A medical conduit holder for securing medical conduits to the skin of a patient is made of two major portions. The first portion is a base plate or patch for adhesively securing to the skin. The second portion is a strap which wraps back through a slot in the strap to fully encircle the conduit or group of conduits. Pressure sensitive VELCRO type attachment surfaces are present on the upper surface of the base plate and the lower surface of the strap. The externally exposed parts of both the base patch and the strap are smooth so as not to snag on surrounding materials. The surface of the strap which contacts the conduit is made of or coated with a high friction material to prevent axial slipping of the encircled conduit. Typical conduits which may be conveniently held in place with this invention include tubes, lumens, catheters, electrical wiring, and optical fibers. The conduits may easily be oriented in any direction and may be removed or replaced without the necessity of removing the adhesive from the patient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a clamp for adjustably holding an article to the surface of an object and more particularly to a clamp capable of holding medical conduits to a patient's body in conjunction with numerous medical treatments and procedures. In the broad sense this invention is useful for firmly holding any long slender conduit of indefinite length, such as a tube, pipe, optical fiber, or electrical wire, to a surface in an infinitely adjustable orientation. A myriad of medical treatments and procedures require external and mesentery conduits and thereby require apparatus for releasably holding the conduits in place in a convenient and inexpensive manner. As a result the invention applied to numerous and diverse specialties within the medical field. For example, lumen injection cannulae, feeding tubes, nasogastric tubes, foley catheter and condom catheter tubes, dialysis tubes, angiocath and heparin lock set tubes, luer locks as well as other tubes used to introduce liquids into the body intravenously or to introduce oxygen into the mouth or nose of the patient may be adequately supported by means of this invention. Electrical wiring and other patient monitoring type conduits may also be conveniently held in place so as to prevent entanglement or dislodging during patient movement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has long been a need for a simple but universal tube, lumen, and conduit (TLC) holder for bedridden patients. For years the best devices available for releasably but firmly retaining conduits upon a patient were dependent upon adhesive tape attached directly to the skin. Rarely do medical personnel have the skill to make a proper mesentery support using ordinary hospital self adhesive tape for holding a catheter or tube to the skin. When the personnel have sufficient skill, such ordinary tape does not work well because it is too pliable and pulls off the skin too easily. Tape has proven unsatisfactory because it must be removed each time the held item is changed, causing discomfort to the patient and possible skin damage. Moreover, the items are usually not held sufficiently securely, and are likely to move relative to the patient each time the patient moves, again causing pain and possible injury or even complete dislodging of the item. Conduits of this nature often need to be reoriented or replaced requiring frequent irritating pulling of adhesive tape support structure from the sensitive epidermal layer of the patient. Various devices for holding either an injection cannula or an infusion tube in place have been developed heretofore. Most prior conduit holders have made it difficult or impossible to realign the conduits in a different direction without the complete removal of the conduit. Prior conduit holders have also been difficult or impossible to trim to size for fitting to the patient. Prior holders suffer from an inability to firmly hold conduits in their lengthwise direction. In other words it was easy for the captured conduit to slide longitudinally with respect to the holder. Another common problem with prior conduit holders is that they tend to get caught in bed linen and clothing due to bulkiness or exposed tacky surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,245 issued to Hubbard et al on Feb. 18, 1986 shows a personal catheter leg strap which appears, at least superficially, like the instant invention in that they both employ VELCRO fastened straps encircling a catheter tube. However, in direct contradistinction the instant invention, Hubbard's holder must be wrapped around a limb of the patient thus limiting its use to the area of the limbs. Hubbard's holder cannot be adjustably oriented in direction. Hubbard's strap must be wrapped an additional half turn about the tubing so as to prevent the artificial burr material from exterior exposure. However, this direction of wrapping makes the support weaker by requiring the VELCRO attachment points to be located some distance from the supported tube. Hubbard does not address the problem of axial slippage of the supported tube in this patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,017 issued to Hubbard et al on Oct. 14, 1986 is a continuation-in-part of the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,245. This patent specifically addresses the axial slippage problem. The burr type appendages of VELCRO material are wrapped so as to hopefully dig into the soft outer surface of a wrapped tube. Of course if the tubing or conduit has a hard surface this strategy will fail. In contradistinction, the instant invention utilizes a high friction material to provide a more general and positive gripping of a wrapped tube regardless of the firmness of its exterior and the wrapping direct.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,736 issued to Kalt et al on Oct. 27, 1987 shows a tubing clamp utilizing a strap having VELCRO fastening means for holding the tubing down against a resilient base. Kalt's holder is not directionally adjustable nor does it completely encircle the tubing. In contradistinction, the instant invention completely encircles the tube and it is infinitely adjustable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,976 issued to Ferguson on Apr. 22, 1986 shows catheter support adhesively attached to the skin. The support is not directionally adjustable nor does it completely encircle the tubing. In contradistinction, the instant invention completely encircles the tube and is infinitely adjustable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,468 issued to Geist on Jun. 8, 1982 shows a mesentery tube holder apparatus which adhesively attaches a tube to a patient's body. Geist's support is not directionally adjustable nor does it completely encircle the tubing. In contradistinction, the instant invention completely encircles the tube and is infinitely adjustable in direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,380 issued to Boyd on Sep. 10, 1974 shows a holder for intravenous injection cannula and tubing. Boyd uses a separate clamping tube for supporting the catheter tube which is in turn held shut by a VELCRO strip. This holder is not adaptable to different sized tubing nor is it directionally adjustable. In contradistinction, the instant invention will hold conduits of all sizes is infinitely adjustable in direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,784 issued to Johnson on Aug. 28, 1979 shows a catheter tube holder forming a double bridge member supporting the tube. The tube support does not grasp the tube securely. Thus, the tube can slide back and forth through the tube holder. Further, if it is desired to reorient the direction of the tube, the entire Johnson patch and holder must be lifted, adhesive and all, and reattached to the patient's skin. In direct contradistinction, the instant invention holder grasps the tube securely and may be reoriented to change the direction of the tube without disturbing the base patch at all. Also, its range of directional adjustment is infinite. Also, the Johnson holder, since it reattaches to itself, locates the tube well above the base and the patient's skin, where it can catch on bed linens, and is prone to flopping back and forth; both are undesirable features of this holder. On the other hand, the instant invention provides a low profile tube holder which also secures the holder firmly and directly against the patch and thus the patient
U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,716 issued to McGuire on Feb. 23, 1988 shows a fastener for a Foley catheter having an opening for inserting a second passage of the catheter. McGuire's support is adhesively attached directly to the skin and is not directionally adjustable. In contradistinction, the instant invention is not directly adhered to the skin and its directional adjustment range is infinite.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,250 issued to Thomas on Jul. 18, 1972 shows a tabbed anchoring tape means for anchoring medical tubing. Thomas's tape is adhered to the skin of the patient and wrapped around the tubing but in no other way resembles the instant invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,849 issued to Muller et al on Apr. 22, 1975, U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,421 issued to Poprick on Oct. 16, 1973, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,280 issued to Lacount on Apr. 10, 1973 show catheter or surgical tube supports which are designed to encircle a limb of the patient. In contradistinction, the instant invention does not require the encircling of a limb to establish a firm support base.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,288,136 issued to Lund on Nov. 29, 1966 shows a tube lock for releasably anchoring a medical tube to the skin of a patient. Lund uses VELCRO fastening means and an auxiliary tube to secure the tubing against lengthwise movement. The auxiliary tube causes the Lund device to be useful only for tubing of a certain diameter. In contradistinction, the instant invention may securely hold tubes or bundles of tubes of any diameter.
The brochure of Utah Medical of Midvale, Utah, circa 1990, shows a tube holder of Aplix, Inc. This Aplix holder has a plain back surface and hook material on the opposite surface, and includes a wide base end, a narrow end tab, and an aperture through the base end adjacent the narrow tab. The tab, however, is wrapped about the tube, forwardly from the base end, then inserted back through the aperture, and wrapped again, over the tab portion on top of the tube, and placed down on a loop material base. While a smooth, upper (back) surface is thus presented to the environment, the wrap of an extra one half time about the tube spreads the hooks of the holder wide apart from the tube. Thus, an insecure attachment is made to the narrow length loop material adhesive patch or limb wrap, shown in the Aplix, Inc. disclosure. In direct contradistinction thereto, the present invention is structured so that an almost unbroken surface of hook material is placed down on the loop material base, the tab end of the holder being inserted through the base end aperture of the holder, oppositely of the Aplix, Inc. disclosure, so that a much firmer securement is made, of the tube to the adhesive patch base and the patient. Further, a portion of otherwise exposed hook material on the holder above the tube is removed, so that a clean, non-snag surface is presented to the environment. Also, the instant invention provides high friction material adjacent the enclosed catheter tube to prevent any lengthwise movement, and, further, the holder of the instant invention is adjustable through a full circle with respect to an adhesive patch attached to the patient; neither of these features is in any way suggested by the Aplix, Inc. disclosure.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


A mobile device comprising a pressure sensor for collecting pressure data, a position-determining subsystem for generating location data including altitude data, and a processor operatively coupled to a memory to generate an atmospheric model based on the pressure data and the location data. In one implementation, the processor is configured to determine an Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL) altitude using a position-determining subsystem, determine a pressure altitude using the pressure sensor, calculate a difference between the pressure altitude and the AMSL altitude, and calculate a temperature at sea level based on the AMSL altitude and pressure altitude. In one implementation, the processor performs a linear regression on an equation AMSL altitude=offset+ScaleFactor*PressureAltitude to solve for the offset and the ScaleFactor, and then estimates the temperature at sea level as 1-ScaleFactor=(T−15)/3. The model may be used to estimate ambient air temperature or weather conditions.

