A flexible transparent container for improved storage of oxygen sensitive parenterally administerable agents comprising an inner, primary container enclosed in a substantially oxygen impermeable outer envelope with an oxygen absorber, capable of consuming essentially all residual oxygen after the outer envelope is sealed, and for sufficient period also the oxygen penetrating said envelope. The inner container is made of a polypropylene containing flexible polymeric material compatible with lipophilic agents capable of forming both permanent and peelable seals, while the envelope is made of a substantially water impermeable flexible multilayered polymeric material comprising a first outer substantially water impermeable polymeric film with oxygen barrier forming capacity, assembled with a second, inner polymeric film with a supplementary oxygen barrier forming capacity. The container essentially maintains its characteristics after being subjected to sterilization by steam or radiation.

Traditionally, fluids aimed for parenteral administration to the blood stream of patients have been packaged in glass containers. There has, however, been much industrial efforts devoted to find alternative polymeric materials which are less resource consuming, cheaper and more convenient to handle than glass.
As discussed in, for example the International patent application WO 94/19186 (in the name of Pharmacia AB and Wipak Vihury Oy), it is considerable amount of technical problems that must be solved before a polymeric material with satisfying properties for storing parenterally injectible fluids is obtained. The material and container made thereof should be capable of withstanding different sterilization techniques without losing important characteristics, such as forming both an oxygen barrier and moisture barrier against the environment. They shall be compatible with fluids to be stored, even after a long term storage and even if the fluids contain lipophilic constituents that might lead to migration and dissolution of unwanted compounds from the polymeric matrix. In addition, the materials must be possible to weld together and be printable and maintain their flexibility and other mechanical properties, as well as their aesthetic appearance (i.e. transparency) after the sterilization procedure. It is also an important requirement that such a container shall be sterilized as a final step, after being filled and assembled, to provide the highest possible safety for the patients. It has been found that not even the highly sophisticated multilayer films according to the mentioned WO 94/19186 will be completely capable of meeting the highly rigorous requirements of keeping an oxygen barrier, when it is desired to store such sensitive fluids as lipid emulsions containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, for such a long time as several months in room temperature after autoclavation in a single package.
However, so far it has not been regarded as possible to obtain all the desirable properties combined in a single material and arrive with a cheap, convenient construction which also is environment friendly and possible to recycle by its manufacturer. For example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,634 to McGaw Inc., it is disclosed a flexible container having three chambers separated by frangible seals, in which diluents and medicaments are separately stored until the seals are ruptured to mix the contents together for delivery to a patient. If it is necessary to form a sheltering barrier against environmental oxygen for a stored product, this patent suggests the introduction of an aluminum foil as a complement to the multilayered polymeric material of the container. Such a mixture of metal and polymers in the same package, would however not, be desirable from an environmental viewpoint, since a recollection and recycling of the material would be difficult. Furthermore, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,634 does not particularly teach containers that can be steam sterilized after their assembly and filling which is a precondition for container systems for long term storage of parenteral nutrients intended to substitute glass bottles. The container disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,634 obviously will be less suitable for separate storage of two or more steam sterilized parenteral nutrients.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,083 in the name of Vifor S.A. discloses a flexible three-chamber bag for separate storage of lipids, amino acid and sugar to be mixed within the bag and used parenterally. For the mixing of the ingredients, transfer passages between the chambers are opened from the outside by the user. It is a drawback with this type of containers that the mixing will be relatively slow and complicated, especially if all the chambers are filled to a high degree and liquid must be pushed back and forth through the passages in order to complete the mixing procedure. If the lower mixing chamber is made large enough to comprise the volume of all three constituents during the mixing, the lower chamber must be filled with a large head space which gives disadvantages during the sterilization and storage of the products and leads to a poor utilization of the polymeric packaging material. Furthermore, the polymerized materials suggested to constitute the flexible bag in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,083 will not be sufficient to keep the nutrients from oxidative degradation after long term storage.
The International patent application WO 95/26117 in the name of Fresenius AG discloses a more convenient type of multi-chamber bag wherein the partition between the chambers are made by a weak welding possible to rupture to immediately obtain a large mixing cross-sectional area without the risk of tearing away parts of the breakable means. Even if this bag is made of a specifically designed multilayer foil having a sealant layer capable of forming different type of weldings at different temperatures, it will not be able to form a satisfactory oxygen barrier to protect highly sensitive contents during long time storage after autoclavation. Also its construction having filling tubes in the permanent seams sealing the chambers constitutes a risk of leakages and may cause problems if it is desired to have an additional airtight enclosure. This container therefore seems less suitable as a three-chamber container for joint separate storage of lipid emulsion, carbohydrates and amino acid solutions. Moreover, the exemplified incorporation of a paraffin oil in the multilayered material, would hardly be compatible with the storage of lipid emulsion when considering the risk for migration.
Also the British patent specification GB 2 134 067, in the name C.R. Bard Inc., discloses a flexible three compartment package having rupturable seals between the chambers to enable mixing before dispensing of its contents. This package will, however not, for material reasons be suitable for parenteral medical products, such as infusible nutrients.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,553 in the name of Material Technology Engineering teaches a single chamber container made of polymers, suitable for storing an amino acid solution aimed for parenteral nutrition, while the U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,400, assigned to the same company, discloses a method of making such a container. It is disclosed how to fill and seal an inner primary container in an inert atmosphere, whereupon it is enclosed in an outer envelope together with a deoxidizer and autoclaved. The inner container consists of a linear low density polyethylene while the outer envelope consists of a three-layered laminated film formed of an outer nylon layer, a middle layer of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and an inner polypropylene layer. Such a material will, however, not be possible to steam sterilize with maintained quality at 121.degree. C. as required by the European Pharmacopoeia. However, not even such a container is likely to be entirely successful to provide a barrier for atmospheric oxygen after autoclavation and during long-term storage, up to 12 months or more, of more sensitive fluids, like lipid emulsions based on triglyceridic oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and certain amino acids. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,400 indicates that the outer envelope risks to lose important characteristics by the steam sterilization. In one embodiment it is suggested that only the inner container shall be autoclaved. The inner container is thereafter cooled in an inert atmosphere and finally enclosed with the oxygen impermeable envelope. Such a process is not completely satisfying since it for rational reasons is desirable to make the sterilization step on the finally filled and assembled container. In another embodiment it is suggested that the finally assembled and sealed container is autoclaved. However, in order to retain the oxygen barrier after the autoclavation an extra drying process must be introduced in order to remove absorbed moisture from outer envelope.
The European Patent Application EP 0 639 364 by Otsuka Pharm. Factory Inc. discloses another recent flexible multi-chamber bag for storage of oxygen sensitive agents. This bag is preferably useful for storing degradable powder formed drug and its diluent in separate chambers. The chamber filled with the oxygen sensitive powder is covered with an oxygen barrier forming envelope which is sealed in a controlled atmosphere by weldings to the bag. A drawback with the containers exemplified in this application is that they may not withstand autoclavation after their final assembly.
It is obvious that the construction of a flexible multi-chamber container intended to substitute glass bottles for storing parenteral nutrients, such as lipid emulsions is a highly complex development process. A careful consideration must be taken to the capacity of the materials of being autoclavable with maintained characteristics, to their capacity of providing a barrier against environmental oxygen and water vapor, while at the same time it must be easy to process to a functional multi-chamber container, for example with conventional welding technology and comply with the demands of being possible to recollect and recycle in one single, simple process. For the parts of the container in contact with the stored, often lipophilic substances, it is a requirement that potentially hazardous agents must not be allowed to migrate into the parenteral product. Conventionally employed polymers in medical packages, like polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), and other polymers containing migrating plasticizers therefore can not be considered. Nevertheless, these polymeric materials have a higher permeability to oxygen than glass bottles which makes them unsuitable for long-term storage of especially sensitive fluids. Moreover, the material must have an aesthetically attractive appearance with a transparency that do not deteriorate after sterilization and storage. In addition, the material must allow printing of instructions and filling levels without migration of the printing ink. It is also important that the material maintains all the mechanical characteristics, such as flexibility and strength, after the sterilization independently, if it is performed by steam or radiation. Besides the important material properties, the container must be convenient to handle when mixing the stored products and provide a high degree of safety for the patient, both when considering the manufacture of the container and its handling by the user either in the home of a patient or at a hospital.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible container of substantially made of a polymeric material with an improved barrier against environmental oxygen and moisture which also is capable of withstanding sterilization by means of high pressure steam (autoclavation) or irradiation essentially without losing any such barrier capacity or other important characteristics including flexibility or transparency, so even stored agents of high oxygen susceptibility may be stored for long periods with maintained integrity.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a flexible container for separated long term storage of such agents that are easily perishable when stored together in their final parenterally administerable form and provide the container with means for mixing such agents aseptically within the container to an injectible fluid.
It is a particular object of the present invention to provide such a container for storing parenteral nutrition components separately, i.e. a lipid emulsion, a carbohydrate solution and an amino acid solution, and subsequently, just before parenteral administration, combine them to a homogenous fluid nutrient mixture.
It is another particular object of the present invention to prolong the possible storage period both in a cold environment and in room temperature for sensitive fluids aimed for total parenteral nutrition to overcome the problem of short shelf-life of such products.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a container with the capacity of separately storing several components filled in ready-made inner container which has a minimized number of potential sites where leakages can appear.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such containers which are safe and convenient to handle and which minimize the risks for erroneous handling and contamination during all the steps necessary to obtain a parenterally administerable fluid of a predetermined quality.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such containers that are cheap and environment friendly by being to a high extent made of such polymeric materials which are possible to recollect and recycle together without an inconvenient dismembering of different container parts.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a process for manufacturing such filled containers that are sterilized as a last stage after being assembled and filled, wherein the filling process is performed in a manner that avoids permanent, potentially leaking filling ports.
These objects of the present invention, as well as other obvious advantages demonstrated in this text, are attained by the appended claims.


