The invention is characterized by efficiently and quickly loosening an aggregation of toner material formed in a toner cartridge. A toner cartridge has an L-shaped toner agitating member disposed in a main body thereof having a discharge port for feeding toner at the front surface of the main body. Since the toner agitating member is supported so as to pivot like a conical pendulum, a support pin fixed to a bottom surface of the main body passes through a through hole having a greater diameter than that of the support pin. The support pin has an engagement portion attached thereto for prevention of disengagement of the toner agitating member therefrom. A plate-like portion of the toner agitating member defines an agitating plate, a distal end of which extends toward the discharge port of the main body. Shaking the toner cartridge causes the agitating member to rotate about the support pin and to pivot in a direction parallel to the axis of the support pin like a conical pendulum, thereby efficiently loosening the aggregated toner material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for replenishing a development device with a toner material of a colorant for developing an electrostatic latent image into a visible image, the development device provided in an electrophotographic type image forming apparatus, such as copiers, printers and the like, for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on a recording medium into the visible image.
2. Description of the Related Art
The electrophotographic type image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers and the like, are adapted to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image to be reproduced on a surface of a photosensitive material as a recording medium. The image forming apparatus comprises a development device for developing the electrostatic latent image into the visible image. The development device is adapted to supply a developer such as toner material of a colorant to the photosensitive material and to make the toner material adhere to the photosensitive material.
More specifically, in the image forming apparatus, the surface of the photosensitive material is first uniformly electrically charged and then irradiated with a light image corresponding to an image to be reproduced thereby removing the electric charge of the surface of the photosensitive material in a region irradiated with the light image. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is formed in correspondence to the image to be reproduced. For developing the electrostatic latent image into the visible image, the development device makes the toner adhere to the surface of the photosensitive material. Thus, the toner stored in the development device is consumed little by little on each production of a printed image.
In order to maintain the quality of images produced by the image forming apparatus at a certain level, the development device needs to be replenished with toner so as to make up for the consumption. In addition, the image forming apparatus is designed to store a constant amount of toner material at all times. On this account, the development device includes a toner feeder which is responsive to a detection of shortage of the toner material contained in the development device for automatically feeding a toner material to the development device. This ensures that the constant amount of toner material is kept constant in the development device thereby constantly maintaining a consistent level of quality of the produced images.
The toner feeder is to be preliminarily supplied with a sufficient amount of toner material. However, the toner feeder runs out of the toner material contained therein on each production of several thousands to tens of thousands of images, requiring a replenishment of toner material. The replenishment of toner material is normally conducted by a person such as a user manipulating the image forming apparatus. In this connection, the toner feeder adopts a toner cartridge system so as to afford convenience to the user who replenishes the toner feeder with a toner material.
FIG. 9 shows a typical construction of the toner cartridge for use in the electrophotographic type image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers and the like. A toner cartridge 100 of a container such as formed of a resin material is filled with a toner material 101. The toner cartridge 100 has a toner discharge port 103 for feeding the toner material 101 to a hopper 110 of a toner feeder 102 provided in the image forming apparatus. The toner discharge port 103 is usually sealed with a sealing member or the like for prevention of toner leakage and thus, an interior of the toner cartridge 100 is hermetically enclosed.
To replenish the development device with the toner material in the toner cartridge 100, a user first mounts the toner cartridge 100 to the toner feeder so that the toner discharge port 103 fits in an inlet port 104 of the toner feeder 102. Subsequently, the user removes the sealing member closing the toner discharge port 103. Thus, the toner discharge port 103 is opened to be communicated with the inlet port 104 so that the toner material in the toner cartridge 100 is fed to the hopper 110 of the toner feeder 102.
This process needs to be performed smoothly and must ensure that all the toner material 101 in the toner cartridge 100 is fed to the hopper 110 positively and quickly. In other words, the process is required to save as much effort paid by the user as possible and to reduce work needed for the toner replenishment thereby saving time spent by the user involved in operations associated with the image forming apparatus.
Unfortunately, however, the toner cartridge 100 is placed on a floor of a store place for storage as standing on its bottom plate 105 opposite to the toner discharge port 103. Accordingly, as the toner cartridge is left standing over an extended period of time, the gravity causes subsidence of the toner material 101 contained therein so that the aggregation thereof occurs due to forces between toner particles such as Van der Waals force, Coulomb force due to static electricity, liquid crosslinking force and the like. Therefore, it is generally required in the art to sufficiently loosen the aggregated toner material 101 contained in the toner cartridge 100 left standing over an extended period of time so as to efficiently feed such a toner material 101 to the hopper 110 of the toner feeder 102.
Where fine particles like toner particles form aggregation, the aggregation of the fine particles exhibits a behavior similar to that of a solid matter. Therefore, if the toner cartridge 100 containing the aggregated toner material is mounted to the hopper 110 of the toner feeder 102 and the sealing member thereof is removed, the toner material does not flow through the toner discharge port 103, thus failing to be supplied to the hopper 110. Particularly, the aggregated toner material blocks the toner discharge port 103 or the inlet port 104 thereby making it difficult to feed the toner material 100. If, in this state, the user removes the toner cartridge 110 from the hopper 110 mistakenly determining that the toner feeding has been completed, the blocking toner material will be scattered around and a large amount of toner material remaining in the toner cartridge 100 will be discharged out of the cartridge.
For this reason, it is important for the user to shake vertically and laterally the toner cartridge 100 having been left standing so as to adequately loosen the aggregated toner material before mounting the toner cartridge to the hopper 110 and removing the sealing member. However, since the shaking of the toner cartridge 100 varies in degrees from one user to another, the aggregated toner material may sometimes fail to be adequately loosened. In such cases, the toner particles may be scattered around or discharged out of the cartridge, resulting in contamination of hands or clothes of the user.
Furthermore, mere shaking of the toner cartridge cannot bring all the aggregated toner material back to a particle state and hence, a part of the aggregated toner material remains yet to be loosened. When such a toner material is supplied to the toner feeder 102, a great portion of the toner material is left in the toner cartridge 100, resulting in the aforementioned problems. That is, if the user mistakenly removes the toner cartridge 100 when all the toner material therein has not been transferred to the hopper 110 of the toner feeder 102 yet, the toner scattering may result.
Hence, need exists for loosening the toner material aggregated in the toner cartridge 100 due to gravity and the like before the toner material is fed to the toner feeder 102. Although the manufacturers suggest that users shake the toner cartridge 100 adequately so as to loosen the toner material therein, some of many and unspecified users may fail to give the toner cartridge an adequate shake for loosening the toner material, as described above. In the case that the shake for loosening the toner material is inadequate, when the toner cartridge 100 is mounted to the hopper 110 of the toner feeder and the sealing member is removed from the toner cartridge so to start feeding the toner material to the toner feeder, inadequately loosened toner material by shaking may result in cases where all the toner material in the toner cartridge is not transferred to the toner feeder 102 or where a long period of time is required for replenishing the toner feeder with the toner material.
In this connection, a toner feeder designed to efficiently loosen such an aggregation of toner material and to provide a positive and quick toner feeding is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication JP-A 1-164458 (1989). As shown in FIG. 9, this toner feeder comprises residual toner removing means 106 pivotally provided in the toner cartridge 100. The residual toner removing means 106 comprises a support member 107 having one end thereof fixed to the cartridge 100 and a weight 109 attached to the support member by way of a coupling member 108 shaped like a coil.
Shaking the toner cartridge 100 brings the residual toner removing means 109 into an oscillation by way of a resilient force of the coil spring which is mainly the coupling member 108. This causes the weight 109 to agitate the toner material 101 in the toner cartridge 100 thereby loosening the aggregated toner material. Thus is accomplished an easy and quick toner feeding from the toner cartridge 100 to the toner feeder 102.
As described above, the toner feeder discussed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication JP-A 1-164458 (1989) contains therein the coil spring as a resilient member and the weight for agitating and loosening the toner material in the toner cartridge. Thus is offered a solution to the problem where the toner feeding leaves a great portion of the toner material in the toner cartridge.
However, it is anticipated that when a greater oscillation than expected is applied to the toner cartridge, the residual toner removing means 106 may break through the sealing member closing the toner discharge port 103 of the toner cartridge 100. Furthermore, in a case where the toner particles enter the coil spring of the coupling member 108 to form an aggregation therein, a sufficient resilient characteristic of the coil spring cannot be obtained. Therefore, an adequate agitation of the toner material is not accomplished, thus leaving a part of the toner material aggregated. Since the coil spring is utilized for bringing the weight into oscillation, the toner particles are prone to form aggregation in space between adjacent turns of the coil spring, thus producing residual toner material.


An object oriented design for an automated modeling system for mapping and monitoring the business roles and impact of elements within an IT Infrastructure that make up specific applications or business processes, spanning not only network elements, hosts, servers and programs but also users, company structure and processes. The design including: a series of collector modules for collecting relationship, modeling and status information from both IT and external non IT specific sources used to build a model of the application or process in the database and to gather data about activities occurring on the computer network from a business impact perspective; a series of visualizer modules for reporting monitoring activities conducted by the monitoring system; a modeling database for storing information collected by the collector modules; a series of correlator modules for automatically determining relationships between data objects stored in the database to build application models of individual applications in the context of business process and IT service delivery.

