required to respond to interrupts generated by multiple sources of real time events such as hosts or DASD'S. A host may request a data path to a DASD in order to store or retrieve data. The storage subsystem controller must perform processing in response to an interrupt generated by the host's request.
Multiple hosts and DASD's may interrupt the storage subsystem controller and request processing at the same time. In this case, the storage subsystem controller must prioritize the interrupts in some way in order to respond to them. Some systems which receive very few different types of interrupts may programmatically test each interrupt received to determine the type. Once the type is determined, a transition occurs to the state associated with the received interrupt.
Other systems utilize a more formal state machine implementation. A central interrupt handier may be utilized to receive all types of interrupts and dispatch the appropriate processing. In these systems, the central interrupt handler converts a received type of interrupt into an index into a state transition table. Based on the type of interrupt received and the current state of the system, the next state is determined utilizing the state transition table. The system then changes to the determined state and processes the received interrupt. Control is then passed back to the central interrupt handier to receive the next interrupt.
It should therefore be apparent that a need exists for a method and system for the initiation of reversible processing by changing the state of a storage subsystem controller to a state associated with a selected interrupt prior to receipt of a next interrupt.

Method and system for the efficient response to multiple different types of interrupts

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus uses various location information to store and search contents in a portable terminal. The method of storing and searching contents includes obtaining location-based information including at least one of region information and a Point Of Interest (POI) corresponding to current location information when storing the contents. The contents and the location-based information are stored by mapping the contents and the location-based information. At least one of the POI and the region information determined by a user is set when searching the contents. And the contents corresponding to the information determined by the user are searched.

Recently, services that share User Created Contents (UCC) created directly by a user through a Web interface have attracted customers' attention. As a result, several methods are developed and provided to more effectively create and manage the UCC. For example, a method of tagging location information to the UCC has conventionally been provided.
In one of methods of tagging the location information to the UCC, a portable terminal obtains latitude and longitude values by using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver when creating content, and then stores the obtained values by mapping them to the content. However, the method of tagging the latitude and longitude values to the content has a problem in that it is difficult for the user to intuitively recognize locations by using the latitude and longitude values.
In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a tagging technique using location information of content has conventionally been used. That is, in the tagging technique of FIG. 1, when an image 101 is loaded in a Personal Computer (PC), a tagging information list 103 related to an image creation date, a location, weather condition, and such, is output, and a user performs tagging on the basis of the tagging information list. However, such a technique has a disadvantage in that tagging information can be confirmed only when a specific photo is selected in the PC.
Meanwhile, a method of tagging a Point Of Interest (POI) to the UCC has recently been proposed. The method of tagging the POI to the UCC is a method in which a name of a specific area or a name of a landmark is tagged to the content such that the user can easily know the area or landmark related to the content. For example, there is a conventional method in which a representative area name of a location where a photo is taken is extracted and the area name is set to a file name of the photo. Although the photo can be confirmed by a name of a specific POI in this method, an extended search service cannot be provided.
As described above, since the conventional method simply records only location information, an additional service using the location information is not provided.

Method and apparatus for searching and storing contents in portable terminal


Example implementations are related to establishing, by an application delivery system in response to an identification of an application from a client device, a video conferencing session between a first video conferencing endpoint provided on the application delivery system and a second video conferencing endpoint provided on a client device, selecting a video capture module as a video input device for the first video conferencing endpoint, receiving, by the video capture module provided on the application delivery system, display data output by the application, converting, by the video capture module, the display data to a plurality of video frames, streaming the plurality of video frames received via the video capture module from the first video conferencing endpoint to the second video conferencing endpoint via the video conferencing session; and receiving, by the application delivery system from the client device, a user input signal for the application.

Existing approaches for delivering interactive applications rely on special purpose players. Such special purpose players exist either as standalone players (an application solely for the purpose of handling an interactive application stream), or as a System Development Kit (SDK), which provides the interactive application streaming capabilities that is integrated into a larger application.
Example implementations described herein may negate the need of having any special purpose player applications on a client device. As such example implementations may remove all the user friction associated with finding an application on an app store, selecting it for download, entering usernames and passwords and downloading and installing the application itself. Also, the example implementations may negate the need to download special purpose players, by its ability to leverage existing video conferencing solutions to deliver interactive applications to a multiplicity of application environments using video conferencing clients, which are widely deployed to end-users. Examples of existing video conferencing solutions include Skype and such browsers as Chrome, Firefox, Opera and others that support WebRTC. Currently there are no other approaches that leverage these widely available and installed video conferencing solutions to deliver interactive application content. Current uses of video conferencing solutions are typically only for supporting video conferencing not for delivering interactive applications.