Mobile devices having wireless data connectivity may obtain real-time weather data over the air from web servers that receive and publish such data from weather services that operate fixed ground-based weather stations. It is also known to receive weather alerts wirelessly. However, one of the recurring problems with this conventional approach is that localized weather conditions where the mobile devices are currently situated may differ rather substantially from the weather conditions measured at the distant ground-based weather stations. A solution to this problem would thus be highly desirable.
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

Generating an atmospheric model using one or more pressure-sensing mobile devices


A system can enable a global search of security data of a client base. The system can include a processor operable to record anonymity values set by clients of the client base, and to receive search requests including one or more search parameters from the clients. Upon receipt of a search request, processor can generate a result set for the received search request and determine an aggregated anonymity value for the result set. The processor further may compare the aggregated anonymity value of the results set with a set anonymity value for each of the clients for filtering or removing the data points or information of the one or more clients with the set anonymity value that is greater than the aggregate anonymity value from the result set.

In general, Managed Security Service Providers ("MSSPs") have a global visibility/access to the security data of all of their clients and can leverage this global visibility/access into such a large volume of security data to more quickly detect malicious attacks or security threats. This has been referred to as "network effect". However, the individual clients of MSSPs generally do not have the ability to access or utilize this visibility into other MSSP clients' data. For example, while an individual client generally can review its own security data and reports thereof for potential threats, malicious attacks, and/or detected potential threat indicators, MSSPs are not currently equipped to allow for secure access, querying and drill down searches of collected security data by such clients, while also adhering to privacy requirements or concerns that mandate strict controls on access and/or use of such data. In some instances, clients do not want to share any part of their security data, while other clients may be more open to sharing some limited parts of their data (e.g. participating in a threat intelligence community) as long as such data could be shared in a manner that substantially prevents client identification or other un-intended data leakage. Accordingly, a need exists for ways to enable global aggregated searches or queries of security data aggregated from differing clients, while also allowing for desired or selected restrictions to protect client anonymity. The present disclosure addresses these and other related and unrelated issues/problems in the art.

Systems and methods for enabling a global aggregated search, while allowing configurable client anonymity


Physically strong particles containing an immobilized enzyme are prepared for use in a fixed bed-column. The particles are prepared by adding a homopolymer of 1-amino ethylene or a copolymer of 1-amino ethylene and N-vinyl formamide to an aqueous medium containing an enzyme, adding a cross-linking agent to cross-link the enzyme and polymer and cause flocculation, and dewatering, sub-dividing and drying the resultant flocculant. Preferably, the enzyme is glucose isomerase and the cross-linking agent is glutaraldehyde, polyazetidine or diisocyanate.

It is known that enzymes can be immobilized without using a carrier by cross-linking with polyethylene imine (PEI) and a cross-linking agent such as glutaraldehyde or polyazetidine (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,552, U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,105, EP 297,912). Such methods can be used to produce immobilized enzymes in particle form with good activity and physical strength, suitable for continuous use in a fixed-bed column. However, PEI is an expensive material, so it is desirable to find alternatives to this. Also, immobilization of some enzymes with PEI some times leads to poor flocculation, resulting in difficult dewatering.
It is the purpose of the invention to provide a method with improved flocculation and dewatering and without the need for PEI for producing an immobilized enzyme preparation with satisfactory properties for fixed-bed column use: activity, stability (half life) and physical strength (pressure drop).

Immobilization of enzymes with a cross-linking agent and a polymer containing l-amino ethylene moieties


A system executes computer processing tasks on a remote computer that communicates with a central computer. The remote computer receives a start message from the central computer. Based on the start message, the remote computer processes raw data to generate processed data, and stores the processed data. Finally, the remote computer sends a complete message to the central computer.

The present invention is directed to a system for executing computer processing tasks. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a system that uses networked remote computers to execute computer processing tasks received from a central computer.
In recent years computer networks, and especially wide area networks ("WAN"), have become an important part of the day to day lives of many computer owners. Every day millions of users connect to the most well known WAN, the Internet, which is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol ("TCP/IP") based network. Nearly every personal computer ("PC") user having a modem and a telephone line can access the Internet for little cost through commercial companies that provide a gateway to the Internet. Internet services include E-mail, database access, and news groups. The Internet also acts as a service medium for many companies trying to market products.
Many of the personal computers which are connected to WANs are high powered personal computers which may contain microprocessors, such as the Intel Pentium.RTM. or Pentium.RTM. Pro microprocessor. These personal computers may also include RAM memory, a display unit, long-term storage such as a hard disk drive, and other proprietary processors such as video graphic cards and math co-processors. These independent, stand-alone computers are idle for a significant portion of the day. For example, a personal computer owned at home may be idle or even off while the owner is away at work. The computer may also be idle at night while the owner is asleep. Personal computers at the office may only be utilized from 9 A.M. in the morning till 5 P.M. in the evening. At any particular time, peak usage in one part of the world can be offset by low usage in a different part of the world. For example, periods of high computer usage in New York City may be night time in Tokyo when idle personal computers are readily available. It would be advantageous to find a way of utilizing this wasted computer resource.
As WANs, such as the Internet, become more popular, the demand on the computational power of the computers which provide WAN services keeps increasing. Computers, including servers, must perform many tasks including the providing and generating of WEB pages, compressing Moving Pictures Expert Group ("MPEG") and Joint Photographic Expert Group ("JPEG") images, and serving up WEB pages. These task and the exploding number of users place increasing demands on the computers at WAN service providers and Internet WEB sites. Service providers, such as American Online.TM. ("AOL") and Compuserve increasingly must buy more powerful computers to service the additional members and the new content that is constantly being updated. These service providers could save on computer costs if some of the computational requirements of their system could be serviced by remote personal computers owned by private individuals and other independent entities who subscribe to the Internet provider services.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a system that uses networked remote computers to execute computer processing tasks received from a central computer so that the otherwise idle remote computers can be utilized.

Using networked remote computers to execute computer processing tasks at a predetermined time


A liquid container contains a liquid therein and is detachably mountable to a liquid ejection device. The liquid container has a liquid lead-out port for supplying said liquid to the outside, the liquid lead-out port being disposed in a connection surface, and an abutment surface for opening a channel valve by abutting against part of said channel valve provided in said liquid ejection device, the abutment surface being disposed in said connection surface.

The present invention relates to a liquid container.
In a liquid ejection device, a liquid led out from the liquid container containing the liquid therein is ejected from a liquid ejection head and discharged onto a target facing the liquid ejection head. An ink-jet recording device is an example of such a liquid ejection device. In an ink-jet recording device, a recording head serving as a liquid ejection head is installed on a reciprocally moving carriage, and an ink is supplied from an ink cartridge as a liquid container into the recording head. Printing is then carried out by discharging the ink as a liquid, for example, on a paper as a target.
Among such ink-jet recording devices, there are devices with a configuration (the so-called off-carriage configuration) in which an ink cartridge is not installed on the carriage with the object of reducing a load applied to the carriage or reducing the dimensions and thickness of the device (see, for example, Patent Reference 1). The ink cartridge is so provided that it can be attached to the ink-jet recording device and detached therefrom, and ink is supplied to the recording head via a supply channel.
Patent Reference 1: JP-A-2002-1979.
However, after the attached ink cartridge has been removed from the ink-jet recording device, the ink remains in the supply channel between the ink cartridge and the recording head. Therefore, the ink remaining in the supply channel can leak out of the opening of the channel.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid container capable of opening and closing a liquid channel in a liquid ejection device according to the attachment and detachment of the liquid container.