A modular component securing apparatus includes a chassis, a securing member moveably coupled to the chassis and including an activation surface, a biasing member coupled to the securing member and operable to bias the securing member into a deactivated position, a component detection member coupled to the securing member and operable to move the securing member relative to the chassis and into an activated position in response to the component detection member being engaged by a modular component, and an activation member including an activator surface. In response to the securing member being moved into the activated position, the activator surface may engage the activation surface in order to move the securing member relative to the chassis and into a securing position. The securing member may be moved into the securing position only when a modular component is positioned in the chassis.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for securing a modular component in a chassis.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Modular components such as, for example, floppy disk drives, optical drives, storages devices, and a variety of other equivalent components known in the art, or often used with information handling systems. These modular components may be coupled to and removed from the information handling system as a users needs require.
It is desirable to provide for the securing of these modular components in the information handling system chassis. However, conventional securing devices may become be activated without the modular component present in the chassis, which can result in damage to the modular component, the chassis, and/or the securing mechanism. Additionally, convention devices tend to exist at least partially external to the chassis, which raises security issues.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for securing a modular component in a chassis absent the disadvantages found in the prior methods discussed above.

Method and apparatus for securing a modular component in a chassis


A copolycarbonate; a copolycarbonate composition that contains the copolycarbonate and a polycarbonate resin; a polycarbonate base resin composition that contains the copolycarbonate and an acryl base resin; an optical molded article containing the copolycarbonate; a light guide plate containing the copolycarbonate; a lens containing the copolycarbonate; an optical molded article containing the copolycarbonate composition; a light guide plate containing the copolycarbonate composition; a lens containing the copolycarbonate composition; an optical molded article containing the polycarbonate base resin composition; a light guide plate containing the polycarbonate base resin composition; and an optical molded article containing the polycarbonate base resin composition.

A polycarbonate (hereinafter abbreviated as PC) resin is produced primarily from bisphenol A as a raw material and excellent in a transparency, a heat resistance and a mechanical characteristic, and therefore it is used for wide applications. However, involved therein is the problem that when this PC resin is used for optical parts such as lenses, light guide plates, optical disks and the like, satisfactory molded articles are not obtained because of a low fluidity thereof, and the fluidity is desired to be further enhanced, so that various improved polycarbonates are proposed.
A method in which a structure of a PC resin is changed by carrying out copolymerization and modification of a molecular chain terminal is reported as a method for improving the fluidity. For example, a PC resin in which a molecular chain terminal is modified by a long chain alkyl group is proposed (refer to, for example, a Patent Document 1). However, a terminal-modified PC resin obtained by the above method has a part working for enhancing the fluidity only in a molecular chain terminal part, and therefore an introducing amount of the long chain alkyl group is limited, so that the degree of a rise in the fluidity stays in such a level that it is not satisfactory.
A PC resin obtained by copolymerizing with octylene-bis(p-hydroxybenzoate) is proposed as a method for solving the above problem (refer to, for example, a Patent Document 2). The PC copolymer obtained by the above method provides no problems when a molding temperature is relatively low but involves the problem that gas is liable to be generated by decomposition when the molding temperature is elevated to 280° C. or higher in order to enhance the transferring property. Also, a PC resin obtained by copolymerizing with polytetramethylene glycol-bis(4-hydroxybenzoate) is disclosed (refer to, for example, a Patent Document 3), and it is known that this PC copolymer shows a high toughness, but the existing situation is that it is not technically established as a material showing excellent transferring property and molding property.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-96180
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Showa 61 (1986)-16923
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Showa 62 (1987)-79222

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Copolycarbonate, copolycarbonate composition, and optical molded article obtained therefrom


A machining method for machining a surface of a spectacle lens at a fixed rotation speed, includes a step of determining the rotation speed from geometric characteristics of the surface, characterized in that the step of determining the rotation speed includes the following steps: a value (Maxdiff) representative of the largest difference in geometric value of the mean sphere on the surface is determined; and the rotation speed is deduced from the value (Maxdiff) of the largest difference in geometric values of the mean sphere on the surface and from a geometric value of the cylinder (FV torus) at a predetermined far-vision control point.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to machining method by turning a surface of a spectacle lens at a fixed rotational speed.
The invention also relates to a data processing system for executing a computer program implementing the machining method and the machining tool comprising this data processing system.
The invention also relates to a client-server communication interface for transferring to a remote computer a computer program implementing the machining method and its execution on said computer, or for transferring input and output data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the machining time of a surface of a spectacle lens depends on the machine used, the material and this surface.
The machining speed has an effect on the conformity of the surface produced to the surface sought. Thus, a very low speed can ensure the conformity of a very complex surface; however it will affect the productivity thereof. Conversely, a high speed allows productivity to be increased but can affect conformity.
Moreover, the optical function of a spectacle lens is provided mainly by two dioptres corresponding to the front and rear surfaces of the spectacle lens. The topography of the surface to be produced depends on the distribution of the applied function between the front surface and the rear surface of said lens. In some cases, the distribution is such that the surface to be produced is particularly complex.
Generally, it is necessary to perform tests for complex surfaces in order to determine an optimum machining speed, which is detrimental to productivity.
A need therefore exists for the simple determination of suitable machining parameters allowing both satisfactory productivity and acceptable conformity of the surface produced to the surface sought.

Machining method by turning a face of a spectacle lens

ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE)


An insulating film according to an embodiment of the present invention has Chemical Formula 1

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic displays. More specifically, the present invention relates to electronic displays having an organic insulator, an organic thin film transistor array panel, and a manufacturing method thereof.
(b) Description of Related Art
Efforts currently exist to develop an organic thin film transistor (TFT) including insulators as part of "next generation" displays. The organic TFT includes organic semiconductors and may further include other organic elements such as an organic substrate or organic insulators.
The organic TFT can be manufactured relatively inexpensively by printing a liquid phase organic material and by employing a light. The organic TFT can be formed on flexible plastic substrate to make flexible display devices. In particular, an organic gate insulator, which is disposed between an organic semiconductor and a gate electrode, is developed as a substitute for a conventional gate insulator including silicon oxide or silicon nitride showing poor adhesion with a plastic substrate and requiring high temperature and vacuum.
However, an organic thin film generally allows high leakage current and an organic TFT including conventional organic gate insulators shows low charge carrier mobility. Accordingly, organic gate insulators are not commonly employed in a TFT at this stage, and efforts to improve them continue.

Organic insulator, organic thin film transistor array panel including organic insulator, and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract: wherein the Rs are equal to or different from each other, m is an integer, the Rs have Chemical Formula 2:R=R1R2R3,  (2)and        R1, R2, and R3 in the Chemical Formula 2 are one selected from Chemical Formulae 3, 4 and 5, respectively (n is an integer):

Seoul National University Industry Foundation


An information processing device includes: an analysis information storing means for storing each of analyzed raw data so as to be associated with analysis portion specification information; a storage destination information storing means for storing each of the raw data so as to be associated with a raw data storage destination address referring to a raw data managing device storing the each raw data; a raw data specifying means for specifying raw data associated with analysis portion specification information corresponding to portion designation information designating a predetermined time portion in combined analysis result information; and a distribution instructing means for instructing a raw data managing device specified by a raw data storage destination address associated with the specified raw data to distribute raw data of the time portion corresponding to the designated portion designation information.

