A method of producing starch-emulsifier compositions by heating a starch in the presence of an emulsifier to form a complex with unique properties. The product can be further treated to obtain greater than about 20% short chain amylose. Starch-emulsifier compositions (e.g., powders, gels, pastes) produced by this method and food products containing the starch-emulsifier composition are also described.

Starch is composed primarily of two components: amylose, a mainly linear polymer of about 500-6000 xcex1-D glucosyl residues, and amylopectin, a highly branched polymer of xcex1-D glucosyl distributed in 15-60 residues per chain (Godet et al., Carbohydrate Polymers 27:47-52 (1995)). It is well known that amylose can form complexes with molecules such as iodine, alcohols and lipids, whereas amylopectin forms these complexes weakly or not at all (Morrison et al., Cereal Chem 70:385-91 (1993); Sarko and Zugenmaier, Fiber Diffraction Methods, A. D. French and K. C. Gardner, Eds., ACS Symposium Series 141:459-482 (1980)). The in situ biosynthesis of amylose-lipid complexes in starch with naturally occurring fatty acids and phospholipids has been demonstrated (Morrison et al. (1993)). Others have shown that complex formation occurs during heat/moisture treatments, especially during gelatinization of starches with the naturally containing lipids (Kugimiya et al., Stxc3xa4rke 32:265-270 (1980); Kugimiya and Donovan, J. Food Sci. 46:765-777 (1981)) or when lipids are added to defatted starches (Biliaderis et al., Food Chem. 22:279-295 (1986)) or pure amylose which is free of natural lipids (Biliaderis et al, Carbohydr. Polym. 5:367-389 (1985)).
Both naturally-occurring and heat-formed complexes show specific properties such as a decrease in amylose solubility or an increase in gelatinization temperatures (Eliasson et al., Stxc3xa4rke 33:130 (1981), Morrison et al. (1993)). Polar lipids, e.g., fatty acids and their monoglyceride esters are of technological importance in starch systems, as they cause a reduction in stickiness, improved freeze-thaw stability (Mercier et al., Cereal Chem. 57:4-9 (1980) and retardation of retrogradation. One important example is the use of fatty acids and monoglycerides as anti-staling agents in bread and biscuits. Incorporation of such additives in the dough induces a slower crystallization (retrogradation) of the amylose fraction and retards the staling of bread (Krog, Stxc3xa4rke 22:206-210 (1971)).
The present invention pertains to starch-emulsifier compositions and methods of making the starch-emulsifier compositions comprising heating starch (e.g., jet-cooking, heating in a batch cooker) in the presence of an emulsifier to produce a starch-emulsifier dispersion which can optionally be treated to obtain greater than about 20% by weight short chain amylose.
In one embodiment of the invention, a starch and an emulsifier are heated (e.g., jet-cooked) to disrupt essentially all starch granules and solubilize amylose and amylopectin in the starch. The product contains a dispersion of gelatinized starch and emulsifier which is believed to be in the form of a complex, as seen by X-ray diffraction. The dispersion of starch and emulsifier can be cooled slowly or quickly to form an elastic textured paste, or the solution can optionally be dried to a powder.
In another embodiment of the invention, a starch and emulsifier are heated (e.g., jet-cooked) to produce a dispersion of gelatinized starch and emulsifier in which the amylose and amylopectin are solubilized. The starch is subsequently hydrolyzed to release short chain amylose, preferably using an enzymatic treatment. After hydrolysis of the starch-emulsifier solution, the solution can optionally be heated to a temperature sufficient to liquify the emulsifier, thereby increasing the percentage of starch-emulsifer complex formed. Thereafter, the solution can be cooled to form a short-textured, non-elastic paste or it can optionally be dried (e.g., by spray drying) into a powder.
The starch-emulsifier compositions can also be optionally co-processed with hydrocolloids, polymers, gums, modified starches and combinations thereof, which can be added at any point in the processes described herein. These optional ingredients serve to change (e.g., increase or decrease) the functional properties (e.g., water binding capacity, oil binding capacity or viscosity) of the composition depending upon product end use. For example, these optional ingredients can be added to increase the overall water binding capacity of the starch-emulsifier composition or change the rheology of the starch-emulsifier composition.
The starch-emulsifier composition produced by a process which uses a hydrolytic method is characterized by a relatively small particle size (a weight average of 4-5 xcexc), a short, non-elastic texture or rheology and a low water and oil binding capacity. The starch-emulsifier composition produced by cooking starch and emulsifier, without subsequent hydrolysis, is characterized as more elastic and a less opaque gel compared to the hydrolyzed product. In either process, the dried starch-emulsifier composition can be rehydrated, preferably in an aqueous medium suitable for use in food or beverage formulations (e.g., milk or water), under conditions of medium to high shear to produce an opaque paste upon refrigeration.
The starch-emulsifier compositions produced by the methods described herein are useful in a variety of food and beverage applications. For example, the starch-emulsifier compositions can be used as an opacifier in foods and beverages such as skim milk, or as a texturizing agent to prepare dairy products with a rheology similar to sour cream, yogurt, mayonnaise and similar products. For example, the starch-emulsifier compositions of the present invention can be used to prepare lactose-free dairy products. The starch-emulsifier compositions can also be used to stabilize foams, such as in the production of ice cream, and as a fat replacer in a variety of reduced-fat and fat-free foods, such as cakes, pudding type desserts, sauces, margarine, cream cheese and other spreads, snack dips, mayonnaise, sour cream, yogurt, ice cream, frozen desserts, fudge and other confections, and skim milk. The starch-emulsifier compositions can be incorporated into fat-free, reduced fat and fat containing cheeses, such as natural, processed and imitation cheeses in a variety of forms (e.g., shredded, block, slices, grated). The starch-emulsifier compositions are also useful, as for example a shortening, in baked goods such as cakes, pies, brownies, cookies, breads, noodles, snack items, such as crackers, graham crackers and pretzels, and similar products.
The present invention pertains to methods of manufacture and the starch-emulsifier compositions produced thereby that are useful in a variety of food and beverage applications. According to the invention, a starch is heated in the presence of an emulsifier to a temperature and pressure sufficient to disrupt essentially all the starch granules and solubilize the amylose and amylopectin contained therein, such as by jet cooking, to yield a starch-emulsifier dispersion. This dispersion can be cooled slowly or quickly to form an elastic gel, or the dispersion can optionally be dried to a powder. The powder can be rehydrated with medium to high shear to produce a smooth gel that is more elastic and less opaque compared to the hydrolyzed product described below.
Alternatively, a dispersion of the starch-emulsifier complex produced as described above can be treated to generate about 20% by weight short chain amylose (e.g., enzymatically debranched, hydrolysis of the backbone by amylase or acid hydrolysis), and the resultant dispersion of starch, containing greater than about 20% by weight short chain amylose, and emulsifier is optionally heated to a temperature sufficient to inactivate the enzyme if used and to liquify the emulsifier. Liquification of the emulsifier facilitates the formation of additional starch-emulsifier complexes in the final composition.
As used herein, short chain amylose is defined as amylose having a degree of polymerization (DP) of from about 6 to about 60 and a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 10,000 which is indicative of maltodextrin. The term xe2x80x9cgelatinizationxe2x80x9d or varient thereof, is intended to embrace the generally recognized term but also is intended to encompass the process of rupturing essentially all starch granules present in the starch, thereby releasing amylose and amylopectin.
The dispersion of starch and emulsifier containing about 20% short chain amylose can be allowed to cool to form an opaque paste with a short, non-elastic texture. Alternatively, the dispersion can be dried to a powder and rehydrated with medium to high shear to produce a short, smooth, non-elastic textured paste of high opacity upon refrigeration.
The starch used as a starting material in the process of the present invention can be a native starch or a pregelatinized starch. If a pregelatinized starch is utilized, it should preferably contain a low amount of resistant starch, such as less than about 10% resistant starch. If the starting starch has more than about 10% resistant starch, the starch can be used in the present invention if it is first heated to a temperature above the melting point of the resistant starch.
The native or pregelatinized starch used in the present invention should preferably have an amylose content of less than about 30%. If the amylose content is greater than about 30%, debranching and/or hydrolysis of the starch (e.g., with an acid or by enzymatic amylase treatment) prior to heating in the presence of the emulsifier may be required to reduce the molecular weight of the amylose. The use of high-amylose starch is generally not preferred, as high-amylose starch tends to form stable resistant starch with a large particle size during processing. For example, debranched or partially hydrolyzed amylomaize can be used, as well as common cornstarch, potato, tapioca, wheat, smooth pea, rice, sago, barley and oat starches.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the processes described herein yield compositions comprising starch and emulsifier in the form of a complex having an insoluble microparticle nature which is stabilized by the interaction between amylose and emulsifier. The composition also comprises uncomplexed emulsifier, uncomplexed starch, and optionally short chain amylose if debranching and/or hydrolysis is performed. Thus, emulsifiers capable of forming a complex with amylose are particularly preferred for use in the invention. Generally, the emulsifiers will be monoglycerides, sorbitan esters, diacetyl tartaric acid esters of monoglycerides (DATEM), propylene glycol esters, enzyme modified lecithin (EML), polysorbates and sucrose esters of medium and long chain saturated fatty acids (e.g., having an acyl group containing more than about 10 carbon atoms), as well as saturated fatty acids (e.g., saturated fatty acids which contain from about 12 to about 18 carbons) and unsaturated fatty acids (unsaturated fatty acids which contain from about 12 to about 18 carbons, e.g., oleic and linoleic acids). For example, emulsifiers including, but not limited to, polyethylene glycol monolaurate or glyceryl monostearate, sodium or calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, sucrose monostearate and sucrose monopalmitate are suitable for use in the starch-emulsifier composition of the present invention, as well as other saturated fatty acids (see also Example 6). EML can be produced by treating lecithin with phospholipase A2. EML produced through the action of phospholipase A2 is enriched in lysophosphatydylcholine, which is known to form complex with amylose. Commercial EML is available at Lucas Meyer Inc. (Decatur, Ill.) and Central Soya Co. (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