The present invention relates to a method of making a cannabis extract composition comprising a cannabis extract as an active ingredient to reduce anti-cancer side effects and suppress cancer metastasis during internal use and administration by suppressing the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

Cancer shows a high mortality rate worldwide, and is the second most common cause of death next to cardiovascular diseases in western societies. In particular, lung cancer is increasing due to an increase in the smoking population and air pollution along with the aging of the population, the intake of high-fat diets has become common due to westernized eating habits, and colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and the like tend to increase continuously due to a rapid increase in environmental pollutants, an increase in alcohol consumption, and the like. Under such circumstances, there is an urgent need for creating anti-cancer substances capable of contributing to the promotion of human health, the improvement in the quality of healthy life, and the promotion of public health by enabling cancer to be prevented and treated.
Malignant tumors spread from one organ, the primary site of occurrence, to other tissues after the development in one organ (the lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, large intestine, rectum, and the like) in most cases, and spread from the primary site of tumor to other tissues is called metastasis.
Metastasis is a phenomenon accompanied by the progression of a malignant tumor, and after malignant tumor cells proliferate and acquire new genetic traits required for metastasizing as the cancer progresses, the malignant tumor cells infiltrate the blood vessels and lymph glands, circulate along the blood and lymph, settle and then proliferate in other tissues. Recent studies have revealed genetic traits associated with metastasis, and genetic testing of the primary tissue may be used to infer a recurrence high-risk group via metastasis to other organs in the future.
Treatment of metastasis of malignant tumors may be divided into local treatment and systemic treatment, and the principle of treatment of metastasis of malignant tumors differs depending on the type of tumor and the tumor metastasis site. In the case of some malignant tumors whose local symptoms become severe due to metastasis, or a surgical treatment of metastasis is known to be capable of modulating the natural course of malignant tumors, local treatment strategies such as therapeutic surgery or radiation therapy may be considered for metastasis. In general, when metastasis occurs from a malignant tumor, it is helpful to treat the tumor not only at the metastatic site but also at the primary site together through systemic treatment such as anti-cancer chemotherapy rather than local treatment. However, except for a very small number of tumors, such as lymphoma, malignant tumors where metastasis occurs are rarely cured completely.
The course of malignant tumors where metastasis occurs varies, and is determined depending on the type of primary malignant tumor and the overall tumor progression rate. Complications may vary depending on which organ the malignant tumor has metastasized to. For example, in the case of brain metastasis, symptoms such as headache, visual field loss, and vomiting may occur. In the case of bone metastasis, bone pain may occur, and pathological fracture may occur. Mental fog may also occur due to hypercalcemia accompanied by bone metastasis. Accordingly, early detection of tumor through diagnosis and genetic testing of the primary tumor are methods of preventing an increase in mortality rate from metastasis.
Drugs developed for treating cancer to date are a systemic injection or orally administered drug, and act non-specifically on the whole body along the bloodstream and have low specificity for cancer cells, and have a disadvantage in that many side effects occur compared to surgery and radiation therapy because there are many systemic side effects due to administration of the drug. Meanwhile, no breakthrough drug has been developed, which can prevent cancer cells from metastasizing to other organs without showing cell toxicity.
Cancer pain is a pain caused by the cancer disease itself or treatment, and is experienced by many patients who are currently being treated and patients with advanced cancer.
Cancer pain depends on various factors including the type of cancer, the stage of the disease, the site of the disease and the patient's resistance to the pain, and cancer pain may be from the primary cancer itself or from other sites of the body where the cancer has spread (metastasized). As the tumor grows, the cancer may exert pressure on nerves, bones, or other organs, which may cause pain. Pain may also be caused by bone fracture, disease-related infection or inflammation. Cancer pain may be caused not only by the physical consequences of cancer at body sites, but also by chemicals secreted from cancer cells and tissues. The type of cancer pain may also be various. For example, cancer pain may be acute, chronic, or breakthrough pain. Cancer pain may also change during each pain period, and the severity and frequency of pain may also vary.
Therefore, the control of pain in patients with cancer needs to be performed in order for the patients to be able to carry out their daily life.
The two main drug classes used to treat cancer pain are opioid analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These classes of drugs are typically administered systemically. Systemic drug administration to reduce cancer pain is often problematic. For example, systemic administration of opioids for cancer pain may cause nausea, suppression of bowel function, urine stagnation, suppression of lung functions, cardiovascular effects and sedative action, and may cause undesired central nervous system-mediated side effects, deterioration in respiratory functions, sedative action, and drowsiness.
Therefore, there is a need for a composition free from side effects even when the composition is systemically administered as an effect capable of preventing the metastasis of cancer cells to other organs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Preparation method of a cannabis extract composition for reduction of side effects of anticancer treatment, or cancer metastasis suppression


The present invention provides an Avian adeno-associated vims (AAAV) vims and vectors and particles derived therefrom. In addition, the present invention provides methods of delivering a nucleic acid to a cell using the AAAV vectors and particles. Methods of isolating the AAAV are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides avian adeno-associated virus (AAAV) and vectors derived therefrom. Thus, the present invention relates to AAAV vectors for and methods of delivering nucleic acids to cells of subjects.
2. Background Art
To date, eight AAV isolates (AAV1-8) have been, characterized and sequenced (2, 4, 19, 20, 25, 32, 51, 56) with AAV2 being the most extensively studied. AAV virions are approximately 20-25 nm in diameter and are composed of a mixture of assembled proteins (VPs) that encapsidate a linear ˜4.7 kb single stranded DNA of plus or minus polarity (7, 43). The genome of AAVs is flanked by inverted terminal repeats (ITRs), which in the case of AAV2 are 145 nucleotides. The ITR is organized as three interrupted palindromes that can fold in an energetically favored T-shaped hairpin structure, which can exist in two orientations, termed flip and flop (42). The ITRs serve as origin of replication and contain cis acting elements required for rescue, integration, excision from cloning vectors and packaging (41, 42, 49 and 58).
The genetic map of the AAVs has been derived primarily from studies of AAV2 but is conserved in all serotypes (26, 27, 29, 36, 42, 45, 46, 58, 60, and 64). Two major open reading frames (rep and cap ORFs) and three transcriptional active promoters (P5, P19, P40) have been identified in the genome of AAV2. The P5 and P19 promoters encode for the nonstructural replication proteins Rep78 and Rep 68 and Rep 52 and Rep 40, respectively. Due to differential splicing, Rep78 and Rep52 have different C termini from Rep68 and Rep40. Transcription initiation from two promoters results in Rep78 and Rep68 having different N termini from Rep52 and Rep 40. The P40 promoter transcribes two alternatively spliced mRNAs. The major mRNA species encodes for the major capsid protein VP3 from a conventional AUG codon and the minor capsid protein VP2 from an upstream in frame ACG codon. The minor mRNA species encodes the entire cap ORF to produce the minor capsid protein VP1 (47). VP 1, VP2 and VP3 are found in a ratio of 1:1:10, respectively, and this stoichiometry is generated by the high abundance of one of the mRNA species and the low translation efficiency from an ACG codon in the case of VP2 (14, 47, 55). Previous studies have indicated that VP2 and VP3 are sufficient for particle formation and accumulation of encapsidated ssDNA progeny, while VP1 is required for assembly of highly infectious particles (63, 64).
All four Rep proteins possess NTP binding activity, DNA helicase activity and nuclear localization sequences, however only Rep78/68 possess DNA binding ability (33, 34, 66). Mutant AAV defective for the synthesis of the small Rep proteins (Rep52/40) are able to replicate DNA but no ssDNA progeny is encapsidated (16). The ability of Rep78/68 to bind and nick DNA in a sequence and strand specific manner inside the ITR is essential in every phase of the AAV life cycle, namely DNA replication, AAV gene expression, rescue from the integrated state and self-excision from cloning vectors (29, 35, 44). Nicking of the DNA within the ITR at the terminal resolution site (trs) requires binding of Rep78/68 proteins to a motif composed of tandem repeats of GAGY.
Among AAV serotypes, AAV1, 4, 7 and 8 are believed to be of simian origin while AAV2, 3 and 5 are from humans. AAV6 was found in a human adenovirus preparation and is very similar to AAV1. AAVs have also been reported in other mammalian species including canines, bovine, ovine and equine (8). An avian AAV was first isolated from the Olson strain of quail bronchitis adenovirus (68). It was later found that 50% of adenoviral field isolates from chickens in US and Ireland contained AAAVs serologically indistinguishable from the initial isolate (24). The AAAV was found to be 20 nm in diameter, serologically distinct from AAV1-4, did not agglutinate erythrocytes from several species tested and required adenovirus or herpes virus for replication (5, 68). In addition, AAAV was found to inhibit replication of several avian adenovirus and herpes virus (5, 52, 53). Physicochemical studies revealed that the capsid of AAAV consists of three VP proteins similar to other AAVs. The buoyant density of AAAV in CsCl gradients (1.39-1.44 g/cm3) is similar to what have been reported for all AAVs (6, 30, 68).
The ability of AAV vectors to infect dividing and non-dividing cells and establish long-term transgene expression and the lack of pathogenicity has made them attractive for use in gene therapy applications. Recent evidence has indicated lack of cross competition in binding experiments suggesting that each AAV serotype may have a distinct mechanism of cell entry. Comparison of the cap ORFs from different serotypes has identified blocks of conserved and divergent sequence, with most of the later residing on the exterior of the virion, thus explaining the altered tissue tropism among serotypes (19-21, 48, 56). Vectors based on new AAV serotypes may have different host range and different immunological properties, thus allowing for most efficient transduction in certain cell types. In addition, characterization of new serotypes will aid in identifying viral elements required for altered tissue tropism.
Serological studies have provided evidence of avian adeno-associated virus infection in humans (69). Six percent of an unselected adult population was found positive for antibody to AAAV by agar gel precipitation (AGP), and 15.6% was positive by virus neutralization (VN). Fourteen percent of poultry workers (industry or research) were positive for AAAV antibody by AGP and 66% were positive by VN. In the same studies, no cross reaction was noted by AGP when antiserum to AAAV was reacted against primate antigens of serotypes 1-4 or when antiserum to AAV serotypes 1-4 were reacted against AAAV antigen. In addition, antiserum prepared against primate AAV1-4 did not neutralize the avian AAV. These results show that AAAV is a distinct serotype and infections are not restricted to avian species but are found in the human adult population.
Based on the genome organization and sequence homology among insect densovirus, rodent parvovirus and human dependovirus, it has been previously proposed these virus may have diverged from a common ancestor and evolved strictly in their hosts (3). However, the high sequence homology between avian autonomous parvovirus and primate AAVs and the epidemiological documentation of AAAV transmission to humans provide evidence for host-independent evolution of at least some parvovirus genera. To better understand the relationship between the avian and the primate AAVs, the complete viral genome of AAAV was cloned and sequenced and used to generate recombinant viral particles.
The present invention provides the first complete genomic AAAV sequence. The genome of AAAV is 4,694 nucleotides in length and has similar organization with that of other AAVs. The entire genome of AAAV displays 56-65% identity at the nucleotide level with the other known AAVs. The AAAV genome has inverted terminal repeats of 142 nucleotides with the first 122 forming the characteristic T-shaped palindromic structure. The putative Rep-binding element (RBE) consists of a tandem (GAGY)4 repeat, and the putative terminal resolution site (trs), CCGGT/CG, contains a single nucleotide substitution relative to the AAV2 trs. Surprisingly and in contrast to AAV5, the AAAV ITR can be used as an origin or replication by either AAV5 or AAV2 Rep proteins for packaging. Thus the AAAV ITR can act as a universal ITR. The Rep ORF of AAAV displays 50-54% identity at the amino acid level with the other AAVs, with most of the diversity clustered at the carboxyl and amino termini. Comparison of the capsid proteins of AAAV and the primate dependoviruses indicate divergent regions are localized to surface exposed loops. Despite these sequence differences, recombinant AAAV particles were produced carrying a lacZ reporter gene by co-transfection in 293T cells and transduction efficiency was examined in both chicken primary cells and several cell lines. This unique tropism allows AAAV to be useful as a vector for the development of transgenic animals and also allows for the vaccination of eggs as well as the preparation of recombinant proteins in avian cultures. The exposed regions of AAAV are also sites for insertions of epitopes for the purpose of changing the tropism of the virus or antigen presentation. The present invention shows that AAAV is the most divergent adeno-associated virus described to date, but maintains all the characteristics unique to the genera of dependovirus.
The present invention provides a vector comprising the AAAV virus or a vector comprising subparts of the virus, as well as AAAV viral particles: While AAAV is similar to primate AAVs, the viruses are found herein to be physically and genetically distinct. These differences endow AAAV with some unique properties and advantages which better suit it as a vector for gene therapy or gene transfer applications. As shown herein, AAAV capsid protein, again surprisingly, is distinct from primate capsid protein and exhibits different tissue tropism, thus making AAAV capsid-containing particles suitable for transducing cell types for which primate AAVs are unsuited or less well-suited. AAAV is serologically distinct and thus, in a gene therapy application, AAAV would allow for transduction of a patient who already possesses neutralizing antibodies to primate isolates either as a result of natural immunological defense or from prior exposure to other vectors. AAAV is also useful for gene transfer to other species for the development of transgenic animals or the production of vaccines and recombinant proteins in eggs. Thus, the present invention, by providing these new recombinant vectors and particles based on AAAV, provides a new and highly useful series of vectors.