In recent years, in accordance with improvement of the information processing technology, an analysis engine which analyzes various data has been developed. For example, an analysis engine that generates position information tracing the flow of a person from moving image data, an analysis engine that specifies a person from still image data, an analysis engine that generates text data from speech data, and the like, have been developed.
The results of analysis by these analysis engines are utilized for various purposes, and there is a case that raw data as the analysis source is needed. For example, when position information tracing the flow of a person from moving image data is analyzed and there is a concern in the position information, moving image data as raw data of the concern is searched for and reproduced.
As a method for handling a plurality of media and instructing reproduction, a method using a multimedia content markup language such as the Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is known. The SMIL enables instruction to reproduce many types of media by designation of places to store the media, layout on a display and time to reproduce information such as a still image, a moving image, a speech and a text.
Further, an example of a technique for reproducing raw data that is the source of a data analysis result is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, firstly, image parameters representing the characters of video images that are raw data captured by cameras are acquired, and the image parameters are associated with the cameras having captured the images. Then, a camera associated with a desired image parameter is specified, and a video image captured by the camera is displayed.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-183334
On the other hand, in the case of performing reproduction of raw data that is the analysis source as mentioned above, there is a need to previously designate a storage place of a media which is to perform the reproduction. However, because the abovementioned SMIL is designed as a language emphasizing objects such as synchronous reproduction of a plurality of contents like text and a moving image and layout on a screen, it is impossible to handle information associating raw data with an analysis result, and a problem that it is impossible to obtain raw data in a desired site from the analysis result arises.
In a case that raw data used for analysis by an analysis engine is one, an application that requests for raw data to an analysis engine can relatively easily mange raw data corresponding to the result of analysis by the analysis engine by using a timestamp or the like. However, in the case of reproducing a plurality of raw data analyzed by a plurality of analysis engines or reproducing any of the raw data, management by the application is difficult. That is to say, for managing a combined analysis result obtained by combining a plurality of analysis results and respective raw data that are the analysis sources, a function of managing by each application what are raw data corresponding to the combined analysis result and what addresses raw data managing devices managing the raw data exist in is required. Consequently, a problem that management of raw data is considerably inefficient arises. These problems are obvious when the number of raw data to be analyzed increases, or when a combined analysis result is handled by a plurality of applications.


A screen assembly for a work vehicle cab includes a screen configured to cover at least a portion of an opening in the work vehicle cab. The screen assembly also includes a frame having at least one window channel and a screen channel. The at least one window channel is configured to support at least one window, the screen channel is configured to receive the screen, and the frame extends about a portion of a periphery of the opening.

The present disclosure relates generally to a screen assembly for a work vehicle cab.
Certain work vehicles (e.g., tractors, harvesters, skid steers, etc.) include a cab configured to house an operator. The cab typically includes a frame having openings configured to enable the operator to view the surrounding environment. A screen is typically positioned over a substantial portion of each opening to block objects (e.g., construct debris, rocks, tree limbs, etc.) from entering the cab and to block the operator from exiting the cab through the opening. Certain work vehicles include one or more windows positioned within each opening (e.g., inward from the respective screen relative to an interior of the cab). The window(s) may be coupled to the frame of the cab by a frame that extends around the opening.
The screen is typically coupled to the cab frame by a welded connection and/or by multiple fasteners (e.g., rivets, etc.). Unfortunately, the process of sequentially coupling the window frame and the screen to the cab frame may result in significant work vehicle manufacturing costs. In addition, the process of removing the screen (e.g., to access the window(s)) may be time consuming and expensive. For example, a technician may grind through the welded connection and/or drill/grind through the fasteners to remove the screen.


A device for measuring forces on a sensor body, comprising a beam. An array comprising at least one recess is formed in the beam. The array has a length-to-height ration of less than 1.0. At least one strain transducer is mounted in at least one recess, wherein when incorporated in a sensor body the device is sufficiently rigid to provide low overall deflection while providing adequately high metric strain levels.

Strain-based force, torque, and displacement instruments have conventionally included strain elements, in the form of flexures, columns, diaphragms, or shear panels. These elements react to stresses caused by tension, compression, bending, torsion, or shear. One objective of such devices has been to produce the required levels of strain in the element to actuate a strain-measuring transducer, such as a bonded resistance strain gage, while maintaining a minimum of strain and deflection in the overall structure; i.e., a high level of sensitivity to load. A further objective has been to provide compact and potentially miniature structures that incorporate adequate strain elements. Devices of the shear-panel element type have been constructed with round or rectangular blind cavities located transversely in a beam structure, leaving a thin shear panel to react to stresses as the beam is stressed. FIGS. 1 through 4 are illustrative of the prior art constructions currently in use. While these instruments have been both successful and economical, they have been limited in compactness and stiffness.
Thus, there exists a need for a compact strain-based measurement device that provides high sensitivity (high surface and strain levels) at very low levels of actuating deflection.

Flexure system for strain-based instruments


A self perforating (punching) and thread forming connecting element such as a screw having a screw shaft 2 and screw tip 6 which tapers to a pointed end 4 as well as a single or multiple thread 8 which extends at least partially along the screw shaft 2 and along the screw tip 6 to the pointed end 4. This screw tip 6 has an essentially polygonal cross section along at least a partial region of its axial length and the thread 8 is constructed as a radially raised portion which has a helical shape with an outer thread edge 8a which, when viewed in an axial projection, forms a spiral in the region of the screw tip 6 as the radius of the thread becomes smaller and in the region of the screw shaft 2, the outer thread edge 8a proceeds with a constant radius in the form of a circle.

The present invention concerns a self-perforating (punching) and thread-forming connecting element, in particular a screw, with a screw shaft and screw tip, which tapers to a sharp point, as well as a single or multiple thread, which runs at least partly along the screw shaft and the tip of the screw up to the pointed end.
Such a connecting element is known from the DE 33 35 092 A1. These types of connecting elements, in particular screws, have the function of being screwed directly into soft materials, such as, above all, wood materials of all kinds, and specifically without requiring any prior drilling of a core hole. The screw is thus screwed directly into the material, during which process a material-displacement effect without the generation of chips is achieved. The screw, including the tip of the screw, is then seated in the material, so that the entire thread up to the tip participates in the retaining function and, therefore, high loosening moments and pull-out forces or moments can be achieved. In this case, the known screw, by virtue of a wave-shaped design of the edge of the thread, has a reduced screw-in moment, while the tip of the thread acts as a kind of rubbing tool due to the fact that the thread terminates in a pointed end. This screw has proved itself very well in practical use.
The DE 195 32 874 A1 describes a very similar connecting element, where additionally in the region of the tip at least one rubbing edge portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the screw along a part of the length of the tip of the screw. The rubbing region has a slight cutting effect.
The U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,556 describes a thread-forming, but not self-perforating screw for thin sheet metal materials, i.e. for threading a screw into a previously drilled core hole (pilot hole). For this purpose, this known screw consists of two sections with basically different designs and functions, and more specifically of a thread-forming section at the end or the tip and a retaining section following it. The retaining section consists of a cylindrical shaft with a circular and helical thread. The thread-forming section, on the other hand, has a cross-section, which consists of an equilateral triangle, while, in this region, the outer edge of the thread also has a corresponding triangular shape. The thread-forming section has the exclusive function of forming a thread in a pre-drilled core hole of a thin sheet metal material at a relatively low screw-in moment and without generating chips, in which hole subsequently only a portion of the thread of the retaining section is seated. The thread-forming section thus does not contribute to the retaining function, but the loosening and pull-out moment is exclusively determined by the retaining section.
The present invention is based on the task of creating a connecting element of the generic type, which is especially well suited for screwing it directly into soft materials, such as, for example, wood, plywood, composite materials and the like without requiring pre-drilling, and where a small tightening moment and a high loosening and pull-out moment is achieved.
According to the invention this is achieved by means of screw tips which, at least in a partial region of their axial length, have an essentially polygonal cross-section, while the thread is constructed as a helix-shaped raised portion with an outer edge of the thread, and where the edge of the thread--viewed in an axial projection--proceeds along the region of the screw tip in the form of a spiral as the radius becomes smaller, and in a circular form and with a constant radius in the region of the shaft of the screw. As far as the polygonal cross-section is concerned, it consists of a triangular, quadrangular or pentagonal cross-section, which in a preferred embodiment, contains in particular side surfaces having a convex curvature and/or, under certain circumstances, rounded corners. In this case, it is useful if the region having the essentially polygonal cross-section extends at least to the pointed end of the tip of the thread, and specifically with a surface area approaching zero at the tip.
By means of the design according to the invention, a generation of chips is practically avoided when the screw is screwed into position. Rather, the self-perforating effect of the connecting element according to the invention is based on the fact that the tip of the thread pushes itself into the material by virtue of its polygon-shaped core cross-section, and does so by means of achieving a good radial displacement effect due to the rising and falling moments occurring during the rotation. Yet, a high loosening moment (high retaining force) is achieved, because after the screw is screwed into position, the displaced soft material practically clings to the polygonal cross-section, so that in essence a form-fit or at least a press-fit is achieved. As a result of the fact that the edge of the thread proceeds in a continuous circular or spiral form, a very high pull-out moment or pull-out force is also ensured when the screw has been screwed into position because it, as well as the tip of the screw, is now seated in the material. This means that the connecting element according to the invention has practically only a retaining section, because the tip of the thread also participates in the retaining function, while nevertheless an advantageously low screw-in moment is ensured by virtue of the special design of the tip of the thread.
Further advantageous characteristics of the embodiment of the invention are contained in the dependent claims as well as in the description below.