The starch and the emulsifier are combined in an aqueous medium such as water to produce a dispersion. The dispersion generally contains from about 5% to about 25% (w/w) of starch. The emulsifier will be present in an amount which is approximately 0.1% to about 25% of the starch weight, and more preferably 1% to 10% of the starch weight present in the composition. The dispersion is then heated under conditions appropriate to disrupt essentially all the starch granules and solubilize the amylose and amylopectin present in the starch. This can be carried out, for example, by co-jet cooking the starch-emulsifier dispersion. Alternatively, the starch-emulsifier dispersion can be heated in a reactor or batch cooker, or by any other method in which the starch is gelatinized in the presence of the emulsifier, such as by extrusion. The starch can also be jet cooked into the emulsifier; that is, the starch can be heated to or above its gelatinization temperature and immediately combined with the emulsifier. The emulsifier may need to be dispersed beforehand in a little water and the dispersion added to the starch slurry prior to cooking; added to the jet cooked starch; or the starch is jet cooked into the dispersion of the emulsifier. The temperature and pH necessary to disperse the emulsifier in water are characteristic for each emulsifier or can be determined by those skilled in the art. It is essential that the emulsifier and starch be combined prior to the heating or jet cooking step or immediately after solubilization of the starch, as later addition of the emulsifier results in a larger particle size and a gritty product due to retrogradation of the starch.
In one embodiment, after the starch-emulsifier dispersion is heated to solubilize the amylose present in the starch, the starch is treated to release short chain amylose. Appropriate treatment of the starch will result in a starch material containing greater than about 20% short chain amylose. Generally, release of the short chain amylose from the starch will be carried out by enzymatically debranching the starch, e.g., the starch can be debranched with (1-6)-specific glycosidic enzymes which are capable of cleaving 1,6-alpha-D-glucosidic linkages. For instance, the starch-emulsifier dispersion can be treated with pullulanase or isoamylase, at a temperature and pH and for a time sufficient to allow the enzyme to release the short chain amylose. Generally, appropriate temperatures will range from about 25xc2x0 C. to about 100xc2x0 C., with from about 55xc2x0 C. to about 65xc2x0 C. being preferred, for a time of from about 1 hour to about 30 hours, depending on the enzyme utilized and the enzyme concentration. Furthermore, the pH of the solution will be from about 3 to about 7.5. In a particularly preferred method, the starch-emulsifier dispersion is treated with pullulanase at 60xc2x0 C. at pH 5 for about 4 hours. The optimum conditions for the enzymatic reaction will vary, with changes in parameters such as starch and enzyme concentrations, pH, temperature and other factors which can be readily determined by the skilled artisan.
Alternatively, the starch can be randomly hydrolyzed to produce greater than 20% short chain amylose by use of an appropriate acid, such as a mineral acid or organic acid. Generally, acid hydrolysis will take place at a pH of less than about 4xc2x0 C. and at a temperature greater than about 60xc2x0 C., depending upon the acid used. The conditions for acid hydrolysis should be such that inappropriate side reactions are minimized. Short chain amylose can also be generated by treating the starch with alpha amylase, alone or in combination with pullulanase. Substantial debranching or hydrolysis of the starch (e.g., debranching sufficient to generate a starch material containing greater than about 20% short chain amylose) results in a short textured, non-elastic paste, whereas in the absence of debranching or hydrolysis the product is an elastic gel (see Example 3).
Both the hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed starch-emulsifier dispersions can be heated to a temperature and pH and for a time sufficient to liquify the emulsifier, i.e., a temperature above the melting point of the emulsifier, to produce additional starch-emulsifier complexes in the composition. If a debranching enzyme is used, the heat treatment will also inactivate the enzyme. In most cases, a temperature of approximately 70xc2x0 C. to approximately 100xc2x0 C. is sufficient to liquify the emulsifier within the dispersion and inactivate the enzyme, if present. The starch-emulsifier dispersion can be heated by a number of conventional methods, including a heat exchanger, jacketed reactor, direct steam injection or extruder.
The starch-emulsifier compositions that have been hydrolyzed and subsequently heat treated appear watery and have a low viscosity at approximately 10% to 25% solids. The low viscosity product can be cooled slowly or rapidly to form a paste for use in food applications, or the low viscosity composition can be optionally dried to produce a powder by a number of art-recognized methods, including spray drying, belt drying, freeze drying, drum drying or flash drying; however, in a preferred embodiment, the dispersion is spray dried. The powder can be stored at room temperature, and can be rehydrated with water or another aqueous medium, preferably an aqueous medium which is appropriate for use in food and beverage formulations, under conditions of medium to high shear to give a paste of high opacity and short, non-elastic texture.
The starch and emulsifier can also be co-processed with hydrocolloids, gums, polymers, modified starches and combinations thereof to change the rheology or increase the water binding capacity of the starch-emulsifier compositions. For example, xanthan gum, alginate, carrageenan, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, guar gum, gum arabic, locust bean gum and combinations thereof can be added to the starch-emulsifier compositions at any time during the preparation thereof, as long as the additional ingredient(s) does not prevent the formation of the amylose-emulsifier complex. That is, these additional optional ingredients can be jet-cooked along with the starch and emulsifier, added prior to or after the debranching step, added prior to or after the optional heating step, added to the paste composition or dry blended with the powdered composition after drying. Preferably, the hydrocolloid, gum, modified starch or polymer is added to the dispersion after the debranching step and prior to drying the composition (see Example 7) or is dry blended with the powdered composition after the drying step.
The starch-emulsifier compositions of this invention comprise starch-emulsifier complexes, uncomplexed emulsifier, uncomplexed starch and optionally greater than from about 20% short chain amylose if the uncomplexed starch in the composition is hydrolyzed. The percentage of complex present in the composition will vary depending upon whether the starch and emulsifier are hydrolyzed, but in any event, the composition should comprise a minimum of about 20% by weight starch-emulsifier complex. The complexes are insoluble microparticulates which have an average particle size of less than about 10 xcexc, and preferably less than about 6 xcexc. The starch-emulsifier composition of the present invention produced using hydrolysis has a short, non-elastic texture or rheology and a low water and oil binding capacity and contains greater than about 20% short chain amylose. The starch-emulsifier composition produced by cooking starch and emulsifier, without subsequent hydrolysis, is characterized as a more elastic and less opaque gel compared to the hydrolyzed product.
The starch-emulsifier compositions of the present invention are suitable for use in a variety of foods and beverages. The amount of starch-emulsifier composition incorporated into the food or beverage will depend upon the formulation of the food, but will generally be approximately 1-10% by weight. For example, the starch-emulsifier compositions can be used as an opacifier in milk and similar foods to improve the visual appeal of the food. The starch-emulsifier compositions can also be used as a texturizing agent in various dairy foods; due to its small particle size, the starch-emulsifier compositions do not impart a gritty mouthfeel to products in which it is incorporated. The starch-emulsifier compositions are useful for preparing dairy products with a rheology similar to traditional sour cream, yogurt and mayonnaise formulations. For example, the starch-emulsifier compositions can be used in the preparation of lactose-free dairy products. The compositions are particularly useful for the preparation of reduced-fat and fat-free food products, particularly margarines, pudding type desserts, sauces, snack dips, mayonnaise, sour cream, yogurt, ice cream, frozen desserts, cream cheese and other spreads, fudge and other confections, and skim milk. The starch-emulsifier compositions can be incorporated into fat-free, reduced fat and fat containing cheeses, such as natural, processed and imitation cheeses in a variety of forms (e.g., shredded, block, slices, grated). The starch-emulsifier compositions are also useful in baked goods such as breads, cakes, pies, brownies, cookies, noodles, snack items, such as crackers, graham crackers and pretzels, and similar products, as it does not interfere with the organoleptic properties of the foods in which it is incorporated.
Terms used herein have their art-recognized meaning unless otherwise defined. The teachings of references referred to herein are incorporated herein by reference. All percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.