Application content delivery to multiple computing environments using existing video conferencing solutions


An automatic transmission for mounting within the rear fork of a bicycle includes a plurality of pairs of constant mesh gears and a plurality of discs. Each disc is concentric with one of the gears in each pair and includes a notch for partially enclosing a centrifugally actuated pawl. The notches in adjacent discs face in opposite directions and all the discs but one include a spring for opposing the centrifugal force on each pawl to keep each pawl in a disengaged position. The one disc includes a spring for holding the pawl in an engaged position. The pawls are shaped to permit the bicycle to coast or freewheel.

This invention relates to transmissions for bicycles and, in particular, to an automatic transmission which can be attached within the rear fork of a bicycle.
Beginning with a two wheeled "hobby-horse" in 1816, the bicycle has gone through a long series of changes to make it more comfortable and easier to ride. In 1836, the hobby-horse received pedals attached to the front wheel. The desire for greater speed led to increasing the size of the front wheel, producing the high-wheelers ("ordinarys") of the late 1800's. The front wheel of an ordinary had a diameter as large as sixty inches, making the bicycle unstable and dangerous to ride.
In 1885, the "safety bicycle" introduced chain drive to the rear wheel in a gear ratio that produced as great a speed as an ordinary but on a much more stable bicycle. In 1888, Dr. Dunlop, a veterinarian, replaced the solid tires on his son's bicycle with handmade, inflatable tires and started a new industry. Although the safety bicycle replaced the ordinary, a remnant of the ordinary remains in the anachronism of expressing gearing in terms of the equivalent diameter of the front wheel of an ordinary. It is kept because it provides a way to express gearing independently of the particular implementation on a bicycle.
The early safety bicycles had a single gear and, by today's standards, were geared quite low, making the bicycles slow at ordinary pedalling speeds. After World War II, multi-speed rear hubs and integral coaster brakes provided greater versatility and increased safety for the ordinary cyclist. Shifting gears on a multi-speed rear hub is typically done with a shift mechanism mounted on the handlebars and connected to the rear hub by a cable. A shift lever on the mechanism is moved a pre-set distance and the cable, adjusted to a precise length, moves a pin in the hub the correct amount to effect the gear change. A more rugged mechanism, the derailleur, uses a cluster of several chain sprockets of different diameter and a mechanism which transfers the chain from one sprocket to another, actuated by a cable connected to a shift lever.
Just as for cars with manual transmissions, many people find the shift mechanisms on bicycles inconvenient and confusing. Despite a need for an automatic transmission for a bicycle, none of the many mechanisms proposed have been commercially acceptable. Many are simply too bulky and heavy. Some are not truly automatic, e.g. requiring back pedalling to cause a shift. Others are too expensive relative to the cost of the rest of the bicycle and still others are not sufficiently durable.
In the prior art, a variety of automatic transmissions have been proposed for bicycles. U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,466--Houghton--discloses a mechanism for automatically shifting a derailleur mechanism in response to tension in the chain. U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,725--Shimano--discloses a planetary gear system connected to a ratchet and pawl mechanism in which the pawls are moved by centrifugal force. U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,920--Dutil--discloses a variable diameter rear sprocket in which sprocket teeth are moved radially in response to the rotational speed of the wheel. U.S. Pat. No. 2,165,201--Baumgartner--discloses a foot operated transmission connected to the pedal crank of a bicycle and having a plurality of pairs of constant mesh gears selected by a cam controlled by back pedalling a fraction of a revolution to select the desired pair of gears.
To be commercially viable, an automatic transmission for a bicycle has to be rugged, yet light, compact, and easily made and assembled. This is particularly true when the transmission is to be attached to the rear wheel. Connecting the transmission to the rear wheel has the advantage of not requiring a special bicycle frame, as required, for example, by the transmission disclosed in the Baumgartner patent. To fit with a wheel hub inside the rear fork of a bicycle, a transmission must be narrow, e.g. no more than one inch (2.5 cm.) thick, measured from side to side as mounted on a bicycle. The narrowness of the transmission places a premium on lateral space within the transmission. Pawls, which provide the mechanical coupling between the gears and the hub, must be as wide as possible for strength yet not interfere with one another. The pawls must also be accurately located since tolerances add to the width of the transmission, reducing the number of possible gears.
For ease of manufacture and assembly, there should be as few components, and as few different components, as possible. This not only aids the manufacturer but also reduces spare parts inventories for bicycle shops.
In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved automatic transmission for bicycles.
Another object of the invention is to provide a constant mesh, automatic transmission which can be attached to the rear wheel of bicycles.
A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic transmission for bicycles which can be reconfigured to different gear ratios by re-arranging the gears.
Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic transmission for bicycles having constant mesh gears in which the gears on the countershaft can be interchanged with gears on the drive shaft.
A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic transmission for bicycles having constant mesh gears in which the gears on the countershaft are the same as the gears on the drive shaft.


