The ottoman recliner chair includes a pair of opposed side panels, a seat coupled between the side panels, and a back pivotably coupled to the seat. The back is pivotable between a stowed, horizontal position and a generally vertical position. A footrest is coupled to the side panels and seat with a footrest linkage. The footrest is movable between a stowed and extended position wherein the ottoman recliner chair is movable between a stowed ottoman position with the back in the horizontal position and the footrest in stowed position, and a reclined position with the back in the generally vertical extended position and the footrest in extended position.

This invention relates to an ottoman recliner, and more particularly to an ottoman that may be converted to a recliner.
Typical ottomans are known in the furniture industry as a furniture item that is used as a footrest while sitting on a chair or sofa. The ottoman is thus used, typically, in combination with another furniture item. It is also the case, however, that ottomans may be used as a seat as well. In a crowded room, the ottoman may provide an "extra" seating option. While the ottoman may be so used, it does not offer the same comfort as other items of furniture, due to the lack of back support, or the ability to recline.
Recliners are also well known in the furniture industry. Typically, recliners are chairs with extendable footrests that allow the user to recline and may include a number of alternatives used in moving the chair between the reclining position and stowed position. Some chairs are reclined by the user leaning back in the chair, others may use a handle or lever, and still some others are motorized.
Thus, while conventional ottomans and recliners are known, there remains a need for an ottoman that offers additional comfort when used as a seat. More specifically, there is a need in the furniture industry for an ottoman that is easily converted between an ottoman and a recliner.


A fiber optics/electrical conductors identification system including a printer adapted to receive generically colored (non-colored) heat shrink tubing and include printing capabilities for printing selective color indicia and/or selective alphanumeric indicia and/or bar code symbology and/or the like onto the tubing. A controller may be coupled to the printer to control the printer in order to selectively apply the indicia onto desired length segments of the tubing. It may further include the provision of length-way perforations to assist in tear away (without the use of tools) removal of selective segments of the tubing pieces.

As an example, a plurality of electricity conducting wires are coupled together to form a harness. This coupling together of wires is recognized as an aid for electrically connecting components where such connecting requires a plurality of wires. Because, typically, the wires must be accurately connected to the proper contacts, individual wires are e.g. color coded to avoid the occurrence of an assembler incorrectly connecting wires to the wrong contacts. This same consideration may apply to fiber optics conductors and hereafter reference to "conductors" encompasses both fiber optics and electric conductors.
Additionally, the individual wires may be provided with supplemental coding in the form of bar code symbology and/or alphanumeric identification as may be desired by individual systems manufacturers. Thus, it is a common practice for a systems manufacturer to stock multiple sizes and colors of heat shrink tubing, and then individually print identification numbers on the selected tube segments as needed, for subsequent application to individual wires. This practice involves the stocking of numerous different colored tubing followed by time-consuming printing of such colored tubing and is a significant cost addition to the assembly process.


A complementary coupon assembly affixed to a door handle assembly is described. The coupon assembly comprises a seat rail and pad base post, whereby a paper-based or electronic coupon book resides on the surface of the pad base post.

The placing of display advertisements near consumer shelf space is generally known. Of late, retailers and advertisers have placed display ads on surfaces associated with the door handles of refrigeration coolers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,383,654 describes an assembly that replaces entirely a cooler door handle, such as on the cooler aisle of a grocery or convenience store. On the assembly, there is a surface within a cavity that allows the interchanging of graphic displays, including advertisements. The assembly is mounted directly to the door itself after the pre-existing handle is removed.
There are several advantages to these kinds of assemblies. They allow ads to receive consumer attention at or near the moment of purchase. They also allow for quick and easy advertisement changes.
What is needed is an assembly that does not require replacement of a door handle. What is also needed is a capacity to mate a display advertising surface with the wide variety of legacy door handles that currently exist at retail point of sale locations. What is further needed is a capacity to mate a display advertising surface with a door handle type that does not permit a bracket to surround its axis for the full three hundred sixty degrees. What is further needed is electronic apparatus that supplies visual, audible and/or olfactory stimuli to make the display advertising surfaces more effective.
It is also known that consumers have long installed stainless steel appliances in their homes. One aspect of such appliances is that the fronts do not attract magnets, at least to the extent that previous metallic appliances did. Where consumers used to be able to attach notes, grocery lists or other papers to fronts of their appliances such as refrigerators, they are generally no longer able to do so with stainless steel versions. What is needed is the ability to add a marking surface to the front of an appliance.

Display ads for door handles with coupon book holder


A method to make a semiconductor device, a first SiO2 layer and a first Si3N4 layer are sequentially formed on the semiconductor substrate. The first SiO2 layer and the first Si3N4 layer are then patterned as etching mask to form a trench in a semiconductor substrate by a trench etching process. After this, a second SiO2 layer and a second Si3N4 layer are formed conformal onto the substrate. Anisotropic etching is then performed to remove the second Si3N4 and second SiO2 layer except on the trench sidewall. Then a thermal oxidation process is done to grow oxide only in trench bottom and at trench top corner. The radius of curvature of trench bottom and trench top corner is increased at the same time by this thermal oxidation process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for making trenches in a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method of increasing the radius of curvature of trench bottom and trench top corner.
2. Related Background Art
There is a trend for high voltage semiconductor device including MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor) type and IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) type to use trench cell structure. Compared with planar cell structure, trench cell structure can achieve higher packing density and lower forward saturation voltage. However, trench structure device has two problems. Firstly, the electric field tends to concentrate on the trench bottom, negatively impacting device's HTRB (high temperature reverse bias) reliability performance. Secondly, trench top corners have a sharp, almost square shape, causing gate leakage problems. So there is a need to increase the radius of curvature of both trench bottom and trench top corner.
In an attempt to increase the radius of curvature for trench bottom, an isotropic etching is performed to round the trench bottom corner while the trench sidewall is protected by a previously deposited reaction product as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,538 B2 (which issued to Soga et al. on Feb. 18, 2003), which is incorporated herein by reference and is hereinafter referred to as the '538 patent. However, this method of rounding the trench bottom corner has limited efficiency because the isotropic etching process is difficult to control.
Therefore, instead of isotropic etching process, others have proposed a method using thermal oxidation process to enlarge the size of the trench bottom as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,659,065 B2 (which issued to Sumitomo et al. on Feb. 25, 2014), which is incorporated herein by reference and is hereinafter referred to as the '065 patent. This method does meet the requirement of using a highly controllable process like thermal oxidation, but this method still has two drawbacks. Firstly it needs two separate silicon trench etching steps, increasing process complexity and the cost of manufacturing. Secondly, the trench top corner still has a sharp, almost square shape.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention intends to provide an improved method using thermal oxidation process to increase the radius of curvature of the trench bottom, and at the same time the trench top corner is rounded.
The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings

Method of forming a trench in a semiconductor device


A door security apparatus includes a storage container including a slot, a door-locking member and a sensor assembly. The door-locking member is removably disposed within the slot of the storage container. The sensor assembly is associated with the door-locking member. The sensor assembly is configured to detect removal of the door-locking member from the slot of the storage container.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.
A door-locking member or handle may engage a door to restrict entry into a building and/or into a room within a building during emergency situations, such as a school lockdown for example. The present disclosure provides a storage unit that houses the door-locking member near the door such that persons can easily access the door-locking member in the event of an emergency situation. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a notification system that notifies the proper authorities when the storage unit is opened and/or when the door-locking member is removed from the storage unit.


Cosmetic/dermatological sunscreen compositions, suited for photoprotecting, e.g., the skin, lips, scalp and/or hair against the damaging effects of UV-radiation, contain thus effective amounts of at least one novel s-triazine compound tri-substituted with para-aminobenzalmalonate substituents.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel s-triazine compounds containing three particular para-aminobenzalmalonate substituents and to the cosmetic applications thereof.
This invention also relates to photoprotective cosmetic compositions comprising s-triazine compounds containing three grafted para-aminobenzalmalonate substituents as sunscreens that are active in the UV radiation range.
2. Description of Background and/or Related and/or Prior Art
It is known that radiation with wavelengths of between 280 nm and 400 nm permits tanning of the human epidermis, and that radiation with wavelengths of between 280 nm and 320 nm, known as UV-B radiation, causes skin burns and erythema which may be harmful to the development of a natural tan.
It is also known that UV-A rays, with wavelengths of between 320 nm and 400 nm, which cause tanning of the skin, are liable to induce an adverse change in the latter, especially in the case of sensitive skin and/or of skin which is continually exposed to solar radiation. UV-A rays cause, in particular, a loss of elasticity of the skin and the appearance of wrinkles, leading to premature skin aging. They promote triggering of the erythemal reaction or amplify this reaction in certain individuals and may even be the cause of phototoxic or photoallergic reactions. Thus, for aesthetic and cosmetic reasons, such as the conservation of the natural elasticity of the skin, more and more individuals wish to control the effect of UV-A rays on their skin. The term "sun protection factor" means the ratio of the irradiation time required to reach the erythema-forming threshold in the presence of the test screening agent to the irradiation time required to reach this same threshold in the absence of screening agent.
It is thus desirable to provide compounds capable of absorbing UV-A rays.
Besides their power for screening out UV-A radiation, the desired photoprotective compounds must also have good cosmetic properties, good solubility in the usual solvents and especially in fatty substances such as oils and fats, and also good resistance to water and to perspiration (remanence) and satisfactory photostability.
Among all the compounds that have been recommended for this purpose, mention may be made especially of the s-triazine derivatives bearing benzalmalonate substituents described in EP-0,507,691 by the assignee hereof. However, these compounds have a liposolubility and a photochemical stability that are still not entirely satisfactory.