Self perforating and thread forming connecting element

A-Z Ausrustung und Zubehor GmbH & Co. KG


Composition having an organic semiconducting material and a triplet-accepting material of formula (I) with a triplet energy level lower than the triplet energy level of the organic semiconducting material, in which each Ar is optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group, n is 1-3, m is 1-5, q is 0 or 1, each R3 is H or a substituent, and each R4 is H or a substituent. Where R4 is not H, R4 and (Ar)m bound to the same carbon atom may be linked by a direct bond or a divalent group. Where n or m is at least 2, adjacent Ar groups may be linked by a divalent group. Where q=0, R3 is not H and is linked to (Ar)n by a direct bond or a divalent group.

Electronic devices comprising active organic materials are attracting increasing attention for use in devices such as organic light emitting diodes, organic photovoltaic devices, organic photosensors, organic transistors and memory array devices. Devices comprising organic materials offer benefits such as low weight, low power consumption and flexibility. Moreover, use of soluble organic materials allows use of solution processing in device manufacture, for example inkjet printing or spin-coating.
A typical organic light-emissive device ("OLED") is fabricated on a glass or plastic substrate coated with a transparent anode such as indium-tin-oxide ("ITO"). A layer of a thin film of at least one electroluminescent organic material is provided over the first electrode. Finally, a cathode is provided over the layer of electroluminescent organic material. Charge transporting, charge injecting or charge blocking layers may be provided between the anode and the light-emitting layer and/or between the cathode and the light-emitting layer.
In operation, holes are injected into the device through the anode and electrons are injected into the device through the cathode. The holes and electrons combine in the organic light-emitting layer to form an excitons which then undergo radiative decay to give light.
In WO90/13148 the organic light-emissive material is a conjugated polymer such as poly(phenylenevinylene). In U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507 the organic light-emissive material is of the class known as small molecule materials, such as tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium ("Alq3"). These materials electroluminesce by radiative decay of singlet excitons (fluorescence) however spin statistics dictate that up to 75% of excitons are triplet excitons which undergo non-radiative decay, i.e. quantum efficiency may be as low as 25% for fluorescent OLEDs—see, for example, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1993, 210, 61, Nature (London), 2001, 409, 494, Synth. Met., 2002, 125, 55 and references therein.
It has been postulated that the presence of triplet excitons, which may have relatively long-lived triplet excited states, can be detrimental to OLED lifetime as a result of triplet-triplet or triplet-singlet interactions ("lifetime" as used herein in the context of OLED lifetime means the length of time taken for the luminance of the OLED at constant current to fall by a selected percentage (for example 10% or 50%) from an initial luminance value, and "lifetime" as used herein in the context of lifetime of a triplet excited state means the half-life of a triplet exciton). US 2007/145886 discloses an OLED comprising a triplet-quenching material to prevent or reduce triplet-triplet or triplet-singlet interactions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,029 discloses an electroluminescent device comprising light-emitting materials including distyrylbenzenes.
US 2005/208322 discloses an OLED comprising a light-emitting layer with light emission from 4,4′-bis(2,2′ diphenyl vinyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (DPVBi).
Polymer (Korea) 2002, 26(4), 543-550 discloses a polymer host blended with DPVBi as emitter. OLEDs have great potential for display and lighting applications. However, there remains a need to improve performance of these devices.

Organic light-emitting material, device and method


A card access apparatus is provided that is adapted to be connected to plural types of cards, the apparatus including plural connection points adapted for the respective types of cards, and plural signal buses that connect the connection points to a card control unit. When one type of card is connected to its corresponding connection point, at least one signal bus connected to a connection point adapted for at least one other type of card is electrically isolated from its corresponding connection point.

Presently, there are various types of small memory cards that are used as a storage medium for a personal computer or a digital camera, for example. Such memory cards include a Memory Stick (registered trademark; referred to as 'MS' hereinafter), an SD Card (registered trademark; referred to as 'SD' hereinafter), and an xD-Picture Card (registered trademark; referred to as 'xD' hereinafter), for example.
It is noted that a combo connector that is adapted for use with plural types of such small memory cards is provided. FIGS. 1A˜1C show an exemplary configuration of a combo connector 28 that is adapted to be connected to an MS, an SD, or an xD (MS/SD/xD combo connector). As is shown in the drawings, an MS, an SD, or an xD may be selectively connected to the combo connector 28.
It is noted that standardization and application of a so-called 'MS Duo' that is further reduced in size compared to the MS is being developed, and in turn, a so-called 'MS Duo adapter' is provided. By inserting an MS Duo into an MS Duo adapter, and inserting the MS duo adapter with the MS Duo into the MS/SD/xD combo connector 28, the MS Duo may be used as a small memory card for a personal computer or a digital camera, for example.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams respectively showing a front side configuration and a back side configuration of an MS Duo adapter 10. At a tip portion of the MS Duo adapter 10, a connection terminal 18 is provided as is shown in FIG. 2B. The MS Duo adapter 10 is designed to have a predetermined thickness and includes a slot 12 into which the MS Duo is inserted and set. A large portion of the front surface of the MS Duo adapter 10 and a portion of the back surface of the MS Duo adapter 10 are made of a metal plate 14 having an insulating film formed thereon. For example, the metal plate 14 may correspond to a metal plate made of an aluminum alloy that is coated with an insulating material.
It is noted that when the MS Duo adapter 10 is inserted into the MS/SD/xD combo connector 28, friction may be generated between the metal plate 14 of the MS Duo adapter 10 and the inner surface of a slot of the combo connector 28. In such a case, when the MS Duo adapter is repeatedly inserted into the combo connector 28, the insulator coating of the metal plate 14 of the adapter 10 may be partially rubbed off by the friction.
FIGS. 1A˜1C are plan views respectively showing cases in which an MS Duo adapter 10, an SD, and an xD are connected to the MS/SD/xD combo connector 28. It is noted that the MS/SD/xD combo connector 28 is arranged to include only one slot so that only one memory card can be used at one time.
The MS/SD/xD combo connector 28 includes terminals for an MS (MS terminals 22), terminals for an SD (SD terminals 24), and terminals for an xD (xD terminals 26) within one card insertion portion. Accordingly, when an MS Duo adapter 10 with the insulator coating rubbed off from its metal plate 14 as is described above is inserted into the MS/SD/xD combo connector 28, the conductor exposed portion of the MS Duo adapter 10 may come into contact with the SD terminals 24 and/or the xD terminals 26 (or portions thereof). As a result, irregularities may occur in the operation of the personal computer or digital camera, for example, to which the MS/SD/xD combo connector 28 is connected.
For example, a portion of the SD terminals 24 that may come into contact with the metal plate 14 includes terminals associated with data (SDCDAT1 and SDCDAT2), and thereby, when a short circuit occurs between the terminals relating to data and the metal plate 14, irregularities may occur in the operation of terminals relating to data of the MS terminals 22, and the memory card may not operate properly. Also, a portion of the xD terminals 26 that may come into contact with the metal plate 14 includes terminal associated with a power circuit and the ground (xD Power and xD GND), and when a short-circuit occurs between the terminals associated with the power circuit and the ground and the metal plate 14, a catastrophic impact may be imposed on the overall system.
It is noted that various techniques are disclosed in the prior art relating to apparatuses that are capable of handling plural media. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-44795 discloses a data processing apparatus that is adapted to plural types of media. However, the disclosed apparatus is merely arranged to prevent an external force from working on a smart media (SM) card. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-44796 discloses a memory card read/write apparatus. However, the disclosed apparatus is merely arranged to prevent a CF card or an SM card from being pulled out (detached) before power is turned off. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-178269 discloses a passive flash media adapter system. However, the disclosure merely relates to media recognition and access methods for a passive adapter.

Card access apparatus and electronic apparatus implementing the same


A cassette library apparatus and a posture control method thereof are provided. A swing arm (16a) is capable of chucking or releasing a cassette (1) by getting into a recessed part (10a) of the cassette (1) and getting out of the recessed part (10a) when a swing frame (34) swings up and down. The apparatus includes a swing mechanism (47, 48) for swinging the swing frame (34) and the swing arm (16a), a stepping motor (45) for driving the swing mechanism (47, 48), a device (51, 52) which detects the swing arm (16a) being in a specific posture, and a device (55) which detects the posture of the swing arm (16) by counting a number of pulses supplied to the stepping motor (45) when the posture of the swing arm (16a) is changed from the specific posture by drive of the stepping motor (45).