In a complete depletion type SOI transistor, the roll-off of a threshold value is suppressed, independently from the formation of an SOI film to be thinner. As for a semiconductor device (1), the impurity concentration in a channel formation portion (10) is implanted not uniformly along the length direction of a gate (2) in the complete depletion type silicon on insulation (SOI) transistor. In other words, high concentration regions (11) where impurity concentrations are higher than that at a central portion in the end parts of the channel formation portion (10) on the side of a source (4) and a drain (5).

In recent years, the development of a transistor having a silicon on insulator (SOI) structure (or an SOI transistor) has been performed energetically from the point of view of its low electrical power consumption, its capability of being driven in a high speed, and the like. It is known that the complete isolation of elements of the SOI transistors from each other becomes easy owing to their SOI structures, and that it becomes possible to suppress software errors and latch-up peculiar to a CMOS transistor. Accordingly, since comparatively early times, considerations have been made on making the speed and the reliability of a CMOS transistor LSI higher by means of an SOI structure having an Si active layer being about 500 nm.
If an SOI transistor is in the condition in which almost all of its Si active layer is depleted (or a complete depletion type SOI transistor) by the control of the surface Si layer of its SOI to be further thinner to be approximately 100 nm or less, and by controlling of the impurity concentration of its channel to be comparatively low, the SOI transistor may have further optimized characteristics such as the steep rising of a drain current in a subthreshold region and the like as well as the decrease of the capacities of its diffusion layers. Consequently, people have recently begun to expect the application of the complete depletion type SOI transistor in low electrical power consumption LSI regarded as a requirement for upcoming portable equipment and the like.
However, it has become necessary for the complete depletion type SOI transistor to have a thinner SOI film according to the reduction according to design rule (a single gate type SOI is generally required to have the thickness of a channel SOI film of a tenth of a finished gate length or less). Consequently, the following problems have become conspicuous.
In other words, as for the thickness of an SOI film required for next generation fine LSI's, a further thinner SOI layer is required for keeping the reduction of the gate length of the complete depletion type SOI transistor if it is attempted at suppressing a short channel effect only by the formation of the thickness of the SOI film to be thinner in the complete deletion type SOI.
For example, Hon-Sum Philip Wong, et al. reported calculation results by means of a device simulator in 1998 IEEE, IEDM 98, pp. 407-410. According to the report, the roll-off of Vth cannot sufficiently be suppressed unless the thickness of the SOI film is 10 nm or less in case of a 0.1 μm generation transistor. However, the thickness is only a simulation result. If it is tried to make a device having such a thin thickness of a SOI film actually, the following problems occur on its process.
(1) Increase of Parasitic Resistance
(2) Deterioration of Controllability of Threshold Voltage (Vth)
(3) Problem of Contact Formation on Diffusion Layer
(4) Problem of decrease of mobility of carriers (quantum effect)
(5) Deterioration of crystallinity (or generation of aggregation of Si)
In other words, when an SOI layer becomes turns to an extremely thin film, even if silicides are formed, parasitic resistances cannot be decreased at a large extent even though the thickness of a metal film is made to be thick because a Si layer has a finite film thickness. Furthermore, if the thickness of an SOI film or a silicide film in a diffusion layer becomes extremely thin, it becomes very difficult to stop etching at the diffusion layer at the time of the working of an interlayer dielectric for forming a first contact.
In addition, if it is attempted at suppressing the short channel effect only by the formation of the SOI layer to be thinner, it becomes necessary to add, for example, selective epitaxial growth, the control of the work function of a gate electrode, and the like. On the other hand, the problems of the decrease of the mobility of carries owing to a quantum effect, the aggregation of Si, and the like are essential problems inherent to the material, and therefore their solution is very difficult.
In addition, if it is attempted at controlling the threshold value of a complete depletion type SOI transistor by means of the concentration of an impurity to be introduced into a channel, the threshold value is determined by the total amount of the introduced impurity. Consequently, because the total amount of the impurity changes in dependence of the thickness of the SOI film, the dispersion of the threshold value owing to the changes of the thickness of the SOI film becomes large.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes implanting in multiple directions a high concentration region


A portable crimping tool is disclosed that includes an actuating mechanism that varies the amount of force made available to the crimping dies. A linear actuator having an axis is provided to move a movable die along that axis into crimping engagement with the mating die. The actuating mechanism includes a pair of links pivotally attached to a slide member. A wedge carried by the linear actuator engages a pair of rollers on the links, causing the rollers to move about other rollers attached to the frame, thereby causing the links to move the dies into crimping engagement.