Photoprotective cosmetic compositions comprising para-aminobenzalmalonate-substituted s-triazine compounds


A Logic Analyzer has an intuitive and informative analog presentation of signal activity and threshold settings formed by gathering a collection of factors pertaining to the measurement to be performed, such as information about which channels are members of labeled collections. A scan of signal activity is performed for each assigned channel as its threshold is briefly swept. This produces a range of voltage that describes that signal's signal activity. For each Probe Pod these ranges are then displayed in columns as adjacent vertical segments of a voltage swing Y axis along a channels-within-a-probe-pod X axis. The Y axis is labeled with actual voltage values. Superimposed upon this analog style display is a horizontal line indicating the associated threshold for that Probe Pod. Further annotations include channel identifiers and signal activity indicators whose shapes connote recurring transitions and signals that appear to be ‘stuck’ either HIGH or LOW. Collections of related columns are labeled according to the Probe Pod with which they are associated.

Logic Analyzers are tools that capture the (binary) logic values of TRUE and FALSE for signals that occur during the operation of digital equipment. As inputs to the Logic Analyzer, these signals are individually referred to as channels and are often grouped into related named collections, such as signals defining a bus within the digital equipment under test. The related signals might have a collective meaning, such as a value for data, an address, or simply represent some other internal condition that is quite particular to the operation of the digital equipment, or of some other apparatus. The 'meaning' is generally called a 'state' (as in 'state of affairs'—or 'condition') and its value may be indicated through the use of some convenient integer notation, such as binary or hexadecimal. In any event, Logic Analyzers (sometimes called Logic State Analyzers, or just State Analyzers) usually capture entire sequences of such states and store their descriptions in a memory. The stored information is called a 'trace' and can be inspected to help verify proper system operation or diagnose problems.
The vast majority of signals measured by Logic Analyzers are clocked signals, meaning that changes in states are synchronous with transitions in an associated clock signal. The transitions in the clock signal indicate when the logic values of the data signals are to be measured, or captured. This leads us to observe that Logic Analyzers make extensive use of threshold detection: (i) a transition through a threshold for a clock signal indicates a time when (ii) existing (earlier) threshold comparisons for data signals are to be captured as a state.
Threshold detection is performed by placing a voltage comparator circuit in the path of every signal of interest. That is, every channel, whether for a data signal or a clock, is equipped with a comparator. A comparator is a two-input circuit. One input is the signal of interest (the input to the channel) and the other is a selectable comparison voltage commonly called a threshold. The function of the comparator is to indicate at an output whether the signal input for the channel is above or below the threshold. Using signaling voltages having levels convenient for the internal operation of the Logic Analyzer, the comparator will output a logic ONE or TRUE if the input voltage meets or exceeds the threshold voltage, and will output a logic ZERO or FALSE if the input is less than the threshold. (Of course, the 'meets' or 'equals' aspect of the threshold can be attached to either one—but not to both—of the 'greater than' and 'less than' conditions.) A hysteresis arrangement uses a small offset to produce slightly different 'effective thresholds' for different directions of input signal transition. This prevents indecision (instability) in the output should the input dwell on exactly the threshold, or exhibit noise centered about the threshold. Threshold detection by such comparators can be characterized as converting from whatever signal levels are used in the System Under Test (SUT) to the particular ones used internally by the Logic Analyzer. It is clear that correct operation of a Logic Analyzer depends upon proper threshold comparison. Attending to the selection of proper threshold voltages for the various input signals is one of the main things that the operator of a Logic Analyzer must do.
Logic Analyzers typically have controls that allow the selection of pre-set, or the manual adjustment of, channel thresholds. Sometimes channels are individually adjustable, while other times economic reasons cause related channels to share a common threshold voltage. For example, it is common for there to be 'Probe Pods' attached to the Logic Analyzer through umbilical cables having eight (or sixteen) data channels that share a common adjustable threshold. The designer's assumption is that all eight (or sixteen) SUT channels connected to a particular Probe Pod are likely to share a common logic family, and that a single threshold for all those signals is adequate. There might be a ninth (or seventeenth) channel having a separately adjustable threshold and that is intended for use with a clock signal associated with the data channels of that Probe Pod.
If a threshold is set correctly, it is near the middle of the signal swing for the signal it is to characterize. The usual way to pick the threshold is to consider two identical channels simultaneously undergoing transitions in opposite directions. At some point in time the two channels will exhibit the same voltage. It is this 'crossover' point which is the desired threshold voltage. This technique accounts for the fact that the transitions have finite rise and fall times (if the rise and fall times were actually zero, we would just pick as the threshold the midpoint between signal extremes, and be done with it . . . ), and is generally thought to give the most faithful translation of signal timing from the (external) SUT levels to the (internal) levels used within the Logic Analyzer.
As the threshold is set farther from the optimum (crossover) value described above, the timing of the translated signal becomes more and more distorted. Eventually, for a threshold set above or below the limits of the external (input) levels, the translated (internal) signal becomes a constant value of respective FALSE or TRUE, and all timing information (and information content!) from the external input signal is lost.
Thus, if the threshold for any input signal to the Logic Analyzer is set inappropriately (significantly away from the crossover value, or even near or outside the voltage limits of the signal swing), little or no useful information about the signal can be acquired. If that signal is used as a clock (or as a clock qualification component) in a synchronous acquisition (i.e., as part of a logic state measurement), then little or no information about ANY signal will be acquired. The extreme condition where the signal swing for a clock seldom or never crosses the threshold is variously known as an "idle clock input" or as a "slow or missing clock input". The trace will be missing entire sections corresponding to where there 'was no clock', and sections that are present may be corrupt. If the signal with an inappropriate threshold is a data (non-clock) signal, then captured state data may be corrupted, with whatever attendant implications for the understanding of the trace. It is abundantly clear that successful operation of a Logic Analyzer depends upon proper settings for the thresholds.
Some prior art Logic Analyzer systems have implemented schemes for alerting the user that an input channel appears to be inactive. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,925 describes just such a system. For each channel that does not eventually exhibit a different logical value when sampled periodically, it displays an 'idle channel' indicator. More refined versions of this further indicate for each channel if the associated threshold is above, below or within the signal activity range for that channel. Such displays of information consume space on the display, and may be perceived as clutter when not needed. Such indications can either be (wrongly) ignored or turned off to simplify the presentation. Furthermore, other subsequent errors or abnormalities may be announced which are caused by an inappropriate threshold, but whose accompanying indicia or legends are more general and not specific to simply thresholds. So, for example, a Logic Analyzer whose clock threshold is too high will stall the entire measurement. The accompanying error message might be "WAITING FOR TRIGGER" or perhaps, if the analyzer appreciates which channels are being used as clocks, "IDLE CLOCK INPUT" . . . . In any case, the notion that the threshold might be too high is lost as being just one among other possibilities, such as a flying lead that has become disconnected from its correct terminal, or that has been accidently connected to, say, ground. The point is that there might be no explicit mention of the term 'THRESHOLD' in the warning or error message. Indeed, a data channel with an out-of-bounds threshold might generate NO warning at all, as this is not a fatal condition that would keep the analyzer from running. It is just that the trace would be wrong. The operator could spend a lot of time looking for a problem in his SUT that is really just an inappropriate threshold setting for a channel of the Logic Analyzer.
In summary, the various prior art signal activity schemes all require that the user take the time to inspect these indicators, that he or she has a background that allows an informative interpretation of what is indicated, and that they be a good sleuth, to boot.
A knowledgeable and experienced operator can use the prior art controls and indicators to set thresholds to values that make sense for the SUT, as well as appreciate the differences between a likely SUT failure, botched probe connections and inappropriate thresholds. Less seasoned operators can experience trouble and frustration, or worse, not even appreciate that there is a problem. What might happen, for example, if they do not appreciate, or have forgotten about, the common threshold for a Probe Pod?
It would be desirable if a Logic Analyzer automatically presented signal activity and threshold information in a more informative format, and which took into account various configuration information used or solicited during measurement setup activities.

Analog display of signal swing and logic analyzer thresholds


An androstane or estrane-substituted cholane as base resin is combined with an acid generator to formulate a positive resist composition, especially chemically amplified positive resist composition.