Starch-emulsifier composition and method of making


An integrated pressure and flow ratio control system includes N mass flow controllers MFCi (i=1, . . . , N) that each control the flow rate of a fluid Fi (i=1, . . . , N) flowing into a processing chamber. These N mass flow controllers are linked together by a digital communication network. One of the mass flow controllers is a master MFC, and the remaining N−1 MFCs are slave MFCs. The master MFC receives a pressure set point and a plurality N of flow ratio set points from a host controller, and communicates these set points to all the slave MFCs. In this way, the pressure in the chamber is maintained at the pressure set point and the flow ratios Qi/QT are maintained at the flow ratio set points, where Qi is flow rate of the i-th fluid Fi, and QT=Q1+Q2+ . . . QN is the sum of all N flow rates.

In processes such as semiconductor fabrication, precise amounts of gases or other fluids have to be delivered to a processing chamber or other facility. In some applications, a plurality of process gases or fluids may have to be delivered and processed.
In these applications, the flow ratios between the flow rates of the individual fluids and the total flow rate summed over all the fluids have to be maintained at desired set point values. Typically, this may accomplished by using multiple mass flow controllers to control the individual flow rates of each of the fluids. A related variable that needs to be controlled and maintained at a desired set point value is the pressure in the processing chamber. Controlling the flow rates and concentrations of multiple fluid lines, while at the same time maintaining the chamber pressure at a desired value, may be a challenge.
There is a need for systems and methods for controlling in a reliable and efficient manner both the pressure in a processing chamber as well as the flow ratios of multiple fluids that flow into the chamber for processing.

Integrated pressure and flow ratio control system


An input device including a medium support for supporting a medium; a reading unit for reading an image from the medium and for generating image data accordingly; and a movement mechanism for generating relative movement between the medium support and the reading unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input/output device and particularly to an input/output device capable of inputting and outputting image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional input devices include keyboards and such simple mechanisms as mouses, trackballs, touch panels, and tablets. However, these input devices have limitations. For example, keyboards are limited to how compact they can be manufactured and can not be used to input diagrams. Mouses do not allow for easy input of characters and can not be used without a flat surface. Trackballs, also, do not allow for easy input of characters and additionally can not be used for finely detailed input. Both touch panels and tablets ordinarily require a large area to be useful and can not easily be employed in a small input device.
Conventional output devices include liquid crystal display panels and electrophotographic or ink-jet style desktop printers. However, these output devices have limitations. Although desktop electrophotographic and ink-jet printers are being made more and more compact, they are still not very portable. Liquid crystal displays are incapable of producing hard copy.
On the other hand, some stand-alone combination input/output devices have been proposed that are compact and portable. For example, there has been known an image reading head and a printing head both housed in a pillar-shaped housing. The printing head can be used to print an image read by the image reading head. In order to read image data with this portable input/output device, the user grasps the housing casing in hand and moves the device over a medium to be read, or read medium. In order to reproduce the image, the user moves the printing head over a write medium. An encoder is provided to the housing of the input/output device. The encoder contacts the read or write medium and rotates according to the amount that the housing is moved. In this way the amount the housing is moved can be detected.

Device for inputting and outputting image data


The invention provides a board-to-board interconnection system which can flexibly meet the floating or un-floating requirements. When it is applied to a floating state, the first connector (12) includes an inner unit (16) and outer unit (18) wherein the outer unit (18) is directly mounted on the first board (100) and the inner unit (16) are freely moveable within the outer unit (18), and the second connector (14) is mounted on the second board (102). When it is applied to an un-floating state, the first connector (12') includes only a unit, similar to the inner unit (16), directly mounted on the first board (100) to incorporate the second connector (12) mounted on the second board (102).

1. Field of The Invention
The invention relates to a board-to-board connector assembly arrangement, and particularly to the connection mechanism which may provide floating or self-adjustment function for interconnecting two parallel spaced boards.
2. The Prior Art
The traditional board-to-board connection most of time is generally made by two connectors wherein one is of a plug type mounted on one board and another is of a socket type mounted on another parallel spaced board, both of which mate with each other for mechanical and electrical connection therebetween. The traditional board-to-board connector assembly can be referred to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,116,247, 5,181,855, 5,277,597, 5,395,250, 5,433,616 and 5,478,248.
As noted, in the recent years, miniaturization is a trend in the computer field which requests tinier dimensional connector to mating with a complementary connector having the similar dimension. Such tiny dimension makes higher precision requirements and tough tolerances in the connector design/manufacturing; otherwise, the mis-aligned plug connector and socket connector will be damaged during their improper mating. Therefore, it is desired to have a floating structure built in either the socket connector or the plug connector which allows adjustable mating between the socket connector and the plug connector even if there is substantially a deviation between the plug connector and the socket connector along their mating region.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a connector assembly with floating mechanism for use with two boards wherein such floating mechanism can absorb lateral deviation between two mating connectors which are respectively mounted on the two corresponding boards, so that the desired reliable connection can be obtained.
Another object of the invention is to provide a connector assembly which is adapted to be easily alternatively arranged to adopt a conventional type, i.e., un-floating type, in the corresponding board-to-board connection. This changeable arrangement provides flexibility during manufacturing for lower the cost.


A driving apparatus used for an analog indicating instrument having a pair of cross coils comprises a pulse signal generating device for generating a pulse signal having a frequency proportional to a quantity to be measured, a frequency-voltage conversion device for generating a ripple voltage proportional to the frequency of the pulse, holding a mean voltage of the ripple voltage as an analog voltage while restraining the ripple, and controlling the analog voltage so as to change following a mean value of the ripple voltage, thereby to supply the analog voltage, and driving devices for supplying a current in accordance with the analog voltage to the cross coils so as to drive these cross coils. The driving apparatus has effects on improving responsibility of frequency-voltage conversion operation in a low frequency region and reducing the deflection of a pointer of an instrument by restraining the ripples.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cross coil type analog indicating instrument and more particularly to a driving apparatus suited for driving the analog indicating instrument concerned.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In a driving apparatus of this type has been heretofore normally furnished with a frequency-voltage converter for converting a car speed into analog voltage. The frequency-voltage converter receives a signal having a frequency proportional to a car speed generated by a car speed pickup and converts the signal into an analog voltage proportional to the frequency. And the analog voltage supplies cross coils with an electric current so as to drive them, thereby to indicate the car speed by a pointer coupled with the cross coils.
In such a structure, ripple components are usually contained in the analog voltage outputted from above-mentioned frequency-voltage converter. Since these ripple components are conspicuous particularly in a low frequency region, such a problem is posed that large pointer deflection phenomenon presents itself on the pointer.
In regard to the above, it is conceivable to adopt a smoothing capacitor having large electrostatic capacity for increasing smoothing degree of the ripple components, thereby to restrain above-mentioned large pointer deflection phenomenon. In such a case, however, instead of a fact that large pointer deflection phenomenon in a low frequency region can be restrained, above-mentioned smoothing causes delay in response in the output of the frequency-voltage converter, and the pointer cannot deflect with good responsibility following kaleidoscopic change of the car speed. As a result, such a problem is posed that correct car speed information cannot be brought to a crew.
While a smaller electric capacity of the capacitor may improve the responsibility by reducing the smoothing degree of ripple components, the capacitor cannot dissolve the pointer deflection phenomenon in the low frequency region. As a result, such a problem is posed that visual confirmation of speed information is not easy.
Kobayashi et al. disclose a driving apparatus by a digital circuit which generates an instrument driving signal having a suitable time constant by using a frequency-voltage (F-V) converter section selected in accordance with a frequency of an input pulse in JP-A-1-118772. It is also conceivable that above-mentioned frequency-voltage converter is structured with a digital circuit as disclosed by Kobayashi et al., but the frequency-voltage converter becomes larger in size and higher in cost.
Further, according to an apparatus for driving a pointer in accordance with a trapezoidal waveform stored in advance corresponding to an input signal level, the deflection of a pointer caused by ripples is eliminated, but the deflection caused by a point of inflection of the trapezoidal waveform is generated. The present inventors have disclosed in JP-A-2-222840 driving means which generates a triangular wave in accordance with an analog input, and supplies the triangular wave to the cross coils after having the triangular wave approximate to a sine wave. With this, the deflection of the pointer becomes smooth, but responsibility in a low frequency region is insufficient.

Driving apparatus for cross-coil type analog indicating instrument having reduced ripple


A card connector has a housing, a sliding member that is designed to receive a card, and a latching member that is connected to the housing. The sliding member is slidable relative to the housing. The latching member is designed to engage the card to prevent the card from being removed from the housing.