Portable crimping apparatus currently in use in the industry for crimping electrical terminals onto conductors are typically powered by hydraulic or compressed air actuators or electric motors of the type requiring an external power source. One such crimping tool is the AMP Incorporated tool number 46110 which has a linear actuator which uses a combination of air and hydraulic power to provide the necessary crimping forces. This tool is constructed so that the motion of the movable die toward the fixed die is linear thereby providing a superior crimp relative to that produced by the scissors action type tools known in the industry. The linear actuator of this tool supplies about 3600 pounds of force to the piston rod. There is no mechanism for providing an additional mechanical advantage so that the 3600 pounds of force is made available and applied directly to the crimping die during its entire stroke, although such a large force is required for only a small portion of the stroke. Thus, the unit necessarily must be large enough to supply the full 3600 pounds on demand. An example of a scissors action type crimping tool is the AMP Incorporated tool number 314597-1 which utilizes an air cylinder to drive a wedge between a pair of pivoting links that have mating crimping die halves attached to their ends. The forces made available to the crimping dies by this scissors action can be varied somewhat by varying the surface of the wedge. While the degree of such variation is quite limited the linear actuator need not have the capability of delivering the full amount of required force directly to the crimping dies, but instead may deliver a smaller amount with the wedge and links providing the mechanical advantage to make up the difference. Therefore, a smaller linear actuator may be used, although it is still larger than is necessary. Additionally, the scissors action of this tool is not desirable for crimping. Another crimping tool is the AMP Incorporated tool number 69365 which utilizes an air cylinder to drive a wedge against a single pivotable link which, in turn, pushes against a ram having the movable die attached thereto. This arrangement provides about the same degree of flexibility as that of the tool 314597-1 described above, however, it has the disadvantage of being rather clumsy to handle because the axis of the air cylinder is offset from the axis of the crimping dies and therefor requires an additional handle for proper balance. This, of course, adds weight to the tool and makes it more bulky. In all of these cases the force needed to effect the crimp is not linear over the entire length of the stroke of the actuator, resulting in an actuator having a power output equal to or greater than the highest force required during the course of the crimp. What is needed is a linear action crimping tool having the capability to vary its mechanical advantage to correspond with the forces required during the crimping cycle.


The present invention is directed to a device for opening a binding element for receiving perforated sheets, the binding element comprising a spine and a plurality of relatively spaced ring elements arranged side by side, with the free ends of the ring elements resiliently engaging the binder spine when closed. A low-cost device for opening a binding element is provided. The device includes a front section, a rear section having at least the same length as the binding element and being dimensioned such that, when the device is inserted into the binding element, the ring elements successively come into contact with the outer areas of the rear section, and that the free ends of the ring elements are spaced at least up to a specified distance from the spine, and a curved surface area provided at least in the rear section and being partly engaged by the inner surfaces of the ring elements.

From German published application DE-OS 23 62 440 a device for opening a binding element is already known. This device is comprised of a flat element of a length greater than the length of the binding element and of a width greater than the diameter of the ring elements when closed. To facilitate the introduction of the device into the binding element, the device is tapered in the direction of insertion. By reason of the above-described dimensioning of the device, the ring elements of the binding element are bent open following insertion of the device in the binding element, their cross-section then having the form of an upwardly open ellipse. Then the perforations of a stack of sheets are placed onto the free ends of the ring elements. The ring elements being of a resilient configuration, they return to their initial position as soon as the device is withdrawn from the binding element. The individual sheets of the stack are held together by means of the binding element.
A further embodiment of a tool for opening a binding element is disclosed in European Patent EP 0 395 873 B1. This tool is equally of a flat configuration and has a leading section of a length at least the length of the binding element to be opened, with the width of the leading section being smaller than the diameter of the closed ring elements of the binding element. Adjoining the leading section in opposition to the direction of insertion is a succeeding section of a length again at least equaling the length of the binding element to be opened, yet of a width greater than the diameter of the ring elements when closed. Provided between these two sections is a further section which in the direction of insertion is as wide as the leading section while widening progressively in opposition to the direction of insertion until its width equals the width of the succeeding section. To open or close the binding element, the tool is pulled axially through the ring elements of the binding element.
Both known elements have the disadvantage that a flat tool automatically comes to lie in the plane of the large main axis of the ellipse when in the interior of the opened elliptical binding element. As a consequence, the length of the free ends of the ring elements is limited to the portion lying above the main axis. Therefore, with the format of the binding element given, the tool is only suited to bind relatively thin stacks of perforated sheets.
In addition, the tool described in European Patent EP 0 395 873 is very awkward to handle because of its dimensions, its length being at least double the length of the binding element employed.