To meet the demand for higher integration density and operating speed of LSIs, the effort to reduce the pattern rule is in rapid progress. The wide-spreading flash memory market and the demand for increased storage capacities drive forward the miniaturization technology. As the advanced miniaturization technology, manufacturing of microelectronic devices at the 65-nm node by the ArF lithography has been implemented in a mass scale. Manufacturing of 45-nm node devices by the next generation ArF immersion lithography is approaching to the verge of high-volume application. The candidates for the next generation 32-nm node include ultra-high NA lens immersion lithography using a liquid having a higher refractive index than water in combination with a high refractive index lens and a high refractive index resist film, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography of 13.5 nm wavelength, and double patterning version of the ArF lithography, on which active research efforts have been made.
With the advance of miniaturization, it is confirmed that line width roughness (LWR) has an impact on the performance of transistors. A reduction of LWR is thus demanded. Effective approaches for reducing LWR include an increase in the amount of PAG added, addition of an acid generator capable of generating an acid which does not cause deprotection of a protective group, and binding of PAG to a polymer backbone. Highly transparent PAGs which do not detract from transparency even when added in larger amounts, acid generators capable of generating weak acids, and PAG-bound polymers have been developed.
Efforts to develop molecular resist materials were made under the hypothesis that a monomer is more effective for reducing LWR due to the smallness of its molecular size than a polymer. Such molecular resist materials include acid labile group-substituted phenolic low nuclear compounds, calix-resorcin, NORIA, truxene, cyclodextrin and other phenol derivatives. JP-A H08-15865 discloses a molecular resist material comprising acid labile group-substituted cholate. As compared with polymeric resist materials, molecular resist materials allow for extensive and non-uniform acid diffusion. For this reason, molecular resist materials fail to achieve a LWR level surpassing polymeric resist materials. It would be desirable to have a molecular resist material which is effective for suppressing acid diffusion to achieve a lower LWR than polymeric resist materials.

Positive resist composition and patterning process


A memory cell containing at least three vertical transistors. A first transistor and a second transistor, or a third transistor are arranged over each other with reference to a y-axis proceeding perpendicularly to a surface of a substrate. The second transistor and the third transistor can be arranged at opposite sides of a semiconductor structure, while the first transistor is arranged at both sides. Source/drain regions of the transistors can overlap.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a DRAM arrangement, i.e. a memory cell arrangement with dynamic random access, of the type containing three transistors (3T cell), as well as to a method for making such a cell.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Memory cells known as one-transistor memory cells are currently used in DRAM cell arrangements almost exclusively. A one-transistor memory cell has a readout transistor and a storage capacitor. The information is stored in the storage capacitor in the form of an electrical charge which represents a logical level, 0 or 1. This information can be read out via a word line by controlling the readout transistor via a word line. The electrical charge stored in the storage capacitor drives the bit line.
Since the storage density increases from generation to generation of memory, the required surface area of the one-transistor memory cell must be reduced from generation to generation. This leads to fundamental technological and physical problems. For example, despite a small surface area of the one-transistor memory cell, the storage capacitor must be able to store a minimum amount of electrical charge in order to be able to drive the bit line.
This problem is avoided in an alternative DRAM cell arrangement wherein so-called gain cells are used as storage cells. The information is also stored in such cells in the form of an electrical charge. The electrical charge need not drive a bit line directly, however, but rather is stored in a gate electrode of a transistor, serving only for controlling that transistor, for which purpose a very small amount of electrical charge is sufficient.
A gain cell having three transistors is described by M. Heshami in 1996 IEEE J. of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 31, no. 3. The electrical charge is stored in a first gate electrode of a first transistor. The storage of the electrical charge occurs with the aid of a second transistor. The first gate electrode is connected to a first source/drain region of the second transistor, and a second source/drain region of the second transistor is connected to the write word line. For storage, a second gate electrode of the second transistor is actuated via a write bit line. The amount of electrical charge and thus the information which is stored in the first gate electrode is determined by a voltage at the write bit line. The readout of the information occurs with the aid of a third transistor. A second source/drain region of the first transistor is connected to a first source/drain region of the third transistor, and a second source/drain region of the third transistor is connected to a read bit line. For the readout a third gate electrode of the third transistor is actuated via a read word line. The amount of electrical charge and thus the information is read out via the read bit line.

DRAM cell arrangement and method for the production thereof


A control method for controlling an optical head having a plurality of light emitting devices, includes: dividing the plurality of light emitting devices into a plurality of blocks by grouping adjacent light emitting devices of the plurality of light emitting devices; adjusting levels of driving signals supplied to the adjacent light emitting devices for each of the plurality of blocks so that emission luminances of the adjacent light emitting devices belonging to the each of the plurality of blocks become substantially equal to each other; and adjusting emission periods so that the equalized emission luminances of the plurality of blocks become substantially equal to each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technique for correcting luminance of a plurality of light emitting devices.
2. Related Art
An image forming apparatus such as a printer includes an optical head used to form an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier such as a photoconductive drum. The optical head includes a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in the form of an array in a main scan direction. Light emitting diodes may be used as the light emitting devices.
In such an optical head, a plurality of semiconductor chips having light emitting diodes formed thereon, and a separated driving IC are mounted on a print substrate with patterned wire thereon. After manufacture, there exists nonuniformity of light emission luminance between different semiconductor chips or between individual light emitting diodes in the same semiconductor chip. Such nonuniformity of light emission luminance is not preferable for print quality since it may cause unevenness of vertical stripe shapes during printing, for example. Accordingly, driving conditions from the driving IC are finely adjusted depending on characteristics of the light emitting diodes.
As correcting methods used for the optical head in the related art, the following methods are known. JP-A-6-297769 discloses a method of finely adjusting and correcting a period during which light emission current is applied. In addition, JP-A-8-39862 discloses a method of correcting a light emission driving current value using DAC. In the method disclosed in JP-A-8-39862, a plurality of correction memory circuits are provided using micromachining of a semiconductor process and a current value is finely adjusted depending on contents of a memory.
Although the method disclosed in JP-A-6-297769 is based on the principle of adjusting an area of an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor drum by finely adjusting a light emission period, it is necessary to operate a circuit with very high clock frequency to make such fine adjustment of the light emission period. However, it is difficult to apply this method to an optical head integrated with a driving circuit. This is because the driving circuit is formed on a substrate even larger than conventional driving ICs and thus time constant becomes large due to parasitic capacitance, thereby making it impossible to achieve high-speed operation.
In addition, in the method disclosed in JP-A-8-39862, the machining precision of the process of forming a circuit on a large glass substrate is low compared with that of a semiconductor process on a silicon wafer, and thus it is difficult to mount equivalent correction memory circuits on the driving circuit-integrated optical head.

Optical head, control method thereof, and image forming apparatus


A building comprising strong thermal insulation, at least some walls of which consist of panels made of a low-density thermally insulating material, wherein the panels have edge surfaces which are uniformly planar over an entire thickness thereof and are assembled to one another by interleaving boards in joint areas between two adjacent panels, the boards being connected in contact with the panels over an entire length and width of edge surfaces in said joint areas, so that a junction of the boards with the panels prevents by itself alone deformation of the boards in bending transversally to their plane and in twisting and that the panels ensure wind bracing of the walls.

The invention relates to a new method for constructing buildings having strong thermal insulation and building constructed by means of said method.
Methods for constructing buildings which notably aim at improving the thermal insulation are already known. Generally, the concepts developed essentially consist in using panels made of a material with a low thermal transfer coefficient, such as, for example, expanded polystyrene. In certain cases, these panels are used only to form the walls of construction for the structure of which is a framework which alone ensures the required mechanical strength, the only function of the insulating panels is to make walls and partitions and provide thermal insulation therefore without ensuring structural functions from the building mechanical strength point of view.
Other methods have also been developed, aiming at using a maximum of light insulating panels as structural elements. Thus, buildings constructed only by assembling polystyrene panels glued together have already been proposed. However, in this type of construction, it is commonly planned to coat the walls thus formed with a layer of reinforced mortar acting as mechanical reinforcement to take the vertical loads and also acting as facings resistant to shocks, adverse weather conditions, etc.
It has also been proposed to make panels or blocks of light insulating material integrating such facings and to assemble these by gluing or other methods. For example, it has already been proposed to make such panels with thick polystyrene cores and thin resin facings and to assemble them by a resin joint covering the edges of the panels and securing the facings of adjacent panels.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,982 notably describes a light material panel system with high insulating characteristics and where the edge surfaces comprise longitudinal grooves. These panels can notably be assembled by a large settable material joint, poured between the edges of two adjacent panels and penetrating therefore into the grooves thus ensuring a tight and resistant joint. Moreover, this settable material, once hardened, forms a post ensuring resistance against loads.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,464 shows hollow cells polyurethane insulating panels covered with a skin and connecting splines between the panels inserted into hollow half-cells formed on the edge surfaces of the panels. However, this system requires panels of complex shape and the use of wooden posts inserted into at least some of the cells to ensure the mechanical strength of the partitions thus formed.
EP0190818 shows a similar assembly system, but for insulating panels of simpler shape, solid and with flat faces. In this system, the panels are assembled with interleaving posts, the junctions between the panels and the posts also being made by longitudinal splines. CA1116371 also shows a similar system, but where the posts located at each junction between panels are replaced by simple splines, the reduced strength of these being compensated for by the insertion of stiffeners into the grooves formed in the faces of said panels. EP0294079 also describes a spline or groove and tongue assembly system.
The disadvantage of these various systems is notably that grooves or other forms required for socketing must be made on the edge surfaces of the panels.
The aim of the invention is to solve the problems described above and in particular aims at simplifying the construction of walls, ceilings and floors, and in ensuring the thermal insulation of buildings by exclusively using light construction elements.