Memory cards for storing data are used in many electronic devices, such as video cameras, digital still cameras, smartphones, PDA's, music players, ATMs, cable television decoders, toys, games, PC adapters, multi-media cards and other electronic applications. A card reader, which typically is part of an electronic device, is used to read data from a memory card and transmit the data to the electronic device. And a card reader may also be used to write data from the electronic device to the memory card. A card connector is used to connect a memory card to a card reader.
There are a variety of card connectors. A common type of card connector is the push-push type, in which a memory card is first pushed into the cavity of the card connector to a latched operative position and is pushed again to be ejected and released from the latched position.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,828 ('828 patent), incorporated herein by reference, describes a typical memory card connector of the push-push type. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5-10 of this patent, a memory card connector 26 includes a dielectric housing 28 and a sheet metal shell 30. The housing 28 and metal shell 30 together define a cavity 32 for receiving a memory card 36 (FIG. 5). The cavity 32 has a front insertion opening 34 for a memory card to be inserted into and removed from the cavity 32. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear section 28a of the housing 28 has through passages 38 for mounting a plurality of terminals 58 for connecting the memory card to a card reader.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the '828 patent, the memory card connector 26 also includes a card sliding member mechanism 60 located within the housing 28. The card sliding member mechanism 60 includes a cam slider (a sliding member) 62, a pin 64 and a coil spring 66. The coil spring 66 is mounted on a spring mounting post 48 (FIG. 3) and is sandwiched between the cam slider 62 and a rear wall portion 42b.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 14 of the '828 patent, the cam slider 62 includes a rear, upwardly projecting body block 62a and a forwardly projecting locking arm 62b. The distal end of the locking arm 62b includes a locking projection 68, which has a gentle sloping surface 68a at the lead side of the projection and an abrupt catch surface 68b at the rear of the projection 68. The cam slider 62 also includes a heart-shaped cam slot 70 on an outside face 62c of the locking arm 62b. The heart-shaped cam slot 70 is of a conventional "push/push" configuration.
As shown in FIG. 1 of the '828 patent, a first end 64a of the pin 64 is fixed to a side wall section 28b of the housing 28. A second end 64b of the pin 64 is captured in the heart-shaped cam slot 70. Therefore, the second end 64b of the pin 64 follows the contour of the cam slot 70. The coil spring 66 constantly urges the cam slider 62 in a forward direction toward the front insertion opening 34 of the card-receiving cavity 32.
FIGS. 15-18 of the '828 patent show how the memory card 36 is inserted into the card-receiving cavity 32 through the front insertion opening 34 and placed in the latched operative position. As shown in FIG. 15, the memory card 36 is inserted into the cavity 32 in the direction of the arrow designed by "A." In FIG. 15, the memory card 36 is at a point where the memory card 36 rides along the gentle sloped surface 68a (FIG. 14) of the locking projection 68 to bias the locking projection 68 and the locking arm 62b downwardly.
FIG. 16 shows the memory card 36 being inserted further in the direction of arrow "A" until the locking projection 68 of the locking arm 62b snaps into a locking recess 36b at the edge of the memory card 36, where the contacts on the underside of the memory card 36 are in contact with the terminals 58 (FIG. 11). The memory card 36 now is locked to the cam slider 62 so that the memory card 36 and cam slider 62 move together.
FIG. 17 of the '828 patent shows the memory card 36 and cam slider 62 being pushed all the way inwardly to an "overrun" or inner limit position. At this position, the memory card 36 and cam slider 62 further compress the coil spring 66.
When pushing of the memory card 36 in the inward direction "A" is stopped, as shown in FIG. 18, the coil spring 66 pushes the memory card 36 and cam slider 62 back outwardly until the second end 64b of the pin 64 latches into a latch notch 70a (FIG. 14) of the heart-shaped cam slot 70 and the memory card 36 and cam slider 62 are stopped at the latched operative position. At this point, the contact portions 58e of the terminals 58 are still engaged with the contacts on the underside of the memory card 36.
From the latched operative position, a further push (to the "overrun" or inner limit position) and a release of the memory card 36 allow the coil spring 66 to push the memory card 36 back to the position of FIG. 16, whereupon the memory card 36 can be pulled outwardly with the locking recess 36b riding over the catch surface 68b (FIG. 14) of the locking projection 68.
Throughout this entire process, the spring arm 84 (FIGS. 2 and 7) which is stamped and formed out of a side plate 30b of the metal shell 30, is effective to bias the pin 64 into the heart-shaped cam slot 70 of the cam slider 62.
Although not described in the '828 patent, the lock of the projection 68 of the locking arm 62b with the recess 36b of the memory card 36 can be either a soft lock or a hard lock. In a soft lock, the lock of the projection 68 with the recess 36b can prevent accidental removal of the memory card 36 from its latched operative position. But it cannot prevent the memory card 36 from being forcefully pulled out from its latched operative position. In a hard lock, the lock of the projection 68 with the recess 36b can prevent the memory card 36 from being pulled out either by accident or by the application of a force.
FIGS. 1A and 1B of the present application are schematic drawings of a hard lock between a projection 68 and a recess 36b of the memory card 36. The configuration of the projection 68 prevents the memory card 36 from being removed when the projection 68 is engaged with the recess 36b.


A device that comprises a tubular-shaped body that is insertable into a body passageway or cavity, in particular the urethra, and that has an exterior surface having one or more anchors located thereon that aid in movement of the device with a minimum of trauma during placement and that aid in securing the device within the passageway or cavity during use. The device may be inserted into either the urethra, bladder neck, or bladder. The anchors can vary in height, length, number, compressiveness, axial placement, material characteristics, and helix angle. According to a further aspect, the one or more anchors are in the form of partial spiral helixes that function to move and secure the device within the human urethra. The partial spiral helixes have structures that allow for the longitudinal movement of the device during positioning procedures.

The present invention relates generally to urethral apparatuses and methods of use, and more particularly to a urethral apparatus that can be positioned in the urethra for short-term or long-term use, relatively comfortably but securely.
Urinary problems can have serious consequences, particularly when the problem is one of retention or ischuria. Urine flow problems include urine retention, incontinence, and difficult urination. Retention can result from any of a number of causes, including without limitation, spinal cord injury or tumors, coma, typhoid, peritonitis, prostatic enlargement, urethral stricture, urethritis, cystitis, bladder tumors, urethral calculus, Parkinson's disease, prostatitis, or multiple sclerosis. Patients suffering from these and other conditions often require some interventional means to periodically drain the bladder. Failure to do so can result in damage of the epithelium and detrusor muscles associated with the bladder, and an increased potential for bacterial invasion and urinary tract infection potentially leading to life-threatening kidney failure.
Another urine flow problem is that of incontinence, which is the inability to retain urine because of paralysis or relaxation of sphincters or contraction of longitudinal muscular layers of the bladder. Incontinence can also occur in coma, epileptic seizure, spinal cord injury or tumors associated with the spinal cord, spinal meningitis, or local irritation of the bladder. Incontinence is usually categorized as either stress incontinence, in which urine is expelled during stresses such as exercise, coughing, and laughing; urge incontinence, in which the patient in unable to control the urge to urinate in part due to uninhibited bladder contractions; or mixed incontinence, in which the patient experiences both stress and urge incontinence.
Difficult urination or dysuria can result from urethral strictures, enlarged prostates, atony and impairment of the bladder's muscular power, and inflammatory conditions involving the urethra, bladder, or lower ureter.
Devices have been developed to be positioned in the urethra and/or bladder to correct the problems of urine flow. Urinary drainage catheters and devices have a long history, and many approaches have been taken to keeping these devices in place. Many of these devices suffer from one or more problems. For example, some of these devices may have been difficult or uncomfortable to place into position or to retain in position after placement. Also, some of these devices may have tended to leak or become dislodged unintentionally. Further, some of these devices have led to infections.
Accordingly, it is an object to provide a device that is easily and atraumatically inserted and removed. It is another object to provide a device that can be positioned in the urethra with a minimum of stress to the urethra and with a minimum of bacterial migration. It is still a further object to provide a device that can remain in position in the urethra and withstand pressure impulses due to stresses such as coughing, laughing, or exercising.


A mask blank glass substrate is for use in manufacturing a mask blank. In the mask blank glass substrate, a marker expressing, by a plurality of pits, information for identifying or managing the mask blank glass substrate is formed on a surface of a region, having no influence on formation of a transfer pattern, of the mask blank glass substrate. Each of the pits forming the marker is a round hole with its edge portion being generally circular and a distance L1 between the edge portions of the adjacent pits is 50 μm or more. The marker is formed, for example, on an end face of the mask blank glass substrate.

A structure is known in which a marker for identification or management is formed on a mask blank glass substrate for use in the manufacture of a mask blank (see, e.g. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2006-309143 (Patent Document 1) corresp. to US2006/0246361A1). This marker is expressed by an array of pits. The pits are formed by laser light irradiation on a surface of a region, having no influence on formation of a transfer pattern, of a mask blank glass substrate, for example, on a main surface in a peripheral region outside a region where a transfer pattern is formed in a mask blank fabricated by forming a transfer pattern thin film on the mask blank glass substrate, on an end face, on a chamfered surface formed between the main surface and the end face, or on a notch mark forming portion.

