An auto-sensing dimming lamp guides ambient light to a sensor installed in a lamp cover and at a base through a light pipe. The auto-sensing dimming lamp automatically adjusts a light emission status of LED light sources according to the ambient light by a processor installed at the base. The processor includes a pass filter unit and a modulation unit, and the pass filter unit receives a detected signal waveform of the sensor and a driving voltage waveform of the LED light sources.

Lamp is one of the necessary electronic appliances of our life. As technology advances, environmental awareness arises, and lighting requirements change, the type of lamps has evolved from incandescent lamps of the early stage to the lamps that use light emitting diode (LED) as a light source.
In addition to the foregoing evolution and requirement of the lamps, energy saving is also one of the important factors that needs to be taken into consideration for the design of the lamps. Although LED lamps have a better energy saving effect than the traditional incandescent lamps, the LED lamps also consume a relatively large quantity of energy during a long time of use, particularly in an environment with strong sunlight or sufficient light, because the brightness of the LED lamps is generally slightly higher than the brightness of sunlight or sometimes even lower than the brightness of sunlight. Therefore, it consumes more energy for the application of the LED lamps in the aforementioned situations. To meet requirements, related manufacturers further developed a dimming LED lamp, so that users may adjust the brightness of the LED lamp at a predetermined time automatically. For example, the LED lamp may be set to turn off or dim its light at noon when sunlight is relatively strong, or in the afternoon while receiving the sunlight, so as to achieve the energy saving effect.
However, the intensity of sunlight is not just limited to the factor of time, but weather may also affect the brightness of sunlight received in an area where the LED lamp is installed. Although the way of just using the factor of time as the condition to set and enable the dimming function can achieve the energy saving effect, the light received by the users may be too bright or too dark due to the non-uniform intensity of the sunlight, and the users may feel uncomfortable to the LED lamp. If the lamp is adjusted according to the current condition of the ambient light, the users have to manually adjust the brightness of the lamp from time to time. Regardless of the distance from the lamp, it is inconvenient for the users to adjust the brightness of the lamp all the time.
In order to adjust the brightness of the LED lamp according to the ambient light automatically and provide a convenient and comfortable lighting effect to users, a sensor is installed in the LED lamp for detecting external light and adjusting the brightness of lighting according to the detected result. The installation of the sensor provides a convenient way of controlling the brightness of the lamp without requiring the users to manually adjust and control the brightness of the lamp, so as to improve the convenience of use. However, when the sensor detects the external ambient light, the detection may be affected by the light generated during the operation of the LED, so that the actual intensity of the ambient light cannot be detected accurately or the brightness of the LED lamp cannot be adjusted according to the accurate detected result. Obviously, the aforementioned design with the sensor fails to provide the best lighting effect to users.
In view of the aforementioned problem, the inventor of this disclosure discloses an auto-sensing dimming lamp that uses the sensor to detect the ambient light automatically while filtering the obtrusive light, so that the lamp can modulate the brightness of the lamp to the best lighting status according to the brightness of the external light.


A battery block comprising: a battery case that includes a plurality of metal pipe-shaped members joined or adhered to each other; a cell accommodated inside each of the plurality of metal pipe-shaped members; and an insulating layer that covers the outer wall surface or the inner wall surface of the metal pipe-shaped members of the battery case. According to the present invention, even if unnecessary contact between battery blocks occurs in a power supply unit, a short circuit or the like does not occur.

A power supply apparatus (battery pack) is formed by electrically connecting battery units (battery blocks) each housing cells so as to implement a high-capacity power supply apparatus (see Patent Literature 1). Usually, a battery block includes cells and a container for housing the cells, and the container is made of resin such that the container is electrically insulated from the cells. However, the resin container has low heat-dissipating property. Accordingly, a container made of a composite material of resin and metal has been presented (see Patent Literature 2) in order to increase heat-dissipating property of the container such that heat generated by the cells under operation is dissipated and the temperature of the cells is prevented from increasing. Another container including a combination of metal heat sink and insulating material has been presented as well (see Patent Literature 3).
Other related techniques have also been presented (for example, see Patent Literatures 4 to 6).
For example, Patent Literature 4 discloses a battery housing method in which an annular space between a battery cell and a case is filled with a highly heat conductive insulating material without a gap, via a hole provided on the side of a case. The invention allows the battery cell to be fixed in a case. However, since only the annular space between the battery cell and the case is filled with the insulating material, it was difficult to firmly fix one case to another. In addition, it was difficult to prevent a short-circuit and others caused by a contact between battery blocks.

Battery block and method for manufacturing same

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A chip-like network resistor is disclosed which is reduced in variation in resistance of terminal electrodes. A substrate (1) is formed on both ends (3, 5) with a plurality of recesses (7), at each of which a terminal electrode (17) connected to a thick-film electrode (9) is arranged. The terminal electrodes (17) each are constituted of a thin metal film electrode layer (19) and two plated layers (21, 23). The thin metal film electrode layer (19) includes a front surface electrode section (19a) formed on a front surface (1a) of the substrate (1) so as to overlap with the thick-film electrode (9), a side surface electrode section (19b) connected to the front surface electrode section (19a) and arranged so as to entirely cover an inner surface of the recess (7) and a rear surface electrode section (19c) formed on a rear surface (1b) of the substrate (1) and connected to the side surface electrode section (19b). The front surface electrode section (19a) of the thin metal film electrode layer (19) is formed so as to fully surround a periphery of one of open ends of each of the recesses 7.

The inventors disclosed a general structure of a chip-like network resistor in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 78701/1995. The chip-like network resistor disclosed in the publication includes an insulating substrate which is formed on each of both ends thereof with a plurality of recesses, a plurality of thick-film electrodes arranged adjacently to the recesses, and resistance elements each arranged between each pair of thick-film electrodes. Also, the resistor includes terminal electrodes each are arranged so as to cover an inner surface of the recess and connected to the thick-film electrode corresponding thereto. The terminal electrodes each include a thin metal film electrode layer and a plated electrode layer of a two-layer structure arranged so as to cover the thin metal film electrode layer. The thin metal film electrode layer includes a front surface electrode section formed on a front surface of the insulating substrate so as to overlap with the thick-film electrode, a side surface electrode section connected to the front surface electrode section and arranged so as to cover a whole inner surface of the recess and a rear surface electrode section connected to the side surface electrode section and arranged on a rear surface of the insulating substrate.
Conventionally, manufacturing of such a resistor is carried out by first providing a large-sized insulating substrate which is formed on a front surface thereof with lattice-like separation grooves constituted of a plurality of longitudinal grooves and a plurality of lateral grooves. Also, the insulating substrate is formed with a plurality of through-holes of a circular shape in cross section, each of which is arranged along a portion of the lateral groove positioned between each adjacent two of the longitudinal grooves. Thereafter, the large-sized insulating substrate is formed on the front surface thereof with a plurality of thick-film electrodes (primary electrodes), which are positioned on regions each interposed between each adjacent two of the lateral grooves and between each adjacent two of the longitudinal grooves while being in proximity to each of the through-holes. Then, the regions each are formed thereon with a plurality of resistance elements in a manner to extend between two of the thick-film electrodes opposite to each other, followed by covering of the resistance elements with a glass coating. Then, a resistance of the resistance element is measured by means of a probe electrode for measurement which is kept contacted at a distal end or tip thereof with the thick-film electrodes positioned on both sides of the resistance element. Then, laser trimming is carried out depending on the resistance measured, to thereby adjust the resistance to a desired value. After the trimming, the glass coating is covered with glass or resin. Then, the through-holes each are covered at both ends and an inner surface thereof with a thin metal film and then the large-sized insulating substrate is separated into a plurality of chip-like elements along the longitudinal and lateral grooves. Lastly, the chip-like elements each are subject on an electrode section thereof to plating.
The separation of the substrate into the chip-like elements causes the through-holes to be cut, leading to formation of the recesses and thin metal film electrode layer described above. The front surface electrode section of the thin metal film electrode layer is merely required to permit the thick-film electrode and side surface electrode section to be connected to each other, thus, the prior art does not pay any specific attention to a configuration of the front surface electrode section. Therefore, the conventional resistor is not constructed in such a manner that the front surface electrode section is arranged so as to fully surround a circumference or periphery of an opening of the recess defined in a thickness direction of the insulating substrate.
Such construction of the conventional resistor does not cause any serious problem so long as the resistor is formed into a large size. However, a reduction in size of the chip-like resistor causes the components thereof to be reduced in size correspondingly, to thereby render adjustment of the resistance by trimming highly troublesome. Also, a reduction in resistance of the resistance element causes a variation in resistance of the terminal electrode to substantially affect a resistance of the resistance element. Unfortunately, the conventional resistor causes a variation in resistance of the terminal electrode to be increased. Also, a decrease in size of the chip-like resistor substantially fails to increase a distance between the electrodes adjacent to each other. Further, the conventional resistor causes a corner of each of the recesses to be readily broken when the large-sized insulating substrate is separated into the individual chip-like elements.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a chip-like network resistor which is capable of minimizing a variation in resistance of terminal electrodes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a chip-like network resistor which is capable of effectively preventing positional deviation thereof during soldering thereof onto an electrode on a circuit board.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chip-like network resistor which is capable of minimizing a variation in dimension or distance between electrodes adjacent to each other.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a chip-like network resistor which is capable of facilitating measurement of a resistance during trimming.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a chip-like network resistor which is capable of minimizing breakage of a corner of a recess when a large-sized insulating substrate is cut.