Method for constructing a building having strong thermal insulation and building constructed by means of said method


A packer mandrel is radially surrounded by an axially compressible packer element and a backing ring. A setting sleeve arrangement also surrounds the packer mandrel adjacent the packer element. A hydraulic locking mechanism is used to secure the setting sleeve arrangement against the packer element. The hydraulic locking mechanism includes an expansible fluid-sealed chamber that is defined between the setting sleeve and the central packer mandrel.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to packer devices used within a wellbore.
2. Description of the Related Art
Packer devices are used to establish a fluid seal within a wellbore. Packers are often incorporated into production tubing strings and then used to form a fluid seal between the outside surface of the tubing string and the inner wall of the wellbore. A number of packer designs incorporate an annular elastomeric sealing element which is placed into a set configuration by axially compressing it. The axial compression causes the packer element to be extruded radially outwardly and into sealing contact against the wellbore wall.
Ordinarily, a setting sleeve is used to apply the compression force to the packer element. A body lock ring is often used as a means to trap the setting force and linear travel of the setting sleeve. A body lock ring is a known device that incorporates a split-ring member that travels over the mandrel of the packer as the packer element is being compressed. The mandrel and inside radial surface of the body lock ring have complimentary wicker-type teeth which prevent the body lock ring from traveling back once the packer element is set. Due to the nature of the tooth profile, however, there is always some slight "back travel" in the body lock ring system as the toothed system relaxes. This generally is not a major issue when using elastomer-type resilient packing elements. But when using relatively rigid packer element systems, minor amounts of back travel can allow the element to relax sufficiently to allow fluid leakage past the packer element following setting.

Zero-relaxation packer setting lock system


Circuit configurations designed for use with public telephones to provide standard telephone functions with higher reliability, lower cost, and lower packaging densities, include first and second channel means for providing both transmit and receive multiplexing control, a one-wire compatible user interface, and embedded PIC microcontroller for both digital control and monitoring of analog measurement and multiplexing circuits, and bitstream format conversion techniques.

In the design of public telephones, discrete semiconductor technology has been used in the past for providing standard telephone functions. However, there is a need for integrated circuit configurations and methods that provide these standard telephone functions with higher reliability, lower cost, and lower packaging density than has been available in the past using discrete technology.

Integrated circuit configurations and methods for providing functions for public telephones


Data service use on mobile handheld devices requires significant, and sometimes cumbersome user interaction, such as requiring navigation through a series of interactive screen displays, in order to access content the user desires. This invention largely automates the process, and allows a user to access desired content in a more efficient and less time consuming manner, by sending interactive information comprising a code associated with a particular content the user desires to access during the link establishment phase, that is, prior to the completion of the establishment of the point to point link between the user and a network node.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to wireless networking and more particularly to a system and method for accessing network information using a wireless device (e.g., cell phone or personal digital assistant) in a quick and efficient manner.
B. Description of Related Art
The providing of data services for mobile devices promises to be an area of expansion in the mobile telecommunications arena in the near and long-term future. With the advent of higher-powered mobile devices, and chipsets for cellular communications that can be integrated into virtually any handheld device, cellular data service adoption has the potential for explosive growth. The present generation of cellular devices such as cell phones and handhelds with cellular communication chipsets allows users to navigate to data service "portals" (typically web sites) via simple key presses on the device keypads or though other simple user interface navigation tools.
Connectivity between the mobile device and the data service portal via a cellular network entails the establishment of a "link-layer" protocol. A link layer is the second protocol layer in the OSI Reference Model, above the physical layer and below the network layer. The link layer is generally concerned with procedures and protocols for operating the communications line connecting two devices and detecting and correcting message errors. In order for a mobile device to connect to the data network, for instance the Internet, for data services, the phone and a network peer (typically a Packet Data Serving Node or PDSN) must communicate via a pre-arranged protocol for transport of datagrams over a communications link.
An example of a link layer protocol is the Point-to-Point Protocol, which used in CDMA-based data networks. The Point-to-Point Protocol, known as the PPP, is described in the IETF Request for Comments 1661 document (W. Simpson, 1994), the content of which is incorporated by reference herein. The PPP allows for a negotiation of Link Control Protocol or "link layer" to be established between the mobile device and its peer on a network. This link layer allows for transport of information (i.e., data packets) using standard data communications protocols, such as Internet Protocol (IP).
Mobile subscribers might use their cellular data service for a variety of purposes, such as obtaining information from their favorite web sites, obtaining stock quotes, checking email, seeking sports scores, or accessing news. The service providers have a goal of presenting a favorable experience to the subscriber. For the most part, the service providers strive to provide for their mobile subscribers an experience as satisfying and as similar to that of a wired connection Internet, to the extent it is possible. The better the subscriber's experience is, the more likely the subscribers are to continue, or expand, their use of cellular data services. This translates to more data traffic, leading to increased revenue for the service provider. Considering that data services can be segmented into multiple tiers of service, and bundled as value-added features, data services are a key source of revenue for all cellular providers.
In the current state of the art, the experience of the average data-services user with a mobile device who wishes to connect to a favorite web site or conduct an Internet search consists of the execution of a number of steps. Consider, for example, a user who wishes to search for sports scores for his favorite team, and for simplicity's sake assume that the subscriber wishes to get the football scores for the Chicago Bears. The steps to be performed are, for instance, as follows:                1. Connection to the data network. This is generally established by pressing an "Internet" key on the handheld device.        2. Upon connection, presentation of a "home page" which reflects the set of standard data "events" or "behaviors" that the service provider allows.        3. Navigation from the "home page" to "Sports" section of the home page.        4. The "Sports" section may have subsections of the different sports that the subscriber is interested in, such as football, basketball, tennis, etc. The subscriber must therefore navigate to the football section.        5. The football section allows the user to either select from a predefined set of teams, or allows for the user to input the team. In response, the user is either navigated to a site with the scores or they are provided with the scores that the subscriber was initially interested in.As noted above, the experience when using a mobile device to access sports scores involves a multitude of steps. A similar number of steps would be expected to occur to obtain information as to other types of information, such as navigation to a news page with news stories, navigation to page offering local weather forecasts, etc.
Consider now the experience using a "wired" computer connected to a network over a land-based communication medium, such as DSL, PSTN dial-up connection or cable modem:    1. The user knows that they are interested in Chicago Bears scores, and therefore goes to www.chicagobears.com. This navigation could be done by clicking on a link to the website in the "favorites" section in their browser, by clicking on a desktop icon providing a shortcut to the website, or by scrolling down a list previously visited sites and clicking on the URL listed there. In any event, the site is typically only one or two clicks away.    2. The user then navigates or scrolls to the section of the page that provides the scores.As is apparent, using existing techniques the user experience in a wired environment is much more efficient and satisfactory than in the wireless environment.
This invention provides for a mechanism by which the user may receive a better experience of cellular data services. In particular, the mobile data services user often knows exactly the desired end-point of the data connection, e.g., a particular web site, at the time they initiate connection to the data network. As described in the example above, the user already knows that he wishes to retrieve the Chicago Bears football scores. In accordance with a principal feature of the present invention, information as to the desired network endpoint (e.g., URL or web address, or abbreviation such as "Bears scores") is relayed directly to a network node ("event agent" herein) during the process of link establishment. While the link is in the process of being established, this information is extracted by the event agent, translated as necessary to a standard protocol request message (e.g., HTTP Get Request) and the desired web page or other content is requested. When the link is established, the user is immediately provided with the web page they are looking for, without having to execute multiple navigation steps in order to access the information they are looking for. The user's experience of a mobile data connection is far more favorable that it would otherwise be using prior art approaches.

System, method and mobile devices transmitting request codes during link establishment in data networks


Distributing and rebalancing crewless vehicles (CV) by receiving a CV demand-availability gap, identifying candidate CV to relocate to close the CV demand-availability gap, identifying a candidate transport to relocate the CV to close the CV demand-availability gap, generating a candidate CV relocation plan, optimizing an overall CV relocation plan, and executing the overall CV relocation plan.