Avian adenoassociated virus and uses thereof

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


A non-volatile integrated circuit memory device may include a semiconductor substrate having first and second electrically isolated wells of a same conductivity type. A first plurality of non-volatile memory cell transistors may be provided on the first well, and a second plurality of non-volatile memory cell transistors may be provided on the second well. A local control gate line may be electrically coupled with the first and second pluralities of non-volatile memory cell transistors, and a group selection transistor may be electrically coupled between the local control gate line and a global control gate line. More particularly, the group selection transistor may be configured to electrically couple and decouple the local control gate line and the global control gate line responsive to a group selection gate signal applied to a gate of the group selection transistor. Related methods and systems are also discussed.

Advanced Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) technology may be used to realize System-On-Chip (SOC) functionality. SOC technologies may require high performance, fast access, low voltage and low power operation EEPROMs, together with advanced CMOS processes. Often, a non-volatile memory may include flash memory for code storage and EEPROM memory for data storage. The EEPROM memory may require extremely high endurance (up to 1 million erase/program cycles) and byte-alterable functionality.
Traditionally, byte-alterable EEPROM memories have been based on a Floating-gate Tunnel Oxide (FLOTOX) cell and have been operated using Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling both for write and erase operations. Each cell may include a tunneling area, a High Voltage (HV) select transistor, and a separate high-voltage (HV) select transistor at the drain side. Although FLOTOX memories may provide low power operation and may provide high endurance, FLOTOX memories may have a relatively large cell size.
Memory structures are discussed, for example, in the reference by Tao et al. entitled "Device Architecture And Reliability Aspects Of A Novel 1.22 μm2 EEPROM Cell In 0.18 μm Node For Embedded Applications" (Microelectronics Engineering, 72, 2004, pages 415-420), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The EEPROM structure of the Tao publication may improve scalability while providing features such as byte-alterability, high endurance, and low power operation. More particularly, the EEPROM structure of the Tao publication may be based on a 2T-FN-NOR (2 transistor-FN-NOR) cell.
Further memory structures are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,764 to Imamiya et al. entitled "Nonvolatile Semiconductor Memory Device," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. As discussed in the Imamiya patent, a nonvolatile semiconductor device may include a memory cell array with, for example, NAND memory cells, a row decoder to select and drive word lines, and data sense amplifier/latch circuits to exchange data with the selected memory cells via bit lines. The memory cell array may be divided into blocks in a word line direction. The individual blocks are formed in wells formed separately in a semiconductor substrate. Each word line driven by the row decoder may be provided continuously by means of control transistors formed in the boundary areas between blocks. Turning off the control transistors may enable the data to be erased simultaneously block by block.
Notwithstanding the memory structures discussed above, there continues to exist a need in the art for improved memory structures and methods.

Non-volatile memory devices including local control gates on multiple isolated well regions and related methods and systems


A recording apparatus includes a support shaft that supports a roll-shaped recording medium; a motor that applies a rotational force to the support shaft; a motor control section that controls the motor; and a recording section that performs recording on the recording medium transported from the support shaft, in which the motor control section is capable of controlling the motor so that the motor alternately enters a braking state and a non-braking state.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a setting method.
2. Related Art
In the related art, a recording apparatus that performs recording on a roll-shaped recording medium has been used. As such a recording apparatus, an apparatus including a motor for rotating a roll of the recording medium to transport the roll-shaped recording medium is often used. For example, a recording apparatus capable of intermittently driving a motor to intermittently transport a roll-shaped recording medium is disclosed in JP-A-2010-52380.
Furthermore, as a motor driving circuit capable of changing a rotating direction of a motor, a motor driving circuit having an H-bridge configuration is used as disclosed in JP-A-2007-159296.
Generally, when setting the recording medium in a recording apparatus that performs recording on the roll-shaped recording medium, first, the recording medium is manually introduced to a transportation path of the recording medium. At this time, the motor is rotated for rotating the roll of the recording medium, and thereby a counter electromotive force is generated and adverse influences in which a high voltage is applied to or a high current is supplied to a motor control section may affect the motor control section and the like. Thus, in order to suppress adverse influences on the motor control section, a discharge circuit is provided and the like, and thereby the apparatus is complicated and the cost is increased.
Here, in JP-A-2010-52380, there is a description of performing braking to intermittently drive the motor, but there is no description of the counter electromotive force when manually introducing the recording medium to the transportation path of the recording medium.
Furthermore, in JP-A-2007-159296, there is a configuration to suppress the counter electromotive force that is generated when stopping the rotating motor by supplying a current to one of a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor (a so-called short brake). However, there is no configuration to suppress the counter electromotive force that is generated by rotating the stopped motor such as when setting the recording medium.
Thus, when manually introducing the recording medium to the transportation path of the recording medium, it is preferable to suppress that the motor generates the counter electromotive force and that adverse influences affect the motor control section and the like.


A headrest that is constructed and arranged to be mounted to one or more support rods that are adapted to be coupled to the backrest of a seat of a vehicle. The headrest has a main body portion and a separate bushing that is positioned at least partially in the main body portion. The bushing has a receptacle that is adapted to receive a portion of a support rod. The bushing is constructed and arranged to partially damp forces that are coupled to the bushing through the main body portion.

This disclosure relates to a headrest for the seat of a motor vehicle.
Headrests are used in motor vehicles to support the head in a way so as to reduce injuries during a crash. Headrests must absorb energy and have a maximum compressional displacement when force is applied, while still having sufficient compliance to return back to the initial position fairly quickly once the force is released. Foam headrests can meet these functional requirements. However, when stiff structures are embedded in the headrest there is less depth available for the foam thus the requirements are more difficult to meet.


The invention relates to compositions containing compounds of the structure (I): EQU (R.sub.1).sub.a (R.sub.2).sub.b SiX.sub.c (I). wherein R.sub.1 is a neophyl, neohexyl or (CH.sub.3).sub.3 SiCH.sub.2 --group; R.sub.2 is a methyl group; X is a halo group or a saturated, unsaturated, branched, unbranched or cyclic alkoxy group of 1-18 carbon atoms; a is 1 or 2, b is an integer from 0 to 2, and c is an integer from 1 to 3.