Chip network resistor and method for manufacturing same


A developing unit includes a developer containing unit that contains developer, a developer carrier that has a moving surface, and carries the developer, a magnetic force generator that attracts the developer onto the moving surface by a magnetic force generated from a plurality of magnets, and a restricting member that restricts a layer thickness of the developer. The magnets includes a restricting magnet arranged closest to the restricting member and has a restricting magnetic pole of which a first surface toward the moving surface and a second surface toward an upstream adjacent magnet that is arranged so as to be adjacent to an upstream side of the developer carrier in a direction of movement of the moving surface and has an upstream adjacent magnetic pole form a ridged corner portion, and the ridged corner portion is chamfered.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing unit that develops a latent image on a latent image carrier with developer carried on a surface of a developer carrier by magnetic force, and an image forming apparatus employing the developing unit such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.
2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a developing unit of a two-component developing system where a latent image carried on a latent image carrier such as a photosensitive member is developed using two-component developer containing non-magnetic toner and magnetic carrier that includes magnetic particles has been known. Such a developing unit has a developer carrier constituted of a non-magnetic pipe or the like, which includes therein a magnetic force generator such as a magnet roller, and a developer containing unit that contains two-component developer. The developer carrier is driven by a driving unit such that a surface thereof is moved in a predetermined direction. The developer carrier attracts and draws two-component developer on its surface due to magnetic force generated by magnetic poles of the magnetic force generator on a region thereof facing the developer containing unit. The drawn two-component developer constitutes a magnetic brush by spiking magnetic carrier along lines of magnetic force and is conveyed to a developing region which is a region facing the latent image carrier according to surface movement of the developer carrier. In the developing region, toner is transferred from the magnetic carrier surface to a latent image on the latent image carrier so that the latent image is developed to a toner image. Prior to the development, the magnetic brush is restricted in layer thickness thereon by such a restricting member as a doctor blade arranged to face the surface of the developer carrier via a predetermined gap, so that stabilization of a conveyance amount of toner to the developing region and enforcement of frictional charging are performed.
Toner used in the two-component developer or the like is added on its surface with additives such as silica, titanium oxide in order to improve its ability to disperse. These additives are weak in mechanical stress and they are burred in the toner or released from the surface thereof according to stirring the toner inside the developing unit, which causes degradation of the toner easily. The toner degraded due to the burring or releasing of the additives is poor in frictional charging performance so that a charge amount does not rise easily even if stirring is started in the developing unit. Toner adheres to a non-image portion of the latent image carrier to cause so-called background dirt, or the toner stays and accumulates on a surface of the developer carrier for a long term without contributing to development, which results in remarkable lowering of an image density.
On the other hand, it is known that the magnetic carrier in the two-component developer is also subjected to mechanical stress so that a surface layer thereof is gradually cut, which result in deterioration of frictional charging performance of the magnetic carrier. The magnetic carrier whose frictional charging performance has been deteriorated cannot charge toner excellently.
The two-component developer or one-component developer that does not include magnetic carrier deteriorates in a time elapsing manner by applying mechanical stress on toner or magnetic carrier (the one-component developer and the two-component developer are hereinafter called "developer", collectively). In recent years, as further fineness or higher image quality have been demanded, it is a significant problem to suppress time-elapsing deterioration of the developer.
With a view to the above problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-161007 proposes a developing unit of a two-component development system where a distal end edge portion of a magnetic plate serving as a restricting member has been chamfered. The Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-161007 describes that stress acting on two-component developer at a time of a restricting process can be reduced by performing such chamfering.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H9-146374 proposes a developing unit of a two-component development system which is provided with a magnet roller for developer retaining. The magnet roller for developer retaining faces a developing sleeve via a predetermined gap in an upstream side of a doctor blade serving as a restricting member in a rotating direction of the developing sleeve, and a surface movement thereof is rotationally driven in the same direction as a surface of the developing sleeve in the facing region. The Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H9-146374 describes that the magnet roller for developer retaining with such a constitution can securely reduce the amount of the two-component developer colliding against the doctor blade to decrease stress acting on the developer.
As described later, the present inventors have found that a principal cause of degradation of two-component developer lies in friction occurring between "an immovable layer" and "a following rotation layer" of the two-component developer on a surface of a developer carrier. The term "immovable layer" means a layer that hardly moves to stay at a position thereof abutting against a restricting member on the surface of the developer carrier. The term "following rotation layer" means a layer which is one (the surface side of the developer carrier) lower than the "immovable layer" and rotates actively in a following manner according to surface movement of the developer carrier. Even in a developing unit using magnetic one-component developer (magnetic toner) that does not contain magnetic carrier or non-magnetic one-component developer (non-magnetic toner), a material similar to the "immovable layer" is easily formed on an upstream side of the restricting member. As a conventional art where staying of non-magnetic one-component developer on the upstream side of the restricting position is noticed in view of stabilization of an conveyance amount of developer to the developing region, a developing unit described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H5-35067 has been known. The developing unit is provided with a cylindrical developer conveying member that rotates while facing a developer carrier via a predetermined gap on an upstream side of a restricting member in a direction of surface movement, or a surface movement direction, of the developer carrier. In the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H5-35067, a layer comprising non-magnetic one-component developer staying on the upstream side of the restricting position is referred to as "an immovable layer". The Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H5-35067 describes that the immovable layer is prevented from being formed by providing the developer conveying member.
As mentioned above, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-161007 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H9-146374 describe that stress acting on two-component developer can be reduced by the chamfer or the magnet roller for developer retaining. As a result of studies by the present inventors, however, it is found that there is a problem that degradation progress cannot be suppressed sufficiently or degradation progress may be accelerated on the contrary even in these developing units.
FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a partial constitution of a conventional developing unit of a two-component developing system. In a developing unit 20 shown in FIG. 1, a developing sleeve 22 constituted of a non-magnetic pipe serving as a developer carrier is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown) in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1. A magnet roller 23 having plural magnetic poles arranged in a circumferential direction thereof, which serves as a magnetic force generator, is fixedly arranged inside the developing sleeve 22 so as not to rotate according to rotation of the developing sleeve 22. A doctor blade 24 serving as a restricting member is disposed above the developing sleeve 22 in FIG. 1 such that a distal end face thereof faces a surface of the developing sleeve 22 via a predetermined gap.
A developer containing unit that contains two-component developer is provided in a region (not shown) inside the developing unit 20. The developing sleeve 22 rotates while is pumping two-component developer on a surface of the developing sleeve due to magnetic force generated by a pumping magnetic pole disposed in a region (not shown) of the magnet roller 23, so that two-component developer inside the developer containing unit is drawn up. The two-component developer drawn up clusters magnetic carrier along lines of magnetic force extending from the magnet roller 23 to form a magnetic brush. The magnetic brush is conveyed toward the doctor blade 24 according to rotation of the developing sleeve 22. At a position where developer is restricted by the doctor blade 24, a root side portion (a portion positioned on a surface side of the sleeve) of the magnetic brush formed to be thick on the surface of the developing sleeve 22 easily passes through the gap but a distal end portion thereof abuts on the doctor blade 24. If the distal end portion merely abuts on the doctor blade, the portion is replaced with the following root side portion of the magnetic brush little by little while being circulated in a convection manner on the upstream side of the doctor blade 24 in the sleeve rotating direction, so that it can gradually pass through the gap. However, lines of magnetic force from the magnet roller 23 reaches not only a root side region of the magnetic brush relatively near to the surface of the developing sleeve 22 but also a distal end side region thereof relatively far from the surface of the developing sleeve 22. Accordingly, the distal end side portion of the magnetic brush which has abutted on the doctor blade 24 is continuously constrained thereat due to magnetic force to stay without causing convection and form an immovable layer Ly1. A following rotation layer Ly2 due to the root side portion of the magnetic brush which easily passes through the gap while rotating according to the developing sleeve 22 is formed below the immovable layer Ly1.
The present inventors have photographed and observed behavior of a magnetic brush around the doctor blade 24 by a high speed camera with a high magnification as regard an experimental machine of the developing unit 20 with such a constitution and have found the following phenomenon. That is, in a boundary of the immovable layer Ly1 staying on an upstream side of the doctor blade 4 without almost movement and the following rotation layer Ly2 actively moving according to the developing sleeve 22, both the layers are violently rubbed to each other. The present inventors have supposed that regarding mechanical stress on the two-component developer on the developing sleeve 22, mechanical stress acting when the developer passes through the gap between the doctor blade 24 and the developing sleeve 22 is larger than that acting due to friction between both the layers.
Therefore, the present inventors have researched the influence to degradation of the two-component developer due to friction between both the layers. Specifically, a cause of formation of the immovable layer Ly1 lies in that a distal end portion of a magnetic brush whose following rotation is blocked by the doctor blade 24 continues to be constrained thereat due to magnetic force from magnet roller 22. When magnetic force or a shape of a restricting magnetic pole Px positioned so as to face the doctor blade 24 within the magnet roller 22 or an upstream adjacent magnetic pole Py positioned at an upstream side of the restricting magnetic pole is adjusted, magnitude or shape of a magnetic field affecting on the distal end portion of the magnetic brush can be change. The present inventors have made a research on the degree of degradation progress of the two-component developer while changing the size or shape of the immovable layer Ly1 variously in this manner. It is that as the length Lx of the immovable layer in the rotational direction of the sleeve (in the direction of the following rotation) becomes longer, degradation of the two-component developer is accelerated. It has also been found that, even if the amount of the two-component developer forming the immovable layer Ly1 is relatively much, when the length Lx of the immovable layer is relatively short, i.e., the immovable layer Ly1 is formed such that its size is long in a lengthwise direction thereof, degradation of the two-component developer does not progress so much. On the other hand, it has been found that, even if the amount of the two-component developer forming the immovable layer Ly1 is relatively less, when the length Lx of the immovable layer is relatively long, i.e., the immovable layer Ly1 is formed such that its size is long in a widthwise direction, degradation of the two-component developer progresses rapidly. It is considered such a fact is because the magnetic force of the magnet roller 23 rather than the weight of the immovable layer Ly2 acts as a factor which increases frictional force per unit area between both the layers, and as the length Lx of the immovable layer becomes longer, a friction time between the both layers becomes long.
The developing unit described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-161007 corresponds to a structure where the distal end of the blade has been chamfered at a position indicated with a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 in the constitution shown in FIG. 1. The chamfering allows the magnetic brush to pass through the gap between the doctor blade 24 and the developing sleeve 22 smoothly. However, since almost all of the mechanical stress to the magnetic brush occurs due to friction between the immovable layer Ly1 and the following rotating layer Ly2, it is considered that, even if slight stress occurring when the magnetic brush passes through the gap is only reduced, degradation progress of the two-component developer cannot be suppressed sufficiently.
The developing unit described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H9-146374 corresponds to a structure where a magnet roller for developer retaining has been arranged at a position indicated with a dotted circle in FIG. 1 in the constitution shown in FIG. 1. The magnet roller for developer retaining is rotationally driven in a counterclockwise direction such that a surface thereof facing the developing sleeve 22 is moved in the same direction as the sleeve. The magnetic brush on the surface of the developing sleeve 22 passes through the gap between the magnet roller for developer retaining and the developing sleeve 22 before it reaches a position where restriction is conducted by the doctor blade 24. In the region between the magnet roller for developer retaining and the doctor blade 24, excessive two-component developer is conveyed according to rotation of the magnet roller for developer retaining in a direction of arrow C in FIG. 1 to be returned back to the developer containing unit (not shown). Since the excessive two-component developer is returned in this manner, a possibility is made high that an immovable layer is hardly formed. However, the magnetic brush is eventually forced into the gap formed in a tapered manner by surface movements of both the magnet roller for developer retaining and the developer sleeve 22 approaching to each other in the region therebetween. It is thought that, when the magnetic brush is forced into the gap, remarkably large stress is imparted on the two-component developer. The excessive two-component developer which has passed through the tapered gap is caused to contact with a side face of the doctor blade 24 in a rubbing manner by the following rotation according to rotation of the magnet roller for developer retaining in a returning course in the direction of arrow C. As a result, there arises a problem that degradation progress of the two-component developer cannot be suppressed sufficiently, or it may be accelerated on the contrary.
On the other hand, the developing unit described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H5-35067 employs a non-magnetic one-component development system. When the developer conveying member of the developing unit is adopted in the constitution of the two-component developing system shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical member is eventually arranged at a position indicated with a dotted circle in FIG. 1 via a predetermined gap with the developing sleeve 22. The cylindrical member is rotationally driven in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 such that its surface facing the developing sleeve 22 is moved in a direction reversed to the rotational direction of the sleeve. Such a cylindrical member is provided so that, when the developer is non-magnetic one-component developer, staying of the developer in the vicinity of the doctor blade 24 can be solved. However, the two-component developer or the magnetic one-component developer has a high possibility that it forms an immovable layer between the cylindrical member and the doctor blade 24, because excessive developer occurring slightly between the both is continued to be restrained thereat due to magnetic force of the magnet roller 22. There is a possibility that excessive developer that has not passed through the gap between the cylindrical member and the developing sleeve 22 is deposited to form an immovable layer even on the upstream side of the cylindrical member in the rotational direction of the sleeve. Even if the excessive developer is not formed in the immovable layer owing to circulating convection according to rotation of the cylindrical member, it is rubbed against the cylindrical member or the following rotation layer violently. As a result, there is found a problem that degradation progress of the developer cannot be suppressed sufficiently or it is accelerated on the contrary.