The disclosure relates generally to distributing unmanned vehicles using hybrid transportation. The disclosure relates particularly to executing the redistribution of unmanned vehicles according to vehicle demand requirements using multi-hop transportation.
Crewless vehicles (CV), both autonomously and remotely controlled, are being adopted for a wide range of applications. Such CV may be airborne, or ground based. Among these applications is the delivery of goods.

Rebalancing autonomous vehicles according to last-mile delivery demand

International Business Machines Corporation


A head support designed to maintain a face-down position for a user during post-operative care after eye surgery. The head support is wearable like a hat, has a removable liner, is cushioned to protect the head and eye, is adjustable to head size, is adjustable to height in use, is securely retainable on a user""s head, and is adapted to prevent side to side rocking or tipping over.

None.
None.
This present invention relates to an improvement in head rests or supports, and more particularly to head supports used in post-operative situations which require face-down and virtual head-immobility to ensure a patient remains in a mandatory face-down position after certain surgeries.
Following certain eye-related surgical procedures, post-operative care will require that the patient maintain a face-down position for several days; even up to two weeks. In some retinal surgery this is generally required to ensure proper alignment and re-attachment of the retina. It is very difficult to maintain such a position while sleeping or while awake and either sitting or attempting to read. Most relevant prior art head support devices are either very complex, are uncomfortable, or fail to properly accommodate the wearer such that the wearer can maintain the proper face-down position and still enjoy some degree of flexibility and a respectable quality-of-life.
Several of these prior art supports generally require a user to rest the user""s face directly onto a cushion or similar structure which has a large hole defining a breathing channel or pathway for one""s nose and/or mouth as necessary. In some the hole is large enough to accommodate the eyes and the concomitant ability to see through the hole with the eye which has not undergone surgery. However, what the user would see generally is the table or pillow, for example, upon which the cushion or support sits; which is basically just a few inches from the eyes. Generally, these cushion or support devices require the user to place the user""s forehead on the top part of the device and the chin on the bottom part of the device with the hole being in between. These devices make no accommodation for an eye patch or eye dressing which is worn or applied to a patient after eye surgery. Placing one""s face into a hole such as this would pull on the dressing or pull on the eye patch or pull on the patient""s skin or any combination thereof. This would cause pain or discomfort or both to or near the surgery site.
Some devices have legs or other support members around the perimeter of the device to lift the device from the table, for example, upon which it rests to thereby establish a better breathing channel for the user and/or a pathway for eating and drinking. Particular reference is made here to prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,035 and the M.A.T.(trademark) device offered by the ATOZ CORP on its website listed as Item MU17501, a copy of which has been included with this application.
These, and other prior art, head support devices are well-suited for their intended purposes but none has the unique features of height adjustability, head size adjustability, vertical and horizontal stability to properly maintain a face-down position while sleeping or while awake, and, most importantly, ease and comfort of use. Since the present invention is worn around the head, not around the face, no pulling or pressure is being exerted at or near to the surgery site as it is in most of the prior art devices. The head support of the present invention encompasses all these features and more.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are to:
a. comfortably accommodate a user""s head for medically mandated face-down positions;
b. properly maintain a face-down position by ensuring vertical and horizontal stability of the device on the user""s head;
c. accommodate small, medium, and large head sizes by having an adjustable head size feature;
d. provide for height adjustment so that a user can find the correct height level for comfortable use while maintaining a face-down position;
e. be in a face-down position and be able to drink, to read, or to engage in other activities which require a separation or distance range from a user""s mouth, nose, or eyes and the object of the activity; and
f. provide for an easy-to-manufacture and easy-to-use head support device which is low in cost to produce and to purchase.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The above-noted problems, among others, are overcome by the present invention. Briefly stated, the present invention contemplates a medically-oriented head support designed to maintain a face-down position for a user. The head support is wearable like a hat, has a removable liner, is cushioned for head and eye support and protection, is adjustable to head size, is adjustable to height in use, is securely retainable on a user""s head, and is adapted to prevent side to side rocking or tipping over.
The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the present invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures and methods for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It also should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions and methods do not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims.


A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is divided into first and second streams, and the second stream is expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the column at a mid-column feed position. A recycle stream is withdrawn from the tower overhead after it has been warmed and compressed, and is combined with the first stream. The combined stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it, and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a top column feed position. The pressure of the compressed recycle stream and the quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the column are effective to maintain the column overhead temperature at a temperature whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered.

This invention relates to a process for the separation of a gas containing hydrocarbons. The applicants claim the benefits under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119(e) of prior U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/045,874 which was filed on May 7, 1997.
Ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane and/or heavier hydrocarbons can be recovered from a variety of gases, such as natural gas, refinery gas, and synthetic gas streams obtained from other hydrocarbon materials such as coal, crude oil, naphtha, oil shale, tar sands, and lignite. Natural gas usually has a major proportion of methane and ethane, i.e., methane and ethane together comprise at least 50 mole percent of the gas. The gas also contains relatively lesser amounts of heavier hydrocarbons such as propane, butanes, pentanes and the like, as well as hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases.
The present invention is generally concerned with the recovery of ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane and heavier hydrocarbons from such gas streams. A typical analysis of a gas stream to be processed in accordance with this invention would be, in approximate mole percent, 67.0% methane, 15.6% ethane and other C.sub.2 components, 7.7% propane and other C.sub.3 components, 1.8% iso-butane, 1.7% normal butane, 1.0% pentanes plus, 2.2% carbon dioxide, with the balance made up of nitrogen. Sulfur containing gases are also sometimes present.
The historically cyclic fluctuations in the prices of both natural gas and its natural gas liquid (NGL) constituents have at times reduced the incremental value of ethane, ethylene, and heavier components as liquid products. This has resulted in a demand for processes that can provide more efficient recoveries of these products, and for processes that can provide efficient recoveries with lower capital investment. Available processes for separating these materials include those based upon cooling and refrigeration of gas, oil absorption, and refrigerated oil absorption. Additionally, cryogenic processes have become popular because of the availability of economical equipment that produces power while simultaneously expanding and extracting heat from the gas being processed. Depending upon the pressure of the gas source, the richness (ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbons content) of the gas, and the desired end products, each of these processes or a combination thereof may be employed.
The cryogenic expansion process is now generally preferred for natural gas liquids recovery because it provides maximum simplicity with ease of start up, operating flexibility, good efficiency, safety, and good reliability. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,157,904, 4,171,964, 4,278,457, 4,519,824, 4,687,499, 4,854,955, 4,869,740, 4,889,545, 5,275,005, 5,555,748, and 5,568,737 describe relevant processes (although the description of the present invention in some cases is based on different processing conditions than those described in the cited U.S. patents).
In a typical cryogenic expansion recovery process, a feed gas stream under pressure is cooled by heat exchange with other streams of the process and/or external sources of refrigeration such as a propane compression-refrigeration system. As the gas is cooled, liquids may be condensed and collected in one or more separators as high-pressure liquids containing some of the desired C.sub.2 + components. Depending on the richness of the gas and the amount of liquids formed, the high-pressure liquids may be expanded to a lower pressure and fractionated. The vaporization occurring during expansion of the liquids results in further cooling of the stream. Under some conditions, pre-cooling the high pressure liquids prior to the expansion may be desirable in order to further lower the temperature resulting from the expansion. The expanded stream, comprising a mixture of liquid and vapor, is fractionated in a distillation (demethanizer) column. In the column, the expansion cooled stream(s) is (are) distilled to separate residual methane, nitrogen, and other volatile gases as overhead vapor from the desired C.sub.2 components, C.sub.3 components, and heavier hydrocarbon components as bottom liquid product.
If the feed gas is not totally condensed (typically it is not), the vapor remaining from the partial condensation can be split into two or more streams. One portion of the vapor is passed through a work expansion machine or engine, or an expansion valve, to a lower pressure at which additional liquids are condensed as a result of further cooling of the stream. The pressure after expansion is essentially the same as the pressure at which the distillation column is operated. The combined vapor-liquid phases resulting from the expansion are supplied as feed to the column.
The remaining portion of the vapor is cooled to substantial condensation by heat exchange with other process streams, e.g., the cold fractionation tower overhead. Some or all of the high-pressure liquid may be combined with this vapor portion prior to cooling. The resulting cooled stream is then expanded through an appropriate expansion device, such as an expansion valve, to the pressure at which the demethanizer is operated. During expansion, a portion of the liquid will vaporize, resulting in cooling of the total stream. The flash expanded stream is then supplied as top feed to the demethanizer. Typically, the vapor portion of the expanded stream and the demethanizer overhead vapor combine in an upper separator section in the fractionation tower as residual methane product gas. Alternatively, the cooled and expanded stream may be supplied to a separator to provide vapor and liquid streams. The vapor is combined with the tower overhead and the liquid is supplied to the column as a top column feed.
In the ideal operation of such a separation process, the residue gas leaving the process will contain substantially all of the methane in the feed gas with essentially none of the heavier hydrocarbon components and the bottoms fraction leaving the demethanizer will contain substantially all of the heavier hydrocarbon components with essentially no methane or more volatile components. In practice, however, this ideal situation is not obtained for two main reasons. The first reason is that the conventional demethanizer is operated largely as a stripping column. The methane product of the process, therefore, typically comprises vapors leaving the top fractionation stage of the column, together with vapors not subjected to any rectification step.
Considerable losses of C.sub.2 components occur because the top liquid feed contains substantial quantities of C.sub.2 components and heavier hydrocarbon components, resulting in corresponding equilibrium quantities of C.sub.2 components and heavier hydrocarbon components in the vapors leaving the top fractionation stage of the demethanizer. The loss of these desirable components could be significantly reduced if the rising vapors could be brought into contact with a significant quantity of liquid (reflux) capable of absorbing the C.sub.2 components and heavier hydrocarbon components from the vapors.
The second reason that this ideal situation cannot be obtained is that carbon dioxide contained in the feed gas fractionates in the demethanizer and can build up to concentrations of as much as 5% to 10% or more in the tower even when the feed gas contains less than 1% carbon dioxide. At such high concentrations, formation of solid carbon dioxide can occur depending on temperatures, pressures, and the liquid solubility. It is well known that natural gas streams usually contain carbon dioxide, sometimes in substantial amounts. If the carbon dioxide concentration in the feed gas is high enough, it becomes impossible to process the feed gas as desired due to blockage of the process equipment with solid carbon dioxide (unless carbon dioxide removal equipment is added, which would increase capital cost substantially) The present invention provides a means for generating a liquid reflux stream that will improve the recovery efficiency for the desired products while simultaneously substantially mitigating the problem of carbon dioxide icing.
In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that C.sub.2 recoveries in excess of 95 percent can be obtained. Similarly, in those instances where recovery of C.sub.2 components is not desired, C.sub.3 recoveries in excess of 95% can be maintained. In addition, the present invention makes possible essentially 100 percent separation of methane (or C.sub.2 components) and lighter components from the C.sub.2 components (or C.sub.3 components) and heavier components at reduced energy requirements compared to the prior art while maintaining the same recovery levels and improving the safety factor with respect to the danger of carbon dioxide icing. The present invention, although applicable for leaner gas streams at lower pressures and warmer temperatures, is particularly advantageous when processing richer feed gases at pressures in the range of 600 to 1000 psia or higher under conditions requiring column overhead temperatures of -110.degree. F. or colder.