Mask blank glass substrate, mask blank glass substrate manufacturing method, mask blank manufacturing method, and mask manufacturing method


Provided are a storage apparatus using a non-volatile memory as a cache and a method of operating the same, in which the non-volatile memory is used as the cache so as to preserve data even when electricity is interrupted. The storage apparatus using a non-volatile memory as a cache includes a main storage medium, the non-volatile memory being used as the cache of the main storage medium and having a stationary region and a non-stationary region divided according to whether data are fixed, and a block management unit managing blocks allocated in the non-volatile memory.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to using a non-volatile memory as a cache and a method of operating the same, and more particularly, to a storage apparatus using a non-volatile memory as a cache and a method of operating the same, in which the non-volatile memory is used as the cache so as to preserve data even when electricity is interrupted.
2. Description of the Related Art
A general storage apparatus 10 includes a host 11, a data buffer (cache) 12, and a main storage medium 13, as shown in FIG. 1. The host 11 transmits data to and receives data from the main storage medium 13 according to a user's instructions. Generally, a memory smaller and faster than the main storage medium 13 is used as the data buffer 12 in order to buffer the difference of velocities between the host 11 and the main storage medium 13 and increase the access efficiency of the storage apparatus. The data is not directly recorded on the storage medium 13 which has a slow processing velocity, rather the data is recorded on the data buffer 12 which has a fast processing velocity. Accordingly, the recording speed can be improved. Further, some data in the main storage medium 13 is in advance moved into the data buffer 12, so as to improve reading speed.
That is, the data transmitted from the host 11 are stored in the data buffer 12 until the data are recorded on the main storage medium 13, while the data transmitted from the main storage medium 13 are stored in the data buffer 12 before the data are transmitted to the host 11. In the storage apparatus 10, a volatile memory is generally used as the data buffer 12. Therefore, when the electricity supplied to the storage apparatus is interrupted, all the data present in the data buffer 12 disappear. If the data buffer is increased in order to improve the access efficiency, the quantity of data lost due to the power interruption also increases. Further, since electricity is always supplied to the main storage medium 13 in order to decrease the loss of data, there is difficulty in reducing the consumption of electricity.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a non-volatile memory has been recently used as a cache in a storage apparatus 10. Accordingly, while the host 11 reads data from and writes data onto the non-volatile memory, the supply of electricity to the main storage medium 13 is interrupted so that the consumption of electricity can be reduced.
However, when using the non-volatile memory as the cache of the storage apparatus 10, it has been required to effectively manage the data in a stationary region of the non-volatile memory in which predetermined data are always located and a non-stationary region in which data are frequently recorded and erased, and to safely protect data when the electricity is suddenly interrupted. Further, it has been required to retrieve blocks in order to reduce time for supplying electricity to the main storage medium 13, and to increase lifetime of the non-volatile memory in consideration of the wear level of each physical block in the non-volatile memory.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2003-256289 discloses a flash memory system capable of assigning addresses. The flash memory system has blocks partitioned therein, and periodically allocates and deletes the blocks according to a circular sequence (allocating and deleting of the blocks is carried out at the lowest and highest addresses among physical sector addresses), thereby maintaining coherence of wear level thereof. However, the above-mentioned publication does not disclose methods of effectively managing the data in the stationary and non-stationary regions, protecting the data when electricity is suddenly interrupted, retrieving the blocks and extending the lifetime of the flash memory system by adjusting the wear level of the memory system.

Storage apparatus and method for using a non-volatile cache memory organized into stationary and non-stationary circular regions


A circuit pattern inspecting instrument includes an electron-optical system for irradiating an electron beam on a sample, an electron beam deflector, a detector for detecting secondary charged particles from the sample, and a mode setting unit for switching between a first mode and a second mode. An electron beam current is larger in the first mode than in the second mode, and an electron beam scanning speed is higher in the first mode than in the second mode. The circuit pattern inspecting instrument is configured so that first the sample is observed in the first mode, then a particular position on the sample is selected based on image data produced by an output of the detector in the first mode, and then the particular position on the sample is observed in the second mode.

The present invention relates to a circuit pattern inspecting instrument and a circuit pattern inspecting method, and in particular to an instrument and a method for inspecting circuit patterns on a wafer or the like in a semiconductor device manufacturing process.
For a comparison testing method of detecting defects in circuit patterns formed on a wafer in a semiconductor device manufacturing process, there has been put to practical use an instrument for inspecting the wafers by comparing images of two or more LSI circuits of the same pattern formed on a single wafer with each other.
Particularly, instruments for pattern comparison and pattern inspection using an electron beam are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. Sho 59-192943; P. Sandland et al., "An electron-beam inspection system for x-ray mask production", Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, Vol. 9, No. 6, November/December 1991, PP. 3005–3009; D. Fleming et al., "Prospects for x-ray lithography", Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, Vol. 10, No. 6, November/December 1992, pp. 2511–2515; D. Hendricks et al., "Characterization of a New Automated Electron-Beam Wafer Inspection System", Integrated Circuit Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control IX, Feb. 20–22, 1995. Santa Clara, Calif, Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 2439, May 1995, pp. 174–183; and Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. Sho 5-258703. In those instruments, for obtaining a practical throughput, it is necessary to acquire images at a very high speed, and at least 100 times (at least 10nA) the electron beam current with an ordinary scanning electron microscope is used to ensure a sufficient S/N ratio of the images acquired at high speed as well as a practical inspection speed. The electron beam diameter is spread fairly wider than that in an ordinary scanning electron microscope and is about 0.05 to 0.2 μm. This is because of an increase in chromatic aberration caused by widening of the electron energy width which is attributable to a large beam current, a limitation to brightness of an electron gun and a limitation by the Coulomb effect.
The images formed by such an electron optic system are fed to an image processing unit, in which images of the adjacent circuits of the same pattern are compared with each other for inspection. If a portion having different brightness occurs between the compared images, the portion is regarded as a defect and coordinates of the portion are stored.
With the above configuration, it is possible to detect even a defect as small as 0.1 μm or so.
Further, instruments for inspecting defects in semiconductors by reducing the energy of the electron beam with a voltage applied to a sample and an electrode disposed close to the sample are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Nos. Hei 7-78855, 9-181139, 10-19538, 10-27834, 10-27835, and 11-25901. But these references do not describe an instrument having a review function to be described later, or an instrument having a combination of the review function and an energy analyzing function to be described later.

Method of inspecting a circuit pattern and inspecting instrument


Transponders are used for identifying objects such as packaging, packaging material or machines and machine elements and are attached to the object to be identified. The transponders contain data which are provided by an electronic write unit and which can be recognized by a read unit. The transponders are provided in a concealed manner on the machines, machine parts, etc. or are embedded in the machine part, for example, inside a recess.

The invention relates to a process for identifying objects, in particular packages, packaging material, machines, machine parts, machine assemblies, etc. Furthermore the invention relates to packages, packaging material, machines, machine assemblies and the like having data carriers for identification purposes.
The identification of materials, or of machines and machine parts, is known in principle. In the case of packages and packaging materials, in particular cigarette packs, it is important that data concerning pack production or the pack's contents be present on the pack in codified form. In the case of machine parts, machine assemblies and in particular replacement parts, identification serves to ensure a correct assignment of machine parts for a particular format.

Package particularly a cigarette package, and method and device for the production thereof


The invention provides interactive streaming mixed media production. A mixed media content creation tool includes a resource-computation element that computes the likely resource load to be imposed on a server, communication link, and client device, when sent by the server to the client and presented to a user at the client. The resource-computation element is responsive to amounts of communication bandwidth available using the communication link, presentation buffer space and computing resources available at the client, and other measures of resource load. The resource-computation element attempts to optimize resource usage by the mixed media content. The system also includes a presentation element that responds to the resource-computation element, and to user requests, and interactively presents measures of projected resource usage by the mixed media content, comparisons of that projected resource usage with available resources, and comparisons of that projected resource usage before and after optimization.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an interactive streaming media production tool.
2. Related Art
The art of producing mixed media scenes has progressed to where individuals are able to create their scene compositions at a workstation, using appropriate software. These mixed media scenes are called "mixed media content"; the associated software is called an "authoring tool"; and the persons creating the video content are called "content creators". After creation, mixed media content can be disposed at a server and sent, using any streaming or broadcast technique, to a client for presentation to a user.
One problem in the known art is that content creators are very concerned by the quality versus resource occupation tradeoff their mixed media content imposes (on the server, the client, and the communication link between them) when sent from the server to the client and presented to the user. In existing audiovisual systems, fixed resource usage schemes are the most common way to solve this problem, but this is obviously non-optimal. More sophisticated policies include algorithms to balance between peaks and lows so that a level of non-constant resource usage can be tolerated (for instance for bandwidth or memory usage), as this can increase quality quite significantly. However, these resource control mechanisms are not available to the content creator directly, but to skilled engineers who are able to tune these complex algorithms. Mixed media content adds to the flexibility as it is possible to adjust the resource usage by modifying the advent or coding scheme of some media in the broadcast in order to fulfill the given constraints. If the content requires more resources for transmission or decoding than available, presentation of that content can be degraded or inaccurate, and exhibit jerkiness or other artifacts that make it unpleasant to watch and degrade any intended message or effect of that video content.
Moreover, creation of mixed media content is often complex, involving integration of objects to be displayed, locations and times at which those objects are to be displayed, and a set of possible special effects, such as texture and transparency, fade in and out, and the like. It would be advantageous to allow content creators to interactively (as they are creating video content) use information about the resource load likely to be imposed by the content they are creating. Preferably, that resource load information would be responsive not only to the mixed media content itself, but also to characteristics of the server, the client, and the communication link between them.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a new technique for interactive streaming mixed media production.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Interactive streaming media production tool using communication optimization