The invention relates to compounds falling within the following structure (I): EQU (R.sub.1).sub.a (R.sub.2).sub.b SiX.sub.c (I)
wherein R.sub.1 is a neophyl, neohexyl or (CH.sub.3).sub.3 SiCH.sub.2 --group; R.sub.2 is a methyl group; X is a halo group or a saturated, unsaturated, branched, unbranched or cyclic alkoxy group of 1-18 carbon atoms; a is 1 or 2, b is an integer from 0 to 2, and c is an integer from 1 to 3. The neophyl group is a 2-phenyl-2-methylpropyl group, and the neohexyl group is a 3,3-dimethylbutyl group. The X group represents the functionality of the compounds of the invention. Thus, the compounds of the invention include mono- and polyfunctional silanes.
Sterically-hindered organosilanes have been synthesized by a variety of methods, including hydrosilation of sterically-hindered olefins, reaction of organolithium reagents or organomagnesium halides with halo or alkoxysilanes, and by rearrangements of suitably substituted vinylsilanes.
Monofunctional silanes, including halo- or alkoxysilanes, are often used to generate support structures for use in liquid chromatography. The support structures are prepared by coating the surface of a substrate with sterically-hindered silanes, such as the compounds of the present invention. The substrates already include hydrolyzed silica or chromia which have on their surface hydroxyl groups available for reaction with the sterically-protecting silane reagent. The monofunctional silanes form trialkylsilyl ethers on the surface of the substrate. The chromatographic characteristics are generally imparted by the bulky substituent, such as R.sub.1 in structure (I).
Such substrates can be generated with polyfunctional silanes as well. When polyfunctional silanes are employed, the silanes generally polymerize with each other along the surface of the substrate in addition to reacting with the substrate, leaving a surface layer which may not be as well-defined as a layer generated from monofunctional silanes. Both types of structures can be useful media for chromatographic separations. The use of polyfunctional silanes can generate support structures with increased resistance against hydrolysis. Silane support structures, generated from compounds such as those of the present invention, can have unique stabilities to hydrogenolytic or organometallic reagents, reducing agents, and basic or acidic reagents. The structures can often be useful as high performance liquid chromatography packings for separating a wide variety of macromolecules, allowing reproducible analysis of mixtures or isolation of purified components.
It is also known that alkoxysilanes, such as those contemplated by structure (I) wherein X is an alkoxy group, can be used as external electron donors in supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts. In J. V. Seppala, M. Harkonen, "Effect of the Structure of External Alkoxysilane Donors on the Polymerization of Propene with High Activity Ziegler-Natta Catalysts", Makromol Chem. 190, 2535-2550 (1989), the authors suggest that in the context of propene polymerization, high performance external donors should have two or three alkoxy groups and relatively large, non-linear hydrocarbon groups. The authors also conclude that effective external donors should not have alkoxy substituents that are larger than the ethoxy group, as with the preferred alkoxy compounds of the present invention.
Sterically-hindered organosilanes, such as those of the present invention, can also be useful as blocking agents for organic synthesis.

Preparation of sterically-hindered organosilanes


An electrical interconnection structure. The electrical interconnection structure includes a mother board substrate having a plurality of layers. At least one layer includes a signal path having a characteristic impedance of Z.sub.O and a conductive ground plane. A signal via passes through each layer of the mother board substrate. The signal via electrically is connected to the signal path. A ground via passes through each layer of the mother board substrate. The ground via is electrically connected to the conductive ground plane. The electrical interconnection structure further includes a plurality of flex circuits. Each flex circuit includes a flex signal path having a characteristic impedance of Z.sub.O and a flex ground plane. Each flex signal path is electrically connected to the signal via and each flex ground plane is electrically connected to the ground via. The connections between the flex signal path and the signal via, and between the flex ground plane and the ground via can be permanent or separable.

High performance computers generally have an interconnect backplane. The interconnect backplane provides an interconnection path between various components of the computer. Typically, about 5-6 components are interconnected. The components may be microprocessors, memory or other computer associated circuitry.
FIG. 1 shows a computer interconnect backplane 10. The interconnect backplane 10 is typically a printed circuit board. The interconnect backplane 10 has a bus 12 which interconnects components 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 of the computer. Each of the components can include integrated circuits (ICs) such as an IC 20 attached to component 14. Typically, a matched impedance 22 is attached to both ends of the bus 12.
The speed of the microprocessors and memory connected to the interconnection backplane is constantly increasing. As the speed of the circuitry increases, parasitic capacitance and impedance mismatches on the interconnection bus 12 begin to affect the integrity of the signals traveling on the bus from one component to another. As a result, the technology used to implement the interconnection backplane must evolve as the components connected to the backplane operate at faster speeds.
Presently, computer interconnection backplanes are implemented as suggested by the circuit schematic shown in FIG. 2. The bus is implemented with bus transmission lines 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 that interconnect the components attached to the bus at a series of node interconnect points 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The bus transmission lines can be implemented with microstrip or stripline, and have a characteristic impedance of Z.sub.O. Termination impedance loads 36, 37 are located at the two end nodes 0, 5. The components 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 connected to the nodes are devices that are either in a driver mode or in a listener mode. Only a single one of the components 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 may be in driver mode at a time. If a component is in driver mode then that component determines the voltage level of the interconnection bus. The driver component can be in one of two states. The driver component sets the voltage level of the bus to one of two voltage levels in which a voltage level corresponds to each state. If a component is in listener mode then that component is receiving the voltage level of the bus. The components 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 in FIG. 2 are represented by input/output (I/O) devices. A component 32 is the driver device and has a low output impedance of typically less than 10 ohms. All of the other components (I/Os) 30, 31, 33, 34, 35 are depicted as listener devices and have high input impedances.
In operation, the interconnection bus operates as follows. When the driver component 32 transitions from one of two states to the other, a rising or falling edge propagates down the bus transmission lines 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 as the voltage level on the bus switches from one level to another. Each listener component 30, 31, 33, 34, 35 receives the new voltage level corresponding to the new state of the driver component as the rising or falling edge reaches the listener component. The rising or falling edge propagates to the end of the bus and is terminated because of the presence of the termination impedance loads 36, 37. The termination impedance loads 36, 37 are matched to the characteristic impedance of the bus transmission lines so that the rising or falling edges are not reflected upon reaching the termination impedance loads 36, 37.
Typically, the components are connected to the nodes of the bus through conductive component connection transmission line sections. The component connection transmission line sections may have a characteristic impedance that is the same as the characteristic impedance of the bus transmission lines. Therefore, impedance mismatches can occur at each node where the component connection transmission line sections make electrical contact with the bus transmission line sections. As the frequency of the transitions from the driver component increases the risetime of transition edges decreases and impedance mismatches have a greater effect on the integrity of the voltage transitions received by the listener components. Component connection transmission line sections that are tolerable with transitions of 1 nanosecond may be intolerable in faster systems. The component connection transmission line sections become "visible" when the electrical length of the component connection transmission line section is on the order of the risetime of the transition edge.
The circuit schematic of FIG. 2 represents a typical backplane bus with component connection transmission line sections 41, 42, 43, 44 connecting components 31, 32, 33, 34 to the bus at nodes 51, 52, 53, 54, and bus transmission lines 24, 28 connecting components 30, 35 to the bus at nodes 0 and 5. The arrows on FIG. 2 depict where the impedance mismatches within the backplane interconnection bus are located. At each impedance mismatch, a reflection will occur if a high speed rising or falling voltage transitional edge propagates into the impedance mismatch. The mismatches are located so that a single edge may reflect back and forth between impedance mismatches causing ringing. The ringing will cause the interconnection bus to take a longer period of time to reach a static voltage level.
FIG. 3 shows the results of a transient simulation of the circuit schematic of FIG. 2 in which Z.sub.O is 50 ohms, the driver has an output impedance of 10 ohms and an open circuit output voltage of 1 volt, each bus transmission line 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 is 300 picoseconds long, each component connection transmission line sections 41, 42, 43, 44 is 200 picoseconds long, and the edge risetime is 100 picoseconds. Traces 3A, 3B and 3C show time lines of the voltage levels received at nodes 54 and 5 when the driver component is components 30, 31, 32.
Trace 3A shows the voltage levels received at nodes 54 and 5 when the driver component is component 30. The two waveforms depict the delay as the voltage transition of the driver travels down the interconnection bus. The two waveforms also show the distortion of the voltage transition due to the additive and subtractive components of the reflected components of the voltage transition as the transition encounters impedance mismatches on the interconnection bus. Trace 3B shows the voltage levels received at nodes 54 and 5 when the driver component is component 31. Trace 3C shows the voltage levels received at nodes 54 and 5 when the driver component is component 32.
Traces 3A, 3B and 3C show that the voltage levels at all nodes and connection points on the interconnection bus take longer to reach a static state when the driver component operates with a rise or fall time equal to or less than the electrical length of the bus transmission line sections 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and the component connection transmission line sections 41, 42, 43, 44. The distortion to voltage transitions on the interconnection bus due to the impedance mismatches on the interconnection bus reduces the rate at which the voltage transitions can occur since each voltage transition must be substantially settled at a receiving node before subsequent transitions arrive in order to avoid bit errors. The rate limitation reduces the frequency at which signals on the interconnection bus can be usefully coupled between components connected to the interconnection bus.
The operating frequencies of the components connected to computer interconnection backplanes are constantly increasing. Therefore, new configurations and new methods of fabricating computer interconnection backplanes must be developed. It is desirable to have computer backplane interconnection bus which minimizes impedance mismatches. The computer backplane interconnection bus would allow the addition of input/output connections to the interconnection bus without introducing impedance mismatches.