An upgradeable imaging system includes a housing with an opening. A support structure and a plurality of imaging stations are disposed within the housing. Each imaging station includes a charging unit and a developing unit. The imaging system also includes a removable module with a photoreceptive substrate. The removable module has an interior space defined within the photoreceptive substrate and at least one exposing unit disposed within the interior space. The removable module is configured to be engageable with the support structure and passable through the opening of the housing. When the removable module is engaged with the support structure, the photoreceptive substrate is disposed operatively adjacent to the imaging stations. Accordingly, the removable module may be removed from the imaging system and replaced with another module. The imaging system includes circuitry for configuring the imaging stations to operate according to a printing routine depending upon the number of exposing units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to imaging systems such as electrophotographic (EPG) printers and copiers. More particularly, the present invention relates to imaging systems that are configurable in terms of printing routines, such a single-pass imaging, two-pass imaging, and so on. The imaging systems of the present invention utilize a removable module that allows a user to upgrade the imaging system with a module of higher quality (i.e., greater speed, better resolution, and so on) and then to reconfigure the printing routine based on the number of exposing units included in the replacement module.
2. Description of Related Art
Once exclusive to large companies, photocopiers and laser printers have become ubiquitous in homes and in businesses large and small. Photocopiers and laser printers operate according to electrophotographic (EPG) printing technology. Advances in EPG technology has enabled manufacturers to meet the demand for high-quality laser printing and copying of the small office/home office (SOHO) market. For example, many manufacturers design and market moderately priced xe2x80x9cpersonalxe2x80x9d photocopiers that operate at moderate speeds of about eight pages to ten pages per minute (ppm). Complementing affordable photocopiers, there are a number of moderately priced laser printers on the market that also operate at these moderate speeds.
While color inkjet printers are commonplace, the same is not so for color EPG systems. Color photocopiers and laser printers are large and expensive. With respect to color laser printers, the footprint of such systems (i.e., the area of a surface occupied by a printer), as well as the vertical clearance, is nearly twice as large as that of a monochrome (i.e., black-only printing) model. In addition, the price of color laser printers is nearly twice as high as that of monochrome models with comparable printing speeds.
Although larger and more expensive, color EPG printers have a clear advantage over inkjet printers in workgroup environments where a printer is connected to several users. Affordable color inkjet printers print at very slow speeds, such as 2 ppm or 3 ppm for high-resolution images, which is unacceptable in workgroups. Only the most expensive color inkjet printers are able to print at moderate speeds of 10 ppm, which is still too slow for effectively functioning in a workgroup environment. Accordingly, if it is desired to connect a color printer in a workgroup, then the printer needs to be a color laser printer.
Large size and high price of laser printers result from complicated EPG printing arrangements and processes. Standard EPG printing processes consist of six basic steps: charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing, and cleaning. For a general discussion of six-step printing processes, see, for example, pages 2110 to 2116 by Robert C. Durbeck in The Electrical Engineering Handbook, 2nd ed. (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 1997), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. For a more detailed discussion of six-step printing processes, see, for example, pages 26 to 49, of Electropholography and Development Physics, 2nd ed., by Lawrence B. Schein (Laplacian Press, Morgan Hill, Calif., 1996), the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.
Standard color printing involves the use of four differently colored toners: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Conventional color laser printers include a printing station with components for carrying out the charging, exposing, and developing steps. To print in color, the six-step EPG process is carried out for each color toner, that is, four times, which results in slow printing speeds. In order to operate at higher speeds, conventional EPG color printers are provided with additional printing stations, with each printing station dedicated to one of the four colors. While such an arrangement increases speed, the additional printing stations. accordingly increase cost, size, and complexity.
In view of the foregoing, there is a tradeoff in the art of color laser printing between speed and cost. For example, if a user wants to print at high speeds, then an expensive printer needs to be purchased. If a user is on a budget, then a slower and more affordable printer needs to be purchased, and if such a user foresees increased printing needs in the future, then a higher quality printer will need to be purchased in the future. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for imaging systems that are able to print at moderate speeds at an affordable price and that are upgradeable to be able to print at higher speeds.
In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides upgradeable imaging systems and methods for upgrading imaging systems. The imaging systems of the invention enable users to purchase a moderately priced imaging system such as a color laser printer or a color photocopier that operates at moderate speeds, e.g., 8 pages per minute (ppm), and then to reconfigure the imaging system at a later time to operate at higher speeds, e.g., 16 ppm or 18 ppm.
According to one aspect of the invention, a preferred embodiment of an imaging system includes a plurality of imaging stations for forming an image on a sheet and a removable module including a photoreceptive substrate. An interior space is defined within the photoreceptive substrate in which at least one exposing unit is disposed. The imaging system also includes support structure for receiving the removable module, with the removable module being configured to be engageable with the support structure and, when engaged, to be disposed in an operative relationship with the imaging stations. In addition, the imaging control circuitry includes imaging control circuitry for configuring the imaging stations to operate according to a printing routine based on the number of exposing units.
The imaging systems of the present invention have a number of advantages, one of which is that the speed and, accordingly, the price of the imaging system may be changed by only changing the number of exposing units disposed on the removable module. An example of this advantage will be provided in the context of color electrophotographic (EPG) imaging where four imaging stations are provided, one for each of the four color toners: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. In this context, the imaging system may be manufactured with a removable module with only two exposing units, which may include light-emitting diode (LED) print heads (LPHs). The imaging system may then be configured to operating according to a two-pass imaging routine. The speed of such a two-pass imaging system is moderate. As LPHs are expensive, the price of such an imaging system is moderate as there are only two exposing units.
However, a user may desire to upgrade the imaging system by acquiring a removable module with four exposing units. The two-unit module may be removed and then replaced with the four-unit module. The imaging system may then be configured to operate according to a single-pass imaging routine, which is essentially twice as fast as a two-pass system. This upgradeable feature of the present invention allows a user on a budget to purchase a moderately priced imaging system that operates at moderate speeds to upgrade the imaging system in the future with a module that configures the system to operate at faster speeds.
Other aspects of the present invention are directed to determining the number of exposing units on a module and configuring the imaging system to operate according to an imaging routine based upon the number of exposing units. For example, the removable module may include an on-board memory on which is stored data indicated of the number of exposing units. The imaging control circuitry may then access the module memory to determine the number of exposing units and then configured the imaging routine accordingly.
Alternatively, the removable module may be assigned a unique identifier, and the imaging system may be connected to a remote station, e.g., via the Internet. The remote station may include a database corresponding the unique identifier with the number of exposing units. Circuitry on the imaging system may then retrieve data from the database indicative of the number of exposing units based on the unique identifier.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Upgradeable imaging systems with configurable printing routines