The present invention provides a friction stir welding apparatus and associated thermal management systems and methods for joining one or more similar or dissimilar materials forming a workpiece along a joint to be welded. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a pin tool apparatus selectively disposed adjacent to and in direct contact with a first surface of the workpiece along the joint to be welded and a heating member disposed adjacent to a second surface of the workpiece along the joint to be welded, the heating member operable for controllably heating at least a portion of the workpiece adjacent to the joint to be welded. The friction stir welding apparatus also includes an annular spindle having an interior portion and an axis, the interior portion of the annular spindle at least partially defining one or more cooling channels, the one or more cooling channels operable for containing a cooling fluid. The friction stir welding apparatus further includes a shoulder disposed adjacent to the annular spindle and substantially aligned with the axis of the annular spindle and a pin tool disposed adjacent to the shoulder and substantially aligned with the axis of the annular spindle. The cooling fluid is operable for cooling at least one of the shoulder and the pin tool.

Friction stir welding is a solid-state joining technique that is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Typically, friction stir welding is used to join difficult-to-weld metals, metal alloys (such as aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, and the like), and other materials. For example, certain aluminum alloys are sensitive in a plasticized heat-affected zone, where the base metal reaches temperatures between solidus and liquidus during welding. In this heat-affected zone, partial melting at grain boundaries forms a network containing brittle compounds. As a result, weld ductility is substantially reduced. Likewise, other conventional joining techniques may create geometric distortions near a weld joint due to high temperature gradients induced in a workpiece during welding. These geometric distortions may cause warping and other dimensional defects in the workpiece, as well as residual stresses that may cause premature failure by cracking in the heat-affected zone or weld joint, lamellar tearing, or by stress-corrosion cracking in some metals and metal alloys.
Friction stir welding techniques overcome many of the problems associated with other conventional joining techniques. In friction stir welding, a rotating, cylindrical, non-consumable pin tool is plunged into a rigidly clamped workpiece and traversed along the joint to be welded. The pin tool is specially designed to provide a combination of frictional heat and thermo-mechanical working to accomplish the weld. As the pin tool is traversed along the joint to be welded, the plasticized metal, metal alloy, or other material is transferred from the leading edge of the pin tool to the trailing edge of the pin tool, forming a strong solid-state weld joint in the wake of the pin tool. During the friction stir welding of hard metals, metal alloys, and other materials, relatively high temperatures are generated in the pin tool, as well as the tool holder. These relatively high temperatures in the pin tool, in combination with relatively low temperatures in the workpiece, may result in a weld joint of poor quality and mechanical integrity, prone to defects and workpiece distortions. For example, solid-state welds, including inertia welds, translational friction welds, and the like, associated with titanium alloys, such as Ti17 and the like, are typically characterized by poor fracture toughness and impact strength. This is due, in part, to the relatively high cooling rate of such welds using conventional joining techniques, including conventional friction stir welding techniques.
Thus, what is needed are thermal management systems and methods that allow a workpiece to be controllably heated during friction stir welding, such that the temperatures in the workpiece more closely match the temperatures in the pin tool. In this manner, the cooling rate of a weld joint may be controlled. This would result in a weld joint of enhanced quality and mechanical integrity, free from defects and workpiece distortions and demonstrating improved fracture toughness, impact strength, and fatigue properties. This would also allow for enhanced pin tool temperature control in the event that a consumable pin tool is used and minimize problems associated with pin tool debris entrapment. Finally, pin tool wear would be reduced and pin tool life increased.

Friction stir welding apparatus and associated thermal management systems and methods


A safety apparatus for vehicle door handle assemblies. The safety apparatus of the present invention prevents a door from being opened by undesirable operation of a door handle assembly by inertial force when outside impact is applied to a vehicle body, thus enhancing the stability of the vehicle.

As well known to those skilled in the art, a door handle of a vehicle has a mechanism for releasing a door latch by rotation of the door handle with respect to a door when a user pulls the door handle with his/her hand.
Furthermore, because the door handle has a predetermined weight in itself, if strong outside impact is applied to the door, the door handle may be rotated by inertial force without manipulation of the user. Then, the door latch may be released by the rotation of the door handle. Thereby, the door may undesirably open, thus resulting in a dangerous condition.
Therefore, a separate apparatus for door handle assemblies has been required to prevent a door handle from undesirably rotating due to inertial force.

Safety apparatus for vehicle door handle assemblies


Disclosed is a method for packaging a pickup device, which is used for a digital optical instrument, and particularly a method for fabricating an image sensor module connected to a flexible PCB. The method according to the invention includes the steps of forming a printed circuit of a predetermined pattern on an upper surface of a transparent medium, forming a first bump and a second bump on the upper surface of the transparent medium, first bonding the first bump with a pattern of an image chip so as to be electrically connected to each other, secondly bonding the second bump with a circuit of a flexible PCB so as to be electrically connected to each other, and molding a rear surface of the flexible PCB, on which an image chip is mounted, by means of epoxy resin. The method according to the invention provides an effect of reducing weight, thickness, length and size of the module in comparison with the module fabricated under the conventional wire bonding method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for packaging a pickup device, which is used for a digital optical instrument, and in particular, an image sensor module and a method for fabricating the same that can be realized by changing the conventional wire bonding method to a gold bump method to minimize the thickness of a package comprising a solid-state pickup device, which is referred to as CCD or CMOS, and by subsequently changing the fabricating process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following the recent trend of seeking high intelligence, high integration and minimization of electronic devices, semiconductor packages are realized with high intelligence and high density. Technologies in semiconductor device packages have also sought minimization, slimming, high density and high performance.
Recently, high intelligent video cameras are under development to facilitate portability owing to small size and light weight as home appliances. Consumers' demand has also been directed to a high screen quality including faithful color reproducibility and detailed expression. To meet such demand, technical levels of manufacturing camera parts have been notably improved, especially in increasing pixel numbers of a solid-state pickup device, i.e., the CCD or the CMOS, which is often referred to as a heart of a video camera.
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a solid-state pickup device according to the conventional ceramic packaging method. Referring to FIG. 1, the drawing reference numeral 1 identifies a ceramic package having a surface, in which a metalized conductor is formed, and a concave portion 3 at the center thereof. A CCD or CMOS chip 4 is die-bonded with the concave portion 3 by means of a conductive adhesive 5, etc. An electrode pad 6 of the CCD or CMOS is wire-bonded with the metalized conductor 2 by means of a metal wire 7. The drawing reference numeral 8 identifies a reed terminal deposited on a facet of the metalized conductor 2, which is exposed to a side surface of the ceramic package 1.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a solid-state pickup device according to the conventional resin packaging method. Referring to FIG. 2, a reed frame 11 comprising an internal reed 9 and an external reed 10 is die-bonded with a concave portion 13 provided at the center of a molded resin package 12 by means of a conductive paste 14. As in case of the ceramic packaging in FIG. 1, an electric pad 6 on a CCD or CMOS chip 4 is wire-bonded with the internal reed 9 by means of a metal wire 7.
The conventional image sensor chip packages as described above are fabricated by undergoing processes of sawing the wafer-state chips, die-bonding each separate chip with a surface of a PCB, wire-bonding the chips with the PCB for electric connection, and air-tightly bonding a module by means of glass.
However, the image sensor package as described above not only fails to meet the current trend of reducing weight, thickness, length and size thereof but also has a limit in reducing the size of the CMOS module. Furthermore, hollows created around an image area (i.e., an image recognizing part) poses a problem in the packaging process of precluding particles from the hollows. Moreover, the chips connected to the PCB by a wire have a deteriorated electric characteristic because of the long electric path.
In addition, soldering to connect the image sensor module to a digital signal processor board complicates a post-process. Also, the position of the image sensor module cannot be freely defined on an instrument because the image sensor module needs to be soldered on a fixed position of the DSP board.

Image sensor module and method for fabricating the same


The stairtread has the aesthetic appearance of a solid hardwood stairtread and presents a structural stability comparable to that of hardwood treads, but comprises a core layer made of lamellas of lower quality material glued laterally adjacent to each other. On the top surface of the core layer are glued laterally adjacent to each other top lamellas of higher quality wood. Underneath lamellas made of higher quality wood may also be glued laterally adjacent to each other on the bottom surface of the core layer to form a tread of which the underside is made of higher quality wood covering the lower quality core. Finally an elongate nose member is applied and glued to a longitudinal edge surface of the core layer. Use of lower quality material such as low quality wood helps to preserve our natural resources and to reduce consumption of higher quality wood material becoming every day more rare and difficult to obtain.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stairtread comprising a core layer made of lower quality material, in particular but not exclusively lower quality hardwood, and a top layer and nose member made of higher quality wood.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Conventional wooden stairtreads are made of elongate wooden lamellas each made of a single solid piece of higher quality wood, these elongate wooden lamellas being assembled, i.e. glued laterally adjacent to each other to form the tread. This structure has the drawback of requiring a large quantity of higher quality wood.
In the present disclosure and in the appended claims, the expression "higher quality wood" is intended to designate wood of sufficient quality to be used in making the elongate wooden lamellas of conventional wooden treads, while the expression "lower quality wood" relates to wood of insufficient quality and usually discarded upon manufacture of conventional wooden treads. Regarding the expression "lower quality material" it includes lower quality wood and secondary materials such as high density fiber materials.