A wiring substrate incorporating nickel-plated copper terminal pads for solder bumps, wherein a nickel plating layer constituting the nickel plated copper terminal pads has a phosphorus content of 8.5 to 15.0% by mass and is covered with a gold plating layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wiring substrate, particularly to a wiring substrate including terminal pads for bonding solder bumps, and a process for manufacturing the wiring substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following is a list of the related art:
Patent Literature 1—Japanese Patent Office Official Gazette JP-A-2002-4098;
Non-Patent Literature 1—Hitachi Metals Technical Report: "Evaluation of Lead-Free Solder Balls Produced by Uniform Droplet Spray Method", vol. 18 (2002), page 43;
Non-Patent Literature 2—Toyota Central R & D Labs. R & D Review: "Development of Highly Reliable Sn—Ag Lead-Free Solder Alloy", vol. 35, No. 2 (2000), page 39.
A package used for enclosing and connecting an IC or LSI chip therein has a type of wiring substrate comprising a wiring laminate formed by laminating dielectric insulating layers made of a high-molecular polymer or ceramic and inner wiring metal conductors so that the inner wiring conductors are sandwiched and insulated from each other by the dielectric layers. Metal terminal pads are disposed on an outer surface of the wiring substrate so as connect with an IC-flip chip or a motherboard by soldering in a ball-grid array (BGA) or pin-grid array (PGA) formation. Most of these terminal pads are connected to the inner wiring conductors through via-conductors penetrating at least one of dielectric layers. The inner wiring conductors and via-conductors are normally formed from metal having good electrical conductivity such as copper, and the metal terminal pads also comprise such metal.
The terminal pads formed from copper are plated with nickel and further plated with gold so as to prevent oxidation of copper and to improve their bonding and wetting with solder bumps to be formed thereon for contacting the IC chip or motherboard.
An electroless-nickel plating bath that is conventionally employed for plating nickel for the terminal pads contains a phosphoric acid compound such as sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent and further necessarily contains phosphorus so that a nickel plating layer resultantly formed by electroless-nickel plating contains as much as 4 to 8% by mass of phosphorus. When solder that is placed on the terminal pad melts, an outermost gold plating layer diffuses and is incorporated into the solder, such that the underlying electroless nickel plating layer contacts the solder.
Relating to this, it is conventionally known that when the electroless-nickel plating layer contains P (phosphorus), a brittle phosphorus-rich nickel layer is formed at an interface between a lead-free solder and the electroless-nickel plating layer, as disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1. Further, it is conventionally known from Non-Patent Literature 2 that P lowers flowability of the lead-free solder comprising mainly tin and decreases the bonding strength of the solder with the nickel plating layer.
It has often been pointed out that the strength of a solder joint formed on an electroless-nickel plating layer containing phosphorus is lowered due to boundary separation when a wiring substrate having such a solder joint is distorted or is subject to shock such as a dropping impact. Since a Ni—Sn alloy layer is formed by reaction of Ni (nickel) in the plating layer and Sn (tin) of the solder, the solder is likely to lose ductility, possibly reducing its bonding strength.
Moreover, a problem of environmental pollution has recently prompted a need for replacing Sn—Pb eutectic solders by Pb-free solders not containing harmful lead. Pb-free solders are mainly composed of tin (Sn) and they are eutectic solders containing auxiliary constituents such as silver, copper, zinc, and bismuth, and not containing Pb (lead). Although solders that contain a small amount of Pb are available today, their auxiliary constituents other than Sn are mainly those selected from the elements mentioned above. The lead-free solder is inferior in ductility, compared to the Sn—Pb eutectic solder, and is more likely to form a solder joint having a problem such as boundary separation.
As reported in Non-Patent Literature 1, it is considered that formation of the phosphorus-rich layer is a direct cause of boundary separation of the solder joint. In fact, the boundary separation of any solder joint is remarkably suppressed by employing phosphorus-free nickel plating such as Ni (nickel)—B (boron) electroless-plating or nickel-electroplating that does not rely on phosphorus.
In a process of electroplating nickel for the terminal pads, however, it is necessary to form a very complicated pattern for tie bars that are to be electrically connected to the terminal pads formed on a pad-forming area of the wiring substrate. This electroplating process makes it difficult to reduce the distance between the terminal pads beyond a certain extent, as it is necessary to ensure space for the insertion of tie bars between the terminal pads. Consequently, the, pad forming area is increased, causing additional design restrictions.
The Ni—B electroless-nickel plating also presents a problem. Since it employs a hydrogenated boron compound as a reducing agent, the Ni—B electroless nickel plating generates, during a reducing reaction for nickel deposition, a large amount of hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is easily incorporated into an electroless nickel plating layer, resulting in defects such as foaming and swelling of the nickel plating layer.

Wiring substrate and process for manufacturing the same


A double roofing structure in which a water-proof drain plate is set on a backing. The rafter is fixed on the backing through the drain plate with a fixing member. Roof material or roof material holding member and inner layer material are placed and fixed on the rafter. A spacing layer communicating with an opening of the eaves is formed between the drain plate on the backing and the roof plate. The part communicating with the fixing member in the drain plate is formed with a projection.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a water-sealed structure of a roof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present inventor invented and filed the invention in Jap. Pat. Appln. No. 69995/1984 (Jap. Pat. Laid-Open No. 215963/1985) in order to prevent a so-called "water leakage" generated by an accumulation of snow on a roof in a cold weather district such as a snow country and further to prevent leakage of water by applying a water-proof plate and the like. That is, in the prior art invention, as shown in FIG. 31, it is constructed such that a lower inner material (12) is arranged on a supporting member (11) such as a main house, an upper inner layer material (21) is arranged and fixed to a fixing member (25) comprised of a rafter (19) fixed on the lower inner layer material (12) and of a fixing fitting (16) or the like, an air layer (22) is formed between the lower inner layer material (12) and the upper inner layer material (21), a roof plate (23) is placed on the upper inner layer material (21), a water-proof plate (14) is set on the lower inner layer material (12), both side edges (14a), (14a) of the water-proof plate (14) are pressed and held with the lower inner layer material (12) and the fixing member (25), and a drain port adjacent to eaves of the water-proof plate (14) and to cause the air layer (22) to be opened out of the roof.
However, the aforesaid invention has a disadvantage that rain water flowing down a metallic roof surface is accumulated to be stopped by strong wind under an abnormal environmental condition in which heavy rain fall in typhoon and local heavy rail fall together with a continuous strong wind occurs, resulting in that an edge part of the roof panel shows a flooding condition and then the rain water overflows the edge part to enter a room. That is, the overflown rain water enters from engaging claws (19a) of a metallic rafter (19) in FIG. 31 in a direction indicated by an arrow (A) and shows a problem that it enters from between the rised parts (14a) of the adjoining water-proof plates into a room.
In recent years, due to a trend of multi-versions of design and raw material for a roofing, some tiles or natural slates only used for ornamental purpose in a parapet in a building or the like are used as materials for a roof of a building. The tiles or natural slates have a water-proof function as a roofing material. However, under such a condition as one in which a strong wind may act at a high location of a top part of a building, a rain water-proof characteristic is not sufficient and so a roof structure having a sufficient and safe rain water-proof characteristic even under an application of these roof materials is requested.
It is frequently found that a wall structure of a building in particular a roof backing is of an iron backing. In addition, it is also found that the roof backing is composed of iron together with air-bubbled light-weight concrete (hereinafter called as ALC) and in case of a building of a medium-size or lower, the concrete surface (hereinafter called as RC) of which level is adjusted with mortar on RC is applied as a roof backing.
It is usually acknowledged that the building worked with this ALC or RC of a backing material hardly produces an accident of water leakage. However, in a practical work, it merely shows that ALC and RC have a water-absorbing characteristic and in turn they may keep water in it and may not pass it easily, so that water is hardly immersed into a room. Since the accident of water leakage in a building of ALC or RC is advanced as a crack caused by water in the backing is generated to cause the building itself to be weakened and influence against its structural strength. Once the water leakage occurs, a specifying of the water leakage position is quite difficult and an entire repairing of the leaked location is needed. It accompanies with a freezing disaster at a cold weather district and this becomes more severe problem.


An apparatus for mounting electronic components on the surface of printed boards by a suction head assembly 4 coupled to a head lift mechanism comprises a force sensor 6 for measuring the pressure exerted on the component by a mounting operation, and a microcomputer 1 for preparing a control signal in accordance with the deviation of the value measured by the force sensor from a desired value of pressure on the component. The rotation of a head lifting motor 51 is controlled based on the control signal.