Over the last two decades the Information Technology (IT) industry has moved from providing dedicated and relatively low impact solutions to complex multi-vendor systems that permeate all levels of every company's infrastructure. If an IT asset or system fails it may have a direct impact on a company's ability to function, for a trading room no shares can be traded, for an airline no seats sold and for a retail organization sales lost.
As IT has grown in importance to business, the role of IT management systems has evolved from simple technical tools utilized by engineers to remote control hardware to applications used by business managers attempting to understand the cost and impact of IT or more specifically the failure of IT on their business. The problem is that these tools are complex, expensive and may not be of great use.
Even though the configuration of IT management systems require large amounts of effort, the importance of IT management systems continue to grow for most medium to large business. This results in large resource expenditures to try to reduce IT operating costs and in gaining understanding of IT's role and impact on their business.
Referring to FIG. 1, existing IT Management technologies tend to look the management of IT from the perspective of individual technology verticals, whilst the application crosses all disciplines.
Current IT Management technologies are unable to map application end to end and specifically fail to be able to discover which IT element supports each application.
As businesses have attempted to utilize IT management systems for more complex business and application management they have discovered that this is a very manual process, involving constant maintenance and complex programming. The large cost of support and the product restrictions they encounter makes the task of getting the system running in any meaningful way, difficult with high costs. Data is manually entered and is often out of date before going into production. Critically the data required to program the IT elements that make up each application is often not known, hence the requirement for auto discovery of the elements that make up each application.
Business managers are often asking for more and more automated mapping of their service and business application environment. Existing technologies are aimed at modeling the IT infrastructure from a connectivity point of view rather than mapping the business application or processes from the user to the application(s) they are accessing and showing the impact of an IT resource failure from business impact perspective utilizing an automatically maintained application model as a reference.

Automated application discovery and analysis system and method


The present teachings disclose a file Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) system and method. The system includes: a disarm environment comprising disarm sandboxes to transform a file; a separate reconstruct environment; and a controller to classify a file content of a file as a filetype, to provide the file and the filetype to a selected disarm sandbox of the disarm sandboxes for transformation, to receive one or more disarmed files from the selected disarm sandbox, to provide the one or more disarmed files to the reconstruct environment, and to receive a reconstructed file from the reconstruct environment, wherein the disarm environment, the reconstruct environment, and the controller are isolated and separated from one another by hardware. Isolated and separate Virtual Machines (VMs) may host the controller, the disarm environment and the reconstruct environment. The VMs may be disposable VMs that include an application sandbox environment. The VMs may be provided by a cloud service.

Content Disarm and Reconstruction, or sometimes, Data Sanitization (both hereafter "CDR") attempts to protect a computer Operating System (OS) from receiving infected files or malware by removing disallowed file components within an allowed file type definition or which file components are otherwise forbidden by security policies. CDR typically consists of a software application that recognizes file formats, strips unrecognized or disallowed formats (the disarm function), and either only permits completely allowed files in their entirety to continue to the addressee computer, or reconstructs the file by limiting the transmitted file to only those file components that are recognized and allowed (the reconstruction function).
CDR is generally used to protect an organization's network perimeter including email, web-based files, incoming or transmitted files, and removable media-based files. This protection is accomplished at times using cloud virtualization that is generally based on virtual machine (VM) technology. However, known commercial CDR is susceptible to malware infections, which is a problem that is addressed by the teachings, methods and systems of the present disclosure.
Various patent publications that may be of interest to readers of the present application include [1] Boivie, "Protecting From Unintentional Malware Download", U.S. Pat. No. 9,954,875 B2, [2] Grafi, "System And Method For Protecting Systems From Active Content", U.S. Pat. No. 9,858,424 B1, [3] Mcdougal, "Systems And Methods For Malware Nullification", Pub. No.: US 2016/0269422 A1, and [4] Mcdougal, "Systems And Methods For Internet Traffic Analysis", U.S. Pat. No. 9,749,295 B2.

Secure and reliable content disarm and reconstruction cloud service


The present invention discloses a database search system comprising:                a composite database search engine, comprising at least two database search tools wherein at least one is database search agent;        a database search agent establishing and training module to automatically generate a database search agent according to analysis of a data file and to automatically modify content of said database search agent according to content of another database search agent; each database search agent comprising a series of search indices and their weight values; and        user interface to allow user to actuate any of said database search tools to input evaluation of searched data files to be desired or not;        wherein said database search agent establishing and training module modifies database search agent according to content of searched data files determined to be desired by user.

Along with the computerization and the internetization of human life, many kinds of information are already digitized and stored in all kinds of databases. The internet links these digitized databases to form a huge large-sized database. The result of such development is the difficulty for users to search "desired" data files in this large-sized database. Searching in the internet has become the daily routine suffer of most people.
In order to allow users to search for desired data files in the internet, there are many search engines or search tools having been developed. Among them, the most popular ones are those conducted following the "full text searching" policy. The full text searching policy allows users to establish search conditions including "keywords" and operands such as "and", "nand" and "or" between them to form searching parameters. These parameters are then compared with the content of every data file in the database, whereby data files with contents complying or similar to the searching parameters are selected as results of search.
Another popular searching approach is to allow users to input a paragraph of text to function as searching conditions. The search tool automatically allocates "keywords" in the paragraph and generates a series of search parameters according to the content and combinations of these keywords in the paragraph. Thereby, searches of related data files may be conducted using the obtained searching parameters.
The above and other searching tools can only provide one-time search functions. When the user wishes to search again for the same topic, inputting the same searching parameters will be necessary. In fact as the search parameters are not complicated, keeping the searching parameters for further use is not very valuable.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/794,698 discloses a method for establishing a series of searching parameters by analyzing the content of a data file. The method automatically analyzes the content of a data file, such as an article, to obtain a series of searching parameters. The series searching parameter is repeatedly trained by the user until it is mature enough to search desired data files according to user's personal evaluations. The series of searching parameter forms a database search agent that may be reused by the same or different users.
U.S. patent application "portable database search agent processing system" which filing number will be provided later discloses a portable search agent. The portable search agent may be used in the above Ser. No. 10/794,698 invention. The search agent is portable so that the user may transplant it to another computer to be modified by another or by the same user in that other computer, whereby the modified search agent may be used to search desired data files for another search purpose.
It is thus necessary to provide an integrated database search system that is able to integrate a variety of database search tools allowing users to selectively use.
It is also necessary to provide a novel database search system that allows users to establish particular search agents for repeated use.
It is also necessary to provide an integrated database search system that allows users to establish database search agents using a variety of search tools.
It is also necessary to provide a database search system that allows users to establish and to train database search agents using a variety of search tools.