Stairtread made of a combination of higher quality wood and lower quality material


Devices, systems and methods for use in separating sample materials into different sample components and then isolating one or more of the sample components for further processing or analysis are disclosed. Devices employ configurations that optionally allow a sample material to be electrophoretically separated into sample components in a separation matrix within a separation conduit. The sample components may then be detected in a detection zone in the separation conduit, and then selected components shunted to a component collection conduit within the device downstream of the detection zone for further processing or analysis based on information received at the detection zone. Methods of using these devices, and systems that incorporate these devices are also envisioned.

Separations based analyses are a prominent part of biological research, allowing one to characterize different biological samples, reaction products and the like. Examples of some of the more prevalent separations based analyses include electrophoretic separations of macromolecular species, e.g., proteins and nucleic acids. Capillary electrophoresis has been established as a highly effective method for separating macromolecular species in order that they might be further characterized. Protein and nucleic acid molecules are two major examples of molecular species that are routinely fractionated and characterized using capillary electrophoretic systems. These systems have generally proven effective as a result of the high surface to volume ratio of the thin capillaries. This high surface to volume ratio allows for much greater heat dissipation, which in turn, allows application of greater electrical fields to the capillary thereby resulting in a much more rapid separation of macromolecules introduced into the system.
Microfluidic devices have been applied in separations based analyses, and have yielded substantial advantages in speed and accuracy. Examples of novel microfluidic devices and methods for use in the separation of molecular, and particularly macromolecular species by electrophoretic means are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,958,694 and 6,032,710, for example, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. In such devices, the sample containing the macromolecular species for which separation is desired, is placed in one end of a separation channel located in the microfluidic substrate and a voltage gradient is applied along the length of the channel. As the sample components are electrophoretically transported along the length of the channel and through the separation (sieving) matrix disposed therein, those components are resolved. The separated components are then detected at a detection point along the length of the channel, typically near the terminus of the separation channel downstream from the point at which the sample was introduced. Following detection, the separated components are typically directed to a collection reservoir/well in the device (or to an external device such as a multiwell plate via a capillary pipettor, for example) for subsequent extraction or disposal.
In many situations, it is desirable to extract selected fragments of interest following the separation of the fragments into bands in the separation matrix, such as DNA fragments for further processing or analysis, e.g., restriction enzyme modification, T4 ligation, PCR amplification, mass spectroscopy, or polynucleotide kinase reactions. The typical process used by laboratory researchers for extracting and isolating selected DNA fragments of interest (and other desired nucleic acid and protein fragments) from a separation matrix (such as agarose gels) involves manually transferring the DNA fragments to a suitable transfer medium, where the separated fragments are stained and illuminated by shining ultraviolet (UV) light on the fragments to visualize the separated bands. A razor blade is then used to manually cut above and below each fragment of interest. The recovered DNA can then be used for further processing or analysis. Such extraction process, however, is time consuming, laborious and potentially damaging to the DNA (e.g., nicking of the DNA can occur if the DNA is exposed to ultraviolet light too long while the fragments of interest are being illuminated for excision).
Thus, in performing separations based analyses in microfluidic devices, for example, it would be desirable to not only be able to rapidly collect data regarding the relative size and/or molecular weights (based on comparisons to standards, for example) of the separated components, but it would also be desirable to be able to isolate or extract one or more of the separated components in the device itself for further analysis or processing in the device, since the microscale dimensions of the device offer advantages in terms of automation, speed, reduced consumption of expensive reagents (typically on the order of nanoliters), and more efficient use of manpower as well as increased throughput. The recovered or isolated fragments could then be used for a variety of different processes in the device including, for example, ligation reactions for cloning small to medium-sized strands of DNA into bacterial plasmids, bacteriophages, and small animal viruses to allow the production of pure DNA in sufficient quantities to allow its chemical analysis, reactions to dissolve a separated protein or nucleic acid component in a suitable matrix for further analysis by a mass spectrometer using, for example, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI), binding reactions to bind a labeling agent to one or more separated protein or nucleic acid components for further analysis, or other similar post-detection processes. In addition, in the case of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) samples, it is important to be able to separate smaller dimer and primer molecules from the main nucleic acid fragments in the sample and then isolate and collect the main nucleic acid fragments for further analysis or processing, while directing the smaller primer and dimer components to a waste reservoir/cell for removal and subsequent disposal.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide improved microfluidic devices, systems and methods for use in separating sample materials into different sample components or fragments and then isolating one or more of the sample components for further processing or analysis in the device. Such devices preferably should employ configurations that optionally allow a sample material to be electrophoretically separated into sample components in a separation matrix within a separation conduit in the device. The sample components may then be detected in a detection zone in the separation conduit, and then selected fragments or components of interest shunted to a component collection conduit within the device downstream of the detection zone for further processing or analysis based on information (such as size-based information) received at the detection zone.

Methods, systems and apparatus for separation and isolation of one or more sample components of a sample biological material


A system for real-time analysis of weld quality in an arc welding process. The system includes a transducer which receives acoustic signals generated during the welding process. The acoustic signals are then sampled and digitized. A signal processor calculates the root mean square and peak amplitudes of the digitized signals and transforms the digitized signal into a frequency domain signal. A data processor divides the frequency domain signal into a plurality of frequency bands and calculates the average power for each band. The average power values, in addition to the peak and root mean square amplitude values, are input to an artificial neural network for analysis of weld quality. Arc current and/or arc voltage signals may be input to the A/D converter alone or in combination with the acoustic signal data for subsequent signal processing and neural network analysis.

Arc welding consists of several processes that utilize an electric arc produced by electric current passing through an ionized gas as a source of heat to melt and join metals. Typically, the welding arc is formed between the piece being welded, or base metal, and an electrode. A "good" weld is commonly defined as a weld which fuses metals in a bond having strength to withstand any stresses which are expected to be encountered.
There are many causes of defects Which can occur during the welding process, preventing this fusion from occurring and creating welds which will often not withstand stress. Specific types of weld defects which can occur during the arc welding process include a condition commonly referred to as spatter in which a considerable amount of spatter or filler metal is produced which does not enter the weld due to motion of the filler metal during the welding process. Loss of shielding gas, used to protect the arc and weld zones from air and provide desired arc characteristics in gas metal arc welding, can further result in weld defects.
Additionally, the condition known as arc blow can detrimentally affect the welding process. This condition primarily occurs when a change in direction of current flow as it enters the work and is conducted to the work lead, or when there exists an asymmetric arrangement of magnetic material around the arc, as in when welding is done near the end of ferromagnetic materials. Arc blow occurs as a result of magnetic disturbances surrounding the welding arc, resulting in the arc being directed away from the point of welding.
Weld contamination is another type of weld defect often occurring during welding. Weld contamination results when foreign materials or substances, such as brass, concrete, or plastic, commonly present in factory environments, are introduced into the welding material, weakening the weld subsequently formed. There are numerous other events which can occur during the welding process, adversely affecting the quality of the weld produced.
In some instances, weld defects, such as those described above, are identifiable to the ear of an experienced welder, although identification in this manner can be hampered when the welding is occurring in an environment having a significant amount of background noise, such as a factory setting. In automated welding systems, however, it is more difficult to identify and correct weld defects. In particular, in robotic welding systems, real-time analysis of weld quality is required so that the system can either correct the situation causing the defect, or in the alternative, provide notification to an operator that such a defect has occurred.

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


A gas sensor includes a sensor element, metal terminals, a tubular separator holding the metal terminals, lead wires connected to rear ends of the metal terminals, and an elastic member that holds the lead wires extending rearward from the separator. Each metal terminal includes a forward end portion electrically connected to an electrode portion, a central portion, and a lead wire connection portion. The forward end portion or the central portion is held by the separator. The central portion and the lead wire connection portion are connected to each other through a neck portion. The rearward-facing rearmost surface of the central portion is engaged with a forward-facing surface of the separator, and the circumferential length of a first connection portion between the central portion and the neck portion is longer than the circumferential length of a second connection portion between the lead wire connection portion and the neck portion.