Conventional apparatus for automatically mounting electronic components in position on the surface of printed boards have a suction head assembly provided with a suction nozzle for attracting thereto the electronic component by a vacuum. The suction head assembly is mounted on a reciprocating device which is controllable to move in the directions of X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis.
When the above apparatus is used for surface mounting, the suction head assembly is first moved to a component feed portion of an electronic component feeder, the suction nozzle is caused to attract the electronic component thereto by a vacuum, and the component is thereafter moved to a position above a printed board, whereupon the assembly is lowered to place the component in position on the surface of the board.
When the component is brought into contact with the printed board, the suction head assembly is further driven downward, whereby the component is pressed against a bonding layer or solder paste layer on the board surface and fixed or temporarily fixed to the board.
The suction head assembly is thereafter returned to above the component feeder, followed by the subsequent cycle of surface mounting operation.
With the conventional surface mounting apparatus, the upward and downward movement of the suction head assembly is effected by operating a cam mechanism. The cam curve of the cam mechanism is so designed that an excessive impact force or pressure will not act on electronic components when the suction nozzle is pressed against the component on the feeder and also when the attracted component is pressed against the printed board.
In recent years, however, a wide variety of electronic components are introduced into use which differ variously in configuration, size (thickness) and material. These components include, for example, delicate parts such as IC (LSI) bear chips. The electronic components to be mounted by the surface mounting apparatus therefore differ greatly in mechanical properties with the type of components.
Accordingly, in mounting different types of electronic components by the surface mounting apparatus, the pressure to be exerted on the component when the component is held by suction and when it is mounted on the surface must be controlled to a suitable value for each of the different types.
The suction head assemblies already proposed for use in surface mounting apparatus include, for example, those which are driven by a linear motor (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publications SHO 60-66500 and SHO 63-232496), those which are driven by a compression spring (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication SHO 63-22292) and those wherein electropneumatic regulator is utilized (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication HEI 1-246899).
However, the apparatus wherein the linear motor is used for driving has the problem that the apparatus is complex in construction and has a great weight. With the apparatus wherein the compression spring or electropneumatic regulator is used, it is difficult to accurately control the pressure or impact force to be actually exerted on the electronic component.
Further in the case of electronic components which are not resistant to impact forces, the force of impact to be produced by the striking contact of the component with the printed board must be limited to not greater than a specified value.
Nevertheless, the value of impact force permissible for components is not definite for all components, whereas the suction head assembly is conventionally lowered at a suitable speed which is empirically determined. This entails the problem that an excessive impact force is likely to act on some components to shorten the life of the component or break the component.
The lowering speed, if set to a very low value, results in a poor work efficiency and is not practical.


The method for identifying critical features as a function of process provides a way to identify critical features associated with a particular part, and to relate the effect of performing repair processes on the identified critical features. The method includes identifying critical features associated with the part, and determining the effect repair processes will have on the identified critical features. This information is included in a an output that is made available to repair centers. Based on the identification of critical features and the associated effect of repair processes on the identified critical features, repair centers are able to focus process and quality control resources on the identified critical features affected by a particular repair process.

The present invention relates to repair processes and specifically to the identification of critical features associated with repaired parts and the effect of repair processes on the identified critical features.
In the turbine engine industry, as in other industries, the proper repair of manufactured parts is critical to the overall performance of a product. Detailed repair procedures generated by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or independent third-party are therefore critical to ensuring the repair of a particular part is performed correctly. These repair procedures may provide a great amount of detail regarding how to perform certain repair processes. However, these repair procedures typically lack input regarding specific features of a repaired part that are critical to the performance of a product. Repair centers are often therefore unaware of which features should receive additional attention post-repair to ensure the critical features are maintained with recommended tolerances.

Method for identifying critical features as a function of process


A forced entry practice device for a door includes a housing assembly configured to be installed in a cutout of a door and defining a cavity. A support arm extends outwardly from a side portion of the housing assembly and across a major surface of the door. A casing is coupleable to a door jamb of a door frame associated with the door. A first engagement portion is coupled to the casing, and a second engagement portion is coupled to the housing assembly. A retaining member includes a first section receivable in the first engagement portion and a second section receivable in the second engagement portion. The edge of the door is maintained proximate to the door jamb when the retaining member is received in the engagement portions.

There are several known devices and simulators used to practice forced door entry. One such simulator includes a free-standing apparatus including a base plate upon which a rigid steel door frame is welded, and a steel door connected to the door frame. A holding bracket maintains the door in a closed position. Such a simulator is relatively bulky, heavy, and expensive, requiring a separate area for configuration and use. Other devices provide for a specialized latch system that is installed on a conventional door. However, such devices have not proven commercially viable or practical in use, given the door and/or door frame is prone to being damaged during use, and/or the device is prone to being detached from the door.
Therefore, there is a need for a device for practicing forced door entry that is relatively easy to install and use on a conventional door and door frame, and that may be used repeatedly without damaging the door and/or door frame.


An automated guided vehicle with a multistage loading structure includes a vehicle body, and a loader in the vehicle body and operative to load articles in a multistage manner. The loader has a loading unit that is positioned between the articles loaded in the multistage manner and separately loads the articles. The loading unit moves up and down.

The inventive concept relates to an automated guided vehicle. More particular, the inventive concept relates to an automated vehicle having a loader/unloader for loading articles onto and/or unloading articles from a body of the vehicle.
The demand for semiconductor devices is continuously increasing due to the development of information and communication technologies. To meet such extreme demands, new fabrication lines for manufacturing and transporting semiconductor devices must be built and these lines must minimize production time.
The easiest way of building new fabrication lines is to secure a wide area of a factory in which the pieces of equipment (or "fabrication facilities") of the lines can be laid out, but this incurs high overhead costs which are passed down to the final products. Laying out the production lines in a large area also results in a correspondingly long production time. It thus is desirable to place the fabrication lines within as small an area as possible.
That is, to realize an efficient manufacturing facility, i.e., to minimize the production time and allow for processed articles to be promptly delivered from one fabrication line to another, it is important to minimize the space between the fabrication lines. However, the need to secure paths along which the processed articles must be transferred along the fabrication lines limits a reduction in the spacing between the fabrication lines.
Various automation systems have been developed to deliver goods between fabrication lines. An automated guided vehicle (AGV) and an overhead hoist transport (OHT) that travel along a linear rail installed on a ceiling is an example of one widely used automation system. Many other automation systems are also being studied.

Automated guided vehicle with multistage loading structure


A headset containing 2 earphones is described. The headset includes an anti-noise circuit, a radio system circuit, and a sound collection circuit for providing an anti-noise capability. One of the earphones defines a cavity having an external input terminal therein. An output terminal of a conventional MP3 player is coupled to the external input terminal when the player is disposed in the cavity. The output terminal is coupled to the radio system circuit so that music played by the MP3 player can be transmitted to the earphones. A keeper is provided to retain the MP3 player in the cavity.

As is well known, a number of MP3 players have been developed which are quite small in size. In particular, MP3 players are available now which are about the size of a business card or a package of chewing gum. Such players are loaded with music for example from a desktop computer so that the user can play whatever music is desired. Because of the size, the MP3 players do not include a speaker. Accordingly, the user must wear a headset in order to receive a digital signal from the MP3 player which is coupled to the headset by an audio cable to play music through the headset.
Music from an MP3 player is coupled by an audio lead to the user through either earplugs, or a conventional headset which carries microphones covering the ears.
It is also known to provide a headset containing a memory card to generate the music played through the microphones. Such a device is shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,365.
It is also known to provide headsets which operate to cancel external noise so that the wearer can concentrate on a desired source of music. In such a device, the unwanted exterior noise is detected, and a canceling signal of an opposite phase generated. A second microphone then detects the desired sounds and transmits them to the user through the earphones. Such a device is described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,140. The disclosure of that patent is hereby incorporated by reference. In that patent application, three different functions were combined in a single system. The system contained an anti-noise circuit, a radio-receiving circuit, and a sound collection circuit. The device then would eliminate external noise or background noise, and receive a radio broadcast from an external audio source. The device further included a sound collection system for the anti-noise circuit. The anti-noise circuit system included a microphone to receive the external or background noise and a circuit for generating a compensating signal of an opposite wave length to cancel the background noise. The radio circuit could include a microphone for receiving the radio sound, or more likely, from a sound generating device hardwired to said circuit for producing music or the like.


Systems and techniques are disclosed for configuring a circuit containing a two-stage amplifier including a first stage containing at least a differential amplifier, a second stage containing at least a transistor, and a sensing circuit configured to provide a gate voltage to a compensation component. The compensation component may be configured to connect the first stage and the second stage and to generate a lead-lag compensation. The compensation component may contain a compensation capacitor and a variable compensation resistive component in series connection with the compensation capacitor.

A two-stage amplifier, such as an on-chip voltage regulator, is conventionally compensated by setting a dominant pole at the output of the first stage. The dominant pole may be created using either Miller compensation or lead-lag compensation. In a conventional two-stage amplifier with varying load currents, the compensation capacitor can result in an adjustable pole in the frequency response. The pole is adjusted for maximum stability in the compensation system; either Miller or lead-lag is suitable. In either compensation scheme, the non-dominant pole is directly related to the transconductance of the second stage of the amplifier, which requires a minimum current in the second stage amplifier in order to guarantee a finite transconductance.
With varying load currents in the second stage, the minimum current is overhead of the amplifier in all cases and, thus, the power dissipation may be higher than necessary. Increased power dissipation may cause reduced battery life and/or excess heat dissipation.