As a cassette library apparatus of this kind, as shown in FIG. 11, the one in which a plurality of garages 4 are disposed in an annular form on a turn table 2 and a tape cassette 1 is housed in each of the garages 4 is known. In this apparatus, the turn table 2 is rotated by a drive mechanism 3, and thereby, the garage 4 housing the targeted cassette 1 is opposed to an elevator mechanism 5. This elevator mechanism 5 takes out the targeted tape cassette 1 out of the garage 4 and loads and unloads the targeted tape cassette 1 into and from the tape drive 6, whereby readout and write of information are carried out ("New Technology of Matsushita Electric 2002" 2003/05, pages 155 to 159 "DDS loaded backup library" issued by R&D Planning Office, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.).
In this construction, loading and unloading the tape cassettes into and out of the tape drive 6 can be automated within the range of the data library housed in the turn table 2. However, when a number of tape cassettes 1 which are housed in the limited space as the tape library are needed, a magazine type cassette library apparatus shown in FIG. 12 is said to be more suitable than a turn table type cassette library apparatus like this.
In this magazine type cassette library apparatus, the tape drive 6 and a set of magazine type garages 8a and 8b are disposed inside a casing 7 as shown in FIG. 12. A plurality of tape cassettes 1 are housed in each of the garages 8a and 8b in the state in which they are aligned in a row. A picker 9 disposed between the set of garages 8a and 8b transfers the tape cassette 1 from and to these garages 8a and 8b, and the tape drive 6.
FIG. 13 shows a construction of one example of the tape cassette 1. This tape cassette 1 is formed into a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in the drawing, and recessed parts 10a and 10b are respectively formed at both side portions of its bottom side. Reference numeral 11 denotes a bottom surface of the tape cassette 1, and reference numerals 12a and 12b denote its side surfaces. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the tape cassette 1 is housed in the garages 8a and 8b so that its recessed parts 10a and 10b are located at open sides of the garages 8a and 8b, namely, the sides near to the picker 9. Each of the recessed parts 10a and 10b has a side wall surface 13 which is formed at the open sides of the garages 8a and 8b, namely, the positions near to the picker 9, and a bottom surface 14.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, the picker 9 includes a movable body 15 movable in the horizontal direction. The movable body 15 has a set of swing arms 16a and 16b as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, and the swing arms 16a and 16b are swingable in an up-and-down direction. Each of the swing arms 16a and 16b has a main body 17 in the horizontal direction and a raised part 18 raised upward from a tip end of the main body 17.
The swing arms 16a and 16b swing upward in the state in which the movable body 15 of the picker 9 approaches the tape cassette 1 housed in the garages 8a and 8b as shown in FIG. 15, and thereby, the main bodies 17 contact the bottom surface 11 of the tape cassette 1, and the raised parts 18 get into the recessed parts 10a and 10b as shown in the drawing. At this time, the raised parts 18 of a set of the swing arms 16a and 16b restrict the positions of the side wall surfaces 13 of the recessed parts 10a and 10b. From the above, the tape cassette 1 is chucked by the swing arms 16a and 16b. In this state, the movable body 15 moves in the direction to be away from the garages 8a and 8b, whereby the raised parts 18 of the swing arms 16a and 16b abut on the side wall surfaces 13 of the recessed parts 10a and 10b, and the tape cassette 1 can be drawn out of the garages 8a and 8b.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, the picker 9 has a guide rail 19, and the tape cassette 1 which is drawn out is placed on this guide rail 19. Thereby, transfer of the tape cassette 1 from the garages 8a and 8b to the picker 9 is completed.
In order to accurately perform chucking and unchucking of the tape cassette 1 by swing of the swing arms 16a and 16b, the postures of the swing arms 16a and 16b need to be detected in real time.
Therefore, in the prior art, the postures of the swing arms 16a and 16b are detected by sensing several important points in the swing mechanism of the swing arms 16a and 16b. Alternatively, the postures are detected by sensing torque of a motor for driving the swing mechanism of the swing arms 16a and 16b.

Cassette library device and method of controlling the attitude thereof


A computer-implemented method for protecting document files from macro threats may include (1) identifying a document file that contains an embedded macro, (2) locating an event-driven programming language module that stores the embedded macro for the document file, and (3) cleaning the event-driven programming language module by removing procedures for the embedded macro within the event-driven programming language module and retaining variable definitions within the event-driven programming language module. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Email is now a ubiquitous form of communication. To transmit files between persons and organizations, email may also include the files as attachments. Unfortunately, email attachments may contain payloads from attackers intending to compromise computer security.
As one example, document files may include macros that host a shellcode, which is a payload used in the exploitation of a software vulnerability. Attackers may encrypt the shellcode to prevent static scanning-based detection. When executed, the macro may automatically decrypt the shellcode and trigger a memory error to gain control over a document application (e.g., a word processing or spreadsheet application). To bypass address space layout randomization defenses, the attackers may use a heap spraying technique that fills large parts of memory with NOP ("No Operation") commands and shellcode. After extracting shellcode into memory, macros can also trigger a bug that corrupts a code pointer value. If the pointer points to the shellcode part of memory, then the attack may succeed.
Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for protecting document files from macro threats.

Systems and methods for protecting document files from macro threats


A substrate having a first dielectric layer, a first conductive layer and a second dielectric layer thereon is provided. A part of the second dielectric layer is removed to form a first opening having both ends with a select gate region respectively. The select gate region is constituted by a region with the second dielectric layer and a region without the second dielectric layer. A second conductive layer is formed to cover the second dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed on the second conductive layer. The cap layer, the second conductive layer, the second dielectric layer and the first conductive layer are patterned to form gate structures. The cap layer, the second conductive layer, the second dielectric layer and the first conductive layer between two adjacent select gate regions are removed to form a select gate structure. A doped region is formed in the substrate.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a memory structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of fabricating a non-volatile memory structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Flash memory in a non-volatile memory has become one of the research mainstreams in the field due to its fast and time-saving operating mode and lower cost advantage. A typical flash memory device is mainly constituted by a floating gate and a control gate. The control gate is directly disposed on the floating gate and is isolated from the floating gate by a dielectric layer, while the floating gate and the substrate are isolated by a tunneling oxide layer.
At present, flash memory arrays commonly used in the field include a NOR-type array structure type and a NAND-type array structure type. In the NAND-type array flash memory structure, various memory cells are connected in series so as to provide a superior integrated density and area utilization compared with the NOR-type array flash memory, and it has been widely used in various electronic products.
However, as for the NAND-type array flash memory structure, when forming a contact window connected to the source/drain region, short circuits of the contact window or the outmost select gate in the memory cell row often occur, thereby reducing the product yield.