Developing unit and image forming apparatus


A method of producing a paper board comprising: a pulping step of disintegrating and beating fibers from a pulp raw material containing waste paper as a main raw material to obtain pulping process water; a stock preparation step of adding an additive containing a paper strength additive to the obtained pulping process water to obtain a prepared pulp raw material; and a paper-making step of making the obtained prepared pulp raw material into a paper board, wherein the paper board is produced by adding (a) an aqueous solution of hypochlorite and (b) an aqueous solution of water-soluble inorganic ammonium salt or ammonia water to the pulping process water to reduce the amount of the paper strength additive added in the stock preparation step.

In a paper board such as a container board, most of the raw material is comprised of waste paper.
In producing a paper board using waste paper as a main raw material, a paper board is produced through a pulping step of disintegrating and beating fibers from a pulp raw material with a pulper using waste paper as a main raw material to obtain a pulp slurry (also referred herein as "pulping process water") first; and then a stock preparation step of adding an additive containing a paper strength additive to the obtained pulping process water to obtain a prepared pulp raw material; and paper-making step of making the obtained prepared pulp raw material into a paper board. In the stock preparation step, a paper strength additive is added to the stock preparation water in order to keep the strength of the obtained paper board.
Waste paper contains a lot of starch from an adhesive or the like.
For this reason, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-100945 proposes a method of producing the paper wherein the amylase activity, starch concentration, pH and oxidation reduction potential of the process water are continuously or intermittently measured and a bactericide is added due to the result of the measurement in order to prevent the degradation of starch in the pulping process water of waste paper on the assumption that the degradation of starch is caused by putrefaction due to the proliferation of microorganisms.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-226043 concludes, however, that the direct addition of a bactericide to the pulping process water of waste paper causes only partial disinfection with insufficient disinfection effect because of the poor dispersibility of the bactericide, the pulping process water having high pulp concentration not less than 3%. In other words, Patent document 2 concludes that the method of Patent document 1 cannot fully suppress the deterioration of the quality of the paper caused by microorganisms. Thus, Patent document 2 proposes a method of suppressing slime by adding a bactericide to diluent water for diluting the raw material in the process of producing the paper using waste paper or the like as raw material.


An expandable structural member comprises two outer skin members, a plastically deformable reinforcing layer arranged between the two outer skin members, and a foamable polymer composition coated on at least one of each adjacent surface of the reinforcing layer and the respective outer skin member. Each adjacent surface of the reinforcing layer and the respective outer skin member contact one another and are intermittently bonded to one another, with the intermittent bonds on one surface of the reinforcing layer being non-aligned with the intermittent bonds on the other surface of the reinforcing layer. Additionally, the foamable polymer composition is foamable by application of heat to the structural member, whereby the foamed polymer resulting from application of heat to the structural member expands the outer skin members from contact with the reinforcing layer at non-bonded areas and plastically deforms the reinforcing layer into a three-dimensional reinforcing configuration.