The invention provides a process for the continuous polymerization of a polymer comprising monomeric units derived from styrene and 1,3-butadiene, said process comprising:                polymerizing the monomers in the presence of an initiator, and at least one polar agent selected from Formula 1;

Low vinyl SSBR (Solution Styrene Butadiene) is difficult to produce in a continuous polymerization due to the kinetics of copolymerization. Fast kinetics is required in a continuous polymerization to get an acceptable production rate and high conversion (low residual monomer concentration). Low vinyl SSBR is required to make a product with a high level of skid resistance and high abrasion resistance. It is not possible to produce low vinyl SSBR without special polar agents, so called randomizers, such as TMEDA (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylene diamine). However, the use of TMEDA in a continuous polymerization process, results in a SSBR product which contains a very high block styrene content. Such polymers are not suitable for tire application, because these polymers have a decreased rolling resistance.
Ditetrahydrofurylpropane (DTHFP) has been used as a randomizer for SSBR polymerization. However, when using DTHFP in batch processes for the production of low vinyl SSBR, the monomer conversion has to be kept below 95% to get SSBR with a low block styrene content (for example, see EP0215256). If the final conversion is low, a high amount of unreacted monomers remains in the final polymer solution, and an additional solvent purification process is required. There is a need for a continuous polymerization process to produce low vinyl SSBR with styrene blocks (for example, a styrene block content below 8 weight percent), and which achieves a high monomer conversion with minimal levels of residual monomers.
U.S. Publication No. 2009/0111933 discloses an oil-extended polymer composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a butadiene-based polymer having the following: a) a number average molecular weight (Mn) from 500,000 to 700,000, b) a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) from 1.8 to 2.5, c) a monomodal distribution of polymer components having a molecular weight of 100,000 or more, and d) a vinyl content of the butadiene unit of 20 to 80 mole percent. The composition also contains a functional group-containing polymer component than can be adsorbed on silica, and an extender oil. The polymers described in this patent have however a high vinyl content which results in a final product with a low abrasion resistance. The use of a functionalization agent is claimed in order to optimize the polymer properties.
European Patent Application No. EP0215256 A1 discloses a process for preparing randomized copolymers of conjugated dienes and vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons, by using oligomeric oxolanyl alkanes, in amounts which effectively promote the randomization of the copolymers so produced. As previously described, in this patent, a low vinyl SSBR is obtained only in combination with a low conversion. A low conversion requires an additional solvent purification process to remove unreacted monomers.
U.S. Publication No. 2007/0219316 discloses a continuous polymerization process, carried out in the presence of at least two reactors in series, for the preparation of statistical vinyl arene/conjugated diene copolymers. The vinyl arene content range from 15 to 50 percent by weight. The polymerization is a copolymerization of vinyl arene/conjugated diene monomers, under isothermal conditions, in a hydrocarbon solvent, at a temperature ranging from 30° C. to 120° C., in the presence of at least one initiator and a 2-methoxy ethyl tetra-hydrofuran (THFA-ethyl) modifier.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,097 discloses a process for preparing randomized copolymers of conjugated dienes and vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons, and which have low vinyl contents, by using an anionic initiator system, comprising alkali metal trihydrocarbyl magnesiates, optionally together with an organolithium compound. However such initiating system are not very soluble in hydrocarbon solvents and thus, not suitable in continuous polymerizations. In particular, in order to obtain a low vinyl level combined with a good randomization and high conversion, a high temperature has to be used, which causes the metallation and/or deactivation of the living chain ends.
Additional polymerizations and rubbers are disclosed in the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,554,997, 4,429,091, 5,679,751, and 6,372,863, and European Patent Application No. 0019100A1.
As discussed, there remains a need for continuous polymerization processes to produce a low vinyl SSBRs with low block styrene contents. There is a further need for such a polymerizations that achieve high monomer conversions with minimal levels (for example, below 1000 ppm) of residual monomers. These needs have been met by the following invention.

Low vinyl styrene-butadiene polymers and methods of making the same

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently an alkyl, and preferably a C1-C4 alkyl; R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each independently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl, and preferably hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl;        and wherein a 1,2-diene is added to the polymerization, and the 1,2-diene to active initiator (active for polymerization) molar ratio is from 0.1 to 1.0, preferably from 0.1 to 0.9, and more preferably from 0.1 to 0.85; and        wherein the polar agent to the active initiator molar ratio is from 0.05 to 0.6, preferably from 0.1 to 0.5, more preferably from 0.15 to 0.3.

Abstract: The invention also provides a composition comprising a polymer comprising monomeric units derived from styrene and 1,3-butadiene, and wherein the polymer has at least the following characteristics:                A) vinyl content from 12 to 40 weight percent, based on the weight of polymerized butadiene in the polymer,        B) block styrene content less than 8 weight percent, based on the weight of styrene in the polymer, and        C) a styrene content from 10 to 50 weight percent, based on the weight of the polymer.