Toy guns are disclosed which are capable of simultaneously generating light and sound effects, having rotating a barrel assembly, creating vibrations in the body of the toy gun and operating a rapid indexing and cap firing mechanism. The rotating barrels, the cap indexing and firing mechanism and the vibration mechanism are all driven from a motor-driven gear and shaft assembly positioned within the toy gun. A dual action trigger is used to energize the light and sound effects when the trigger is activated to make a first electrical contact. Upon further activation, the trigger makes a second electrical contact which powers the motor and the gear and shaft assembly to drive the rotating barrel assembly, the cap indexing and firing mechanism and the vibration mechanism, as the light and sound effects continue.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to toy guns. More particularly, the invention relates to toy guns incorporating a variety of special effects simulating the operation of an automatic or semi-automatic submachine gun such as a gatling gun and which are constructed in a more efficient and cost-effective manner than prior toy guns.
2. Description of Related Art
Toy guns have been known heretofore which exhibit certain special effects. Light and sound effects, barrel recoil, muzzle flashes, vibration effects and cap firing mechanisms individually and in limited combinations have all been used in toy guns to simulate real guns and/or to create fantasy effects thus enhancing the appeal of the toy guns to consumers.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,150 to Kuo discloses a vibrating and sonic device for a toy gun installed within a chamber of a toy gun body. The vibrating and sonic device therein includes a motor-driven mechanism operated by pulling a trigger. A shaking effect is imparted to the gun by the movement of an eccentric cam by a motor powered by batteries. The eccentric mechanism, lights and sound effects are controlled using solid state circuitry.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,143 to Kuo discloses a toy gun including a trigger associated with a micro-switch. The micro-switch engages a rotatable wheel through a reduction gear. A link assembly, together with a rotatable wheel, provides a reciprocating motion and creates a kick-back effect. In addition, the link assembly is arranged to actuate another micro-switch which controls an audio circuit board and a speaker for generating a sound which mimics a gunshot.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,094,110 to Ryan discloses a toy gun which simulates an automatic rifle or portable machine gun. The invention utilizes a rocker which is operatively associated with a rack, so that linear motion of the rack imparts a rocking or oscillating motion to the rocker. The toy gun also contains a clapper device, a cap firing device, missile expelling means or other means, individually or in combination, operatively associated with the rocker.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,444 to Chih discloses a toy submachine gun which includes a body housing having a magazine housing and a pistol grip, a trigger, a plate spring and a contact engageable by the plate spring. When the trigger is squeezed, a motor drives a rotating arm through a reduction gear assembly. The rotating arm has an eccentric shaft reciprocatingly guided within a groove provided in the body housing. A striking plate spring also engages with the rotating arm so that then it is released therefrom it will strike a sound box. The reduction gear assembly, the rotating arm, the sound box and the striking plate spring are mounted in the casing so as to provide an enhanced vibrating feeling to the user of the gun by the reciprocal motion of the barrel casing.
Other patents of general interest are U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,641 to Chia-Fu, "Continuous Water-Ejecting Pistol Toy With Simultaneous Sound and Red-Flash Effects", U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,129 to Espisito, "Water Pistol And/Or Flash Light Structure", U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,872 to Sigg, "Multiple Action Toy Gun".
In addition, commercially available toy gun products demonstrating certain special effects include the "24001 Pulsator" gun sold by DSI which exhibits pulsating light effects, eight different sound effects and vibration effects. The "2300 Command Force" by SRM has a recoiling barrel, flashing light and sound effects. The "23015 Combat Force 0.50" by DSI has machine gun sound effects, barrel recoil, muzzle flash, a removable ammunition clip and a detachable tri-pod stand. The "Eliminator" by Tootsietoy six different realistic sound effects and two different fantasy sound effects, chaing barrel lights, strip cap firing, adjustable stock and removable ammunition clip.
Such prior toy guns, however, have not fully satisfied the consumer's quest for new and improved toy weapons exhibiting unique and distinctive features separately and in combination. For example, prior toy guns have not incorporated rotating barrels to simulate the action of an automatic or semi-automatic multiple barrel gatling gun-type construction as is provided herein.
Another problem with prior toy gun products which provide a diversity of special effects in operation is that they require relatively complex and bulky mechanisms to enable the achievement of each of the separate and combined effects. Thus, only a few effects have been incorporated in each prior construction as a result of the inherent inefficiencies of production and the accompanying costs of incorporating these special effects into prior toy gun products as well as the bulky dimensions which would result from the incorporation of a multiplicity of special effects into such products.


A treestand blind for use with a treestand adjacent a tree. The treestand includes a frame and a platform at a lower portion thereof. The blind includes first and second telescoping poles, each having lower and upper ends, each pole having an upper and lower portion, each of the poles having a tether attached proximate the upper end. The tether is attached around the tree with the poles being bowed both forwardly and laterally under tension. The blind also includes a pole mount attached to a front edge of the platform and has left and right receptacles respectively receiving the lower ends of the poles, with the poles each being forwardly angled at a first obtuse angle and laterally outwardly splayed at a second obtuse angle. A cover is wrapped about the poles and the frame, providing a covered space thereinside. The cover has zippered flaps that open.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to blinds and stands used by outdoor hunters and nature watchers, and in particular, to blinds for treestands used by hunters and nature watchers.
2. Information Disclosure Statement
When hunters hunt outdoors and when nature watchers observe wildlife and birds in the wild, so-called "treestands" are often used that provide a seat and/or standing platform for the hunter or nature watcher above the ground. Such treestands are typically secured to a tree and have a raised platform that is supported above the ground. Such a treestand raises the hunter or nature watcher so as to provide increased visibility, and also to keep the hunter or nature watcher off of wet ground. Well known such treestands are the Multi-Vision Climbing Stand Series treestands manufactured and sold by OL' MAN Treestands, 311 East Jennings St., Tallahassee, Fla. 32301. There are problems with the use of such exposed stands, namely, that they expose the hunter or nature watcher to the elements, such as wind, rain, and colder temperatures. This can detract from the outdoors experience and limit the time that the hunter or nature watcher can stay outdoors. Additionally, when a hunter or nature watcher is exposed, wildlife are deterred from approaching because they can easily see, smell, and hear the individual.
It is therefore desirable to have a blind for use with treestands by hunters or nature watchers. It is further desirable that such a blind be lightweight and portable, provide shelter for the hunter or nature watcher from the elements, hide the hunter or nature watcher from wildlife, and be easy to set up by a single person. It is further desirable to provide a portable blind that can be adapted for use with a variety of portable climbing deer stands, stationary ladder stands, and tree stands.
A preliminary patentability search produced the following patents and patent application publications, some of which may be relevant to the present invention: O'Hare, U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,192 (issued Aug. 13, 2002); Ransom et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,399 (issued Nov. 21, 2006); Jenkinson, U.S. Pat. No. 7,735,503 (issued Jun. 15, 2010); Stabler, U.S. Pat. No. 7,958,968 (issued Jun. 14, 2011); Valpredo, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0078988A1 (published Jun. 27, 2002); and Hanson, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0249640A1 (published Nov. 9, 2006).
Additionally, OL' MAN Outdoors, Multi-Vision Climbing Stand Series, (internet web page advertisement 2010), and The OL' MAN Treestands Multi-Vision Series Instruction Manual (May 2009), both published by OL' Man Treestands, 311 East Jennings St., Tallahassee, Fla. 32301, describe a treestand suitable for use with the present invention.
None of these references, either singly or in combination, discloses or suggests the present invention.