A reference voltage generating circuit has a power supply voltage node to which a driving power supply voltage is intermittently applied. The circuit includes; a first current mirror section including a first MOS transistor of a first conductivity type having a source terminal connected to the power supply voltage node and a gate terminal connected to a drain terminal as a reference voltage output node, and a second MOS transistor of the first conductivity type having a gate terminal connected to the gate terminal of the first MOS transistor of the first conductivity type and a source terminal connected to the power supply voltage node; a second current mirror section including a third MOS transistor of a second conductivity type having a drain terminal connected to the reference voltage output node and a source terminal connected to a first current path to which a first resistor and a first diode are serially connected, and a fourth MOS transistor of the second conductivity type having a gate terminal and a drain terminal connected to the gate terminal of the third MOS transistor of the second conductivity type in common and a source terminal connected to the second current path to which a second diode is serially connected; and a charge transporting section connected between the gate terminal of the first MOS transistor of the first conductivity type in the first current mirror section and the gate terminal of the fourth MOS transistor of the second conductivity type in the second current mirror section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a reference voltage generating circuit for an integrated circuit and, more particularly, to a reference voltage generating circuit for an integrated circuit for use in an on-chip temperature sensor.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a variety of semiconductor devices implemented by integrated circuit chips such as CPUs, memories, gate arrays or the like are used in a variety of electrical products, such as portable personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), servers, portable telephones, or workstations. Many of such electrical products implement a sleep mode to save power, in which most of the circuit components in the products remain in a turn-off state. However, for example, a semiconductor memory, such as a DRAM or the like, belonging to a volatile memory, must perform a self-refreshing operation on data in a memory cell so that the data stored in the memory cell continues to be reserved. The DRAM consumes self-refresh power due to the required self-refreshing operation. It is very important to reduce power consumption in a battery-operated system that requires lower power, which is a critical issue.
One attempt to reduce power consumption required for the self-refresh is to change a refresh period depending on temperature. A time period for which data is reserved in the DRAM becomes longer as temperature becomes lower. Accordingly, it is certain that dividing a temperature area into several temperature areas and lowering the frequency of a refresh clock relatively in lower temperature areas of the temperature areas reduces power consumption. Here, in order to determine internal temperature of the DRAM, a built-in temperature sensor having less power consumption is necessary and in turn a reference voltage generator for providing a reference voltage to the temperature sensor becomes necessary. In such a reference voltage generator, a high-speed response characteristic and stability of operation is a very important matter since ON and OFF operations are being iterated for the purpose of reducing power consumption.
A typical circuit configuration of a band-gap reference type of reference voltage generator is shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, a reference voltage generator 10 includes a first current mirror section composed of P-type MOS transistors MP1 and MP2, a second current mirror section composed of N-type MOS transistors MN1 and MN2, a first resistor R and a first diode D2 serially connected to each other on a first current path, a second diode D1 connected to a second current path, and a driving switching section IN1 and PD1 for applying a driving power supply voltage to a power supply node of the first current mirror section. Here, the junction diodes D2 and D1 connected to branches A and B, respectively, of the first and second current paths have the same dimension. The P-type MOS transistors MP1 and MP2 have a size ratio of 1:1 and the N-type MOS transistors MN1 and MN2 have a size ratio set to 1:1 as well. Here, the size indicates a channel length L multiplied by a gate width W.
The operation of the reference voltage generator shown in FIG. 1 will be described hereinafter.
The driving power supply voltage VDD is applied to the sources of the P-type MOS transistors MP1 and MP2 of the first current mirror section only if the P-type MOS transistor PD1 making up the drive switching section is in a turn-on state.
If the driving power supply voltage is applied to the first current mirror section, the current mirror operations of the P-type MOS transistors MP1 and MP2 and the N-type MOS transistors MN1 and MN2 allow a current of IO:Ir=1:1 to flow, and voltages appearing at the branches A and B become the same level.
In a turn-on period of a typical junction diode, a current formula becomes I=Is{e(VD/VT)−1}≈Is*e(VD/VT), where Is is a reverse saturation current, VD is a diode voltage, and VT is kT/q and indicates a thermal voltage.
Since the voltages appeared at the branches A and B are identical to each other, VA=VB=VD1=VD2+Ir*R and IO=Is*e(VD1/VT)→VD1=VT*ln(IO/Is).
In addition, since Ir=Is*e(VD2/VT)→VD2=VT*ln(Ir/Is)=VT*ln(M*IO/Is), VT*ln(IO/Is)=VT*ln(M*OI/Is)+Ir*R.
Accordingly, since Ir=VT*ln(M)/R, a current proportional to the temperature will flow through the branch A. On the other hand, a voltage across the branch B appears as VB=VD1=VT*ln(IO/Is).
Normally, since the reverse saturation current Is significantly increases with increase of the temperature relative to the VT, the diode voltage has a feature of decrease with the temperature. That is, since the VB decreases with temperature increase, IO decreases with the temperature.
Consequently, if the driving power supply voltage VDD is applied, a reference voltage OUT having a temperature-compensated, constant voltage level is outputted from the reference voltage output node al of the reference voltage generator.
However, in the circuit as shown in FIG. 1, if a switching control signal EN is alternated between a high state and a low state in a short time period, the P-type MOS transistor PD1 is repeatedly turned ON and OFF. The operation of the reference voltage generator may cause the following problem.
First, if a high switching control signal EN is applied, the P-type MOS transistor PD1 is turned ON and in turn the P-type MOS transistors MP1 and MP2 of the first current mirror section begin to be turned ON. At this time, since the voltage level of the reference voltage output node a1 rises earlier than the voltage level of the node a2 because of properties of the circuit, the P-type MOS transistors MP1 and MP2 may be turned OFF before the voltage level at the node a2 rises to a sufficient level. In this case, since the voltage of the node a2 does not reach a required sufficient level, it causes the current mirror operation of the second current mirror section, which is composed of the N-type MOS transistors MN1 and MN2, to be unstable or even to be disabled.
As such, an early turn-off operation of the P-type MOS transistors MP1 and MP2 in a period for which the driving power supply voltage VDD is initially supplied makes the current mirror operation of the second current mirror section unstable. Accordingly, a time period until the voltage level of the reference voltage output node a1 is set to a normal voltage level is long, resulting in deterioration of high-speed response characteristics of the circuit.
If the switching control signal EN is applied in the low state, the P-type MOS transistor PD1 is turned OFF and in turn the P-type MOS transistors MP1 and MP2 of the first current mirror section and the N-type MOS transistors MN1 and MN2 of the second current mirror section are also turned OFF. In this case, the first resistor R and the first diode D2 may make the voltage level of the node a3 in a floating state. If the node a3 is in the floating state, a long time is taken until the first and second current mirror sections mature into their normal operation when the switching control signal EN is applied back in the high state.
In the conventional circuit as shown in FIG. 1, a setup time for the circuit is long since a long time is taken for stabilizing a voltage level at each node when power is supplied. Therefore, the circuit has a problem in that a high-speed response characteristic is degraded. Further, there is a problem in that if particular nodes become in a floating state upon power-off, more time is initially taken until the voltage level is stabilized upon next power application.
Accordingly, for a reference voltage generating circuit which is used at places where power becomes on/off repeatedly, a technique is required allowing a voltage level at each node to reach a required voltage level as soon as possible after power is supplied. That is, there is a need for a reference voltage generating circuit having a high-speed response characteristic and guaranteeing stability of operation.

Reference voltage generating circuit for integrated circuit


An improved semiconductor structure consists of interconnects in an upper interconnect level connected to interconnects in a lower interconnect level through use of a conductive protrusion located at the bottom of a via opening in an upper interconnect level, the conductive protrusion extends upward from bottom of the via opening and into the via opening. The improved interconnect structure with the conductive protrusion between the upper and lower interconnects enhances overall interconnect reliability.

The invention relates generally to a semiconductor structure and a method of fabrication thereof, and more particularly to integrating an interconnect in an upper interconnect level with an interconnect in a lower interconnect level to provide good electrical and mechanical contact between the upper and lower level interconnects.
Good electrical and mechanical contact between the upper and lower level interconnects is required to insure overall interconnect reliability. With each generation, more devices and circuits are squeezed onto a semiconductor chip. Consequently, the lines and vias formed in the semiconductor chips have become ever thinner. A major problem with the thinning metal lines and vias resides in the integration of thin vias in an upper interconnect level with lines in a lower interconnect level. More specifically, as the vias become thinner, the mechanical integrity of those vias worsens particularly for deep submicron vias embedded in low-k dielectric materials at the contact area with underlying interconnects. Porous low-k dielectric material only exasperates the problem because a bigger thermal coefficient mismatch between the lower-k dielectrics and metal interconnect is expected than with higher-k dielectrics.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0205482 depicts a prior art structure for integrating interconnects in an upper interconnect level with interconnects in a lower interconnect level in which a "via punch through," also known as a "via gouging" process is used to create a via with improved mechanical and electrical integrity. The via has an anchoring area, also known as a gouged via feature, that achieves reasonable contact resistance as well as increases the mechanical strength of the via. The improved contact resistance and mechanical strength improves integration of the interconnect with interconnects in a lower interconnect level. The reason for the improved integration is that the gouged via increases the contact area of the interconnect with the interconnect in the lower interconnect level.

Structure and method for back end of the line integration

Internatioanl Business Machines Corporation


A compound of formula 1

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of compounds of formula 1
wherein the groups R1, R2, R3, R4 and n may have the meanings given in the claims and in the specification, for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of inflammatory and obstructive respiratory complaints, and new compounds of formula 1, per se.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Betamimetics (β-adrenergic substances) are known from the prior art.
For the drug treatment of diseases it is often desirable to prepare medicaments with a longer duration of activity. As a rule, this ensures that the concentration of the active substance in the body needed to achieve the therapeutic effect is guaranteed for a longer period without the need to re-administer the drug at frequent intervals. Moreover, giving an active substance at longer time intervals contributes to the wellbeing of the patient to a high degree.
It is particularly desirable to prepare a pharmaceutical composition that can be used therapeutically by administration once a day (single dose). The use of a drug once a day has the advantage that the patient can become accustomed relatively quickly to regularly taking the drug at certain times of the day.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide betamimetics that are characterized by a longer duration of activity and can thus be used to prepare pharmaceutical compositions with a longer duration of activity. A particular aim of the invention is to prepare betamimetics that, by virtue of their long-lasting effect, can be used to prepare a drug for administration once a day. A further objective of the invention is to prepare new betamimetics that, by virtue of their long-lasting effect, can be used to prepare a drug for administration once a day for the treatment of inflammatory or obstructive respiratory complaints. In addition to the above objectives, the present invention also sets out to provide betamimetics that are not only exceptionally potent but are also characterized by a high degree of selectivity with respect to the β2-adreno-receptor.

Long acting beta-2 agonists and their use as medicaments

Abstract: A compound of formula 1

Abstract: wherein the groups R1, R2, R3, R4 and n may have the meanings given in the claims and in the specification, and methods for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of inflammatory and obstructive respiratory complaints.