One known gas sensor for detecting the concentration of oxygen or NOx in exhaust gas from an automobile etc. includes a sensor element that uses a solid electrolyte.
In such a gas sensor, to output the output of the sensor element that corresponds to the concentration of the subject gas to the outside, metal terminals are brought into contact with electrode portions (electrode pads) disposed in a rear end portion of the sensor element so as to electrically connect the metal terminals to the electrode portions, and lead wires are connected to crimp portions at rear ends of the metal terminals by crimping the crimp portions. The metal terminals are held in a separator formed of an insulating member, and the lead wires extend from the rear end of the separator through a grommet to the outside of the gas sensor.
In one previously developed technique shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, two-piece metal terminals each composed of forward and rear metal terminal members 410 and 420 connected in the direction of an axial line O are used. The rear metal terminal member 420 is crimped and connected to a lead wire 430 and is used as a guide that facilitates insertion of the lead wire 430 into the separator
(See FIGS. 4 and 8 of Japanese Unexamined Publication No. 2017-227524).
The rear metal terminal member 420 includes, sequentially from the forward end side, a forward end portion 421 connected to the forward metal terminal member 410, a central portion 423, a lead wire connection portion 425 connected to the lead wire 430. The forward end portion 421 is connected to the lead wire connection portion 425 through the central portion 423. Specifically, the central portion 423 is connected to the forward end portion 421 through a first neck portion 422 and to the lead wire connection portion 425 through a second neck portion 424. The stiffness of the first neck portion 422 is higher than the stiffness of the second neck portion 424. This allows the rear metal terminal member 420 to be reliably connected to the forward metal terminal member 410. Moreover, even when an undue force is applied to the rear metal terminal member 420, the lead wire 430 is prevented from coming off.
In the rear metal terminal member 420, the outer surface of the central portion 423 must be engaged with the wall surface of an insertion hole of the separator, and the lead wire connection portion 425 is reduced in diameter, by means of crimping, for connection with the lead wire 430. Therefore, the lead wire connection portion 425 is smaller in diameter than the central portion 423. In this case, when the central axis of the lead wire connection portion 425 is offset from the central axis of the central portion 423, the rear metal terminal member 420 is anisotropic about its central axis, and therefore its attachment direction must be specified. Moreover, an undue force may be applied to the lead wire connected to the lead wire connection portion within the insertion hole of the separator. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the second neck portion 424 extends toward the rear end side with a radially inward inclination such that the central axis of the lead wire connection portion 425 coincides with the central axis of the central portion 423.


An optical film comprising: a transparent supporting (or base) layer; a prismatic layer consisting of a plurality of prisms integrally formed on the supporting layer; and a plurality of micro-lenses integrally formed on a plurality of prismatic faces of the prisms, whereby the incidence lights as refracted through the micro-lenses on the prisms will be refracted to be an outgoing light approximating the on-axes of the prisms, thereby increasing the on-axis brightness of the optical film.

A conventional optical film as shown in FIG. 1 comprises: a base layer B, and a prismatic layer P having a plurality of prisms arranged side by side and integrally formed on the base layer B.
In order to enhance the on-axis brightness of such a conventional optical film, plural design variables should be considered, namely, the variable angles, the orientations of the prisms, the additional light guiding elements if required, and other design factors, thereby increasing the production complexity and cost.
The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior art and invented the present optical film for enhancing the on-axis brightness thereof.

Optical film having prismatic faces directly formed with micro-lenses thereon


A slide mounter where a photographic film transparency is advanced to an operation station and is cut from a photographic film web and punch holes are punched. The cut and punched film transparency is then inserted into a slide mount at an insertion station. The punch holes are designed to cooperate with pin registrations in the slide mount to lock the film transparency in place within the slide mount. The photographic film transparency is cut from a photographic web which is supported along a support axis. The film transparency is pushed from the operation station after it is cut and punched along a push axis into the slide mount M. The orientation of the push axis and the support axis is design to accommodate exposed film where the image is 90.degree. from the normal orientation of images recorded by a photographic camera.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a photographic film transparency from a photograph film web to prepare a photographic slide.
Photographic film transparencies are generally severed from a photographic film web and inserted into a photographic slide mount for use with a slide projector or other visualizing means. In particular, automatic and semi-automatic slide mounters have been developed to continuously mount a plurality of film transparencies into empty slide mounts supplied from a slide magazine.
A photographic film web is generally supported along a film track of the slide mounting apparatus. The film web is advanced along the film track to the knife assembly where individual film transparencies are severed from the photographic film web. The severed film transparencies are then inserted into slide mounts ejected from the slide magazine by a slide ejector.
In the preparation of photographic slides, it is important to ensure that the exposed image of the individual film transparencies is squarely positioned within the slide mount so that the exposed image is visible during use of the photographic slide. Typical slide mounts are formed of upper and lower frame sections which are connected along an outer border to form a pocket therebetween. Each of the frame sections includes a window which cooperatively define an aperture of the slide mount. It is within this aperture that the exposed images of photographic film transparencies must be aligned for viewing.
A variety of different slide mounts have been developed which help secure the photographic film transparency within the pocket of the slide mount. In one such example of a slide mount, registration pins are formed on the lower frame section. The registration pins engage the film to lock the film within the slide mount to ensure that the exposed image of the photographic film is correctly aligned and remains positioned within the aperture of the slide mount. The registration pins are designed to grip the film through engaging holes. Ordinarily photographic film includes sprocket holes along the lateral edges of the film to advance individual film transparencies for exposure. The sprocket holes define engaging holes for the registration pins to secure a film transparency within a slide mount. If sprocket holes are not included along the film, the registration pins can not lock the film.
Photographic film may also be exposed electronically from a cathode-ray tube "CRT" screen display. The image from the "CRT" screen is processed through an image generator to expose a piece of film. Because CRT exposed film is not fed through a photographic camera, it does not necessarily include sprocket holes. In addition, the orientation of the images on CRT exposed film may be 90.degree. from the normal orientation of images recorded by a photographic camera.


A method of indexing multidimensional data obtains (302) a data set (210) describing features defined over at least one dimension other than time. Index data (212) comprising at least one value corresponding to the at least one non-time dimension is also obtained. The data set is compressed (306) and the index data is associated (308) with the compressed data set such that the compressed data set is identifiable by the index data.

Numerical simulation of physical processes for engineering design can result in very large data sets. For example, a single computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation for external aerodynamics (as illustrated in FIG. 1) can produce of the order of 10 GB of data. There is little ability in current simulation processes to make use of this data in later simulations, even if the features to be simulated subsequently are quite similar. This commonly means that large amounts of data are stored that have little scope for re-use, apart from reviewing the simulation characteristics that they originally model. Storing large amounts of data has well-known associated hardware and/or service cost implications.
When referring to the physical geometry of a product, most industrial design processes have a reasonably robust definition, either using "engineering terms" such as "wingspan", "number of wheels", "bar thickness", etc, or with a computer-aided design (CAD) definition involving mathematical specification of surfaces, intersections, topologies, etc. Many of these products interact with fluids (such as aircraft, boats, cars, computer chips, artificial hearts, etc). Although the fluid interaction is very important and it is possible to identify characteristics of the fluid flow, it is very difficult to compare "like flows" other than in fairly general terms.
Field specialists will often analyse a flow field in terms of apparent features, such as "stagnation points", "vortices", "boundary layer characteristics", "shock waves", etc, which are valid descriptors, but have their origins in physical experimentation and are intuitive in the sense that they exist in three dimensions. Current CFD simulation applications do not deal with or present data in these user-friendly terms, i.e. raw data is presented to an engineer who then uses that to identify and quantify the features of interest. Although it is possible to post-process a CFD file to obtain data that is more meaningful to an engineer, there is currently no system that automatically processes it in such a way so as to directly relate it to other data that has been produced in a similar manner.


A net-reinforced film structure includes a film layer and a netting attached to the film layer having a pattern of netting strands. The netting strands are sealed to an opposing film structure, which may be either a similar net-reinforced film or a standard sheet of film, along a linear seal area. The netting strands in the non-sealed areas of the net-reinforced film structure are free from attachment to the opposing film structure. The netting strands along the linear seal area have a wider cross-section than the netting strands at the non-sealed areas, and this wider cross-section facilitates the sealing process.

Film sheeting for use in waste bags, food storage bags, and other packages can be made stronger by the attachment or coextrusion of a netting onto the film layer. To use such films for bags or other packages, it is often necessary to seal one section of film to another in a heat seal process. Such seals are necessary, for example, at the sides and/or the bottoms of food storage bags and waste bags. The addition of netting complicates the sealing process because it can be difficult to line up netting strands with each other or with a heating element to assure a complete and strong seal when net-reinforced films must be sealed to each other. Further, sealing films along a thin netting strand can result in a weak seal.
Common net-reinforced films include a uniform profile for the netting strands over the entire span of the net. Sealing is commonly accomplished by the application of heat by a heating element along the seal point. Though the uniform-strand configuration has become standard in the art, it contains netting strands along seal points having the same thin profile as netting strands in the rest of the net. This thinness at the seal points makes it difficult to achieve complete, strong seals because the manufacturer must perfectly align a thin seal strand, a heating element, and an opposing thin seal strand or film.

Net-reinforced film structure with modified strand profile