Method of fabricating non-volatile memory structure


A method of reducing the carbon content of a dry bi-modal fly ash includes subjecting the bi-modal fly ash to dry vibrating screen separation into a carbon rich component and a carbon depleted fly ash component with the carbon depleted fly ash component being created with a carbon content less than about 4 percent by weight and at least 50 weight percent of the fly ash component of the bi-modal fly ash. The dry vibrating screen separation is preferably a single step process with no prior substantial concentration of the carbon component of the bi-modal fly ash. It is preferred to employ bi-modal fly ash produced as a result of combustion of coal. A method of making a concrete mixture employing the carbon depleted component is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved method for upgrading the pozzolanity of fly ash produced from coal-burning power plants and enhancing its value as a replacement for Portland cement in concrete mixes, as well as other uses. More specifically, the invention relates to an economical, high speed method for removing a predetermined amount of carbon particles from coal combustion fly ash in a controlled and predictable manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fly ash, a major by-product of coal combustion, is produced in very large quantities at coal-fired electric utility power plants throughout the world. In the United States alone, the annual volume of fly ash produced by such plants is reported to be in the range of 50 million tons per year. Of this total, it has been reported that only 25-30% of the fly ash is being reused commercially and that 70-75% is being disposed of in landfills. The rapidly diminishing availability of landfill space and escalating cost of land disposal have made it essential to increase the commercial applicability of coal combustion fly ash and/or separate the fly ash into components that have commercial value.
Concrete generally consists of cement, such as Portland cement, water and aggregate. Due to its pozzolanic characteristics, one of the major commercial applications for coal combustion fly ash has been as a substitute for Portland cement in the manufacture of concrete. Some of the advantages attributed to such fly ash as a concrete additive include increased life of the concrete structure, improved flow and pumping characteristics of the concrete, better workability and finishing capability, and decreases in the amount of water and/or lime required in the concrete mix. Most of these improvements are dependent upon increased and controlled air containment in the concrete mix.
It is known that the presence of unburned carbon particles in coal combustion fly ash adversely affects the ability of the fly ash to be used as an additive in concrete. Specifically, the carbon, which is relatively soft and of low strength, does not bond readily with cement and tends to act as a lubricant between particles in a concrete mix. More specifically, the presence of carbon significantly alters the consistency and amount of air entrained in a concrete mix in which fly ash has been used as a substitute for Portland cement. The use of ash having a high carbon content requires greater water addition and the need for incorporating larger quantities of an air entraining agent in the concrete. This is reflected in regulations promulgated by many states which limit the amount of carbon in fly ash used in the manufacture of concrete to less than 5% by weight, and preferably less than 3% by weight, levels significantly below the 6-20% level frequently encountered in most coal combustion fly ash. It is also known that new combustion conditions increasingly being specified in order to minimize NO.sub.x emissions in power plant stack gases result in increased carbon content in the fly ash produced under these new conditions, thereby further restricting the types and amounts of fly ash that can be utilized in concrete.
In order to maximize the commercial application of coal combustion fly ash as a component in concrete manufacture, and to minimize land disposal of same, many methods have been developed to remove carbon particles from the fly ash, thereby minimizing the adverse effects of the carbon on the air entrainment characteristics of the resulting concrete. Such methods have included chemical means to nullify the adverse effect of the carbon component of the fly ash on controlled air entrainment, combustion means to remove carbon particles from the fly ash prior to use, and gravitational, flotational, electrostatic, magnetic, and mechanical means, and combinations thereof, to remove a significant portion of the carbon component of the fly ash before use.
Chemical methods that may be used to nullify the adverse effects of carbon in fly ash without removing the carbon therefrom are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,453,978 and 5,110,362. U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,978 discloses a process for producing a fly ash-containing concrete in which the amount of air contained therein is unaffected by the quantity of carbon present in the fly ash. This approach involves the use of a lipophilic surfactant of a type of sorbitan-higher aliphatic acid ester as an air entrainment agent. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,362 discloses the use of air entrainment agents including water soluble fatty acid salts, abietic acid salts, and ether sulfates added to the active binder in the concrete to nullify the adverse effects of the carbon component on air entrainment in the concrete. Neither of these prior art methods reduce the amount of carbon in the fly ash/carbon mixture prior to incorporation of the mixture into the concrete.
Combustion means for removing the carbon from fly ash by oxidizing all, or a significant portion, of the free carbon present are also known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,611 discloses a method and apparatus whereby microwave energy is used to raise the temperature of the carbon component of the fly ash/carbon mixture to the ignition point in an atmosphere containing an excess of air thereby removing the carbon by oxidation. A second known thermal method of reducing the carbon content of fly ash, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,160,539 and 5,399,194, involves introducing the fly ash/carbon mixture into a dry bubbling fluid bed, supplying air thereto, and heating the fluid bed to temperatures in the ranges of 800.degree. F.-1,300.degree. F. and 1,300.degree. F.-1,800.degree. F., respectively. Another known thermal process for removing carbon from fly ash, involving the use of hollow feed screws to tumble the fly ash/carbon mixture in electrically-heated pre-heat and combustion chambers while injecting air and oxygen into the tumbling mass through holes in the hollow feed screws, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,611. All of these thermal methods, although effective in reducing the amount of carbon present in the fly ash, are energy intensive and involve costly material handling procedures.
Electrostatic means for removing carbon from a fly ash/carbon mixture are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,357,234, 4,514,289, and 4,517,078. In each of these processes, separation is achieved by generating an alternating electric field between electrodes in a manner that causes a centrifugal force to act upon the charged particles of the fly ash/carbon mixture moving between the electrodes such that the lighter, more highly charged carbon particles are separated from the heavier, less charged particles of fly ash. An alternative means of removing carbon from fly ash, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,481, involves moving a fly ash/carbon mixture between a horizontal bottom porous electrode and a horizontal top electrode, maintaining the fly ash/carbon mixture in a fluidized state by means of a gas stream passing upwards through the bottom porous electrode, and maintaining an electric field between the electrodes that is shaped so as to impart a centrifugal force to the charged particles which separates the lighter, more highly charged carbon particles from the fly ash particles.
The use of air classification to separate carbon from a fly ash/carbon mixture into multiple size fractions has been disclosed in Groppo, J. G. et al. "Fly Ash Beneficiation By Air Classification," SME Annual Meeting, March, 1995.
In addition to the aforementioned single-step processes for removing carbon from fly ash, U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,256 discloses a multi-step continuous method for recovering a metal component and a carbonaceous component from a metal/fly ash/carbon mixture. The process involves first passing the metal/fly ash/carbon mixture through a magnetic field to remove the metal component therefrom and, subsequently, passing the metal-free fly ash/carbon mixture through a high tension separator in which the conductive carbon is separated from the dielectric fly ash. A second known multi-step method for separating carbon from a fly ash/carbon mixture containing an iron-bearing component into its constituents, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,054, requires significant concentration of the carbon component prior to its removal from the fly ash/carbon mixture. In the first step of this method, the iron-bearing constituent is separated from the fly ash/carbon mixture by magnetic means. In the second step, the iron-free mixture is subjected to air classification where it is separated into a fine fly ash/low carbon component and a coarse fly ash/high carbon component in which the carbon concentration has been increased to a minimum of 25% by weight. In the third step, the coarse high-carbon component is subjected to screening through a 150 mesh sieve in order to remove the most coarse (+150 mesh) carbon particles. The -150 mesh fraction is then subsequently pelletized, preheated, and sintered to form an improved pozzolanic material.
Multi-step methods for removing carbon from fly ash using flotation means are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,121,945, 4,426,282, 5,047,145, 5,227,047, and 5,299,692. The method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,945 involves first passing a fly ash/carbon mixture through a 50 mesh sieve to remove only the larger particles of carbon and other agglomerated particles, next adding water to the -50 mesh fly ash/carbon mixture, adding kerosene to the resulting slurry, and then passing the kerosene-containing slurry through a series of flotation cells in which a significant portion of the carbon in the slurry is removed via froth flotation. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,426,282, 5,047,145, and 5,227,047 describe multi-step methods in which the carbon content of fly ash/carbon mixtures is reduced using wet flotation means which do not involve initial coarse screening.
It has been known to employ wet means, such as froth flotation in processing fly ash. See "A Selective Beneficiation Process for High LOI Fly Ash," Groppo et al., SME Annual Meeting, March, 1996.
Although these prior art separation methods effectively remove carbon from fly ash/carbon mixtures, they are based upon (i) the use of complex, costly equipment, (ii) the need to concentrate the carbon prior to removing it from the mixture, (iii) the use of multi-step processes that involve extensive materials handling, or (iv) the addition of liquid to the mixture prior to separation and the subsequent need to dry the separated components prior to use.
There remains, therefore, a need for a simple, one-step, dry method for reducing the carbon content of fly ash/carbon mixtures without prior concentration of the carbon in the mixture. This reduced carbon/fly ash mixture can then be employed in lieu of Portland cement in concrete. Use of such a method would greatly increase the consumption of coal combustion fly ash as an additive in concrete and significantly reduce the volume of fly ash that must be disposed in landfills.

Methods of treating bi-modal fly ash to remove carbon

Pittsburgh Mineral & Environmental Technology


A primer structure is provided for holding a deposited ignitable material, and for holding the ignitable material within a firearm cartridge or within another munition. The primer includes a disk and a retaining ring. Ignitable material is deposited on a surface of the disk. The retaining ring is positioned in front of the disk. The retaining ring includes angled passageways for reaction products to travel from the ignitable material to the propellant. The forwardmost surface of the retaining ring, as well as the angle of the passageways, dissipate pressure that would otherwise be borne by the disk. Both the disk and retaining ring include angled or stepped surfaces to resist movement under pressure.

Cartridges for firearms, as well as other munitions such as larger projectile cartridges and explosives are often ignited by a primer. Presently available primers and detonators are made from a copper or brass alloy cup with a brass anvil and containing lead azide or lead styphnate. When the base of the cup is struck by a firing pin, the priming compound is crushed between the cup's base and the anvil, igniting the primer charge. The burning primer then ignites another flammable substance such as smokeless powder, explosive substances, etc. Lead azide and lead styphnate are hazardous due to their toxicity as well as their highly explosive nature. Additionally, present manufacturing methods are very labor-intensive, with the necessary manual processes raising costs, causing greater difficulty in maintaining quality control.
Energetic materials such as thermite are presently used when highly exothermic reactions are needed. Uses include cutting, welding, purification of metal ores, and enhancing the effects of high explosives. A thermite reaction occurs between a metal oxide and a reducing metal. Examples of metal oxides include La2O3, AgO, ThO2, SrO, ZrO2, UO2, BaO, CeO2, B2O3, SiO2, V2O5, Ta2O5, NiO, Ni2O3, Cr2O3, MoO3, P2O5, SnO2, WO2, WO3, Fe3O4, CoO, Co3O4, Sb2O3, PbO, Fe2O3, Bi2O3, MnO2, Cu2O, and CuO. Example reducing metals include Al, Zr, Th, Ca, Mg, U, B, Ce, Be, Ti, Ta, Hf, and La. The reducing metal may also be in the form of an alloy or intermetallic compound of the above-listed metals.
A properly designed energetic material, for example, that which is disclosed in US 2016/0102030, which was invented by K. R. Coffey et al. and published on Apr. 14, 2016, would provide an effective alternative to presently used primer materials, as well as being safer to manufacture. The entire disclosure of US 2016/0102030 is expressly incorporated herein by reference. A primer relying on such an ignitable material may require different physical structures and different manufacturing methods than a conventional primer.
Advanced primer and propellant designs can potentially increase the pressure generated within munitions so that it exceeds that for which conventional primer installations are designed. Accordingly, there is a need for a primer cup for easily installing such a primer within a cartridge casing, or within another location that is designed to receive a conventional primer. There is a further need for a primer structure that can safely withstand pressure levels greater than those that can be safely withstood by conventional primers and conventional primer installations.