A laundry treating appliance having a cabinet, a wash tub located within the cabinet and defining an interior, a wash basket mounted within the wash tub and defining a laundry treating chamber, and at least one suspension assembly operably coupled to a portion of the cabinet and a portion of the tub such that the tub is suspended from the cabinet and where the suspension assembly includes a suspension rod for attaching to a portion of the tub in a lower part of the cabinet.

Laundry treating appliances, such as vertical axis washing machines, typically include a cabinet, a tub in the interior of the cabinet, and a rotatable wash basket mounted in the tub that receives laundry for treatment according to a cycle of operation. The tub may suspend from the cabinet, and may be supported by one or more suspension systems, which may include a spring located at the bottom of the tub. Liquid may interact with the suspension systems, which may contribute to instability, vibration, and noise.

Laundry treating appliance with a suspension assembly and a suspension assembly


An improved carton for superconcentrated detergent products. The carton includes front, rear and side panels and a cover. In one embodiment, the carton includes a liner which may be separate from the carton or integrated with the carton. The carton walls of the liner may include barrier materials. A hinge formed from perforated lines and score lines may be provided for the cover on the rear panel.

Powdered laundry detergents have often been made by simply spray drying an aqueous slurry of the ingredients and adding to the spray dried powder any required additional ingredients such as heat sensitive bleaches, bleach precursors, enzymes, etc. The densities of powders resulting from such processes have generally been low. Recently, it has been thought desirable to be able to offer to the consumer a product of higher density, i.e., a more concentrated product. Such a product would be expected to have among its advantages the fact that less detergent powder would be used to effect a comparable amount of cleaning and that less storage space would be required as a result of its concentrated nature.
Changes in the density of detergent powders also require changes in the packaging of such powders. For instance, the increase in density makes desirable the use of smaller packages to take advantage of the increased concentration of the product. Moreover, smaller packages and the inclusion of handles are desirable due to the increased weight of the product.
A previous package for containing detergent powders of higher concentrations has been sold in one or more foreign countries. The package includes four principal panels, which constitute the four walls of the carton. The walls are shorter than those of the typical detergent carton. Attached to the principal panels are the glue flap and various major and minor flaps for closing the top and bottom ends of the carton. Attached to the two side panels of the carton is a handle. The handle is attached by means of a rivet extending through the handle and the side panel near each end of the handle. The rivet is received within a slot at each end of the handle. The slots permit the handle to extend across the front of the carton blank during shipping, across the front of the erected carton during storage and display, and across the top of the carton as a handle during use by the consumer.
An additional desirable feature for such cartons is a tear tape opening. While previous cartons having tear tape openings are known, they generally are characterized by certain disadvantages. One known carton includes a tear tape functionally extending through three panels of the carton, a first side panel, the front panel, and a second side panel, leaving the rear panel substantially intact and free to function as a hinge. The tear tape is situated approximately 1/5 of the way down from the top of the panels and the aspects above the tear line function as a cover.
A disadvantage of the prior tear tape carton is the lack of support for the cover once the tear tape has been removed. Also, components which tend to escape upon exposure to the air, such as perfumes, may be lost, and components which are sensitive to moisture may be damaged since the barrier properties of such cartons are less than optimal.
A further previous carton has included a tear tape spaced from the top and extending completely through all four sides of the carton, so that the cover created by the tape can be completely removed. This prior carton includes a four-sided liner, each wall of which corresponds closely in dimension to the four panels of the carton. The liner serves to retain the cover on the carton after the tear tape has been pulled. However, the removable cover may be misplaced. Moreover, use of a removable cover tends to maximize the exposure of the product to the air and moisture and increases the potential for loss of volatile components.

Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.


A system for providing a mechanical and electrical connection between the ends of two essentially-coaxial shafts (1 and 2), whereby each shaft end includes a groove (11, 12) close to an axial end extension (17 and 8; 18 and 9). Moreover, the aforementioned ends are connected inside a sleeve (10) including the following: a first annular shoulder (13) having a shape that is complementary to that of the groove of the first shaft, such that there is no clearance therebetween; a second annular shoulder (14) having a shape that is complementary to that of the groove (12) of the second shaft, but with a clearance therebetween; and a cavity (16) which is intended to receive the shaft ends, said cavity having an axial height which is greater than the sum of the axial heights of the axial end extensions (17 and 8; 18 and 9). Further, the axial end extensions (17 and 8; 18 and 9) of the two shafts are in permanent mechanical and electrical contact.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanical and electrical connection system between the ends of two approximately coaxial shafts, which move along an overall axial direction and that can transmit approximately axial forces. This type of configuration is used particularly when it is required to separate a shaft in two parts, to protect one of its ends from significant conditions (temperatures, stresses, lateral shocks, etc.) endured by the other end.
This invention more particularly relates to crustbreaking devices used in electrolytic aluminium production pots. These are used to break the surface crust of the solidified bath. They are often associated either with metering devices that supply alumina to the pot, or to measurement devices used to measure the temperature and level of electrolyte in the pot so as to enable regulated supply of the bath with alumina.
2. Description of the Related Art
ALUMINIUM PECHINEY patent FR 2 483 965 describes such a crustbreaking device in which the crustbreaker, also called a plunger, is associated with an axial displacement mechanism. It is placed vertically, and periodically descends to break the solidified bath crust at the supply point or to keep the hole formed in the crust open, such that the alumina brought in through a pipe can penetrate into the molten electrolyte. For several reasons explained in FR 2 483 965, it is important to detect if the plunger comes into contact with molten electrolyte or with solidified electrolyte during its downward movement. Detection of the contact between the end of the plunger (called the chisel) and the molten electrolyte is made by measuring an electrical voltage between the plunger and a point on the cell used as the reference potential. Typically, the plunger is electrically isolated from the superstructure of the pot, and when the chisel comes into contact with the molten electrolyte bath, its electrical potential is close to the potential of the molten electrolyte. The measurement of this potential is used as information to send the order to raise the plunger.
Patent EP-B-0 716 165 describes a crustbreaking device surrounding and protecting a measurement device that not only measures the bath level but also its temperature. For this device, it is also important to detect the moment at which the plunger comes into contact with the molten electrolyte, and the crustbreaker is also provided with a detection device based on measurement of an electrical voltage between the plunger and a point on the cell used as a reference potential.
The plunger is subjected to violent thermal and mechanical conditions near the chisel. As the time that the chisel remains in the electrolyte bath increases, the risk of formation of a crust on its surface as it rises increases, and this crust can get thicker during subsequent operations, causing problems with operation and premature wear of the plunger.
The plunger must not be excessively deformed and must be electrically reliable, otherwise it will not operate correctly; it must remain electrically isolated from the pot superstructure at all times and it must always be able to carry an electrical current to detect contact with the electrolyte bath. Furthermore, since the chisel can wear quickly and deform progressively, it is important to provide a means of replacing it easily and regularly. Finally, the other end of the plunger is connected to an axial movement control device, typically a jack, that can only operate correctly at a temperature close to ambient temperature and provided that no excessive mechanical loads are applied to it, since it is particularly sensitive to lateral shocks.
For all these reasons, the plunger has been decoupled into two approximately coaxial parts; a rod associated with the control jack and a rod (called the extension) that is fitted with the chisel at one of its ends. These two parts are usually connected to each other by a screw-nut system but this system is not fully satisfactory since it transmits mechanical shocks resisted by the chisel without really damping them, particularly sudden lateral forces that prevent smooth operation of the jack. Furthermore, loosening problems frequently occur with the screw-nut system (for example when the chisel has to be replaced) and cannot guarantee a reliable permanent electrical contact.
Therefore, the applicant has developed a connecting system between the two parts of the plunger that does not have these disadvantages.

System for connecting two shafts in translation


A loader device is disclosed for moving cargo to and from a vehicle roof. The loader, attached to trailers or other vehicles includes a channel, a carriage and a winch. The carriage, powered by the winch, travels up the channel to raise cargo to the vehicle roof. The carriage travels down the channel to lower cargo from the vehicle roof. Rungs attached to the channel form a ladder for human access to the vehicle roof. When not in use, the carriage folds to assume a smaller profile.

The present application relates generally to cargo loading and transportation systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for loading and unloading cargo from the roofs of vehicles such as trailers, recreational vehicles, motor homes, campers, vans, trucks, sport utility vehicles, busses, boats, ships and trains.
Many people use the roof of their vehicles to haul additional cargo. Roof-top carriers are an example of this. However tall vehicles such as trailers, recreational vehicles, and busses have roofs that make lifting cargo problematic. The problem is made worse by heavier cargo such as spare tires, bicycles, animal feed and hay bales.
People have used make-shift methods such as portable step ladders or ropes to drag cargo to a vehicle roof. Others have proposed a portable boom type crane that is fitted to the vehicle roof to hoist cargo. Specialized vehicles such as garbage trucks and hay stacking machinery use elaborate mechanisms adapted specifically to the lifting of a particular type of load such as a garbage can or hay bale.
However, such methods and devices have their own disadvantages. For example, a portable step ladder requires a least one person to be able to lift the load himself while climbing the ladder. This invites accidents. A rope also requires a person to pull up a heavy load again risking injury. A boom type crane typically needs to be taken off of the vehicle roof or at least stowed while the vehicle is in transit. All of these methods then need to be set up again to unload the cargo once the vehicle reaches its destination.
Specialized vehicles are typically adapted to loading a limited range of cargo types and many times are not even suited to unloading. For example, garbage trucks may be adapted to empty individual garbage cans, but they are typically not adapted to the storage and transportation of garbage cans. Similarly, an agricultural hay stacker can pick up, store and transport individual hay bales, but is not suitable for the unloading of individual bales once they are picked up.