A method and a tomography unit are disclosed for taking tomographic pictures of a patient's beating heart, in particular X-ray CT pictures. In such a method and tomography unit, only detector data or image data of a portion of the cardiac phase from one or more heart beats is used for taking a picture. Further, at least one pressure signal, produced by the mechanical cardiac pulse and varying temporally with the cardiac cycle, is used for determining the cardiac phase.

Similar methods are generally known. When taking computed tomography images, for example, during scanning of the beating heart, ECG signals are picked up and a rest phase of the heart is selected on the basis of the ECG signals, in particular the R wave in the ECG signal. In addition, use is made exclusively of detector data or image data from this cycle phase which are assembled over a number of heart beats such that images of good quality can be reconstructed or put together therefrom.
Problems in the use of ECG signals for determining a rest phase of the heart can occur, for example, when the described ECG exhibits no typical shape because of stimulus conduction disturbances or surviving infarcts such that there can be problems in automatically or manually selecting the correct phase section.
It is true in the meantime, that methods have also been proposed in the case of which the current condition of movement of the heart can be inferred from the detector information. However, this requires the patient to be scanned during the entire cardiac cycle, thus giving rise to a relatively high radiation load for the patient, at least during computed tomography examinations.

Method and tomography unit for taking tomographic pictures of a beating heart


To provide a reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a support, a thermosensitive recording layer formed on the support, and a protective layer formed on the thermosensitive recording layer, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer contains an electron donative coloring compound and an electron acceptive compound, and the color tone reversibly changes depending on the temperature, and the protective layer contains a polymer of a composition containing two kinds of acrylate compounds selected from an acrylate compound having a pentaerythritol group and an acrylate compound having a dipentaerythritol group.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a reversible thermosensitive recording medium capable of forming and erasing color developed images by controlling thermal energy using a reversible thermosensitive color developing composition which utilizes the coloring reaction between an electron donative coloring compound and an electron acceptive compound, and to a reversible thermosensitive recording label, a reversible thermosensitive recording member, an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, each using the reversible thermosensitive recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, thermosensitive recording media have been widely known that utilize the coloring reaction between an electron donative coloring compound (hereinafter also referred to as a "color coupler or leuco dye") and an electron acceptive compound (hereinafter also referred to as a "developer") and, with the development of office automation, the thermosensitive recording media have widely been used as output sheets for facsimiles, word processors, and scientific measurement instruments. Recently, they have also been used as magnetic thermosensitive cards such as prepaid cards or reward cards. It is required for the thermosensitive recording medium, which is put into practical use, to reconsider recycling or reduction of the amount taking account of environmental problems. However, because of irreversible color development, the thermosensitive recording medium can not be repeatedly used by erasing recorded images, and new information can be merely added at the segment where images are not recorded and the area of recordable segment is limited. Therefore, the current measure to overcome this difficulty is to reduce the amount of information to be recorded or to make a new card at the time when no recording area is available. Thus, it is required to develop a reversible thermosensitive recording medium capable of being overwritten as often as desired, against the backdrop of the problems associated with recent garbage and deforestation.
Various reversible thermosensitive recording media have been proposed in response to these requirements. For example, polymer type reversible thermosensitive recording media utilizing a physical change such as transparency or white turbidity are disclosed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 63-107584 and 04-78573). Also, a dye type reversible thermosensitive recording medium, which utilizes a chemical change, is disclosed. Specifically, there are proposed a reversible thermosensitive recording medium using a combination of gallic acid and phloroglucinol as a developer (see JP-A No. 60-193691), a reversible thermosensitive recording medium using a compound such as phenolphthalein or thymolphthalein as a developer (see JP-A No. 61-237684), reversible thermosensitive recording media wherein a thermosensitive recording layer contains a homogenous compatible material of a color coupler, a developer and a carboxylate ester (JP-A Nos. 62-138556, 62-138568, and 62-140881), a reversible thermosensitive recording medium using an ascorbic acid derivative as a developer (see JP-A No. 63-173684), and a reversible thermosensitive recording medium using a salt of bis(hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid or gallic acid with a higher aliphatic amine as a developer (see JP-A Nos. 02-188293 and 02-188294).
Also, there are developed a reversible thermosensitive color developing composition wherein color development and erasure can be easily conducted under heating and cooling conditions by using an organophosphoric acid compound having a long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an aliphatic carboxylic acid compound or a phenol compound as a developer and using the compound in combination with a leuco dye as a color coupler and the color developed state and the color erased state can be stably stabilized at normal temperature, and also color development and erasure can be repeated, and a reversible thermosensitive recording medium using the same as a thermosensitive recording layer (see JP-A Nos. 05-124360, 06-210954, and 10-95175).