A liquid fertilizer injector system attached to a water source by a water source has an inlet line to input the water from the water source line into the liquid fertilizer injector system. The system's components include a holding tank to receive the water from the inlet line, a collapsible impermeable bag that is filled with liquid fertilizer and is placed in the holding tank, the water from the inlet line collecting in the holding tank and exerting pressure on the collapsible impermeable bag as it collects in the holding tank, an outlet line to disperse the liquid fertilizer back to the water source line, a port position indicator valve on the outlet line, to incrementally control the flow of liquid fertilizer from the outlet line back to the water source line, and a drainage valve to drain any input water in the holding tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid fertilizer injector system for lawn sprinkler systems and irrigation systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lawn sprinkler systems and irrigation systems are convenient and useful for helping users maintain a healthy lawn or harvest. These lawn sprinkler systems and irrigation systems are known to those that are skilled in the art and serve as a convenient way for people to water their lawn or crops. Users can also apply fertilizer to their lawn or crops by using a fertilizer system for even better results.
U.S. patent application Publication No. 2002/0000476, published on Jan. 3, 2002, describes the use of an improved liquid fertilizer distribution manifold operating in two stages, which includes an accumulator piston located above the primary and secondary ports. A broad range of regulated flow for site-specific farming results in precise, accurate and timely application of liquid fertilizer and pesticides.
U.S. patent application Publication No. 2002/0144735, published on Oct. 10, 2002, describes uniformly distributing and selectively outputting multiple fluid streams of a single or multiple-phase fluid from a fluid distributor manifold. More particularly, the publication discloses a method and system for distributing liquid fertilizer at a substantially equal rate to each of a plurality of distribution lines.
U.S. patent application Publication No. 2002/0145057, published on Oct. 10, 2002, describes the use of a fertilizer mixing device for sprinkler systems including a water inlet, a first water outlet and a second water outlet. The water inlet is in communication with an existing water source. A mixing chamber has a housing having a first opening therein for receiving the first water outlet of the water inlet pipe therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,198, issued to Mihara, discloses a method and an apparatus for diluting and mixing a variety of chemical solutions such as farm chemicals, pesticides and liquid fertilizers with water to a predetermined proportion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,710 issued to Boynton et al., outlines the use of a closed system for simultaneously mixing pesticide with water and transferring the same to a storage or spray tank for subsequent use. The system includes a pipe casing having a water inlet section for connection to a pump and a water discharge section for connection to the spray tank with a venturi chamber defined between the two.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,294, issued to McLoughlin et al., teaches the use of a system for injecting chemicals into a fire fighting system of the type using a plurality of water hoses and having a source of water and a source of chemicals. A servo motor system is connected to automatically meter a certain ration of chemicals into the water supply. The servo motor system is responsive to the total flow to control the chemical pump in order to pump a certain ration of chemicals into the water supply, even if the total flow varies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,353, issued to Newby, shows the use of an irrigation and fertilization control and distribution system characterized by a distribution network and a control assembly coupling the distribution network to a pressurized water source. The control assembly includes an on/off valve mechanism operative to supply water to the distribution network, when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined level, and a fertilizer metering mechanism operative to supply liquid fertilizer to the distribution network on the rising portion of a temperature cycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,712, issued to Terrell, describes the use of a selective liquid fertilizer blending system and apparatus associated with golf courses utilizing automatic irrigation systems to irrigate the various species of turf grasses used on fairways, tees, greens and other areas, the system being adapted to selectively and continuously blend, in a spoon feeding manner, the agronomically correct ratios of liquid fertilizer and irrigation water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,192, issued to Terrell et al., discloses the use of a selective liquid fertilizer blending system and apparatus associated with golf courses utilizing automatic irrigation systems, to irrigate the various species of turf grasses used on fairways, tees, greens and other areas, which includes devices for monitoring and adjusting the pH of the irrigation water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,991, issued to McMillan et al., teaches the use of an apparatus for directing a liquid fertilizer into an irrigation system having a liquid fertilizer flow conduit with the valve of a solenoid valve and the float of a float switch located in series and an electric circuit with the switch of the float switch, solenoid of the solenoid valve and automatic timer device in series. The apparatus directs fertilizer therethrough when electricity is delivered to the switch, solenoid and automatic timer device when the switch is closed by the float and the timer is conducting electricity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,303, issued to Freyvogel, shows the use of a sprinkler system fertilization regulator that automatically mixes a plurality of chemicals for the purpose of fertilization, weed control or insect control. An electrically operated manifold distributes the chemical and water stream to each of the sprinkler zones provided. The output stream pressure is programmable, constant and independent of the incoming fresh water pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,068, issued to Runyon, describes the use of methods and apparatuses for enhancing water quality. More particularly, it relates to providing improved irrigation to vegetation in open areas, such as parks and golf courses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,364, issued to Gertie, discloses the use of an automatic fertilizing device, which is installed inline with a below ground water line for an underground sprinkler system, thus placing the entire device below the surface. The device has a fertilizer tablet chamber with an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends, which are connected to the inlet and outlet side of the water line. A fertilizer replenishment passage extends upwardly from the chamber, with an upper end positioned at or below ground level.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,839 issued to Gonske, teaches the use of an apparatus and method for injecting a liquid product or chemical into a main water supply line used for agricultural or industrial purposes. A pressure regulating bypass valve has an inlet side connected to an outlet line of a multi-ganged, diaphragm pump. The pump is run at a constant speed and produces a non-pulsatile flow of product. The bypass line of the valve is connected to an inlet line of the pump. The bypass valve is set at a predetermined pressure, discharging any excess product into the bypass line.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,732, issued to Davis et al., shows the use of a chemical feeding system for adding either liquid or 100% soluble solid chemicals including fertilizer, insecticide and herbicide to a lawn sprinkler system, either above or below ground level. The system has one or two vertically oriented mixing chambers containing a removable sponge filter. An effluent tube is attached to the bottom of the mixing chamber for recycling through an adjustable flow meter valve. A drain tube with a shutoff valve and a one-way check valve leads to the main sprinkler system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,303, issued to Francis, describes the use of a device for injecting liquid chemical solutions into the flow of a lawn sprinkler system. The device allows the user to easily attach and remove chemical jars without the risk of losing the prime on the pump.
Great Britain Patent No. 864,241, published Mar. 29, 1961, discloses the use of an injector assembly for automatically injecting liquid fertilizer into an irrigation system for greenhouses, groves or orchards in proportion to the rate of flow of water therein.
Great Britain Patent No. 1,566,583, published May 8, 1980, teaches the use of an apparatus for mixing water and fertilizer for use in the automatic irrigation and fertilization of plants in a greenhouse, especially a small domestic greenhouse.
Although each of these patents and publications describe irrigation or sprinkler devices, what is really needed is a device to provide a constant volume of liquid fertilizer solution into a lawn sprinkler system without diluting the fertilizer solution. Such an apparatus or device would be well-received in the marketplace and would address a strong demand for such a device or apparatus.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a liquid fertilizer injector system for irrigation and sprinkler systems solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Liquid fertilizer injector system for lawn sprinkler systems and irrigation systems


A mechanical key switch for a membrane keyboard including a key cap supported on an actuating spring member by a compression spring and made to slide on a key body vertically, the actuating spring member having a unitary, arched bridge plate in the middle, which curves inwards to trigger an electrical signal and simultaneously to produce a click sound upon pressing of the key cap against the compression spring, and curves outwards to return the key cap and simultaneously to produce a click sound upon releasing of the key cap.

The present invention relates to key switches and more specifically to a mechanical key switch for a membrane keyboard which produces a click sound each time it is switched on or switched off.
A variety of mechanical key switches are known, and used in computer keyboards for triggering signals. These mechanical key switches are commonly consisted of at least six component parts. Therefore, the conventional mechanical key switches are complicated to assemble, and expensive to manufacture.

Mechanical key switch for a membrane keyboard


A substrate resin having pendant acid groups is produced by copolymerizing an acrylic or methacrylic ester of which alcoholic residue includes a bulky hydrocarbon radical or a soft segment. The substrate resin is then metallized together with an organic mobobasic acid so that both of the pendant acid group and the organic monobasic acid group are bount to the same metal atom. The resulting hydrolyzable metal-containing resin is incorporated into self-polishing antifouling paint formulations together with an antifouling pigment such as cuprous oxide.

This invention relates to a hydrolyzable, metal-containing resin for use as a vehicle resin of antifouling paints as well as antifouling paint compositions containing said resin.
Antifouling paints containing as a vehicle resin a trialkyltin-containing polymer are known. These resins are advantageous in controlling the release of antifouling agent to a minimum level sufficient to maintain desired antifouling effect at a constant level for a long period of time. In application, the vehicle resin consisting of a trialkyltin-containing polymer is hydrolyzed by the action of weakly alkaline sea water to release the trialkyltin, and at the same time the resin becomes water-soluble so that the paint film is consumed and smoothed. This contributes to the reduction of the frictional resistance of ships against water and, therefore, to the reduction of fuel cost.
The vehicle resins of this type of paints, known as "self-polishing paints", typically consist of copolymers of trialkyltin (meth)acrylate with other comonomers free from carboxyl group. However, strong concern about the toxic effect of trialkyltin on the ecological system has led to a demand for a new vehicle resin which may replace the trialkyltin-containing polymers in the formulation of self-polyshing antifouling paints.
JP-A-62101653, JP-A-62057646, JP-A-63128008 and JP-A-63128084 disclose a metal-containing resin in which a metal atom is ionically combined with an acid pendant group of the resin and further with a monobasic organic acid, and methods of production of such resins. This type of resins may also be hydrolyzed gradually in the sea water to release antifouling metal ions and become soluble by themselves so as to achieve self-polishing effects.
The metal-containing resins are produced by copolymerizing an unsaturated organic acid monomer with a neutral monomer to prepare an acid group-containing resin (hereinafter referred to as "substrate resin"), and then combining the metal and monobasic organic acid. However, the effects of neutral monomers present in the substrate resin on the film performance of antifouling paint formulations containing metallized substrate resins and antifouling pigments have not been investigated well until now. This is because the dissolution rate of films, for example, has long been believed to be affected mainly by the acid number of the subsrate resin but not with the nature of neutral monomers significantly.

Hydrolyzable metal-containing resin and antifouling paint composition