An asynchronous camera/projector system includes a projection screen, having a key color, a projector, oriented to provide a sequenced background image to the screen, and a camera, located in front of the screen, and oriented to capture a sequenced image of the screen and a real object positioned in front of the screen. The camera and projector operate out of phase, so that the camera does not record the background image.

Chroma key (aka "bluescreen" or "greenscreen") systems are used to create an image that combines a background still or video image (high-quality computer-generated graphics, for example) with video capture of a real object, such as a human being. Perhaps the most well known example of the use of chroma key systems is that of a television weatherman standing in front of a computer-generated weather map explaining the weather, while manipulating various graphical and video displays that appear behind him to illustrate the weather. This technology is also widely used in the television and movie industry, such as to combine live action in a studio setting (e.g. a close-up of an actor driving an automobile) with a pre-recorded background image (e.g. a street scene that could be visible through the rear window of the automobile).
A typical chroma key system 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. A person 12 (or other real object) is positioned in front of a monochromatic surface 14, typically blue or green. The color of the surface is called the "chroma key." A camera 16 captures an image of the person (or object), and this image provides one input into a chroma key processor 18.
A second input to the chroma key processor 18 is provided from a background image processor 20, which provides background image data, such as a high-quality computer-generated image. The chroma key processor combines the background image and the image of the real object by replacing the chroma key color with the background image. In the present example, the portion of the video image window that is occupied by the person 12 blocks the background image in that region, so that the background image does not appear. Wherever the chroma key color is detected, however, the background image persists. The result is a composite image 22 in which the person 12 appears to be standing in front of the high-quality computer-generated background image. This composite image is broadcast to viewers, who see only the final composite image, and may not even realize that it is a composite image.
In the real scene, however, the background image is not visible, and the background surface 14 appears to the person 12 (and other viewers of the real scene) as a featureless monochromatic surface. Hence, the person in the scene cannot directly interact with the background image. To provide feedback to the person, a monitor 24 is typically placed off-screen, and provided with the composite output 22 from the chroma key processor 18. By watching this monitor, the person can see their position in the composite image, such as to see where they appear to be pointing, etc. Unfortunately, interacting with the background image in a convincing way with this sort of system requires much practice, especially if the goal is to keep the viewer unaware of the whole process.

Asynchronous camera/projector system for video segmentation

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for controlling movement of a movably mounted body (14) of a mechanical system (2, 56, 62). The mechanical system (2, 6, 62) includes a drive unit (4, 64), which is operated by a medium, and also a control valve (20, 22). The movably mounted body (14) is driven by the drive unit (4, 64). A drive movement of the drive unit (4, 64) is controlled with the aid of the control valve (20, 22). In order to avoid or reduce excitation of undesired vibrations in the mechanical system (2, 56, 62), it is proposed that the control valve (20, 22) be actuated using a control signal (u(t)) which comprises a first and also a further switching pulse (S1, S3) each having a prespecified pulse duration. The pulse duration of the first switching pulse (S1) is equal to the pulse duration of the further switching pulse (S3). A time difference (Δt1-3) between the start of the first pulse (S1) and the start of the further switching pulse (S3) is matched to a natural period duration of the mechanical system (2, 56, 62).

Drive units operated with a medium are employed in different technical fields for driving a movably mounted body. Such drive units are used for example in construction machines, machine tools or in rolling mills. Typically, a drive movement of such a drive unit is controlled with the aid of a control valve.
DE 10 2013 015 453 A1 discloses a reciprocating piston pump having an electric drive which comprises a magnetic coil and multiple control valves and discloses a method for operating such a reciprocating piston pump. In a first operating mode, the reciprocating piston pump actively delivers a working fluid to a consumer of the fluid, passively lets the working fluid flow back in a second operating mode and actively suctions the working fluid from the consumer in a third operating mode. Here, switching between the operating modes takes place only by a change of the working frequency and if applicable the signal form of the electrical input signal of the magnetic coil. In the first operating mode, a working frequency is used which lies below the eigenfrequency of the control valves so that the stroke of the control valves exhibits a very small phase shift relative to the movement of the electromagnetic drive. For the second and third operating modes, the pump is operated at frequencies near the eigenfrequency or with frequencies greater than the eigenfrequency of the control valves, so that the control valves exhibit a greater phase shift to the movement of the pump piston. Because of this, a passive return flow or an active return delivery of the working fluid materializes.
In a mechanical system having a movably mounted body and a drive unit operated with a medium for driving the movably mounted body, an excitation of undesirable vibrations of the movably mounted body or of the entire mechanical system can occur during a drive movement of the drive unit.
Such vibrations can be attributed to, among other things, the inertia and/or the damping characteristics of the mechanical system. If the movably mounted body is rotatably/pivotably mounted, this can cause an unfavourable vibration tendency with a low eigenfrequency. Because of technical peripheral conditions, reducing the vibration tendency of a mechanical system by way of its design is often possible only to a limited extent.
A switching frequency of a control valve may control a drive movement of the drive unit; when the switching frequency lies in the vicinity of a eigenfrequency of the mechanical system, particularly high vibration amplitudes can occur during the excitation of such undesirable vibrations.

Method for controlling a movement of a movably mounted body of a mechanical system


A method of assembling a multilayer bus bar assembly includes coating a dielectric layer with a molten reactive hot-melt adhesive, placing the dielectric layer between first and second subassemblies, wherein the first and second subassemblies comprise a conductive element, adhering the molten reactive hot-melt adhesive to the subassemblies by applying a pressure of at least about one bar to the multilayer bus bar assembly for at least about one minute prior to the adhesive cooling to room temperature to provide a bonding strength between the dielectric material and a selected one of the first and second subassemblies of at least 1500 Newtons on a 25 millimeter by 25 millimeter sample when tested in accordance with ASTM D-1062.

This disclosure relates to laminated bus bars, and methods of manufacture thereof.
The electrical power distribution system is an important component in a wide variety of applications such as computer systems, telecommunication equipment, industrial process control, automation cabinets, and the like. Power distribution bus bar systems are also key components of higher voltage applications in electric traction modules and propulsion systems for transportation, such as trains, subways, light rail vehicles, electric/hybrid cars, and the like. For such higher voltage applications, the high power bus bars are devices consisting of relatively thick (0.5 millimeter (mm) to 5 mm) conductive layers and are used to deliver electrical power at low inductance to high current devices, like the traction motors.
The high power bus bars are typically three dimensional, multilayered, and laminated. Current high power bus bars are assembled by one of four methods. The first method employs the use of thermoplastic film adhesives. In this method, two sheets of insulation film are cut to the shape of a pre-tooled dielectric layer and placed on either side of the dielectric between two or more subassemblies to form a multilayer bus bar. The bus bar is then placed in a specially designed fixture in a heated press. The entire multilayer bus bar is then heated in the press to soften the thermoplastic adhesive layers, and is held at this temperature and pressure until the bond is complete. Finally, the bus bar is removed from the press and cooled to room temperature before further handling. This process can be both time consuming (requiring between 30 and 45 minutes) and energy intensive.
A second method of high-power bus bar assembly uses a thermoset "B-staged" bondply, wherein two sheets of bondply are cut to the shape of a pre-tooled dielectric layer and placed on either side of the dielectric between two or more subassemblies to form a multilayer bus bar. The bus bar is then placed in a specially designed fixture in a heated press. The entire multilayer bus bar is heated in the press to cure the thermoset prepreg, and is held at this temperature until the cure is complete. The bus bar is then removed from the press and must cool to near room temperature before further handling. This process is also both time consuming (requiring between 1 and 2 hours) and energy intensive.
Another current method of assembling high-power bus bars uses a two component liquid epoxy or other like liquid thermoset adhesive. In this method, either the surfaces of the bus bar subassemblies or the dielectric material are coated with the liquid. This step is typically done through hand brushing of the liquid epoxy onto the surface of the subassembly and/or the dielectric. A common drawback of this method is that it can be difficult to control the thickness of the adhesive layer. Another drawback is the method is an untidy process, which requires additional labor.
An example of a bus bar produced by the above described methods is shown in FIG. 1. The bus bar 10 comprises a first subassembly 12 and a second subassembly 14. Each subassembly is disposed about a dielectric insulating board 16. An adhesive insulation layer 18, 20 is disposed between each subassembly 12, 14 and the dielectric board 16. The entire assembly is put in a press where it is heated, thereby allowing the adhesive insulation layer to form a bond between the subassemblies and the dielectric board.
In the final of the four current methods of assembling high-power bus bars, mechanical fasteners, such as nuts, bolts, rivets and the like are used to secure the subassemblies. This method requires additional hardware as well as additional labor.
There accordingly remains a need in the art for improved high-power multilayer bus bars and methods of assembling the bus bars.