However, in a conventional reversible thermosensitive recording medium, in case of forming images by heating with a heating element such as thermal head, sticking occurs because of a large frictional force between the heating element and the thermosensitive recording layer, and also periodic irregularity corresponding to dot density of the thermal head is formed on the surface because the surface is likely to be deformed by heat and pressure of a heating element. Therefore, the deformation amount increased while image formation and erasure is repeated, thus making it possible to form clear images.
To solve this problem, there is proposed a method of decreasing a friction coefficient of the surface by providing a protective layer made of a silicone resin or a silicone rubber (see JP-A No. 62-55650). However, because of insufficient adhesion between the protective layer and the thermosensitive recording layer, there arises a problem that peeling is caused by a repeated mechanical action and thus images deteriorate. To improve adhesion, there is proposed a reversible thermosensitive recording medium wherein an intermediate layer made mainly of a resin and a protective layer made mainly of a heat resistant resin are sequentially provided on a thermosensitive recording layer (see JP-A No. 01-133781). According to this proposal, adhesion is improved by the intermediate layer and deformation of the surface of the reversible recording medium is suppressed by the protective layer made of the heat resistant resin. However, in this disposal, when printing and erasing are repeated many times, scratch occurred by sticking or a portion of the protective layer is peeled off and adheres to the thermal head, and accumulation of the peeled material lowers thermal conduction from the thermal head, thus making it difficult to form clear images.
To solve these problems, there is also proposed a reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a thermosensitive recording layer and a protective layer, which has not a peak temperature of tan δ (tan δ is a ratio of a dynamic (storage) elastic modulus G′ to a dynamic elastic loss modulus G″, G″/G′) at 250° C. or lower or the corresponding dynamic relaxing phenomenon temperature, formed on the thermosensitive recording layer (see JP-A No. 09-142037). According to this proposal, even if image formation and erasure by a heating element such as thermal head is conducted by the protective layer, periodic occurrence of surface irregularity corresponding to dot density of the thermal head can be considerably suppressed.
However, in case the time of energy to be applied is adjusted to a short-pulse of several milliseconds so as to reduce the time it takes for image processing at the thermal head and applied pressure is increased by a heating element such as thermal head so as to obtain clear images, there arises a problem that cracking occurs on the surface of the protective layer when image formation and erasure is repeated, with speeding up of image processing of an image processing apparatus which conducts image formation and erasure. Also, there arises a problem that the surface state of the protective layer becomes worse as a result of an increase of the amount of cracking and transferability in the image processing apparatus becomes worse, and thus sticking occurs and images deteriorate.
To solve these problems, there is proposed a reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a protective layer formed by irradiation with ultraviolet ray at irradiation energy of 150 mJ/cm2 to 1,500 mJ/cm2 so that the protective layer contains an ultraviolet curable resin composition and the ultraviolet curable composition contains an acrylate ester of a bisphenol A diglycidyl ether polymer as an epoxy acrylate having a bisphenol A skeleton, or a dipentaerythritol monohydroxypentaacrylate, and also a tan δ peak temperature of the protective layer, or the corresponding dynamic relaxing phenomenon temperature becomes 155° C. or lower (see JP-A No. 11-334220).
However, the reversible thermosensitive recording media, which have hitherto been proposed, are widely used for applications of magnetic thermosensitive cards such as prepaid cards and reward cards. In these applications, as described above, only an interaction between a thermal head and a reversible thermosensitive recording medium in an image processing apparatus, which conduct image formation and erasure, was discussed and bending of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium by an operator was not assumed at all because of the size of the form and the thickness of the card.
However, recently, the area of applications of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium has quickly been extending to OA equipment such as conference materials for trial printing or single use, and to components control and process control in the factory. In these fields, as compared with a conventional card, display area is widely used within a range from signboard (A6) size to A5 size, A4 size and A3 size. Therefore, since the reversible thermosensitive recording medium is handled in such a manner as in case of a paper, which is not assumed at all in applications of conventional magnetic thermosensitive cards such as prepaid cards and reward cards, a conventional protective layer, whose physical strength with a thermal head is considered to be important, is too hard and cracking occurs in the surface of the medium at the time of handling before repeated printing, and thus images deteriorate. In case images are repeatedly formed and erased, a new problem which has never been anticipated arises, for example, the reversible thermosensitive recording medium curls to the side of the thermosensitive recording surface, and thus it is required to quickly solve these problems.