Honeycomb core structural members such as panels and the like generally comprise two rigid outer skin members, often formed of metal sheet, bonded to opposite surfaces of a core. The core comprises rigid walls forming a number of compartments or cells between the outer skin members. The cells often resemble a honeycomb structure. Honeycomb core panels having large bending loads have been formed using the high moment of inertia afforded by the separation of the panels' outer skin members. Under bending loads, the relatively light weight core maintains the outer skin member spacing and carries relatively small shear stresses while the outer skin members bear the relatively large tensile and compressive stresses. The honeycomb core structural members therefore concentrate material where stresses are high and minimize material where the stresses are low, thus yielding a very high specific stiffness. This high specific stiffness renders the honeycomb core structural members particularly advantageous for use in applications that require both low weight and high stiffness constraints. Many uses for honeycomb core panels and other honeycomb structural members have been in transportation, particularly aerospace applications, and in other environments where there is an economic premium in weight reduction.
The use of honeycomb core structural members in various additional applications has been limited by the high cost of the honeycomb core structural member formation. That is, it is difficult to form the honeycomb core structural members into formed articles without damaging the structural member once the core is bonded to the outer skin members. Accordingly, many honeycomb core structural members must be custom made in batch processes in order to meet final design criteria. While continuous processing reduces the costs of manufacturing honeycomb core structural members, continuous processing limits the utility of the members to applications where no post forming of the structural members into shaped articles is required.
Thus, a need exists for honeycomb core structural members which may be formed to meet various shaped article design criteria and which may also be formed in a continuous processing method.

Expandable honeycomb core structural member


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions on the semiconductor substrate, and contact plugs connected to the source and drain regions. The contact plugs includes first impurity-diffused epitaxial layers that contact with the source and drain regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-313179, filed Nov. 20, 2006, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
All patents, patent applications, patent publications, scientific articles, and the like, which will hereinafter be cited or identified in the present application, will hereby be incorporated by reference in their entirety in order to describe more fully the state of the art to which the present invention pertains.
In recent years, computers or electric devices include one or more large scale integrated circuits, hereinafter referred to as LSI, in which a large number of MOS transistors and resistances may typically be integrated on a single chip. Dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) include LSIs. The DRAM needs shrinkage of LSI. Shrinkage of the LSI may cause remarkable short channel effects of the MOS transistors integrated in the LSI, even the short channel effects are desired to be suppressed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 2005-251776 discloses a conventional technique for suppressing the short channel effects of the MOS transistor. In accordance with the conventional technique, epitaxial silicon layers are electively formed by a selective epitaxial growth over source and drain regions of a substrate. The epitaxial silicon layers are used as source and drain regions of the MOS transistor. Increasing the thickness of the epitaxial silicon layers enhances the suppression of the short channel effects of the MOS transistor.
The shrinking DRAM cell size, particularly 6F2 cell, needs a narrow pitch field pattern. As described above, the epitaxial silicon layers act as the source and drain regions of the MOS transistors in the memory cells. In the selective epitaxial growth, the epitaxial silicon layers are grown not only in the thickness direction but also in the lateral direction perpendicular to the thickness direction. Increasing the thickness of the epitaxial silicon layers increases the growth in the lateral direction of the epitaxial silicon layers. If the pitch of the field pattern is very narrow, increasing the thickness of the epitaxial silicon layers narrows a gap between the epitaxial silicon layers. In some cases, the thickness of the epitaxial silicon layers may form a short circuit between the epitaxial silicon layers.
The MOS transistors are further used in peripheral circuits of the DRAM. Shrinkage of the DRAM needs shrinkage of the peripheral circuits. Shrinkage of the peripheral circuits may reduce contact areas between the source and drain diffusion regions and contact plugs. Reduction in the between the source and drain diffusion regions and contact plugs increases contact resistances between the source and drain diffusion regions and contact plugs, even the contact resistances are desired to be low.
A known conventional technique for reducing the contact resistances of the MOS transistors in the peripheral circuits is to carry out an ion-implantation at a high impurity concentration for implanting ions into epitaxial silicon layers, parts of which are adjacent to contact holes, in which the contact plugs are formed, wherein the epitaxial silicon layers are disposed over the source and drain regions of a substrate.
In order to avoid the above-described problems, it is necessary that the epitaxial silicon layer is not thick. Ion-implantation for introducing ions into the non-thick epitaxial silicon layers at a high concentration may enhance the short channel effects of the MOS transistor. Namely, carrying out the ion-implantation for introducing ions into non-thick epitaxial silicon layers at a high concentration may cause that the ions will be diffused by a subsequent diffusion process into the source and drain diffusion regions that are disposed under the epitaxial silicon layers. As a result, the impurity concentration of the source and drain diffusion regions unintentionally increased, thereby enhancing the short channel effects.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Semiconductor device and method of forming the same


The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for enhancing a projected image to reduce the optical depth of field, and create a more desirable film-like image. The present invention provides a multi-function imaging element for enhancing a projected image that includes a focusing screen that minimizes light hot spots in an image projected on the focusing screen and filters ultraviolet rays. The focusing screen can be static, moving, oscillating or rotating. The ultraviolet rays are filtered using a coating on the focusing screen, or by a separate filter made of glass, plastic or film. Note that the multi-function imaging element can be integrated into an adapter, a camera, a video camera, a projector, a television, a monitor, or other image capture or display device.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with video camera units and video adapters. Although, video adapters for generic video cameras have been in use for years in an attempt to enhance the quality of the recorded image and reduce the optical depth of field to create a more desirable film-like image, they are typically complex, expensive and do not provide cinematic quality depth of field control. The inability to use interchangeable 35 mm lenses has left the depth-of-field (DOF) problem elusive or too expensive to achieve. The image sensors in most video cameras are too small to provide cinematic depth of field control. It is very difficult to get an object in sharp focus in the foreground against a blurred background, to communicate depth with focus, and to provide cinematic rack focus for shifting attention in a scene with most video cameras.
More specifically, conventional video camera adapters are expensive and require many individual components to achieve the desired effect. Moreover, each component adds cost and must be carefully selected and matched to meet the requirements of the overall system. In addition, these conventional multi-function imaging elements negatively affect image quality. For example, a separate DCX or Fresnel lens glued to the focusing screen; however, this approach degrades the image by reducing overall resolution and contrast of the projected image. Also, another problem is long-term loss of optical quality as many adapters do not incorporate a UV filter and suffer from degrading image quality over time due to damage from UV light.
For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/469,295 entitled "Video Camera and Adapter for said Video Camera" discloses a video camera. The adapter has a camera housing with a first objective, through which light from a scene to be picked up is guidable into the camera housing. A semiconductor sensor field, on which light from the scene to be picked up is able to be cumulated. The device further includes a projection area disposed with respect to the first objective such that light introduced through the first objective is imaged onto the projection area. A second objective disposed with respect to the projection area and to the semiconductor sensor field such that light from the projection area is imaged onto the semiconductor sensor field.
Similarly, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/877,371 entitled "Video-Camera Unit and Adapter for a Video-Camera Unit" discloses an adapter for a video camera. The adapter has a connection for a camera lens, a connection for a video camera, and an image transfer unit disposed between these two connections. The image transfer unit has a photoreceptive surface and wherein the image transfer unit further includes a beam splitter for branching off an optical viewfinder path. An optical deflection element can be moved into and out of the optical viewfinder path so that the optical viewfinder image or the image of a monitor can be seen by a user.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are less desirable for creating the look of 35 mm film with a more shallow focus using a video camera unit.

System, method and apparatus for enhancing a projected image


A process and apparatus for cleaving an optical fiber are provided. The process includes window stripping the optical fiber using a laser source to create a window strip. The window stripped optical fiber is then scribed at a position within the window strip and tension is applied to the optical fiber. The cleaved optical fiber can be chamfered by applying a heat source to the cleaved end face. The above process and apparatus provide a high precision and inexpensive system for fiber cleaving and chamfering.

A perfectly cleaved fiber end face is an important requirement of the optical fiber industry. There are several techniques employed in cleaving optical fibers. Cleaving an optical fiber refers to creating a mirror flat surface on the face of the optical fiber for efficient light coupling into the fiber. Conventionally, cleaving is performed using a diamond blade to make a small crack on the surface of the optical fiber and then applying tension to the optical fiber to make this crack propagate.
Mechanical cleavers are known in the art and are very economical. A more expensive laser cleaver is also known in the art. As for most processes that require cleaving, the number of cleaves required is very high and there is a need for an economical method which could potentially drive down the cost per cleave. Although mechanical cleavers are more economical, they are limited by the quality of the cleave, i.e., there is the presence of an initial crack in large diameter fibers and the fiber surface is not perfectly flat. Furthermore, the mechanical cleavers cannot shape the fiber endface as desired by the customer, such as fiber end face chamfering. A chamfered optical fiber is useful such as when optical fibers are used in the biomedical industry. In the biomedical industry, optical fibers are often inserted into small capillary tubing which could be a small diameter capillary in a DNA/RNA cassette or a small diameter catheter. These are only some uses of chamfered optical fibers and many other uses are well known and will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
Fiber end face cleaving can also be accomplished with precision using a laser cleaver, but it potentially drives-up the cost per cleave. Also, using a laser cleaver may result in fiber damage due to damage to the coating. Furthermore, in the conventional technology, a single fiber or a bundle of fibers need to be polished (after cleaving) and then chamfered. This polishing leaves behind undesirable end face debris.