Laminated bus bars and methods of manufacture thereof


A methodology and implementing system 101 are provided in which a PCI bus is enhanced to operate at a plurality of data transfer speeds, including for example, 133 MHz in order to accommodate subsystem boards operating at higher frequencies, while at the same time allowing normal 66 MHz PCI clocking for devices designed to operate at the lower 66 MHz standard PCI speed. Master strobe MSTB 303, 403 and target strobe TSTB signals 309, 411 are generated in a handshaking methodology to determine if a master data transaction requesting device and a target data transaction device are designed to operate at the higher data transfer frequency. Higher frequency capable devices or boards are run at the increased frequency when both the requesting master and the selected target devices request the higher transfer rate, and standard devices or boards are run at the lower standard PCI frequency, while both master and target devices are coupled to and run from the same multi-speed PCI bus 125.

As computer systems and networked computer systems proliferate, and become integrated into more and more information processing systems which are vital to businesses and industries, there is an increasing need for faster information processing and increased data handling capacity. Even with the relatively rapid state-of-the-art advances in processor technology, and the resulting increased processor speeds, a need still exists for faster processors and increased system speeds. This is partially due to a growing number of computer applications and capabilities, including extensive network and rich graphics and display applications among others. As new applications for computers are implemented, new programs are developed and those programs are enriched with new capabilities almost on a daily basis. While such rapid development is highly desirable, there is a capability cost in terms of system speed.
Typically, new applications for computer systems, such as graphics enhancement subsystems or network subsystems, are embodied in separate adder boards or adaptor cards such as graphics adaptor boards. Each of the computer system enhancement devices is generally included on one or more circuit boards which are mounted in "slots" i.e. plugged into system motherboard connectors. As the number of such slots is increased, the bandwidth requirement for the I/O bus is also increased. The current 66 MHz 64 bit PCI architecture definition, for example, can accommodate a peak data transfer rate of 528 MB per second and can support up to two slots per PCI/I-O bus. Thus, there is a need for a higher performance capability to support a number of higher performance adapters.

International Business Machines Corporation


A bandpass loudspeaker enclosure having three sub chambers, a first subchamber being a Helmholtz-reflex chamber with a passive acoustic radiator operating in parallel with the transducer, and the remaining two chambers utilizing two passive acoustic radiators to achieve three Helmholtz-reflex vent tunings and a multiple of low pass acoustic filters that provide an acoustic bandpass with reduced diaphragm displacement and substantially reduced distortion and pipe resonances above the pass band. A further embodiment provides a reduced lowest frequency vent size for a given low frequency subchamber size and tuning frequency.

This invention relates to improved, low frequency bandpass loudspeaker systems.
In the art of loudspeaker enclosures there are two basic types of systems that are most common. The sealed or acoustic suspension system, which consists of an electroacoustical transducer mounted in an enclosed volume that has the characterization of acoustic compliance. The second type is commonly called a bass-reflex system which includes an electroacoustic transducer mounted in an enclosure that utilizes a passive acoustic radiator or vent having the characteristic of acoustic mass which interacts with the characteristic acoustic compliance of the enclosure volume to form a Helmholtz resonance. A reflex system (enclosure/vent—compliance/mass) that exhibits a Helmholtz resonance shall be referred to hereinafter as a Helmholtz-reflex.
One of the prior art configurations relevant to the invention is the multi-chamber bandpass woofer system. Historically it has been shown that for a given restricted band of frequencies an acoustical bandpass enclosure system can produce greater performance both in terms of the efficiency/bass extension/enclosure size factor and large signal output compared to non-bandpass systems such as the basic sealed or bass reflex enclosures. The basic forms of these bandpass systems are discussed in the literature. See for example 'A bandpass loudspeaker enclosure' by L. R. Fincham, Audio Engineering Society convention preprint #1512, May.
The earliest patent reference to a "single" Helmholtz-reflex tuned bandpass woofer system is Lang, 'Sound Reproducing System' U.S. Pat. No. 2,689,016. This patent reference embodies the most common version of bandpass woofer system that is used in many systems today. This type of system includes an enclosure with two separate chambers with an active transducer mounted in a dividing panel separating and communicating to both chambers. One chamber is sealed, acting as an acoustic suspension and the other is ported, operating as a vented system with a passive acoustic mass communicating to the environment outside the enclosure.
The single tuned prior art bandpass woofer systems suffer from a number of shortcomings. First, they tend to have a series of resonant amplitude peaks that appear above the pass band of the bandpass system. These are due to standing waves in the enclosure chamber and are well documented in the article by Fincham listed above. Prior art solutions to this problem suggest the use of damping materials which unfortunately damp out useful system output at the same time they damp out the undesired resonances. Secondly, they have a cone excursion minimum at their Helmholtz-reflex frequency but there is only one tuning and it is placed at a frequency near the highest frequency of interest where cone excursion is insignificant compared to the lower frequency range of the system. If the vent tuning is placed at a lower, more useful frequency then the system suffers from reduced high frequency bandwidth.
The next evolutionary step in complexity of a prior art bandpass woofer is expressed in the earliest patent reference to a "dual" Helmholtz-reflex bandpass woofer system in FIG. 1 in D'Alton, 'Acoustic Device' U.S. Pat. No. 1,969,704. This reference discloses an enclosure containing a two chamber bandpass woofer system with an active transducer mounted in the dividing panel and communicating to both chambers. Each chamber has a passive acoustic radiator communicating to the environment outside the enclosure. European patent 0125625 'Loudspeaker enclosure with integrated acoustic bandpass filter' by Bernhard Puls and U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,631 'Multiple porting loudspeaker systems' granted to Amar G. Bose are derived from the same basic structure as shown in the D'Alton reference.
An alternative arrangement of a dual Helmholtz-reflex bandpass system is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,546 'Loudspeaker with acoustic band-pass filter' granted to Palo Krnan. This system includes an enclosure with two separate chambers with an active transducer mounted in the dividing panel there between and communicating to both chambers. One chamber is ported with a passive acoustic radiator communicating to the environment outside the enclosure. There is a second passive acoustic radiator communicating internally between the two chambers.
These dual tuned bandpass subwoofers suffer from the same out of band, high frequency chamber resonances that are endemic to the single tuned bandpass system. Further, by venting the lowest frequency chamber and tuning it to a lower frequency, the vent length tends to be longer and therefore produce vent/pipe resonances which can be quite audible as a distortion of the original signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,424 'Electroacoustical transducing with at least three cascaded subchambers' granted to Schreiber et al. is an extension of the above listed bandpass art. It utilizes an enclosure with at least three chambers such that it is substantially equivalent to the Bose '631 patent listed above, but with an additional enclosure volume added to the outside of the main enclosure. This additional enclosure receives the two ports from the internal main chambers and an additional passive acoustic radiator communicates to the environment outside the system. This system suffers from the same low frequency vent resonance problems as the dual tuned bandpass systems.
Each of the above patents have shortcomings that have limited the full potential of the bandpass approach for low frequency reproduction. In general, the above systems suffer from either a slow lowpass cutoff in the higher frequencies, where the greatest extension with the sharpest cutoff is most desirable, or unattenuated, higher frequency resonances which can cause audible distortion.
In a co-pending patent, the inventor eliminated vents from the low frequency chamber in multi chamber bandpass systems partially to avoid the pipe resonances that are generated from prior art bandpass systems with vented low frequency chambers. The inventor has found the shortcomings of prior art systems can be overcome by the novel vent/enclosure arrangement disclosed herein.
It would be desirable to have a woofer system that combined an extended frequency, steep slope lowpass characteristic at the high frequencies while at the same time having a Helmholtz-reflex tuning at the lowest frequency filtering out any resonance or distortion resulting from the lowest frequency passive acoustic radiator.

Bandpass woofer enclosure with multiple acoustic fibers


The present invention provides rigid polyurethane foam comprising thermally expandable particles which are displaced to penetrate a strut of a structure of the polyurethane foam so that the particles are exposed into one or more cells of the polyurethane foam during foaming. Further, the rigid polyurethane foam can comprise hollow thermally expanded particles which are displaced to penetrate a surface of a cell in the polyurethane foam so that the particles are exposed into one or more cells of the polyurethane foam during foaming. The rigid polyurethane of the present invention can have excellent insulating properties.