Primer housing for firearms and other munitions


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a first trench extending into or through the semiconductor substrate from a first side. The first trench is at least partially filled with a conductive material and electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate via a doped semiconductor layer at a sidewall of the first trench. A semiconductor layer adjoins the semiconductor substrate at the first side, and caps the first trench at the first side. A contact is disposed at a second side of the semiconductor substrate opposite to the first side. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device is also provided.

In vertical semiconductor devices, current flows between a first side of a semiconductor die to a second side of the semiconductor die, opposite the first side. As an example, current flows from a source of a field effect transistor (FET) at the first side to a drain at the second side. The semiconductor die may be mounted to a carrier, e.g., a lead frame or a direct copper bonded (DCB) substrate, via the second side. In vertical semiconductor devices, a low ohmic contact between a bottom side of the semiconductor device and the carrier as well as a low ohmic current path through the semiconductor device from the first side to the second side are desirable. In semiconductor devices including high current densities during operation, e.g., in low voltage FETs including voltage blocking capabilities below 100 V, any parasitic resistance between the first side and the second side of the device is detrimental. Since a drift zone of low-voltage semiconductor devices is thin, compared to devices including higher voltage blocking capabilities, thin wafer techniques are one way of realizing the devices.
It is desirable to reduce an on-state resistance in a vertical semiconductor device.

Semiconductor device including a trench at least partially filled with a conductive material in a semiconductor substrate


The invention relates to an avalanche radiation detector comprising a semiconductor substrate (HK) with a front side (VS) and a back side (RS), an avalanche region (AB) which is arranged in the semiconductor substrate (HK) on the front side (VS) of the semiconductor substrate (HK) and a control electrode (R) for adjusting the electric field strength in the avalanche region (AB). It is proposed that the control electrode (R) is also arranged on the front side of the semiconductor substrate (HK).

An avalanche radiation detector is known for example from Curt Rint: "Handbook for high-frequency and electrical engineers", 12th edition, Hüthig und Pflaum Verlag Munich/Heidelberg, page 478, incorporated herein by reference. In this case an avalanche region is located on one side of a planar semiconductor substrate and located on the opposite side is a radiation inlet window for the radiation to be detected, which generates free charge carriers in the semiconductor substrate. The free charge carriers generated by the radiation to be detected are accelerated in the avalanche region by the electric field located there and produce new charge carriers in an avalanche fashion which can be detected as a current flow. The electric field strength in the avalanche region is in this case adjusted by a control electrode which is arranged on the side of the avalanche radiation detector opposite to the avalanche region.
A disadvantage with this arrangement of the control electrode is that as the thickness of the avalanche radiation detector increases and the distance between the control electrode and the opposed avalanche region increases accordingly, corresponding high control voltages must be used to adjust the electric field strength in the avalanche region to the desired value.
However, an exact adjustment of the electric field strength in the avalanche region is important since, if the field strength in the avalanche region is too low, the sensitivity suffers, whereas the noise increases with the electric field strength in the avalanche region since stochastically generated charge carriers can also result in avalanche formation.
The maximum thickness of the known avalanche radiation detector is thus limited by the maximum permissible control voltage at the control electrode. However, in order to achieve the highest possible sensitivity, it is desirable that the avalanche radiation detector has the largest possible volume of photosensitive region which, however, is only possible to a limited extent because of the afore-mentioned thickness limitation. On the other hand, it is difficult to expand the photosensitive region in the lateral direction because large-area avalanche regions are difficult to produce from the production technology point of view due to the required structural accuracy of the pn junctions.
It is thus the object of the invention to provide an avalanche radiation detector which makes it possible to achieve enhanced sensitivity.

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenchafter E.V.


An optical head in which focussing error is detected by a spot size method used for recording and/or reproducing information signals on or from an optical disc. The optical head includes a unit for correcting the spot shape between the objective lens and a photodetector device. The spot shape correcting unit corrects part or all of light spots formed on the photodetector by a light beam reflected back by the optical disc so that the spot diameter in a direction traversing a track on the optical disc will be larger than the spot diameter along the track.

A wide variety of optical information recording and/or reproducing apparatus optically recording and/or reproducing the information, using an optical information recording medium, such as an optical disc, are currently in use. In particular, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus for an optical recording medium, employing the optical disc as the recording medium, is used extensively and researches into a higher recording density of the optical disc are now underway.
For example, as a replay-only optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such an optical disc apparatus, is now in use, which, with the use of a DVD (digital versatile disc) as a disc, allows for replay having a recording capacity as high as 4.7 GB equal to approximately seven times that of a CD-ROM, with the recording capacity of approximately 650 MB, even though the DVD is of the same diameter of 120 mm as that of a CD-ROM.
In general, an optical disc has a recording surface on a transparent substrate, and permits recording and/or reproduction of information signals by a light beam for recording and/or reproduction being illuminated through an objective lens on an optical disc and being transmitted through the transparent substrate so as to be converged on the recording surface of the disc.
On the recording surface of the optical disc, there are formed track-guiding grooves and lands for a light beam to correctly scan the recording track, these grooves or lands being used to detect tracking errors. A pit string, formed on the recording track, can also be handled as intermitted grooves or lands.
In addition to the aforementioned optical discs, the DVD-RAM, which can be rewritten freely, is in use, so that a demand is raised for a reproducing head for a DVD enabling this DVD-RAM to be reproduced and for a recording and/or reproducing optical head for a DVD-RAM enabling the DVD and the compact disc (CD) to be reproduced.
Meanwhile, in a conventional replay-only DVD or CD, or in a magneto-optical disc, the recording system used is such a one in which the information is recorded in only one of the land and the groove. On the other hand, with the DVD-RAM, the land-groove recording system of recording the information in both the land and the groove is used, with a view to elevating the recording density. In addition, a variety of recording mediums, employing the land and groove recording system, nave been proposed as a system for realization of the high density recording. The optical recording medium of this land-groove recording system affords certain broader widths to both the land and the groove, in distinction from the conventional magneto-optical disc in which the one of the land and the groove used for recording is of a broader width, with the other of the land and the groove being narrower in width.
However, in a optical recording medium of recording information signals by the land and groove recording system, it has been ascertained that the phenomenon termed "tracking interference" as later explained occurs in case of employing the aforementioned astigmatic method for detecting the focussing errors, thus giving rise to a noise termed "track traversing noise".
This "tracking interference" is a phenomenon in which focussing error signals undergo significant changes in the focussing error signals when a beam spot traverses a track. The "track traversing noise" is a noise produced by the focussing error signals assuming different values depending on whether the beam spot is on the land or on the groove of the recording medium.
Referring to FIG. 1, the aforementioned "tracking interference" is elucidated by referring to FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the abscissa and the ordinate denote object lens positions in a direction perpendicular to the disc, and an output level of the focussing error signals. A curve FEL, indicated buy a solid line, is a focussing error curve showing the relation between the objective lens position and the focussing error signals FE with the beam spot lying on the land of the optical disc, whilst a curve FEG, indicated by a broken line, is a focussing error curve showing the relation between the objective lens position and the focussing error signals FE with the beam spot lying on the groove of the optical disc.
Referring further to FIG. 1, a peak-to-peak range of the focussing error curve FEL (FEG) is defined as a focussing pull-in range Spp. It is within this range only that focussing servo occurs. The reason this focussing pull-in range Spp is provided and focussing servo is made to occur only in this range is that, since the focussing error signals may be zero even when the objective lens position is shifted appreciably from the focussing position, it is necessary to evade the defocussed state being detected as being the focussed state.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the focussing error signals FE in the focussing pull-in range Spp assume different values, depending on whether the beam spot is on the land or on the groove of the optical disc. So, there are two positions of the zero focussing error signals FE, namely a position corresponding to the objective lens position XL when the beam spot is on the land and a position corresponding to the objective lens position XG when the beam spot is on the groove.
On the other hand, a controller for controlling the optical head operation controls the current supplied to a lens driving coil, and drives the objective lens along its optical axis so that the focussing error signals FE will be zero. So, each time a beam spot is moved from the land to the groove on the optical disc, or vice versa, the objective lens is reciprocated between the positions XL and XG, thus producing the track traversing noise. This noise is responsible for a variety of inconveniences, such as defocussing, worsened transmission characteristics in the focussing or tracking servo, or scorching or destruction of the lens driving coil.
Meanwhile, the mechanism responsible for the tracking interference phenomenon, as explained with reference to FIG. 1, has not been analyzed sufficiently to date.
For alleviating the inconvenience, brought about by the tracking interference phenomenon, it may be contemplated to detect focussing errors using the so-called spot size method.
That is, the aforementioned astigmatic method produces a signal corresponding to the shape of a received light spot by summation and subtraction of output signals from respective photodetector segments, whilst the spot size method detects the spot size by the output signals of light receiving sections to perform focussing servo control based on the spot size.
There is also a differential push-pull method as a system for producing tracking error signals in stability. In this case, however, three light spots are used as beam spots converged on the recording medium.
If the land-groove recording system is used, such a structure is desirable which is based on detection of a land-groove decision signal used for verifying on which of a track on a land and a track in a groove the light beam is converged. That is, it may be extremely difficult to realize a simplified structure which is based on detection of the focussing error signals or the land-groove decision signal in the differential push-pull method and on detection of the focussing error signals by the spot size method.