Method and apparatus for cleaving and chamfering optical fiber


A method and a system for presenting customized caller options via a communication device (104) are disclosed. The method includes receiving (404) an incoming call from a calling party at the second communication device. The method further includes comparing (406) a caller Identification (ID) information associated with the incoming call to a pre-defined stored list of caller ID information. Further, the method includes presenting (408) the calling party with customized caller options. The customized caller options are presented as a function of the comparison between the incoming call caller ID information and the pre-defined stored list of caller ID information.

Communication devices have emerged as one of the most important tools to enable exchange of voice and information. Communication devices can transmit and receive voice, data and information from other communication devices in the communication network. Examples of a communication device can include a mobile phone, a smart phone, an answering machine, a modem, a wired phone, a pager, and a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Various technologies can be used by a communication device to transfer data or voice. Examples of such technologies can be a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), a Universal Mobile telecommunications Service (UMTS) and a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).
In a communication network, a communication device can be remotely accessed by a user to access data or information present on the communication device. For example, when the communication device receives an incoming call, either the incoming call can be attended at the communication device or it can remain unattended. When the call is unattended, a pre-recorded message can be played and conveyed to the caller, informing the caller about the absence or unavailability of owner of the communication device. The pre-recorded message can be a greeting message, a welcome message and the like, which has been recorded by the owner of the communication device. After the execution of the pre-recorded message either the user can record a message or can enter an access code to gain access to the communication device.
In the existing systems, the owner of the communication device can not customize the pre-recorded message. Further, the owner of the communication device cannot select and assign different pre-recorded messages for different callers. The owner can remotely access the communication device to access messages recorded by other callers. When the owner of the communication device tries to access the recorded messages, the same pre-recorded message is executed. The owner then enters an access code to gain access to the messages at the communication device. Such a practice consumes a lot of time as the owner of the communication device is not required to hear the pre-recorded message.
Further, the size of the access codes entered by a remote user is usually kept small so that the owner of the communication device remembers it. The small size of the access code makes the access code prone to being hacked and hence raises security issues.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated, relative to other elements, to help to improve an understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Method and system for presenting customized caller options via a communication device


The present invention is a method and system for using materialized views to compute answers to SQL queries with grouping and aggregation. A query is evaluated a using a materialized view. The materialized view is semantically analyzed to determine whether the materialized view is usable in evaluating an input query. The semantic analysis includes determining that the materialized view does not project out any columns needed to evaluate the input query and determining that the view does not discard any tuple that satisfies a condition enforced in the input query. If the view is usable, the input query is rewritten to produce an output query that is multi-set equivalent to the input query and that specifies one or more occurrences of the materialized view as a source of information to be returned by the output query. The output query is then evaluated. The semantic analysis and rewriting may be iterated, with the output query of each iteration being the input query of the next iteration. The output query is evaluated after the last iteration.

Databases are compilations of information. Useful operations that can be performed on a database include the selection of specific data from the database, and the computation of summary information on all or part of the data in the database. One well
known way of specifying operations to be performed on a database is Structured Query Language (SQL). An SQL statement that performs an operation on a database is known as a query.
In large database applications, such as data warehouses and very large transaction recording systems, the size of the database and the volume of incoming data may be very large. Operations on very large databases are time consuming, due to the large amount of data to be processed, and expensive, due to the large quantity of system resources that must be utilized. One solution to this problem is to materialize and maintain appropriately defined aggregation views (summary tables), which are much smaller than the underlying database and can be cached in fast memory.
In globally distributed information systems, the relations may be distributed or replicated, and locating as well as accessing them may be expensive and sometimes not even possible. In mobile computing applications, the relations may be stored on a server and be accessible only via low bandwidth wireless communication, which may additionally become unavailable. Locally cached materialized views of the data, such as results of previous queries, may considerably improve the performance of such applications.
A need arises for an automated technique by which a time consuming and expensive query can be converted or rewritten to form an equivalent query that uses materialized views to compute the answers.
There has been previous work on using views to answer queries (e.g., H. Z. Yang and P. A. Larson, "Query transformation for PSJ queries," In Proc. VLDB, 1987; M. Stonebraker, A. Jhingran, J. Goh, and S. Potamianos, "On rules, procedures, caching and views in database systems", In Proc. ACM SIGMOD, 1990; O. G. Tsatalos, M. H. Solomon, and Y. E. Ioannidis, "The GMAP: A versatile tool for physical data independence", In Proc. VLDB, 1994; C. M. Chen and N. Roussopoulos, "The implementation and performance evaluation of the ADMS query optimizer: Integrating query result caching and matching", In Proc. EDBT, 1994; S. Chaudhuri, R. Krishnamurthy, S. Potarianos, and K. Shim, "Optimizing queries with materialized views", In. Proc. ICDE, 1995; A. Y. Levy, A.O. Mendelzon, Y. Sagiv, and D. Srivastava, "Answering queries using views", In Proc. ACM PODS, 1995!, but the problem of finding the equivalent rewritings for SQL queries with multiset semantics, grouping and aggregation, have received little attention.
Caching of previous query results was explored in T. Sellis, "Intelligent caching and indexing techniques for relational database systems", Information Systems, pp. 175-188, 1988, as a means of supporting stored procedures. This corresponds to using materialized views when they match syntactically a sub-expression of the query. In the ADMS optimizer, subquery expressions corresponding to nodes in the query execution (operator) tree were also cached. A cached result was matched against a new query by using common expression analysis. Grouping and aggregation issued were not addressed.
View usability has been studied for conjunctive queries with set semantics and without grouping and aggregation. Levy et al. showed a close condition between the problem of usability of a view in evaluating a query and the problem of query containment. However, this connection does not carry over to the multiset case. Yang et al also presented a simple technique for generating a rewriting of a query Q using view V, under set semantics. Essentially the technique consists of first conjoining V to the FROM clause of Q, and then (independently) minimizing the resulting query to eliminate redundant tables. In the case of SQL queries, however, because of the multiset semantics, the query will not be equivalent after conjoining V to the FROM clause, even if it may be equivalent after removing other tables. Therefore, we need to find a priori which tables in the FROM clause will be replaced by V.
Optimization of conjunctive SQL queries using conjunctive views has been studied in Chaudhuri et al. In addition to considering when such views are usable in evaluating a query, they suggest how to perform this optimization in a cost-based fashion. However, they did not consider the possibility of rewritings that are UNION ALLS of single-block queries.
Recently, the problem of using materialized aggregation views to answer aggregation queries using a purely transformational approach has been considered in A. Gupta, V. Harinarayan, and D. Quass, "Aggregate-query processing in data warehousing environments", Proc. VLDB, 1995. They perform syntactic transformations on the operator tree representation of the query such that the definition of the view would be identical to a sub part of the definition of the query. Additional information of queries involving aggregation have been proposed. The transformational approach is more restrictive than our semantic approach. For example, these techniques would neither determine the usability of view V.sub.1 in evaluating query Q.sub.1 in Example 1.1, nor the usability of view V.sub.1 ' in evaluating Q.sub.1 in the same example. Also, no formal guarantees of completeness are provided.
A related problem is studied in A. Gupta, I. S. Mumick, and K. A. Ross. "Adapting materialized views after redefinitions", In Proc. ACM SIGMOD, 1995. They assume that a materialized view may be redefined, and investigate how to adapt the materialization of the view to reflect the redefinition. This problem is clearly a special case of the one we study., with the additional assumptions that the system knows the type of modification that took place, that the new view definition is "close" to the old definition, and that the view materialization may be modified.

Method and system for using materialized views to evaluate queries involving aggregation


An IQ-modulator pre-distorter includes an iteratively updated digital filter (gQ0, gQ1) for filtering one of the branches of an IQ-signal to compensate for IQ-modulator generated amplitude errors. An iteratively updated digital filter (cQI0, cQI1), cross-connected from one of the branches to the other branch, filters one of the components of an IQ-signal to compensate for IQ-modulator generated inter-modulation between the branches. Iteratively updated compensators (dcI, dcQ) counteract IQ-modulator generated offset errors.

A direct-IQ radio architecture comprises base band data modification, digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), and analog IQ-quadrature modulation to finally bring a complex I+jQ signal to radio frequency (RF). The IQ-modulator exhibits a DC-component, an amplitude error and also a phase error. Both of the branches (I and Q) of the IQ-modulator suffer from this imbalance.
In order to get a better power budget in the direct-IQ radio architecture for digital pre-distortion (to compensate for imperfections of the power amplifier), the analog IQ-modulator is foreseen to be driven by a higher input power. As a result, the mixer parts of the IQ-modulator tend to become inherently non-linear on top of the linear amplitude and phase imbalance.
Today, no specific solution exists as how to linearize an IQ-modulator. Absence of a linearizer gives rise to added unwanted signal inter-modulation due to high power usage of the IQ-modulator. There is a need to counteract the non-linearities in order to meet specifications and at the same time keep a good power efficiency budget.