Generally, the heat insulating property (λF) of polyurethane foam can be represented by the following equation:λF=λm+λg+λr
in which:
λm is the adiabatic index through a polymer matrix,
λg is the adiabatic index through a gas within a closed cell of the foam, and
λr is the adiabatic index through thermal radiation.
In the above equation, the heat insulating property of the gas λg refers to the adiabatic index of a gas component of a blowing agent existing in the polyurethane foam (the closed cell) and makes up to 60˜70% of the total adiabatic index of polyurethane foam.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are conventionally used as blowing agents in the production of foams. However, CFCs are regarded as detrimental to the environment and have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and a high Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). Therefore the production and use of CFCs have recently been prohibited and CFCs are being replaced by non-halogenated blowing agents, like cyclopentane. However, when cyclopentane is used as a blowing agent, the polyurethane foam can have a low heat insulating function because cyclopentane has a higher gas adiabatic index than HCFCs (Cyclopentane: 0.012 kcal/m.h.° C. compared to HCFCs: 0.0094 kcal/m.h.° C.) and the foam can have a large closed cell size.
In the above equation, the heat insulating property of the solid (the polymer matrix) λm refers to the adiabatic index of the urethane resin comprising the rigid polyurethane foam and makes up 10˜20% of the total adiabatic index of polyurethane foam. Also in the above equation, the heat insulating property of radiation λr refers to the radiation adiabatic index of the closed cell of polyurethane foam and makes up 20˜30% of the total adiabatic index of polyurethane foam.
With regard to λg, it is difficult to enhance the heat insulating property of the gas when using cyclopentane. Yet, as discussed herein, because chlorofluorocarbons are regarded as harmful to the environment, cyclopentane has been suggested as a substitute for CFCs. Further, with regard to λm, unless the polyurethane foam per se is substituted, it can be difficult to improve its heat insulating properties. With regard to λr, this can be lowered by decreasing the size of the closed cell.
Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0034455 is directed to methods for preparing rigid urethane foam. Polyurethane cell size is regulated by adding a nucleating agent such as perfluorinated alkene to enhance the heat insulating property of the rigid polyurethane foam. Although nucleating agents can enhance heat insulating properties, nucleating agents such as chlorofluorocarbons also can be harmful to the environment.
As discussed herein, because many halogen-based hydrocarbons blowing agents can be harmful to the environment, there is a growing need for non-halogenated hydrocarbon blowing agents. However, using a non-halogenated hydrocarbon such as cyclopentane may induce fire risk and increase*costs. U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,036 and International Application PCT/US02/16620 disclose the use of thermally expandable particles encapsulating a non-halogenated blowing agent in the production of foam. The '036 patent states that the risk of fire resulting from the use of a hydrocarbon blowing agent can be controlled by using the thermally expandable particle encapsulating the hydrocarbon. However, this patent does not identify or address issues associated with improving the heat insulating property of the foam.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rigid polyurethane foam having excellent insulating properties and method for preparing the same


A right unit period corresponding to a right-eye image and a left unit period corresponding to a left-eye image are set alternately. The scanning line driving circuit selects the plurality of scanning lines in several units at each right unit period, the glasses control circuit controls both of the shutter for the right eye and the shutter for the left eye to be in the closed state at least a portion of an image update period at which the data line driving circuit supplies a gradation potential corresponding to the right-eye image to each data line and the glasses control circuit controls the shutter for the right eye to be in the opened state and controls the shutter for the left eye to be in the closed state at the display period after the lapse of the image update period.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technology for displaying a right-eye image and a left-eye image having different parallaxes so that an observer perceives a three-dimensional image.
2. Related Art
A frame sequential-type stereoscopic display method alternately displaying a left-eye image and a right-eye image with time division has been proposed in the related art. Since the left-eye image and the right-eye image are mixed at a period when any one of the left-eye image and the right-eye image is rewritten to the other, it is difficult for an observer to clearly recognize stereoscopic viewing images when he/she views the images. To solve this problem, for example, JP-A-2009-25436 discloses a technology in which both of the shutter for the right-eye and the shutter for the left-eye of the stereoscopic viewing glasses at the period when any one of the left-eye image and the right-eye image is rewritten to the other (in other words, the period when the left-eye image and the right-eye image are mixed) are in a closed state so that the observer cannot view the display.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, the left unit period and the right unit period corresponding to each of the left-eye images and the right-eye images are set alternately. The display image is updated from the left-eye image to the right-eye image at a first half period of the right unit period and the right-eye image is displayed at the second half period. Further, the display image is updated from the right-eye image to the left-eye image at the first half period of the left unit period and the left-eye image is displayed at the second half period. Both of the shutter for the right eye and the shutter for the left eye are controlled to be in the closed state at the first half period (that is, the period when the left-eye image and the right-eye image are mixed) of each of the right unit periods and the left unit periods.
According to a configuration of JP-A-2009-25436, a period when a user can view the image is limited to a second half (i.e. about half) at each of the right unit periods and the left unit periods. Thus, there is a problem in that it is difficult to ensure sufficient brightness of the display image.

Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus


An FBG sensor system which has a wavelength-tunable light source for emitting light wavelength-swept at a predetermined sweep period, a photodetector for receiving reflected light of measurement light directed to be incident on an optical fiber including an FBC, a processing unit for measuring the wavelength of the reflected light received by the photodetector, and optical pulse generator means that generates a pulse having a predetermined period in synchronism with the sweep period in order that the light from the wavelength-tunable light source is converted into an optical pulse. The sweep period is such that a receipt time of the reflected light in the photodetector is after termination of incidence of the optical pulse on the optical fiber. The predetermined period of the pulse is such that an incidence time for a next optical pulse is after the receipt of the reflected light in the photodetector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor system configured by combining a wavelength-tunable light source capable of fast wavelength sweep and a photodetector with an FBG provided to a measurement object at a remote site via a fiber, thereby to perform, for example, distortion measurement and temperature measurement of a measurement object of interest. More specifically, the invention relates to an FBG sensor system capable of performing accurate measurement of the measurement object even when the length of fiber to the FBG exceeds 80 km in the manner that the influence of Rayleigh scattered light occurring in a fiber is reduced by using optical pulses for measurement light incident on the FBG.
2. Description of the Related Art
An FBG is formed by varying a refraction index of a core portion of a predetermined length of a fiber periodically at a fixed interval. When incident light is received at one-end portion of the FBG, only a specific wavelength ("Bragg wavelength", hereinbelow) of the incident light is reflected, and light parts of other wavelengths are transmitted. The Bragg wavelength is variable depending upon or corresponding to an axial distortion (compression or expansion) introduced to the portion where the refraction index periodically varies at the fixed interval. Therefore, the distortion imposed on the FBG can be measured by measuring the wavelength (reflection wavelength) of light incident on the one-end portion of the FBG or the wavelength of transmissive light.
Conventionally known FBG sensor systems for performing distortion measurement, temperature measurement, and the like by using the properties of the FBG as described above include those of the type formed by combining a Littmann wavelength-tunable light source and a photodetector to measure the reflection wavelength of the FBG. In recent years, the applicant of the present invention has proposed an FBG sensor system that, in lieu of the Littmann wavelength-tunable light source, uses a MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) scanner using a wavelength-tunable light source enabling fast wavelength sweep, thereby to increase the measurement speed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2006-49785). The MEMS scanner is a scanner formed from a microelectromechanical structure (structure mechanically operating under control of an electric signal).
FIG. 12 shows an overall configuration of the conventionally proposed FBG sensor system using the wavelength-tunable light source, shown by reference numeral 10, which enables the fast wavelength sweep. In the wavelength-tunable light source 10, light emitted from an AR-coated facet (AR: anti-reflection) of a semiconductor laser (LD) 1 is converted by a collimating lens 2 to collimated light, and is directed to be incident on a diffraction grating 3. Then, diffracted light of the incident light, which has been output from the diffractive grating 3, is incident on a MEMS scanner 60. The MEMS scanner 60 is configured from a reflector 35 and reflector driving means 50. The diffracted light of the collimated light incident from the diffractive grating 3 is reflected off of a reflective surface of the reflector 35 to the diffractive grating 3 and is diffracted again by the diffractive grating 3, and the diffracted light thus obtained is incident on the LD 1 through the collimating lens 2. In this case, the reflector driving means 50 works such that the angle of the reflective surface of the reflector 35 is reciprocally rotated in a predetermined sweep period so that the diffracted light incident on the LD 1 becomes light of a desired wavelength and the desired wavelength including a predetermined wavelength range is reciprocally swept.
According to the configuration described above, wavelength-swept light is oscillated and output from a non-AR-coated facet to function as output light (measurement light). The reflector driving means 50 itself generates a drive signal (determining the wavelength range and the sweep period) to reciprocally rotate the angle of the reflective surface of the reflector 35, and outputs the drive signal as a sweep signal "a" to a processing unit 17.
Zero order light from the diffractive grating 3 is incident on an optical resonator 4 of an etalon or the like, and only light of a predetermined wavelength is transmitted therethrough. The transmitted light is then converted by a photodetector (PD) 5 to an electric signal b, and is then output to the processing unit 17. More specifically, transmitted light at a predetermined wavelength interval of, for example, 15 GHz, is generated corresponding to the wavelength sweep of the output light (measurement light), and the light is photoelectrically converted by the photodetector 5 to the electric signal b. The wavelength (frequency) of the transmitted light is known. Accordingly, an oscillation wavelength (wavelength of the wavelength-swept measurement light) of the wavelength-tunable light source 10 can be obtained by use of the electric signal b, which has been obtained by the photoelectrical conversion, and the sweep signal a.
Subsequently, an optical circulator 13 directs the measurement light supplied from the wavelength-tunable light source 10 to be incident on an FBG 15 through a fiber 14. In addition, upon receipt of reflected light (reflection spectrum) reflected off of the FBG 15 and returned therefrom, the optical circulator 13 outputs the light to a photodetector (PD) 16. The photodetector 16 photoelectrically converts the reflected light to an electric signal c and outputs the electric signal c to the processing unit 17.
The processing unit 17 measures the reflection wavelength of the FBG 15 in accordance with the electric signal c received from the photodetector 16, the sweep signal "a" and electric signal b received from the wavelength-tunable light source 10.
An exemplary case is now assumed that the conventional FBG sensor system measures a reflection wavelength of a wavelength range (measurement wavelength range) of 1520 to 1580 nm for an FBG 15 having a reflection wavelength of 1550 nm. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, light having a wavelength range (sweep wavelength range) of 1500 to 1600 nm inclusive of the measurement wavelength range is wavelength-swept to be a sine wave shape by the drive signal (sweep signal a) having a sweep period of 1.4 ms (714 Hz). Then, the light wavelength-swept to be the sine wave shape is directed to be continually incident on the fiber 14 as the measurement light.
A noise floor of the reflected light (reflection spectrum) of the measurement light returned by being reflected off of the FBG 15, is caused by the Rayleigh scattered light occurring in the fiber 14. The intensity of the Rayleigh scattered light is proportional to the intensity of the measurement light incident on the fiber 14. Accordingly, the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the reflection spectrum of the FBG 15 is not dependant upon the intensity of the measurement light incident on the fiber 14.
Consequently, in the case where the measurement light shown in FIG. 10B is continuously input into the fiber 14, the S/N ratio of the reflection spectrum of the FBG 15 is represented by Equation (3) in accordance with a reflection spectrum intensity PF given by Equation (1) and Rayleigh scattered light intensity PR given by Equation (2) (provided that the reflectance of the FBG 15 is 100%):PF=P0e−2αL  (1)PR=RP0(1−e−2αL)/2  (2)S/N=PF/PR=2e−2αL/{R(1−e−2αL)}  (3)where, P0 denotes an intensity of the measurement light input into the fiber 14; L denotes a fiber length; α denotes a fiber attenuation factor; and R denotes a Rayleigh scattered light occurrence rate. In a case of a general optical communication fiber, α is 0.046/km (=0.2 dB/km) and R is 0.0022.
FIG. 11 shows, by way of a conventional example, calculated values of S/N ratios obtained from Equation (3) for the fiber length (L) and corresponding measurement values. As can be seen from FIG. 11, the S/N ratio is smaller as the fiber length is larger, and is 0 dB when the length is a range of about 60 km to 70 km. In practice, an S/N ratio in a range of about 10 dB to 20 dB is necessary to accomplish an accurate measurement of variations of the reflection wavelength (wavelength of the reflection spectrum) of the FBG 15. As a consequence, as seen from FIG. 11, a problem arises in that the measurable fiber length limit is restricted to about 30 km.