A video encoding control method for controlling encoding of an input video signal. The method includes the steps of detecting an underflow of a decoder buffer; if the underflow of the decoder buffer has been detected, suppressing an amount of generated code by skipping an encoding target picture or by encoding the encoding target picture so as to produce a minimum amount of generated code; after suppressing the amount of generated code, comparing a current rate of occupancy in the decoder buffer with a predetermined threshold for the rate of occupancy in the decoder buffer; and performing a control for continuously suppressing the amount of code generated for each encoding target image by using the above step of suppressing the amount of generated code until the rate of occupancy in the decoder buffer exceeds the threshold based on a result of the above comparison.

In an ordinary decoder, received encoded data is stored in a buffer until the data is decoded to be displayed. The decoded encoded data is withdrawn from the buffer.
When encoding a video image, the state of the decoder-side buffer should be considered so as to prevent a result that the video cannot be decoded. Accordingly, a test using a virtual decoder buffer is performed during the encoding, so as to ensure that the decoding will succeed.
The decoder buffer has two abnormal states, that is, overflow and underflow.
In the overflow, encoded data reaches the decoder at a speed higher than a speed for decoding and displaying the data. If receiving encoded data at a speed higher than the decoding and displaying speed, the amount of code for the received data is larger than the amount of code for data withdrawn from the buffer, so that the amount of received data may exceed the capacity of the decoder buffer. In a known measure to prevent the overflow of the decoder buffer, useless data (for data staffing or filling) are inserted so as to reduce the speed for receiving necessary data, thereby preventing the overflow.
In contrast, in the underflow, necessary encoded data has not yet been received when decoding and displaying the data. In order to prevent the underflow, an appropriate target amount of code for preventing the underflow may be set so as to control the amount of generated code. In another method using a picture skip technique, the number of pictures to be encoded is reduced so as to prevent the underflow. Both methods prevent the underflow by suppressing the amount of generated code.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method which performs a decoder buffer examination for determining whether or not an underflow has occurred. If an underflow has occurred, original encoded data is replaced with skip encoded data.
FIG. 7 shows an operation flow of an underflow prevention method in conventional video encoding.
First, in the decoder buffer examination, it is determined whether or not an underflow has occurred (see step S100). If an underflow is detected, the amount of generated code is suppressed through a generated code amount control process (see step S101).
Suppression of the amount of generated code may be performed by a control method for reducing the difference between the amount of generated code and the target amount of code, a method of skipping a picture for which an underflow is detected, or a method of generating dummy encoded data which produces a minimum amount of generated code.
The detection of occurrence of the underflow is executed before or after the relevant encoding.
If executing the underflow detection after the encoding, an encoded stream of the picture for which the underflow has been detected should be cancelled.
In addition, the rate of occupancy in the decoder buffer immediately before the decoding of a picture at time t can be computed by the following formula.B(t)=B(0)+R*t−ΣG(i)where B(0) is an initial value of the rate of occupancy in the decoder buffer, R denotes a bit rate, and G(i) denotes the amount of code generated for a picture at time i.

Video encoding control method and apparatus

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A method and a device are provided for protecting data stored in a ROM of a micoprogram control unit. Such data may take the form of a user program. To protect the data, predetermined code data is written into a predetermined address in the ROM. A code address inputted from outside the microprogram control unit is then compared with the predetermined address. If the inputted code address is determined to match the predetermined address, then code data inputted from outside the microprogram control unit is compared with the predetermined code data. Only after both of these comparisons are successfully made is the data in the ROM allowed to be read outside the microprogram control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for protecting ROM data which is a built-in user program of the microprogram control unit (MCU) and which provides high security.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional protective device for ROM data is shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 shows that the conventional protective device for ROM data consists of a specific register 30 inside the MCU 1, a control pin 31 for reading data in ROM 32, which is a user program, out of chip, a port control circuit 32, internal bus 33, data bus 34 and AND gate 35.
In the above construction, the output signal from AND gate 35 converts to high state when a high signal is inputted to control pin 31 and is written to specific register 30 simultaneously, and then the high signal enables port control circuit 32. Therefore, the data stored in ROM 2 was outputted through internal bus 33, port control circuit 32 and data bus 34 in turn.
This construction of the conventional protective device for ROM data has a problem that the protection of a user program is difficult, since the setting of control pin 31 and register 30 inside the MCU 1 was made by the same signal, making it possible for the data stored in ROM 2 to be read easily outside.

Method and device for protecting data of ROM


A control system comprising an electronic device equipped with a port, a hub being connectable to multiple external devices and to be connected to the port of the electronic device, and one or more external devices to be connected to the hub, the operation of the external devices connected via the hub being controlled using the electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a supplying section for supplying currents to the hub connected to the port and the external devices connected via the hub, and a storage section for storing the magnitude of the total current supplied from the supplying section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system, an electronic apparatus and an image forming apparatus, for managing the magnitude of the total current supplied to external devices connected via a hub in order to control operation at the time of the connection.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, some image forming apparatuses, such as copiers, printers and digital combination apparatuses, are equipped with a USB port, and a system that captures image data stored in an external device, such as a USB memory or a digital still camera, and outputs images has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-109765).
In this kind of system, the image forming apparatus serves as a host apparatus and controls the external device serving as a device. The maximum current that can be supplied from one USB port provided in the host apparatus is 500 mA. Hence, in the case that a USB hub is connected to the USB port of the host apparatus and that no power is supplied to the USB hub from an AC adaptor or the like, the total current of the operating current of the USB hub and the currents that can be supplied to multiple USB devices connected to the USB hub is 500 mA.
The present USB specifications stipulate that a maximum current of 500 mA can be supplied from each USB port. Hence, in the case that the current consumption of a USB device to be connected is 500 mA or less, the USB device is configured so as to operate when connected. Because the current consumption of a USB device is generally low, multiple USB devices are frequently operated by only the current supplied from the host, and even when a USB hub is used, no power supply is connected to the USB hub.
However, in the case that a USB device having a high current consumption is connected, problems occur. For example, overcurrent protection is activated inside the USB port or the USB hub, and the USB device having the high current consumption cannot be connected electrically; or the operating voltage of the USB hub is lowered, and the operation of the USB hub itself and the operation of the USB device connected to the USB hub become unstable or impossible. In other words, although the maximum current that can be supplied is 500 mA, in the case that a large capacity device is connected, a large current is supplied to the device, and the above-mentioned problems will occur. As a result, there is a fear of adversely affecting the devices having been connected to the same USB hub.

Control system, electronic device and image forming apparatus


A head load/unload and airflow control apparatus for a disk stack is disclosed. Load/unload cams protrude into the OD of the disk stack for guiding the heads away from the corresponding disks during unloading and ramping the heads toward the corresponding disk during loading. Airflow vanes, each in the same plane and radially proximate to the outer edges of the corresponding disks are provided to limit airflow turbulence at the edge of the disks. Each airflow vane supports corresponding load/unload cams. A shroud supports the vanes and extends axially of the disk stack to limit airflow from the disks. The load/unload cams, airflow vanes and shroud may comprise a single element.

Head load/unload has been used primarily for portable magnetic disk products which have been concerned about the potential for "head slap", which may be caused by external shock, e.g., when the computer for housing the disk drive or the disk drive is bumped or dropped. As the result of the external shock, the head slider momentarily lifts from the rest position on the disk and bounces back down on to the surface of the disk. The impact of the head slider on the disk can cause permanent deformation in localized areas of the disk where the slider edge or corner hits the disk, also referred to as "disk rings".
Portable disk drives are normally low capacity, low performance disk drives, having low disk spindle speeds (3600 to 4500 rpm), small disks (2.5" or 1.8" form factors) and a small number of disks (1 to 3). Such disk drives are not troubled by disk flutter due to airflow turbulence because of the lower spindle speeds and smaller diameter disks.
High end disk drives are having difficulty meeting the conflicting requirements of slider start/stop durability and stiction as fly heights necessarily are reduced to accommodate the need for increased data recording density. Head slider load/unload is one method for relieving these problems. Thus, head load/unload may become widely used in the industry to enable increased recording density with reliable start/stop.
High end disk drives are typically high capacity and high performance. Such drives comprise many large diameter disks (3.5" or 5.25" form factors) and operate at very high spindle speeds (7,200 to 10,000 rpm and higher in the future). "Disk flutter" becomes a significant problem at these high spindle speeds with large disks. Disk flutter is the term for aerodynamically excited disk vibration. Air turbulence in and around the disk stack is broad band in frequency content and excites the disk structural resonances.
Shrouding appears to reduce such air turbulence when located close to the outside diameter (OD) of the disk. However, such shrouding is in direct opposition to basic head load/unload cam designs. Typical load/unload cam designs need to be positioned near the disk OD and require an area free of any shrouding. The load/unload cams also protrude into the disk stack at the OD. Thus, not only does use of typical load/unload cams prevent maximum shrouding, the protrusion into the disk stack at the OD causes increased airflow disturbance that can cause increased disk flutter.

Head load/unload and disk airflow control apparatus

International Business Machines Corporation