A display apparatus and a displaying method thereof are provided. A storage unit stores installed items, a UI generator generates a UI including a first area to display the installed items and a second area to display installable items, a display unit displays the generated UI, and, if one of the items displayed on the second area is selected, a controller displays a process of moving the selected item moved to the first area.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a display apparatus and a displaying method thereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus which shows a path until a selected item is installed therein and a displaying method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recent display apparatus provides a function of adding a new item desired by a user or deleting an existing item. For example, if a user selects a widget through a menu provided on the display apparatus, the display apparatus downloads the widget from an external network and installs it in an internal storage medium.
However, a conventional display apparatus does not show a process of downloading and installing an item selected on a menu in the display apparatus and shows only the menu.

Display apparatus and displaying method thereof


The present invention provides methods for eliciting an immune response against Group A streptococci, comprising use of recombinant fusion polypeptides, and compositions thereof, that include a multivalent immunogenic portion of at least two immunogenic polypeptides from Group A streptococci M proteins (which are capable of stimulating a protective immune response against Group A streptococci), and a reiterated polypeptide from the immunogenic portion carboxy-terminal to the immunogenic portion, wherein the carboxy-terminal polypeptide is not required to stimulate an immune response against Group A streptococci.

Streptococci are a group of bacteria with the capacity to grow in chains. Many varieties are part of the normal bacterial flora in humans and are not especially harmful. However, a particular group of streptococcal bacteria, called group A and represented by Streptococcus pyogenes, is a human pathogen. Briefly, group A streptococci cause a variety of human illnesses, ranging from uncomplicated pharyngitis and pyoderma to life-threatening infections associated with toxic shock syndrome, deep tissue invasion and sepsis. In some individuals, untreated streptococcal pharyngitis may be followed by acute rheumatic fever. In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of severe streptococcal infections (Davies et al., "Invasive group A streptococcal infections in Ontario, Canada. Ontario group A Streptococcal study group," N. Engl. J. Med. 335:547-554, 1996) and in the incidence of rheumatic fever (Veasey et al., "Resurgence of acute rheumatic fever in the intermountain region of the United States," N. Eng. J. Med. 316:421-427, 1987).
Although streptococcal infections can be generally treated with antibiotics, in at least 4% of cases the infection leads to acute rheumatic fever. This disease is particularly prevalent in developing countries such as India, where millions of school-age children are affected.
The present invention provides new Group A streptococcal vaccines with enhanced immunogenicity, and further, provides other related advantages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

University of Tennessee Research Foundation


A disk cartridge including lower and upper shells, a rotation wheel housed rotatably in the cartridge and which houses a disk and has formed therein a second opening, corresponding to a first read/write opening in the lower shell, through which the housed disk is exposed to outside, a pair of shutter plates provided between the lower shell and rotation wheel and which operates with the rotation of the rotation wheel to uncover the first and second openings when the latter are coincide with each other, and a locking member including a locking portion installed pivotably to the upper shell and engaged in an engagement concavity in the rotation wheel to lock the rotation wheel in a position where the pair of shutter plates covers the first opening, and an unlocking portion which cancels the engagement of the locking portion in the engagement concavity.

A disk cartridge is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2003-109343. This disk cartridge includes a cartridge body incorporating an inner rotor and shutter mechanism. The inner rotor houses an optical disk. The inner rotor rotates inside the cartridge body. When an opening formed in the inner rotor coincides with an opening formed in the cartridge body, the optical disk housed in the inner rotor is exposed to outside.
Note here that an optical disk used as a recording medium in the disk cartridge has information signals recorded at a high density. Dust or like, if any, adhering to the optical disk will make it impossible to record information signals accurately to the optical disk. On this account, to keep the opening from being uncovered while the disk cartridge is not in use, a locking member is provided to keep the inner rotor from rotating. The locking member includes a locking portion provided pivotably inside the cartridge body to be engaged in a concavity formed in the periphery of the inner rotor, and a to-be-operated portion which cancels the engagement of the locking portion in the concavity when the disk cartridge is located into a disk recorder and/or player.
In the locking member, the engagement of the locking portion in the concavity is canceled if the inner rotor is forcibly rotated while the disk cartridge is not in use. If the locking portion of the locking member is disengaged from the concavity in the inner rotor, inner rotor is rotated and thus the optical disk is exposed to outside, dust or the like will possibly adhere to he surface of the optical disk, thereby making it impossible to positively write or read information signals to or from the optical disk.


An object instance is serialized to a serial format, such as an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) document, based on a mapping between an arbitrary annotated source code file and a schema. The arbitrary annotated source code contains at least one programming type that describes a shape of an object instance and the schema describes a format of a document having a serial format. The mapping defines a correspondence between the shape of the object instance and the format of the document having the serial format. Subsequently, an object instance is converted to the serial format by converting public properties, public fields and method parameters of the object instance to a document having the serial format based on the mapping. Once the mapping is defined, an XML document can also be converted to an object instance based on the mapping.

Background
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is conventionally used for a first program to communicate information to a second program that may be running simultaneously on the same computer as the first program or on two different computers that may or may not be running the same operating system. In that regard, SOAP is used for encoding, or serializing, defined data structures. For example, SOAP specifies exactly how an HTTP header and an XML file are serialized so that one program can send a request to another program, passing information in the request.
Nevertheless, what is needed is a way to serialize an object having an arbitrary structure into an XML document so that the structure and the information contained in the object can be communicated between two programs that may be running simultaneously on the same computer or may be running on different computers that may or may not be running different operating systems.


A single tooth handheld dental impression duplicating device and a method of using the device are disclosed. The device is designed to reproduce the occlusal surface anatomy of a particular tooth by making an impression, and after the setting of such material and having obtained the print of the tooth, use the device as a finishing mold for the restorative material. The device comprises a main body (1) with a holder or handle (8) attached to it. Within the main body there is a well defined cavity (3) proximal to the tooth, where the impression material (4) is located. Once the impression material has been softened, it is placed against the occlusal surface of a single tooth and `deformed` against the tooth surface when finger pressure is applied, thereby creating an impression of the tooth surface configuration. A second cavity (2) opposite to the previously mentioned proximal cavity (3), allows the placement of a fibre optic cable for the emission of light when curing materials are used.

The conventional techniques carried out by dentists to obtain an adequate occlusal morphology in a particular tooth require the use of burs manufactured in different sizes and materials and in conjunction with rotary instruments, trimming, contouring and polishing are carried out. This is very time consuming and very rarely the operator can reproduce the initial morphology of the tooth accurately, that is, the morphology of the tooth before treatment (cavity preparation) is difficult to be reproduced with precision and some enamel and restorative material can also be accidentally eliminated during the contouring and trimming process.
Elimination of either restorative material or enamel during the contouring and trimming process inevitably leads to the development of incorrect and deficient contact points between the upper and lower teeth. Consequently, overeruption of the opposite tooth may occur and this will cause an occlusal discrepancy which will create discomfort to the patient.
During the trimming and contouring process, some defects may be created at the junction of the restorative material and tooth surface. In these defects, a bacterial population may develop and proliferate more easily and thus failure of the restoration will occur.
The procedures used to repair the damaged occlusal morphology of a tooth are various. For example, pre-fabricated molds or matrices which simulate a defined standard anatomy and made of different materials can be applied on the tooth. The occlusal anatomy of such tooth, however, can never be accurately reproduced with a non-customized device. The operator is forced to carry out the conventional contouring routine anyway to adapt the mold to each tooth individually. An example of this is the preformed occlusal `forms` developed for composite fillings or other restorative materials.
An other way to avoid the formation bulges, and bulky edges of restorative material on the margins of the cavity is the `shaping bite procedure` proposed by Fusayama and described in the Revista Odontoestomatologica Espanola N.degree. 441, March 1992, page 45, in which the patient actually `bites` directly onto the still soft restorative material.
Other authors use devices to register the occlusal morphology such as a wooden surface or sheet or similar in conjunction with an opaque impression material. This kind of impression material requires the use of a separating medium to prevent it from adhering to the hardened restorative material. This procedure does not achieve the rigidity and transparency needed for the desired application.
Occlusal conformation systems by mean of complex computers programs (CAD-CAM) reproduce the anatomy of a tooth extrapolating an optic readout before cavity preparation and obtaining a virtual anatomy with great accuracy, manufacturing the final restoration with a robotic cavity preparation system. Even though the fit or adjustment of the final restoration is quite accurate, the occlusal morphology due to the fact that is limited to the use of ceramic materials in a bulk, inserted and cemented in the tooth after its finishing.
The use of impression materials to reproduce the occlusal surface anatomy of teeth is well known by the majority of them are opaque and are taken to the mouth with devices with the shape of an arch (stocks trays) that although rigid, are designed to obtain the mold of the complete dental arch containing teeth and gums, as well as the relationship between upper and lower arches (bit). These trays are often constructed in opaque materials or colored translucid materials (plastic) but the latter can often be subject to deformation when heat is applied to them.