Optical pickup device that corrects the spot shape of reflected light beams


A plastic lid for a can of the type comprising a tubular body (10) having an upper end (13) for the seating of the lid (20) comprising a sealing portion (21), removably seated on the tubular body (10) and provided with an upper edge (21b), a seal portion (25), to be ruptured upon the first opening of the lid (20), having an upper ring (25b) which is incorporated to a lower skirt (25a), said upper ring (25b) and said lower skirt (25a) being respectively seated onto and around part of the upper end (13), said upper ring (25b) being incorporated through radial bridges (26), to said upper edge (21b), the seal portion (25) presenting an interruption (25c) extending through the width of the upper ring (25b) and through at least part of the height of the lower skirt (25a). The sealing portion (21) incorporates a gripping tab (27) which is manually operable only when part of the seal portion (25) is ruptured.

Determined products, such as certain food products, must be submitted to a hermetic storage and provided with a clear visual indication to the consumer that the container in which they are presented in the market has not been violated. Since many of these products are of progressive consumption, it is indispensable that after the first opening of the container, the lid which gives access to the inside of the can may be reclosed as many times as necessary during the progressive consumption of the stored product, in order to guarantee the hermeticity of the reclosed can and protect the remaining portion of the content thereof.
There are well known from the prior art the cans with a press-fit lid, in which the latter is press fitted in a peripheral structural ring, which is internal to the upper edge of the body of the can and which is hermetically double seamed to said upper edge. The hermeticity of the content is guaranteed in this type of construction by the fitting of the lid in the seat for the seating and retention thereof, which can be provided in the structural ring that defines the annular upper wall of the can, or in the tubular body of the latter.
In this type of closure, the tamper evident seal, which also guarantees the tightness, is normally defined by an aluminum metallic sheet, which is peripherally double seamed to the upper edge of the body of the can jointly with the structural ring. This inner seal is only visible when the lid is removed and it also requires the use of an instrument for cutting it peripherally, which invariably leaves cutting edges close to the upper opening of the can, causing frequent accidents with wounds in the user's fingers. Besides the inconveniences mentioned above, these known press-fit lids require the use of an instrument, in the form of a lever, for allowing the user to remove the lid from its seat defined in the structural ring. It is not possible for the user to remove this type of lid by using his hands only.
It is also known from the Brazilian patent application PI 0003727-3 a solution in which the plastic lid comprises a sealing portion, which is removably seated and retained in the seat, and a pair of generally semi-annular handles disposed around an upper edge of the sealing portion and having ends incorporated to the latter. The handles can be medianly displaced, from an inoperative position, coplanar to said upper edge, to a raised operative position, after rupturing the breakable means that connect the median regions of the handles to the sealing portion of the plastic lid. In this prior art construction, the plastic lid further incorporates a manually breakable seal strip, provided around the upper end of the tubular body and presenting a lower portion, which is seated and locked under the double seam of the annular upper wall, and an upper portion connected to the handles and to the sealing portion by breakable connecting means.
While it eliminates the deficiencies of the prior lids for cans containing products of progressive consumption, this prior solution of the same applicant still presents some inconveniences. One of said inconveniences relates to the questionable reliability of the retention of the seal strip, as it can be removed if carefully forced upwardly, sliding out from the upper double seam of the can.
Another inconvenience of said prior art lid results from the fact that the opening thereof, by axially pulling it by means of the opposite handles, is abrupt, provoking an undue discharge of the stored product when the lid is removed.
Two more aspects that can be improved are related to the facility with which the handles are accessed for extracting the lid, and to the permanence of the seal strip around the upper edge of the tubular body of the can, usually requiring the application of a cutting instrument for removing it.

Closure assembly with breakaway sealing portion with gripping tab


A memory system including a non-volatile memory, a cache memory, a control circuit, and a data processing device is configured. The high speed can be achieved by transferring data in the non-volatile memory to the cache memory to retain the same therein. When the data in the non-volatile memory is transferred to the cache memory, error correction is performed so as to improve the reliability. Since the cache memory and the non-volatile memory can be accessed from the data processing device independently, improvement in usability can be achieved. The memory system including the plurality of chips is configured as a memory system module where respective chips are arranged in a stacked manner and wired by a ball grid array (BGA) and wire bonding between chips.

Conventionally, there is a composite type semiconductor memory in which a flash memory (32 M bit capacity) and a static random access memory (NOR (4 M bit capacity) are integrally sealed in a fine pitch ball grid array (FBGA) package using a stack chip. Address input terminals and data input/output terminals are commonly used in the flash memory and the NOR for the input/output electrodes of the FBGA package. However, the control terminals thereof are independently provided (For example, "COMPOSITE MEMORY (STACKED CSP) FLASH MEMORY+RAM DATA SHEET" MODEL NAME: LRS1380, [ONLINE] on Dec. 10, 2001 SHARP CORPORATION [RETRIEVAL DATE: Aug. 21, 2002] (Non-Patent Document 1).
There is also a composite type semiconductor memory in which a flash memory chip and a DRAM chip are integrally sealed in a lead frame type package. In this composite type semiconductor memory, the flash memory and the DRAM have common address input terminals, data input/output terminals, and control terminals for the input/output electrodes of the package, through which data are inputted and outputted (for example, FIG. 1 and FIG. 15 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 5-299616 (Patent Document 1) and EP Patent No. 0566306 (Patent Document 2)).
There is also a system composed of a flash memory operated as a main memory, a cache memory, a controller and a CPU (for example, FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 7-146820 (Patent Document 3)).
There is also a semiconductor memory composed of a flash memory, a DRAM, and a transfer control circuit (for example, FIG. 2 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-5723 (Patent Document 4) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-366429 (Patent Document 5)).

Memory module, cache system and address conversion method


The present application discloses a Three Dimensions (3D) video conversion system and method, and a key frame selection method and apparatus thereof. The key frame selection method includes: after the ith key frame is determined, calculating feature matching ratios of video frames after the ith key frame in a 2D video; selecting video frames each of which has a feature matching ratio within the range of T1˜T2 as candidate key frames; selecting a video frame from the candidate key frames as the (i+1)th key frame according to re-projection errors of the candidate key frames. Since key frames are selected according to the feature matching ratios of video frames to the previous key frame, and the later key frame is selected according to the re-projection errors of the candidate key frames. Thus the selection for key frames is more reasonable, and the 2D to 3D video conversion based on more reasonable key frames may improve converted 3D video quality.

As people's aesthetic requirements are increasing, 3D video has become popular because it makes people feel like on the scene. It is very expensive to directly make a 3D video. Thus, the popularization and development of the 3D video is hindered. At present, two Dimensions (2D) videos having been made are countless, and many of which are important fragments and will never appear again. Therefore the conversion from a 2D video to a 3D video is of positive practical significance, and thus becomes the research focus.
In general, the techniques for 2D to 3D video conversion may include full-automatic conversion, semi-automatic conversion and manual conversion technique. The 3D videos obtained according to the full-automatic conversion technique have poor qualities due to the absence of artificial participation. The semi-automatic conversion technique can better balance artificial participation and stereoscopic effect, and which generally includes the following processes.
In step S101, key frames are selected from a 2D video.
In step S102, depth assignation is performed on each key frame.
In step S103, depth transmission is implemented.
In step S104, a 3D video is synthesized with depth images obtained from the depth transmission.
The inventor of the present application finds that because in the existing 2D to 3D video conversion process key frames are selected at fixed intervals, selected key frames are usually not representative. The depth of a non-key frame is obtained from the depth transmission of a key frame, thus the selection of a key frame will affect the depth of a non-key frame, and then affect the quality of converted 3D video. 3D video obtained according to existing techniques do not have high quality. There is much room for improvement in aspects such as stereo perception and verisimilitude.

3D video conversion system and method, key frame selection method and apparatus thereof