The electronic governor has a fast response time by eliminating the return spring of prior art governors. Instead, a magnetic field generated either by permanent magnets or by a second actuator coil is used to oppose the force created by a first actuator coil. The current to the first actuator coil is pulse width modulated. If a second coil is used instead of permanent magnets, the current to the second coil may be either pulse width modulated or may be a constant DC signal. An actuator having a low inertia rotor and a stationary core is preferred to further reduce the response time.

This invention relates to electronic speed governors used in internal combustion engines. More particularly, this invention relates to governors for small engines used in lawnmowers, snowblowers, generators, and the like.
Typical prior art electronic governors use an actuator and a return spring to maintain throttle plate position. The actuator has a coil that is responsive to a control signal from the electronic circuit or microprocessor. In response to the control signal, the actuator drives the throttle in a first direction. The return spring is connected to oppose the actuator force and tends to pull the throttle in the opposite direction.
A major disadvantage of these prior art electronic governors is that they have a very slow response time. The slow response time is due to several factors, including the spring force of the return spring. The spring force varies with throttle position. Near the wide open throttle position, the spring force is about 6 ounces of force, corresponding to 50 to 70 percent of the actuator force. Near the closed throttle position, the spring force is less, about 2 ounces of force.
The effect of the return spring force is apparent from the basic force equation of the system: EQU F=M.times.A, (1)
Where
F=the total force of the actuator, spring, linkage, and throttle plate system; PA1 M=the total mass of the moving components in the system; and PA1 A=the acceleration of the system. PA1 F.sub.A =the actuator force; PA1 F.sub.T =the force on the throttle plate caused by moving air; PA1 F.sub.F =the friction force of the system components; and PA1 F.sub.S =the spring force of the return spring.
It is also clear that EQU A=F/M. (2)
It is apparent from equation (2) that either increasing the system force F and/or decreasing its mass M will increase the acceleration A of the system. Since the acceleration A of the system is inversely proportional to the system response time, an increase in acceleration A will decrease the response time.
The total system force F is given by the following equation: EQU F=F.sub.A -F.sub.T -F.sub.F -F.sub.S, (3)
Where
The total force of the system may be increased by simply increasing the actuator force F.sub.A, which generally means that a larger actuator must be used. However, the use of large actuators is very expensive and increases the weight of the governor.
The throttle plate force F.sub.T can theoretically be decreased to increase the total system force F. However, decreasing the throttle plate force may result in an unsafe, overspeed condition since the throttle plate force is typically necessary to close the throttle if there is a break in the linkage between the actuator and the throttle plate.
Since the friction force F.sub.F is always minimized but never totally eliminated, it is difficult to reduce this negative force.
Since prior art systems typically require a return spring to oppose the actuator force, prior art systems cannot eliminate the spring force F.sub.S.
Therefore, the only way prior art systems could increase the total force F and thus increase the acceleration A and decrease the response time was to increase the actuator force F.sub.A. As stated above, this solution required a heavier and more expensive actuator.

Electronic governor with fast response time


A semiconductor memory wherein a plurality of cells are arranged in a longitudinal direction of active regions, each cell having a node electrode and a contact hole for the node electrode, and a bit line contact region and the active region by half at the least on a semiconductor substrate having the active regions and word lines which are extended in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the active regions, the bit line contact regions of adjacent bit lines are shifted by a quarter in the longitudinal direction between the adjacent cells in a direction in which the word lines are extended, and the projected shape of the node electrode is a polygon having more angles than a quadrangle which is substantially adapted as the node electrode and having at least one of interior angles set to be obtuse so that the projected area is substantially larger than that of the quadrangle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory, and more particularly to a MOS dynamic memory comprising a stacked memory capacitor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To ensure cell capacity with high integration of an LSI memory, there has been developed and put to practical use a stacked memory capacitor in which the surface level difference among the lower layers of a semiconductor device is utilized on a three-dimensional basis.
FIG. 22 shows the layout of the stacked capacitor in the folded bit line form. In FIG. 22, the stacked capacitor has a plurality of cells 56 to 61 arranged in a direction of an arrows C and D. Each cell has a contact 53 for a node electrode and a node electrode 54, and a bit line contact region 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d or 55e and an active region 51 by half at the least on a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has the active regions 51 and word lines (transfer gates) 52. The word lines 52 are extended in a direction (a direction of an arrow D) perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the active regions 51 (the C direction).
The adjacent bit line contact regions 55a and 55b are arranged on the same line parallel with the D direction between the cells 56 and 57. In addition, the adjacent bit line contact regions 55c and 55d are arranged on the same line parallel with the D direction between the cells 58 and 59.
Furthermore, the projected shape of the node electrode 54 is a quadrangle which is adapted as a node electrode.
Each cell has a size S.sub.2 of 6 .mu.m in the C direction, and a size S.sub.4 of 2 .mu.m in the D direction.
As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the bit line contact region 55 includes a bit line contact hole 55d. The bit line contact hole 55d is formed between LOCOS films 70, 70 on a Si substrate 74 having the LOCOS films 70, SiO.sub.2 films 71, capacitor insulating films 72 and a plate electrodes 73. The contact hole 53 for the node electrode is formed between the transfer gate 52 which is provided on the LOCOS film 70 and the transfer gate 52 which is provided through a gate oxide film 81 on the Si substrate 74 having impurity diffusion layers 80, 80. The contact hole 53 is buried by a capacitor 84 comprised of the node electrode 54, the capacitor insulating film 72 and the plate electrode 73.
Referring to the memory in the folded bit line form, a short side m of the node electrode 54 is always set to the minimum dimension between the node electrodes 54, 54 which is defined by design rules. For this reason, the maximum projected area of the node electrode 54 is automatically determined by overlapping with each layer.
Referring to the cell layout mentioned above, however, the projected area of the node electrode is determined by overlapping with each layer. Consequently, when the cell size is specified, the cell capacity is determined.
Accordingly, the cell size is reduced with the high integration of the LSI memory. Consequently, it becomes more difficult to ensure the cell capacity.

Semiconductor memory with enhanced capacity