Device for the application of an impression material to the occlusal surface of teeth


A sense amplifier and method are provided using current/voltage converters that are suitable for a multibit (2 bit/cell) memory device. The sense amplifier includes first and second current/voltage converters and a voltage comparator. The current/voltage converters each include a current mirror amplification unit to amplify an input current and a current mirror conversion unit to convert the amplified current into a voltage. A current to be sensed is applied to the first current/voltage converter and a reference current is applied to the second current/voltage converter. The voltage comparator determines a voltage difference by comparing the voltage output by the first and second current/voltage converters. The sense amplifier and method increases the speed and ease of sensing the input current. Further, the sense amplifier and method applied to a multibit memory can reduce an area for memory elements by 40%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sense amplifier and method, and more particularly, to a current/voltage converter of a sense amplifier.
2. Background of the Related Art
A related art sense amplifier includes a current/voltage converter and a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier, which is used mostly in the input stage, can alternatively be replaced by a voltage comparater. Thus, a sense amplifier generally performs the function of detecting the unamplified voltage level or the unamplified current level of input signals exceeding a threshold value in the current/voltage converter, and then amplifying and outputting the detected signals in the differential amplifier or the voltage comparator. The sense amplifier detects the input signals only in a specified time domain. Such sense amplifiers are used for sensing and amplifying the very small output signals of memory devices, etc.
As shown in FIG. 1, the related art sense amplifier includes a first current/voltage converter 10 to convert a current applied through a bit line of a memory cell (not illustrated) into a voltage. A second current/voltage converter 20 converts a reference current received from an external transistor (not illustrated) into a voltage, and a voltage comparator 30 compares the voltages converted by the first current voltage converter 10 and the second current/voltage converter 20. The first current/voltage converter 10 has a PMOS transistor P1 with its gate and drain coupled together, and with the power supply voltage V.sub.cc applied to its source. Further, an NMOS transistor N1 has the drain of the PMOS transistor P1 is coupled to its source, the bit line coupled to its drain, and its gate coupled to the bit line through an inverter INV1.
The second current/voltage converter 20 has a PMOS transistor P2 with its gate and drain coupled to each other and with the power supply voltage V.sub.cc applied to its source. Further, an NMOS transistor N2 has the drain of the PMOS transistor P2 coupled to its source, an external random reference current coupled to its drain, and the reference current coupled to its gate through an inverter INV2.
The operation of the related art sense amplifier including the first and second current/voltage converters 10, 20 is as follows. First, when a low-level signal is applied to the inverter INV1 of the first current/voltage converter 10 through the bit line of the memory cell (not illustrated), the low-level signal is inverted by the inverter INV1 and applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor N1.
Accordingly, as the NMOS transistor N1 is turned ON and the low-level signal is applied to the gate and the drain of the PMOS transistor P1, the PMOS transistor P1 is turned ON and the node A becomes low-level. The node A becomes low level because a current sink is created when the current at the node A discharges through the turned ON NMOS transistor N1.
When, a high-level signal is applied to the inverter INV1 of the current/voltage converter 10, the high-level signal is inverted and applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor N1. Consequently, the NMOS transistor N1 is turned OFF. At that time, a specified bias voltage of about 4 V is applied to the node A and the gate of the PMOS transistor P1. Thus, the PMOS transistor P1 is turned ON. Accordingly, the power supply voltage V.sub.cc is applied to the node A, which transitions to a complete high level state.
The second current/voltage converter 20 is operated in the same way as the first current/voltage converter 10. The voltage comparator 30 compares and outputs the voltage difference between the node A of the first current/voltage converter 10 and node B of the second current/voltage converter 20.
The NMOS transistor N1 with the inverter INV1, and the NMOS transistor N2 with the inverter INV2 maintain the bias level of the inputs at a specified level. The PMOS transistors P1, P2 function as active loads. The current/voltage converters may also include various pulse signal generators depending on the user's requirements.
The operation of the related art sense amplifier will further be described by an example. When the input current is 20 .mu.A and the reference current is 10 .mu.A, the current flowing through the PMOS transistor P1 is 20 .mu.A because there is no amplification of the input current. Since the PMOS transistors P1, P2 function as active loads, however, they have a resistance value. If the resistance value is 30 k.OMEGA. for the PMOS transistors P1, P2, the voltage drop is 30 k.OMEGA..times.20 .mu.A=0.6 V. In the second current/voltage converter 20, the first current/voltage converter 10 voltage drop is 30 k.OMEGA..times.10 .mu.A=0.3 V. Accordingly, voltages of 4.4 V and 4.7 V are applied to the node A and to the node B, respectively. Therefore, the voltage comparator 30 compares and outputs the voltage difference between the nodes A and B.
FIG. 2 is a graph of the change in the voltage over time on the node A, which is an output point of the first current/voltage converter 10. A simulation was performed by coupling various MOS transistors having threshold voltages of 0.7 V, 1.5 V, 2.2 V and 4 V as the threshold voltages of the memory cells to the input of the first current/voltage converter 10. When the nanometer channel W/L (width/length) is 600/800 for a related art sense amplifier in the simulation, the voltage difference of the node A between memory cells of 0.7 V (3.312 V) and 4 V (3.779 V) is 0.467 V (3.779 V-3.312 V), as shown in FIG. 2.
When related art sense amplifiers are used with a multibit memory, the difference between the currents by the threshold voltage of the memory cells is small. Thus, even after the voltage is converted in the current/voltage converter of the sense amplifier, the difference between the converted voltages is small. Therefore, the related art sense amplifiers suffer the problem that it is difficult to make a comparison in the voltage comparator.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Current/voltage converter, sense amplifier and sensing method using same


A display apparatus for wearing over corrective eyewear has a frame structure that supports left- and right-side protective lenses, wherein each protective lens has a rear surface disposed to face toward the corrective eyewear, and a front surface disposed to face the outside-world object scene. A bridging member is hinged to the frame between the left- and right-side protective lenses, wherein the bridging member extends a nose bridge engagement member toward a viewer nose position, wherein the bridging member further has a coupling configured to removably suspend at least one output element of an electronically energized display system over the front surface of the left- or right-side protective lens.

Eyewear that is widely used includes safety or protective eyewear that is worn over existing prescription, reading, or other types of eyeglasses. This general class of items includes Over-The-Glasses (OTG) eyewear, useful in a range of applications such as warehousing, manufacturing, and parts handling, for example, as well as in sport, exercise, and other applications. OTG safety glasses can be required for viewers who need corrective lenses of some type in order to perform some task or function and also need extra protection from environmental hazards during various activities.
One shortcoming of existing OTG eyewear design relates to adaptability for use with, and attachment of, head-mounted display (HMD) apparatus and other head-mounted optics, particularly for optical devices that are energized or that act as outputs for energized optical systems, including filters, polarizers, and other components. There can be limited flexibility for use with various optical arrangements, such as with multiple or layered displays. Even without additional head-mounted optics, conventional OTG solutions are generally cumbersome and can be awkward to the wearer and difficult to reconfigure.
Thus, it can be appreciated that there is need for OTG solutions that allow sufficient spacing for comfortable use by the eyeglass wearer and also provide flexible coupling mechanisms for added displays and other optics for one or both eyes of the wearer.

Optics mount for over-the-glasses eyewear


A tool assembly 120 is attached on a forming table 101 movably in a vertical direction with respect to the forming table 101. The tool assembly 120 has a wedge tool assembly 140 which inserts a wedge tool between coils of wire W being continuously rolled by a coiling assembly 160 and growing coils having a predetermined pitch in an approximate normal-line direction with respect to the forming table 101, and a core block 123 which applies a cutting force to the wire W in cooperation with a cutting tool. This integrally moves the core block 123, the wedge tool and the like.

This invention relates to a spring manufacturing apparatus for forming a compression spring, an extension spring and the like. For example, the apparatus continuously feeds a wire to be formed into a spring, to place the wire against a point tool, whereby the wire rolls into a coil spring having a predetermined coil diameter, and at the same time, providing the spring with a predetermined pitch by inserting a pitch tool between coils, and cuts the wire by a cutting tool to obtain a spring having a desired shape.