Reversible thermosensitive recording medium, as well as reversible thermosensitive recording label, reversible thermosensitive recording member, image processing apparatus and image processing method


This invention relates to a fastener system, in particular a system for improving computer room security that reduces energy consumption. The fastener system comprises a fastener for fastening a first element to a second element and a sensor of any suitable form and means for activating a third element in response to a signal generated from said sensor. The sensor sends a signal that prompts the third element to act in response to the status received from the fastener. This invention is particularly useful within server racks.

This invention relates to fasteners and in particular to their use in connection with increasing security and/or reducing energy consumption.
There are many circumstances where it is desirable to provide an increased level of security. Examples are encountered on a daily basis in domestic situations, commercial environments, in transport, and so on. At the same time, there is worldwide concern about energy consumption and preservation of energy resources.
By way of example, in data centers within the computer industry there is a desire for security and concern about unnecessary energy consumption. A computer room may contain one or several racks for computer hardware. Many of these generate a significant quantity of heat and to maintain a suitable environment it is necessary to provide cooling. Heat increases may occur locally in a single rack, yet often the whole computer room is cooled—an unnecessary use of energy.
Lights are required by service personnel when checking, maintaining or servicing computer equipment. Often the only option is to illuminate the whole computer room, when illumination is required only in a small area, such as in or near the piece of equipment or rack being serviced.
Housings for computer hardware are typically locked. Server personnel need keys to gain access. Keys can be mislaid or forgotten, causing access problems.
When servicing has been completed, the unlocked housing should be locked, but occasionally service personnel forget to do this, resulting in a security breach.
It is an object of the present invention, at least in some embodiments, to overcome or alleviate some of these problems and to offer benefits in increased security and/or reduced energy consumption.


Device for maintaining the position of a rotatably or displaceably mounted shaft, particularly an armature shaft (11) of an electric motor (9), wherein a gripping body (26) is arranged around the shaft (11), and said gripping body is impinged upon by a force (54, 56) in order to form a friction closure between the gripping body (26) and the surface (44) of the shaft (11), wherein the force (54, 56) for maintaining the position is provided by an actively actuated control member (30, 62, 70, 80) that is connected at least to one end (38, 40, 74) of the gripping body (26).

The invention relates to a device for maintaining the position of a rotatably or displaceably mounted shaft, in particular an armature shaft.
DE 30 30 767 C2 disclosed a safety crank for manually operated lifting apparatuses with an automatic reverse safety. In this case, arranged between the crank and a housing surrounding it is a double action helical spring locking mechanism, which automatically prevents the crank from turning back when the lifting apparatus is in a load state. This type of load moment locking device has the disadvantage that it is only triggered starting at a design-dependent load threshold. For example, there is no possibility of blocking the shaft in an unloaded state to be rotationally secured. In addition, this type of described safety device is not suitable for maintaining the position of a freely mounted shaft, such as an armature shaft of an electric motor for example, in which no coaxial housing wall is available in the direct vicinity of the surface of the shaft.


An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information providing medium are provided. Encrypted information, an encrypted first key for decrypting the encrypted information, and a second key for decrypting the first key are processed to store the information in a storage medium. To be more specific, cross certification is executed with the storage medium, the first key is decrypted by the second key, the decrypted first key is encrypted, and the decrypted first key and the encrypted information are stored in the storage medium. The novel constitution prevents unauthorized replication of information by use of a low-cost, general-purpose semiconductor memory.

The present invention relates generally to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information decryption apparatus, an information decryption method, an information providing medium, and an information storage medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information decryption apparatus, an information decryption method, an information providing medium, and an information storage medium that encrypt information for recording.
Conventional information processing apparatuses for reading and writing information on an information recording medium such as an FD (Floppy Disc), a CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disc Random Access Memory), or an MD (Mini Disc: trade mark) have no capability of encoding information for recording. Therefore, to encrypt information for recording, information encrypted in advance must be supplied to these information processing apparatuses.
The above-mentioned information encoding is intended to fail attempts of unauthorized duplication or access of information, so that previously encoding information cannot prevent the same from unauthorized duplication. This is because, if an encoding program or a decoding program has been supplied as a program to be executed on a PC (Personal Computer) for example, replicating this program and distributing the replicate program allows unauthorized users to replicate encrypted information as it is and decrypt the replicated information by use of the distributed program.
If an encoding program or a decoding program is supplied as firmware of information processing apparatuses, the information itself recorded on an information recording medium can be easily replicated and preparing the information processing apparatus in which the firmware is installed allows use of replicated information.
To solve this problem, information may be stored in a special memory, for example a semiconductor memory with its reading sequence or the like kept confidential. Unless the reading sequence is known, no information can be read from such a memory.
However, use of the above-mentioned special semiconductor memory requires a predetermined circuit for handing the reading sequence. This makes such a semiconductor memory less general-purpose, increasing its fabrication cost.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information providing medium, information decryption apparatus, and information recording medium