Spring manufacturing apparatus and position adjustment apparatus for tools


A semiconductor laser having: a group III-V semiconductor substrate; a group III-V semiconductor clad layer disposed on the substrate with a lattice mismatch of 0.5% or more; group III-V semiconductor light propagation layers disposed on the clad layer, including an active layer and light confining layers on both sides of the active layer, the light confining layers containing Al as the group III element; a group III-V semiconductor buffer layer disposed between the substrate and the clad layer, the buffer layer including a composition graded layer gradually changing the lattice constant, and having a cross hatched step on the surface thereof; and an intermediate layer of group III-V semiconductor disposed between the buffer layer and the clad layer, the intermediate layer containing phosphorous as the group V element. A semiconductor laser of 1 .mu.m band is provided whose substrate and clad layer are lattice mismatched and whose clad layer uses group III-V semiconductor having a wide forbidden band and containing Al as the group III element.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser, and more particularly to a semiconductor laser having lattice mismatch between its substrate and clad layer.
b) Description of the Related Art
A conventional semiconductor laser of 1 .mu.m band uses typically an InP substrate and a lamination formed thereon and made of InGaAsP based materials which lattice match the substrate. A heterojunction made of InGaAsP based material which lattice matches InP is difficult to form a sufficiently large band energy gap. Semiconductor lasers having such a heterojunction have the characteristics (threshold value, efficiency, and etc.) greatly dependent upon temperature.
Group III-V semiconductor having the same crystal structure has generally a tendency that the smaller the lattice constant is, the larger the band energy gap and the smaller the refractive index. A difference between band gaps is mainly a difference between energy levels of conduction band edges.
The present inventor and his colleagues have proposed a semiconductor laser including a substrate with a smaller lattice constant and a larger band gap than InP, a clad layer, an active layer, and the like laminated on the substrate through a buffer layer, wherein the buffer layer functions to relax lattice mismatch, and the active layer constitutes a strained quantum well layer (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 6-326407).
This semiconductor laser uses GaAs as the material of a substrate, a composition graded layer of InGaAs changing its In composition continuously from 0 to 0.3 is formed on the substrate, and a lamination of semiconductor layers of a laser structure is formed on the composition graded layer. The semiconductor layers other than the active layer are made of InGaP, InGaAsP, or InGaAs material which lattice matches In.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As. The active layer is In.sub.0.4 Ga.sub.0.6 As. Light confining layers of In.sub.0.4 Ga.sub.0.6 As.sub.0.8 P.sub.0.2 are formed on both sides of the active layer. Clad layers of In.sub.0.8 Ga.sub.0.2 P are formed on opposite sides of the light confining layers. The In.sub.0.4 Ga.sub.0.6 As active layer and light confining layers on both sides thereof constitute a strained quantum well structure of separate confinement hetero (SCH) structure.
It is possible for the light confining layers to use InGaAsP compositions having a larger energy level of the conduction band edge and a wider forbidden band than InGaAsP composition which lattice matches InP. Leakage of charge carriers was reduced and the temperature characteristic was improved. For example, a characteristic temperature of about 100 K was achieved.

Semiconductor laser with lattice mismatch


One or more media items can be bound to a voice call using a binding protocol. The binding protocol allows call participants to more easily transfer media items to other call participants using one or more user interfaces. A call participant can initiate a media transfer by selecting the media and a communication modality for transferring the media. The binding protocol can be active or lazy. In lazy binding, the call participant can select the desired media for transfer before the voice call is established, and subsequently mark the media for binding with the voice call. In active binding, the call participant can select and transfer the desired media item during the voice call, and the media item is automatically bound to the voice call. The media item can be transferred using a user-selected communication modality over an independent data communication channel.

Modern mobile devices may include a variety of communication applications, such as telephony, text messaging and e-mail. These applications often include a contacts database or "address book" containing telephone numbers (e.g., work, mobile, facsimile) and e-mail addresses of contacts known to the user of the device. The user can access the contacts database on the mobile device to simplify and quicken communication with the known contacts (e.g., friends, family, coworkers, clients).
Some mobile devices include Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) that allows a first user to send media (e.g., photos, video) to second user while participating with the second user in a text chat. However, if the first user is participating in a voice call with the second user, the first user may need to access a contact record for the second user to get media communication information (e.g., email address, mobile phone number) and configure another communication modality (e.g., email, text messaging) to send the media to the second user during the voice call.

Media/voice binding protocol and related user interfaces


A heat dissipation module for removing heat from a heat generating component, includes a block, a heat pipe and a fin unit. The block includes a first surface and a second surface. One end of the heat pipe is thermally attached to the fin unit, and the other end of the heat pipe is thermally attached to the first surface of the block. A groove is defined in the second surface of the block for fittingly receiving the heat generating component therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a heat dissipation module, and more particularly to a heat dissipation module for electronic elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the advance of large scale integrated circuit technology, and the widespread use of computers in all trades and occupations, in order to meet the required improvement in data processing load and request-response times, high speed processors have become faster and faster, which causes the processors to generate redundant heat. Redundant heat that is not quickly removed will have tremendous influence on the system security and performance.
To solve this problem of heat generated by the processor, a heat dissipation module is often mounted on the processor for dissipating heat. For enhancing the heat dissipation capability of the heat dissipation module, a thermal contact block is arranged for thermally contacting with the processor. The thermal contact block is made of a metal material with a high heat transfer coefficient such as copper.
Traditionally, the thermal contact block has a planar-shaped bottom surface for being thermally attached to a top surface of the processor. The contact surface area between the processor and the thermal contact block depends on the area of the top surface of the processor. Because of the miniaturization of the processor, the contact surface area between the processor and the thermal contact block is limited, affecting the heat transfer rate from the processor to the thermal contact block, and accordingly decreasing the efficiency of the heat dissipation module.
Therefore, it is desired to design a novel heat dissipation module to overcome the aforementioned problems and increase the heat dissipation efficiency thereof.


In a method and system for opening a container having a lock device, a mobile terminal exchanges data with the lock device using near-field data transmission and exchanges data with a server using far-filed data transmission. The mobile terminal stores container reconfiguration data and container operating data, which include at least time data and access data. The server generates new container reconfiguration data in response to receiving the container operating data from the mobile terminal and transmits the new container reconfiguration data to the mobile terminal using the far-field data transmission. The new container reconfiguration data are then transmitted from the mobile terminal to the lock device using the near-filed transmission.

Developments in the area of access control systems, in particular in the area of home automation, which link the opening of a lock to the presence of a smartphone, can be identified. A distinction can be made roughly between two versions. On the one hand, there are cases in which data from the smartphone is sent to a server via an app and from this server to the lock. On the other hand, there are solutions in which key information is already stored in the smartphone, so that direct communication takes place between the smartphone and the lock (optionally, the lock has no connection to the Internet). In both versions, the lock is opened when the transmitted data matches the stored data.
However, in order to safely change the data stored in the lock (add or delete keys, or configure time restrictions, etc.), the lock absolutely requires a connection to the Internet so that the secure transmission can take place from a central point.
If there is no connection of the lock to the Internet, then the only option left is that the lock is configured locally, as is common e.g., with RFID locks having "programming cards". However, since this is impractical in the case of a very high number and widely distributed or even mobile locks, since on the one hand all locks have to be manually updated individually—by a person who has the appropriate programming tools and configuration data and who also has the opportunity to gain access to the lock. On the other hand, the method is simply not secure, as it cannot be centrally monitored whether the reconfiguration was carried out at all for all locks or whether this was successful.
In areas where there is no internet connection or in the case of objects that cannot be equipped with a permanent data connection, secure and central management of the distributed locks is not possible today.

Container, method, and system for enabling offline access control and for enabling offline sensor data transmission


An interface element connected to a device and a security die-chip are fabricated in a single package. The security die-chip may provide a security authentication function to the interface element that does not have the security authentication function. The security die-chip may include a physically unclonable function (PUF) to provide a private key, and a hardware security module to perform encryption and decryption using the private key.

An Internet of Things (IoT) environment is expected to grow. In the IoT environment, various physical objects, for example various sensors, home appliances or vehicles, as well as existing communication devices, for example smartphones or tablets, are connected to a network. In the above IoT environment, security and authentication are recognized as the most important technology.
The security and authentication are understood to include authentication of devices or things, security of data stored in devices, and/or protection of information transmitted and received by devices. However, because the security is a factor that hinders a performance and convenience, a large number of devices that are already in wide use do not have a security function or are vulnerable to the security.
A physically unclonable function (PUF) may provide an unpredictable digital value. Individual PUFs may provide different digital values, even though the individual PUFs are manufactured through the same exact manufacturing process. The PUF may be referred to as a "physical one-way function (POWF)" that is practically impossible to be duplicated.
The above unclonability of the PUF may be used to generate an identifier of a device for security and/or authentication. For example, the PUF may be used to provide a unique key to distinguish devices from one another.
Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1139630 (hereinafter, referred to as "'630 patent") proposes a method of implementing a PUF. The '630 patent discloses a method of probabilistically determining whether an inter-layer contact or a via is generated between conductive layers of a semiconductor, based on a semiconductor process variation.

IUCF-HYU (INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY)